Korean Job Discussion Forums

[PortHardy]

Make sure you get the hours you spend at a school fixed.

Some schools have it very vague in a contract so you are basicaly at the school all day. On your contract it says you start at 10:00am and finish at 8:00pm. That's way too long of a day unless you are getting paid over 3 million. Sure, you have breaks here and there but you really can't do anything in that time.

Usually, you should teach from 10:00am-630pm if you like the kindergarten kids or morning/afternoon shifts.

For afternoon/evening schedules you should look at a 2:00pm or 3:00pm starts and a 9:00pm or 10:00pm finishing time.

Any more than that and it's not a good contract..unless the pay is much more.

Also, with a roommate, I strongly recommend that you talk to the roomate for a good hour before you decide on the job. There's nothing worse than having a bad roommate and it'll make your year in Korea HELL! Living alone is the safest bet obviously but if you have to have a roommate, I'd want to talk to them for a good amount of time to see if we got along. My first job in Korea was in a 3-bedroom apartment with 2 other teachers. It was OK but then one of the girls went home and we got this crazy guy. I mean real crazy as in he broke things for no reason and when he had a nervous breakdown at school, they took him to the doctor and that's when we found out he was schizophrenic. I have a few other horror stories and know a few buddies that had bad experiences themselves. Really bad things like being physically assaulted and intimidated. One case I know where the female teacher was harassed by the guy she was living with. All stories from the victim not 3rd party.

They makesfor some good stories over a cold beer but at the time, it was a nightmare!

[cdedbdii]

K...definitely frustrated now... I have been given some offers, but all of them have been pretty low pay (1.8, 1.9, 2.0) the 2.35 seemed really nice to me... I'm leaving a decent paying job to go to Korea, so I can't afford to work for 1.8...yay student loans... will I find something that pays well? I'm tempted to take this contract cause I haven't been offered any better pay... however, I have been told that I am job hunting too early and to wait a few more weeks ( I plan to go to Korea for the end of Sept/ start of Oct) Am I searchnig too early? Will I find something with good pay, considering I don't have alot of experience ( I have teaching experience, but only in the military... not ESL)? Thanks for all the great advice so far...

[alabamaman]

I spoke with a recruiter and then the director of the school and then another Korean lady whose job I'm not sure of. Heres a copy of the contract...

Letter of Agreement

The Suji SLP Institute, the employer, under the license of SLP Corporation (hereinafter referred to as "the Institute") and the employee _____________(hereinafter referred to as "the Teacher") agree to a employment for a regular full-time English teaching position

Teacher contract are initially offered and signed on a ONE-YEAR base. Teachers are on a probationary status during the first three-months. The administration has the option to renew a contract.
If the employee fails to meet the expectations of the employer the contract may be terminated.

I would not accept this clause in my contract under any circumstances! If they dismiss you in a probationary period they don't have to give you an "Advance Notice of Dismissal." This is common knowledge, but this contractual language should never be written in any contract. It allows for them to dismiss you if you don't meet their "expectations." However, such contractual language doesn't conform with Labor Laws. Labor laws specifically state your employer has to have justifiable reasons to dismiss you. Justifiable reasons are gross negligence, violation of Korean Labor Laws, and serious violations. Not meeting an employers expectations doesn't meet the previously said criterium for dismissal.

Article 35 (Exception of Advance Notice of Dismissal) Labor Standards Act
5. a worker in a probationary period

Article 32 (Advance Notice of Dismissal)
(1) An employer shall give an advance notice to a worker at least thirty days before dismissal (including dismissal for managerial reasons).




1. The Teacher accepts employment from the Institute to teach English under the terms and conditions set forth here in this agreement for a period of twelve full and consecutive teaching sessions. Employment commences from the first day of teaching and finishes on the last teaching day of the last teaching session under the employment period in the agreement.
The employment period is from to (The first day of the first month session) to the last day of the final month session).

Employment commences upon issuance of E2 Visa from Korean Immigration Officials. There should be contractual language written in the contract stating, "The employee shall not work as well as partcipate in any work related activites until Korean Immigration Officials have issued him/her an E2 Visa." These law abiding hagwon owners would have you working on the first day without an E2 Visa.

The teacher�s daily working hours � including preparation, class teaching, etc. � are 8 hours. The Teacher will have at least 22 classes(80 minute) per teaching week. Monday through Friday are teaching days except for scheduled public holidays and vacation days.

Refer to Dan The Chainsawman's comments regarding 22 classes etc etc

No defined work hours!

No recess periods per Korean Labor Laws...

The Teacher is expected to devote no less than 2 hours a day at the Institute for lesson planning with co-teachers, student evaluations, reporting, consultation with parents, supervision of play, and maintenance of the English environment during breaks, workshops, and teachers� meetings.

Consultation with parents=Bossmans job

Maintenance of English environment during your breaks = negatory! That's your breaktime to do with as you choose.

Workshops=Overtime

Teachers meetings=Don't fight this to much...



Teacher will be required to attend some special events(graduation ceremony, etc) or take classes on Saturdays. Teacher will receive additional compensation for these days.

Take classes for what? Maybe teache teache classes. This is another way of saying forced overtime. Say no!

2. Duties
A. Duties may include, but are not limited to;
i. teaching
ii.substitute teaching (Throw this out) overtime cannot be forced!
iii. supervision of students
iv. preparation/production of teaching materials
v. curriculum design and implementation
vi. attendance at teachers� meetings and workshops
vii. writing evaluation comments and preparing evaluation reports
viii. essay and journal correction
ix. implementation of Teacher Policy Guidelines.
x. participation in micro-teaching group presentations
xi. interviewing new students for level testing / classroom assignment
xii. professional development
xiii. Teacher Training in the Institute or SLP headquarters.
B. The Teacher�s duties and responsibilities, as well as the academic programs, may be modified, from time to time, after being agreed upon by both the Teacher and the Institute
C. The Teacher may work longer than the usual working hours during the summer and winter vacation. Due to the way the Korean education system works, this schedule is unavoidable. Overtime will be given over the hours of agreement.
D. Any part of the Teacher�s workload can be converted into research and development work under his or her supervisor�s supervision.

3. Behavior
The Teacher should respect the rules and the standard of conduct set by the Institute (written, verbal and tacit) and obey the laws, regulations, instructions, and ordinances of the national and local governments. The Teacher must serve as a positive role model by being punctual and prompt, demonstrating good moral values and showing integrity.
The Institute does not allow body-piercing, extreme hairstyles, unusual hair color and/or excessive makeup, unusually tight or revealing clothing, and inappropriate behavior such as the use of profanity or instigations against the Institute. Any teaching or employment other than at the above address shall not be permitted, in accordance with Korean Law.

4. Dual Employment Prohibition
The Teacher, after signing the agreement and receiving a work visa, can only legally work for an Institute designated by the Institute. If the Teacher works for any other institutes, companies, or individuals without the written consent of the Institute and the Korean Immigration Office, the Teacher shall face legal consequences which will/may include a fine and possible deportation.


5. Performance Evaluations
The Teacher may be evaluated in writing or verbal comment by his or her supervisor. The Institute has the right to determine if a performance appraisal is needed on a monthly basis or more frequently. The evaluation will include a review of the Teacher�s job qualifications and performance; the quality of his or her work; knowledge of his or her job, job skills, and attitude toward job; working relations with co-workers, students and parents; initiative, attendance, punctuality, and/or disciplinary record. The review is designed to provide both the Teacher and his or her supervisors with time to discuss his or her strengths, weaknesses, career objectives and other concerns.

6. Confidentiality
A. The Teacher hereby agrees, covenants and undertakes that he/she will not disclose any information relating to the Teacher�s employment conditions to others, any teaching materials, or any information related to the academic program, whether verbally or written, to individuals or corporate entities.
B. All teaching materials, including any books, textbooks and teaching resources, given to the Teacher by the Institute and reference materials prepared for the classes, by the Teacher, should be returned afterwards. The Teacher must not take out or use these materials for purpose other than for teaching at the Institute.
C. All materials and information produced, during the period of employment, become the property of the Institute. The Teacher maybe compensated as regular pay, overtime, or in an agreed-upon lump sum, remain the sole discretion of the Institute.

7. Compensation
A. Monthly Salary
Except for the period of orientation and teacher training, the Institute will pay the Teacher a total monthly basic salary of million won.
The monthly salary is based on the monthly teaching session and payment will be made on 5th ~ 10th day of the following the month. Korean income tax, National Pension and Medical Insurance will be deducted from the monthly salary.

B. Overtime
Overtime teaching - beyond 22-80 min. units classes - is paid at the rate of 1.2 times of the regular pay. The assignment of overtime above the regular 22 units classes is at the sole discretion of the Institute.
Payment for teaching class on Saturday is made at the rate of 1.2 times of the regular pay per class(80 minute). Payment for special event on Saturday is upon the discretion of the SLP director.
In case of substitute teaching, the Teacher will receive substitute teaching fee
20,000 Won/unit(80 minute), only if the substitute teaching class hours exceed the Teacher�s contractual class hours. In case the Teacher is about or misses his/her classes, the Teacher shall be responsible for the substitute teaching fee Won/unit(80 minute). That means the substitute teaching fee shall be deducted from the monthly payment or the substitute teaching fee will be directly paid by the teacher who is about or misses his/her classes.

C. Orientation and Teacher Training
The teacher will receive up to 3 ~ 10 days of orientation and training. 40,000 won per a day will be paid during the period of orientation and training. The orientation and training schedule will be approximately 8 hours a day.

D. Health Insurance
The Teacher will be covered by Korean National Health Insurance. According to the government guideline for teachers, the monthly insurance charge will be shared half by the Institute and the Teacher. Coverage will be from the date of joining to Korean Medical Insurance Union, commencing approximately 3 to 4 weeks after the teacher's arrival of Korea due to requirements of the immigration and taxation departments.

E. National Pension Plan
In accordance with the Korean Law, all foreign workers employed by Korean businesses shall pay into the Korean National Pension plan at a rate stipulated by the Korean National Pension Law deducted from monthly earnings with the Institute's contribution.
Refund of the National Pension to a teacher who becomes a compulsorily insured Teacher, where the Pension Act of the Teacher's home country provides the benefit corresponding to the lump-sum refund of the National Pension Plan, the lump-sum refund of this plan shall be paid to the foreigner, according to Korean Law.

F. Severance Pay
On completion of one's responsibilities of the full employment period, an additional month of regular salary shall be paid as severance pay. If the Teacher, however, does not complete the full contract period of one year employment, none of the severance pay shall be paid according to Korean Labor Standard Law. Severance pay will be paid by bank transfer no later than one (1) month after the Teacher has left the Institute. Korean severance tax will be withheld.


8. Housing
A. The Institute will select and provide furnished living accommodation for the Teacher
i. Single housing with furnishings will be supplied by the Institute or,
ii. Shared housing with furnishings : In this case, each Teacher will be
provided his/her own private room
iii. Furnishings will include Air-conditioning, TV, refrigerator, washing
machine, wardrobe, telephone, range, bed, desk, chair, dining table, and some eating & cooking utensils.
B. The Teacher is responsible for Maintenance Fee & utility charges such as electricity, gas, telephone charges, etc.
C. In the event the damage is due to the Teacher�s negligence, the Teacher will be charged any repair or replacement.
D. All items provided by the Institute must remain in the apartment at the end of the Teacher�s contract. No pets are allowed at any case.

9. Holidays/Vacation/Leave
A. Teacher will be entitled to observe public holidays and receive vacation days during the employment term according to the yearly schedule provided by the Institute before the commencement of the year to which the schedule refers.
B. Paid Vacation : The Institute provides the Teacher with approximately ten (10) working days of paid vacation in one employment year. The vacation will be scheduled on the annual SLP academic calendar, decided by the SLP Corporation, Sogang University.
C. Sick Leave : Paid sick leave is only applicable in cases of actual illness. The Teacher must provide a doctor�s certificate or a stamp from a pharmacy upon return to work. Failure to provide a medical certificate or a stamp form a pharmacy may result in denial of sick leave pay, and in some cases the absence may be considered as an unexcused absence for which disciplinary action may be taken. If it is found that the hours/days of absence reported as sick leave or emergency leave were not in fact for such purpose, related costs will be subtracted from the following month�s pay. A teacher who becomes ill or has an emergency should contact his or her immediate supervisor to inform and to arrange for a substitute. He or she must provide the Institute with as much advance notice as possible, but in no case can this notice be given less than three hours before the Teacher�s scheduled work start time. The Teacher is allocated 12 80 min. classes(80 minute) of Sick Leave compensation. Unused sick leave may not be converted into cash. If the teacher misses more than the 12 80 min. classes(80 minute), 1.2 times of the regular pay per a unit(80minutes) will be deducted from his or her salary for every subsequent class missed.
D. Emergency Leave : Emergency Leave is only applicable in cases of natural disaster, hospitalization, death of immediate family members(spouse, parents, son or daughter), fire, accident or other emergency situations that have been acknowledged as such by the Institute. Notification of Emergency Leave should be given three(3) hours in advance of the classes the Teacher expects to miss.

If the Teacher is absent for two or more consecutive classes without proper notification and authorization, he or she shall be deemed to have voluntarily resigned. However, even if the Teacher provides notification of his or her absence, the Institute has the ultimate right to determine if the reason given justifies the absence.

10. Transportation
A. The Institute shall pay a round-trip airfare between the nearest International Airport from the Teacher's location applied and a major city in Korea. Round-trip airfare is provided only once. A one-way ticket will be provided to Korea and at the end of one's employment a one-way ticket to the port of the departure will be provided.
B. Teacher hired in-country shall have a visa trip to Japan paid for by the Institute. No airfare will be provided to the Teacher hired in-country except if the Teacher extends for a second year, then a one-way ticket is provided to the west coast of USA or Canada.
C. In case the Teacher fails to complete the employment by his or her own fault/reason, the Teacher shall pay back the Institute the total amount of the air ticket and the actual amount for the visa trip to Japan, in the case of an in-country hiring.
D. Air tickets provided cannot be exchanged for cash equivalents or transferred to persons other than the Institute.

11. Termination
A. The Institute has the right to terminate the Employment for the following terms

Terms of termination ;
i. The Teacher fails to perform or unsatisfactorily performs any one of the duties stipulated in this agreement.
ii. The Teacher fails to perform duties for more than three(3) consecutive days without any excuse.
iii. The determination that the Teacher is prevented from or incapable of performing his/her duties for a medical reason, whether it is a physical or psychological ailment.(If requested by Institute, the Teacher must be immediately be available for a medical examination.)
iv. Receiving two warning letters.
v. Criminal behavior or misconduct.
vi. Working or Teaching outside of the SLP Institute.
vii. Breaches of Article 6 �Confidentiality�
viii. Defamation of Institute by falsehood
B. The Teacher may terminate this employment with a written 60-days notice. Anything less than 60 days will be considered a breach of employment unless the employment agreed by the Institute. In the event the Teacher terminates the Agreement, before the end of the contract, the airfare will be reimbursed (deducted from last month pay).

12. Sole and Entire Agreement
This Agreement is the sole, complete and entire employment, agreement and understanding between the Institute and the Teacher concerning the Employment; the terms and conditions of the Employment; the duration of the Employment, the termination of the Employment and the compensation and benefits to be paid and provided by the Institute to the Teacher pursuant to the Employment. This Agreement supersedes any and all prior employments, agreements, correspondence, letters of intent, understandings, and/or negotiations, whether oral or written, concerning the Employment; the terms and conditions of the Employment; the duration of the Employment; the termination of the Employment and/or the compensation and benefits to be paid by the Institute to the Teacher pursuant to the Employment.

13. Applicable Law and Venue
This agreement and each and every provision hereof shall be interpreted pursuant to the laws of the Republic of Korea without regard to any conflicts of law principles, and the venue in which a claim, action or lawsuit may be brought shall be exclusively the Republic of Korea.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the Institute and the Teacher have each duly executed this Agreement on the dates set forth below their respective signatures.


Is it a bad contract??[/quote]

[wylies99]