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euphony
Joined: 05 Nov 2009
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 Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 6:54 am Post subject: Should the Boss Pay |
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Hey Guys,
So I want to get one of those online TOEFL certifications. I know the online ones aren't as good as the in-class ones but I have a good job and I don't want to take off for a month and lose it. Some of my friends who don't teach in Korea have suggested that I try and ask my boss to pay for this course. Do you think I should risk rocking the boat and ask the hagwon to pay? I would feel guilty asking since the foreigners get paid so much over here. I am going to take the class whether the hagwon pays or not but, of course, I would prefer not to pay. I think it�s a long shot but I thought I might ask if anyone here thinks it�s possible the hagwon would pay. Also, does anyone have any recommendations on where to get certified?[/img] |
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oskinny1
Joined: 10 Nov 2006
Location: Right behind you!
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| Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 7:04 am Post subject: |
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| Maybe you can ask if the hogwon offers/rewards career development and let him know that you want to become a better teacher. With this training you will be able to work better with the students which will translate as better business for the boss. |
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sugarkane59
Joined: 10 Jun 2009
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 7:22 am Post subject: |
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| My hunch is that it'll probably be a no. I wouldn't even ask at my hagwon - I'd be embarrassed. They don't really care about career development, they just want you as you are! |
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Chambertin
Joined: 07 Jun 2009
Location: Gunsan
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| Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 7:25 am Post subject: |
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First off I would not recommend you listen to your friends.
Reasons:
A.) Do you plan to work at this school for multiple contracts?
B.) Do you want the extra weight a payment and time off cycle will bring to your teaching performance?
C.) This is Korea, that is not Korea, so their advice is biased to a different set of norms.
If you want to find out more about your school then it is a great idea to ask about re-imbursement policies. It should be classroom materials, and other things that you buy in the process of day to day teaching, if it isn�t all available at school.
Second you can get into how to handle repairs and other major costs tied to the apartment or travel issues, if you ever have to travel for the school.
Third you can ask if there are any programs for education like learning Korean.
If you don�t care about the amount of trouble and the long term commitment you are undersigning for then you can even ask about re-imbursement for furthering your education on the schools time and dime.
Even in the states I would look twice at a contract employee asking, hell even nonchalantly inquiring about re-imbursement for education. If they did ask I would make damn sure they planned on sticking it out with our company for the long haul as to recoup the investment I made in them.
Over here I can only assume that they would get the impression they own you after they paid for any education past basic Korean. I strongly suggest you leave the American advice in America.
Basic difference is the systems in america have balances aginst someone taking the free ride and then bailing, often in Asia they look at this as an fast opportunity to purchace a life time employee and will haunt you for a long time if you decide to change jobs. Just my observation though.
However if someone works for the government in a public school things could be quite different and I have too little experience or second hand knowledge to tell you not to ask about it seriously. However lead up to it with the stages previously mentioned. |
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Michelle
Joined: 18 May 2003
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| Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 10:04 pm Post subject: |
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| Chambertin wrote: |
First off I would not recommend you listen to your friends.
Reasons:
A.) Do you plan to work at this school for multiple contracts?
B.) Do you want the extra weight a payment and time off cycle will bring to your teaching performance?
C.) This is Korea, that is not Korea, so their advice is biased to a different set of norms.
If you want to find out more about your school then it is a great idea to ask about re-imbursement policies. It should be classroom materials, and other things that you buy in the process of day to day teaching, if it isn�t all available at school.
Second you can get into how to handle repairs and other major costs tied to the apartment or travel issues, if you ever have to travel for the school.
Third you can ask if there are any programs for education like learning Korean.
If you don�t care about the amount of trouble and the long term commitment you are undersigning for then you can even ask about re-imbursement for furthering your education on the schools time and dime.
Even in the states I would look twice at a contract employee asking, hell even nonchalantly inquiring about re-imbursement for education. If they did ask I would make damn sure they planned on sticking it out with our company for the long haul as to recoup the investment I made in them.
Over here I can only assume that they would get the impression they own you after they paid for any education past basic Korean. I strongly suggest you leave the American advice in America.
Basic difference is the systems in america have balances aginst someone taking the free ride and then bailing, often in Asia they look at this as an fast opportunity to purchace a life time employee and will haunt you for a long time if you decide to change jobs. Just my observation though.
However if someone works for the government in a public school things could be quite different and I have too little experience or second hand knowledge to tell you not to ask about it seriously. However lead up to it with the stages previously mentioned. |
Hi There,
What haunting can a hagwon really do?
The answer will likely be no unless they are a pretty professional outfit.
After all it is their profit margin, they may not see an increase in business with a better qualified teacher.
Always ask though in the interest of encouraging this development. |
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Big Mac
Joined: 17 Sep 2005
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| Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 4:59 am Post subject: |
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I agree that a hogwan is not interested in your career development. That is your responsibility.
Don't even ask. The person who said that the advice your friends are giving you would not apply in Korea was right. |
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Chambertin
Joined: 07 Jun 2009
Location: Gunsan
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| Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 6:41 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| What haunting can a hagwon really do? |
Generally none.
However there is a piece of advice I live by: "Never piss people off who have lots of time or lots of money."
If they have lots of time, they can haunt you as far as their anger lasts. It�s nothing to them to track you down through government channels accessible to them as an employer of foreigners.
If they have lots of money it is even worse, but most likely equal. They make who ever has free time under their employ track you down. 50-50 chance here. If they are angry and energized then it is worse, if they are angry and lazy then it is better.
Still there is someone tracking you down, and if they find you they have money to make a bigger and more immediate difference than time.
Think down the road more than your next step when you ask questions like this. Think down the road in years if you ever decide to take an offer like this. That advice applies in any and every country.
Bottom line, in America, worth looking at.
In Korea, not worth your time at a Hagwon.
That�s the furthest I can take this, so say what you want to say I stand by that. |
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