Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mission_weasel]

I will be finishing my contract at the end of August at a hagwon. I really like my location. My boss has been great, my co-teacher has been great, and I pretty much get along with everyone at work.

My only complaints about my job are having to work 9 classes a day M-W-F. It kind of balances out because I only work 6 Tues-Thurs. I also have a decent of amount of paperwork and schedules to make, but I have gotten used to it for better or worse.

They are offering me 2.4-2.5 to stay but I have a feeling I am going to have to keep working the same number of classes.

Do you think I can find the same desirable working conditions with less hours at another job? Is the salary they are offering worth the number of classes I am working? I have heard great things about public school but I don't think you get to pick your location which is important to me.

Any input and suggestions are welcome.

[egrog1717]

I work 22 x 40 minute classes or less per week with SMOE... Depending on your qualifications (don't know your situation but you would probably take a pay cut to 2.1 or 2.2)... Can more than make that up with afterschool classes if you wanted though (depending on your school)

[Robot_Teacher]

Wow, you're working many times harder than I am for about the same money considering you're paying tax despite grossing 200,000 to 300,00 more. Try 0 to 4 classes a day with 3 on most days. Yes, I was told I'd go to a larger town, but got stuck in a small town at the last minute where no one speaks English and those than can; don't in most instances. Only today, did I realize a dude I'd been working out with for 3 months actually speaks English at a conversational level when he confronted me about having his locker key where he stores stuff. Well, come to be I was given the key number today he normally gets and you're not supposed to store things as I asked when I joined. I always get a different key and I can go weeks without having a real convo whatsoever.

If you're really having a fun time with the other foreigners at your hagwon and it's the extension of college you enjoy, then stick with the hard job. If you no longer care about 20's college life atmosphere, go solo at a public school. I read about these hagwons and they're a real grind, but many young people have a blast in them as a 1st job. Seen the Kickin' it in Guemcheon video? 50 weeks a year; 30 or more class hours a week has to be a bit extreme and that's why they love young inexperienced newbies. That's my best advice. I know I wouldn't opt for a hagwon job as they actually expect you teach your butt off and I'm not interested in the 20's party atmosphere as you don't usually fit if you're over 30 as cool as being 25 years old would be.

[Ruraljuror]

Don't fall victim to "grass is greener" mentality. There are alot of crappy jobs in this country, and you will feel stupid if you leave a job you like for a job you hate.

You are definitely working more than the average teacher. You are also making a decent salary for all of your hard work.

Just ask yourself this: Are you happy at your job? If you are happy, leaving for a nebulous "other job" is probably a bad move. If you are unhappy, leaving might be the right move.

Also, if you sign another contract at your current job, you should be able to negotiate less hours teaching, and more money per month on your contract. If you negotiate well, you could end up with a situation you really like. If you job is unwilling to meet your demands/compromise with you, then you need to consider that when you make your decision, as no one likes to work at a place where they feel under-appreciated.

Good luck with your decision.

[mission_weasel]

double post

[mission_weasel]

I have actually been making 2.1 this whole year.. it is only now they are going to give me the decent raise. I realize I have been working way more classes than I should, but I have gotten used to it. I think it is only in Korea where people expect to work 5 hours and still get paid for eight.

However..I would love to work less and get paid the same. I think they will promise me less classes, but from experience here I don't think they can keep that promise. They have classes that need to be worked and realistically there won't be any new teachers coming to give my classes to. The nice thing is the expectations for teaching are reasonable. If I am tired and decide to make the kids do worksheets, read storybooks for a whole period, give me a back massage, or play a game.. nobody complains. I really like that my classes are not micromanaged.

Also we have been getting more like 11-12 days of vacation each break instead of standard hagwon 7. Plus they said they will give me extra vacation if I decide to stay.

Thanks for your responses.. I need help making a decision.

[ontheway]

You're working 39 classes per week so I'm guessing that they're something like 40 or 45 minutes per class. Even at 50 minutes you should be getting overtime.

You like your job, so you should stay if you can get 2.5 million and a cash payment instead of airfare for a trip home and back. You should also get your first year's severance payment included with your first pay period under the renewal contract. Since your school is able to keep a proven teacher and save recruitment fees, and other expenses involved in finding and getting a new teacher through Immigration, this would be a fair deal.

You are correct to assume that you will not be able to work fewer hours. They need you to cover the students that they have.

One more consolation is that in a public school you would not actually teach anyone. You are a real teacher and your students will make progress that you can observe. In a public school the students learn nothing, especially in English classes, and it would take ten years to see the same progress that you will see in one or two in your students. The only progress public school teachers see their students making is what the students are learning in their hogwans.

[Kikomom]

[D.D.]

39 classes a week is just insane. For 39 classes I would want over 4 mil. I do 28 classes in a ps and make about 3.2 a month.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[iggyb]

I'll echo what a few others have said:

The chance of ending up at a rotten place to work are just too great to consider leaving a place you actually like and where you aren't getting cheated.

And you should be able to negotiate better hours and/or pay:

-You've proven that you won't freak out and do the midnight run leaving them high and dry.

-You've proven you can get along with students and staff and others concerned.

-The school won't have to pay a recruiter to replace you or pay airfare to someone else to replace you - and so on...

You're saving the school a substantial amount of money and worry that would go into finding a replacement.

So --- stand up for what you want in a 2nd contract.

At the very least, you should be able to talk them into better contract hours and/or a substantial bump in over-time rate if they make you work above the number of classes you want and/or a substantial raise in salary.

I am probably like you and care more about my free time than making a ton of money. As such, I'd tend to use the demand for higher base salary as a contract item I'm willing to concede on in order to get the clause limiting my hours that I really care about.

[mission_weasel]

D.D. how are you making 3.2 at a public school? I was under the impression that public schools paid around 2.2 unless you have some outstanding credentials or experience.

[Rteacher]

Unless you feel that you're physically/mentally getting worn-out from your schedule I'd advise signing-on for another year - and if you start wearing out you can give notice and probably leave on good terms.

At least that's what I did with a similar work-load, and I lasted 20 months.

[losing_touch]

Oh, I faced this decision not to long ago. I decided against re-signing. Circumstances in my personal life have changed dramatically since I rejected the offer, and it has been withdrawn. I think I would choose differently if the same offer was on the table today. I was offered all kinds of things. I was even offered a dollar based contract.

At my hagwon, we switch classes every 2 months. There are 3 sets of classes. One set is 40 classes per week. The set I currently have is 45 classes per week. The other set is 30 classes, but you also have a long English Zone type of thing to do.

45 classes per week is killing me. 40 is also a lot. I am alright with 30. My classes are back to back with only 2 10 minute breaks during the day. By the time I walk home, I am freaking exhausted.

After talking to a lot of people this year, this is the main reason I want out of this job. My co-workers are great. My boss is really nice. I say move on for greener pastures. I read job ads daily, and I am much wiser after 10 months here. I would never work these hours for the pay I get (2.3) again. It is insane.

If it doesn't leave you spent at the end of the day, then you keep on plugging away. I sure would. However, I would like to have the energy to walk down the street to grab bibimbap right now, but I just can't.

[D.D.]