Korean Job Discussion Forums

discostar23 · Joined: 22 Feb 2004 Location: getting the hell out of dodge

Ok I have been in my contract for six months. It is a crappy contract because I wasn't really all that informed when I signed it.

It was a brand new school so at first I was working ten classes a day, thats coming in at 9:30 and having only one hour break (besides lunch) then working to 7:30.

Then after three months my load was lighten a bit. I got to go home at 6:00 two days a week and only had to stay at school until 7:30 on one day.

Now this month (which has no holidays), they have added two more classes to my schedule so I am back again working until 7:30 with no breaks.

In my contract I am suppose to work 165 classes and this month I will have 178 classes. This is my third week and I am dying. My teaching has gone down hill because I don't have enough time to properly prepare for my classes (usually on my breaks I'm soo exhausted I practically fall asleep).

How do I tell my boss that I can't continue working under these conditions. There isn't another teacher who can take some of my classes because the only other For. Teacher is equally over worked. I have tried complaining about too many classes but it doesn't seem to get through to them.

Please help soooo tired...zzzzzzzz

Badmojo · Posted: Sun Jun 13, 2004 7:06 pm Post subject:

Discostar, you're crazy.

You're in bad shape. This is no way to live. Can you take six more weeks of this, let alone six months?

I'd tell them either you reduce the workload or I submit my thirty-day notice today.

That's it. There's nothing else.

Take a month off, come back, and find a more manageable situation.

jazblanc77 · Joined: 22 Feb 2004

Next time you sign a contract, make sure you find out what the definition of a working hour is. There are lots of schools like yours that put classes back to back with no breaks to try to make things look legitimate.

Most people out there are doing 50 minute classes plus a ten minute break and that is considered one teaching hour as it is calculated for your salary. You got screwed and your boss is just going to refer you back to your contract when you complain. I don't think there is anything you can do. Make an effort to "get through", but I really think that you're just going to be looking for a new job in the long run.

Poker-Guy · Joined: 25 May 2004 Location: Seoul

I second Bad Mojo's opinion.

Your boss is taking advantage of you. The day after your next payday calmly point out that you are being overworked. I also think you are being taken advantage of, but you might not want to say this to a Korean boss. If your employer respects you they will try to rectify the situation. However, foreign employees are often thought of as expendable in this country. Be ready to bolt!

Cheers and better luck next time.

ghostshadow · Joined: 27 Apr 2004 Location: Seoul

It really depends on the owner. If he/she is understanding then they will understand that you have too much of a load and you can't teach the children well and if that happens the parents would get mad and pull their child out which means that no money for the school. If you can explain this in a nice way they might understand.
If you do not believe that your owner is understanding then your screwed.. I only say this because they would think that the work load you have isn't that bad since Korean people usually have some crazy work hours due to lack of jobs for them. So your work load might not seem that much to them.

Good luck and I hope he/she will understand that the less hours you work from what you have now will make you a better teacher and more students that will pay to come to that school.

TheUrbanMyth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired

discostar23 · Joined: 22 Feb 2004 Location: getting the hell out of dodge

My recruiter led me to believe that its normal to work 110 hours in a month and that they would probably never make me work the full 165 class load (here is how it works out 165 forty minute classes= 110 hours).

My recruiter also said that Dave's Esl Cafe was very misleading and really is no help to anyone trying to find a job here (korea that is) Well hmmm who was misleading???

Bunnymonster · Joined: 16 Mar 2004 Location: Tokyo

try 184 classes a month then complain. That been my cross to bear for the past 4 months, be greatul you only have a six month contract mines for a full year. If only I could get a release.......................................

Son Deureo! · Joined: 30 Apr 2003

jazblanc77 · Joined: 22 Feb 2004

In the future, don't go with a recruiter! They aren't working for teachers, they are working for school directors.

Your recruiter misled you and then cut you off from the people on this board with lies so that you couldn't get the information you needed to be informed enough to sign a good contract. Yeah, there are lots of jaded people here, but there are also lots of helpful ones too!

By the way, I work 120 "teaching hours" per month but where this differs from you is that a teaching hour is defined as 50 minute classes with a 10 minute break. That works out to 100 hours of teaching time in a month and far fewer classes at only 120 per month. If you are working doing 165 classes back to back at 40 minutes each, you are working a total of (exactly), 110 hours, 10 hours more than me, and many others, and you have the extra load of 45 other classes.

Figure it out for yourself... you got screwed because you were uninformed when you signed your contract. You signed it; you live with it! Sorry! Sad

jazblanc77 · Joined: 22 Feb 2004

sadsac · Joined: 22 Dec 2003 Location: Gwangwang

Leave. Give your required notice and learn the lesson well, it's not all that it seems. All that additional work, are you being paid overtime? I do 120, 50 minute classes a month, thats plenty. Some lessons are tough on the individual. This is one of them. Smile

Poker-Guy · Joined: 25 May 2004 Location: Seoul

Bunnymonster · Joined: 16 Mar 2004 Location: Tokyo

1) My overtime rate is pretty decent

2) The school is not so bad, despite the workload I avoid most of the shit everyone else puts up with.

3)I didn't really realise what was meant my "Occasional overtime above the 140 classes may be required" part of the contract........

4) Waiting for a good time to give my notice...................... I'm not quite ready to move to Japan just yet (another 6-8 weeks though...)

But yeah laugh it up, remeber no matter how bad your shit is there is always someone who is worse off.......

hellofaniceguy · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: On your computer screen!

You live and learn.... schools in korea are NOT for education....they are a business.
Would you agree to teaching over 6 classes a day back home? I think not. Why do it in korea?
Next contract, only agree to 4/5 50 minute classes a day at a hakwon.
At universities? An average of 15 hours a week.
But, that does not solve the immediate problem you have.
I think the owner will not agree to make it easier for you. He will lose money. It'll be easier to replace you and thus saving him airfare and severance.
Many newbie's learned the hard way, so don't feel so bad. The point is to move up and get the best deal for you next time. Screw the hakwon owners. They do it to you. Not all, but most.