Korean Job Discussion Forums

[nikkyfirefly]

Hi everyone!

You guys have been amazing at helping me this past week with all my questions and concerns. I would really appreciate your input and feedback once more as I try to decide between two jobs. I am new to teaching but I have 2 years experience as manager for a team of 15 people in customer service and child care. I also recently completed my TESOL specialization in teaching children.

To make it easy I've put everything into point form and pros/cons. Both are private hagwons.

SCHOOL 1#
-Sanbon - 40-1 hour away from Seoul

Pros
-2.2 million won
-20,000 OT over 30 teaching hours
-10 hours admin/lesson planning etc
- schedule in contract 9:30 am- 6pm (2), -6:50pm (1), -7:50pm (2) current teacher says its more like 9:30-7
(feedback is from current teacher who's a first time teacher and has been Korea for 1 year)
-I'm not to sure how many classes (waiting for a response from current teacher)
-10-15 min walk to work
-decent apartment with all the amenities including air conditioning
-3 sick days after 6 months
-current teacher said that he's never had to stay later to prep
- 5 paid training days (70% of pay)
-larger chain hagwon that is more stable

Cons
-there have been 5-6 bad reviews online from forums and various blogs (grain of salt) stating over working and caring more about money and image
-bit of a strict curriculum but it does provide a framework to work from
-based on the contract could be long work days
-might have lots of classes per day (7- to teach
-farther from Seoul (I was hoping to join some local clubs- there would just be more options in Seoul but that doesnt mean I wouldn't find any. They're just not apparent on the internet)
-school more focused on making money then teaching kids (kinda of a widespread issue I know)
-spend more time pleasing parents (again common issue)
- staffs 5 teachers of which 3 are leaving and 2 finish their contracts in august and september (might renew not sure)


School #2
Seocho, Seoul

Pros
-school is very strict on english only in class so kids speak a higher level of english (feedback from current teacher who's been in Korea 2.5 years and this is 2nd job)
-school really cares about the success of its students and is very approachable with concerns
-director communicated very well in english during interview and was very welcoming (I instantly felt comfortable and I could sense she is really approachable)
-can do tutoring on the side for an extra 400,000 won per month on average (current teacher said he was almost doing his monthly wage in extra tutoring money)
-complete freedom in lesson planning and I would be specifically focusing on teaching science
-really low turn over rate --> 2 teachers stayed there for 7 years and just got recently replaced with 2 new ones, one has been there for 2 years and the one I talked to has been there for 1.5 years

Cons
-lower pay 2,100,000 won
- during intensive period teaching hours could go up to 40 hours with no OT and no OT for covering other teacher shifts last minute, even if it goes above normal hours
-no sick days
-schedule 10am- 6:30 pm (3) and 7pm (2) but very little time for breaks given that 8 classes need to be taught during that time
-breaks are 1 hour lunch spent with kindies and 40 minute prep time
-as a new teacher I would probably be staying longer in order to do lesson planning
-staff don't really socialize together (feedback from current teacher)
-contract very questionable- lots of holes
-smaller than average apartment that is 15-20 minute commute away
-return airfare ticket is held by the hagwon
-3 days training unpaid (current teacher said that there will likely be no training)


I have an idea about which position I want to go for but I still would love to get your feedback. What is the job market like in Korea? Are the above pretty standard for those areas? Should I refuse both and hold out?
Like I said, I'm pretty new to this so I'm unsure what my job expectations should be.

Thanks in advance!

[Feebie]

First one sounds pretty close to standard, and the better option. (I don't like the 70% pay in training but if all else seems okay it may be worth overlooking.)

The second? Run a mile.

* Less money (maybe not a major concern if all else was good.)
* No sick days (as above)
* Newbie extra prep time (unavoidable)
* No chance to socialise (could be an issue, unless you have the energy/personality to go out and meet people some other way. If the foreigners don't socialise at all you have to wonder why.)
* Small apartment/commute. This is starting to sound like a job I once had here. It can be nice to live a little away from the school. Jobs in Seoul often come with smaller places.

The bad:

*extra (unpaid) work twice a year in intensive periods, plus unpaid overtime to cover classes as needed. (Surely illegal?)

* no break to do with what you choose. (Definitely illegal.)

* you say the contract is full of holes. (Nuff said)

* Return airfare ticket is held by the hagwon (Run faster.)

* 3 days training unpaid (current teacher said that there will likely be no training) (Illegal)