Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Nowhere Woman]

Many thanks!

[peachlily]

Yea...i can't seem to find a website, even though they claim to have been in business for 8 yrs now...

[Flash Ipanema]

bump

[shaggy]

Will PM you with some info ---


Sorry about that I didn't notice the dates it was a really old post not sure why it was bumped but if you want some info Peachlily I can help you


I was paid medical and pension in full and all the taxes were above board so no funny biz with the pay. Not the worst place I worked but the hours can be long 2-9:30pm with only five minute breaks between classes.

There is sooo much paper work. Not just report cards but also homework reminder sheets and marking. Really did cut into my prep time for classes. Also some of my old coworkers have informed me that they still pay pension and medical but they have changed the overtime pay periods so they can short you on overtime pay. I never did any overtime while I was there so I can't confirm that.

You are expected to arrive an hour early for work but if you were like me and could prove to be a reliable teacher you don't have to be there that early. There is a weekly meeting you are expected to attend it is usually short and in English.

I had my own apartment and they gave me 400 000 won per month but no key money.

The kids ranged from beginner to fluent returnees. They had a great little reward system in place so you didn't have to buy your candy for rewards.

They do focus on reading and writing a lot so expect a lot of marking but they do prepare the lesson plans for you. As long as you finished the required chapters you are flexible as to what you can do in class. It can be a little dry and boring to teach.

The owners seemed to like me and were willing to indulge me. They let me come in a little later and they did extend my contract for six months. Also they gave me a half year bonus which they weren't legally required to do.

Not the worst place in the world to work but the long hours, needless paperwork, and the fishy overtime calculation formula can be a deal breaker. Positives are that medical and pension are paid properly (so far I haven't heard any complaints). The curriculum is in place and your lesson plans are done. Also you are taken seriously when you have a discipline problem in the class room. To a certain extent the reality is they are not going to kick a kid out the school because that's money out of their pocket.

[PRagic]

People rationalize so much away here. Sad, really.

So the up side to working at this place is that they pay on time and they actually pay for the insurance they're supposed to pay for.

They did two things that seem above and beyond, too: 1) gave you a 6 month contract and paid you a separation bonus on it, and 2) paid 400 a month for housing. In reality, both of these benefit the institution more than the teacher.

And the long and short of it is that you're doing a load of extra paper work and prep, but only getting paid for teaching; even that is pretty extreme, with very short breaks. The overtime issue? Deal breaker.

In short, it's just not worth it. Teach adults, people. If you must teach kids because it's where your strengths are, then teach at public schools.

[Flash Ipanema]

Why do people say they only get paid to teach and that all prep is unpaid work? You get paid a salary for a certain number of hours. Whether someone is teaching, grading papers, writing lesson plans, or playing on the internet - if it's during work hours it's paid.


And what's wrong with a school doing only what they're supposed to do? The school isn't amazing therefore it must be bad? It actually sounds pretty standard to me. Most hagwons require a certain amount of paperwork, that's nothing new. As for the overtime, it sounds like the position is less than the standard 120 hours a month so overtime probably isn't even an issue.


My last job was 2:30 - 9:30 with almost 2 hours "prep", at least thirty minutes of which I spent eating lunch or getting coffee. True, I only had 5 minute breaks between most classes, but the day flew by so fast that it was over almost as soon as it began. We had to write report cards and tests, and I considered it to be an incredibly easy job. This place doesn't sound much different. Considering all the hagwon horror stories, I find it a little ridiculous to bash schools for not being outstanding.

[PRagic]

The school in the OP, and the school you worked at for that matter, can be bashed for being users.

5 minute breaks between classes? Give me a freakin break. Plus grading and report cards? And if you're paid for your total hours, why do contracts read, 'for XXX hours OF TEACHING per week'? These are not jobs in regular education, and you cannot justify the prep as part of the assigned teaching load. This would make the hourly wage laughable.

The sad fact is that these places crunch through newbie teachers, constantly depending on a new supply of unknowing, and usually unprepared, to feed their bottom lines.

Years ago, people who wanted to teach in Korea had no other option but to feed this crap hakwon system. Now, however, there are choices.

[moosehead]

the hakwon in question goes thru teachers like a hot knife thru butter; they won't hesitate to ask you to work on a tourist visa, probably have teachers there now on them. they hire and fire constantly, gypos as well.

the paperwork is unbelievable. it never ever stops. you have to give homework, every class, every day. even before test day. every student, loads and loads of copies.

the tests are terrible and the report cards worse.

you are asked to give a final subjective grade for each student but when I did that, I was blasted for not giving them all "A's".

the FT who are there do not speak to each other hardly at all; they all suck it up and rave on the place while unsuspecting newcomers walk into a lion's den of bad management, unrealistic expectations from parents and rude and spoiled students who expect to be able to do whatever they want.

yes, the kids are given rewards by the school, much of which is candy and they eat it in your class, play with their toys and chew their gum, all the time talking in K. if you tell them to sit down, stop talking and pay attention they all cry to mommy you are a scary teacher.

don't go there. it's not worth it. oh, and there are no sick days either, none. at all. period.

the owner also contributes to the black list of teachers which used to be in English but now it's in Korean to inhibit FTs from finding their names.

the owners are the epitomy of the nightmare K hakwon owner. The FTs who wortk there are the epitomy of brown nosing jerks who would no more step up for another teacher than, well, anything. They won't, plain and simple.

So nothing there will ever change. There are better places to work, definitely.

[PRagic]

Thank you. I rest my case.

[peachlily]