Korean Job Discussion Forums

Hercule Poirot · Joined: 24 Mar 2008 Location: Ottawa

Hello everyone,

I'm considering accepting a job offer from a hagwon in Seoul. However, I've learned one interesting thing through e-mail exchanges with one of the teachers there. The five foreign teachers there all have quite different schedules, one teacher with 38 classes per week, one with only 26 classes in a week. The ones teaching more than 30 classes are NOT volunteering to do the overtime and are not particularly happy about the situation. The teacher with only 26 hours starts later and finishes earlier than the others.

Is this a common situation in hagwons? Why would the administrative staff design schedules in this way? Are there some teachers who are perceived as better teachers thus given more work to do?

Thank you in advance for any replies.

Fishead soup · Joined: 24 Jun 2007 Location: Korea

It's either completely arbitrary. Or they're given the extra classes Pro'bono to the better respected more experienced teacher.
I can Imagine the person on 26 hours is on shakey ground.

Poemer · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Location: Mullae

There are some hakwons that will offer you salary options; a set monthly salary or pay-per-class taught. They load classes on the salary people and try to limit pay-per-class hours. This might be what is going on, I don't know. You should try to get some more specific details from this person about what's happening.

ED209 · Joined: 17 Oct 2006

Good teachers get more classes, students like the teacher more.
Turn up stinking of beer and you'll get less classes.

Anyway, this is a red flag get another job or have the overtime written into your contract at around 50,000 won per hour after 25hrs a week. That should cap it.

Seon-bee · Joined: 24 Jan 2003 Location: ROK

Could be any number of reasons for the shorter schedule. Maybe the teacher has wonderful Ivy League credentials...or a few years experience...and the charm to negotiate a shorter work week.

Class availability?

Could be a brown noser and owner's pet teacher or they are simply doing additional admin work.

Why speculate? Why should everyone work for the same salary and hours if you have experience or ability? This is probably why everyone gets about the same salary despite experience and credentials.