Korean Job Discussion Forums

[nrvs]

after one bad experience and one REALLY bad experience with two recruiters (which is another post in and of itself), i'm so happy to have actual schools calling me on the phone.

but:

the first school says i've got to be there from 9:30 to 6:30 monday/wednesday/friday, and 9:30-2:30 on tuesday and thursday. that's 37 hours, when i'll only be teaching for 30. what happens during the rest of the time? the director said that prep time is "on your own time," so i'm not sure what they expect me to do during those 7 unpaid hours. the director seemed desperate for a teacher, but these hours don't sound like something that's so negotiable.

likewise, the other school is 10am-6pm monday/tuesday/thursday and "only until 4 or 5pm" wednesday and friday. that's 36 hours a week, 6 hours unpaid.

i see plenty of jobs that are 2-8 or 3-9 or 4-10, which are the best hours ever, but those don't seem to be writing or calling me back so readily.

are these kind of unpaid hours standard in the hagwon industry? or should i diss these two schools and hold out for better offers?

[I_Am_Wrong]

those other 7 hours are your prep time and meeting time. you just won't be paid for them...meaning "on your time".

it's standard practise to not be paid for your prep time...I'm assuming this is a hagwon? Prepping for hagwon classes is really easy if they have set curriculum. The hours of that first job don't sound too bad to me at all, especially if you live within a 5-10 minute walk from the hagwon. My job, on the other hand, is turning to real shit at the moment...but that's for another post.

[Grotto]

Tell them that you want x amount of classes per day lasting x amount of minutes.

When they expect you to be at the school 37 hours a week you will probably end up teaching 8-11 classes a day

Pick what hours you want and stay firm.

Any hours over 30 per week at the school should be overtime hours.

If they want you at the school 37+ hours a week then they should pay for it.

Standard right now is 2.0 mil for 30 hours a week and that includes prep time.

Remember many hogwans lie in wait with a tub of vaseline in one hand and they are not afraid to use it!

[some waygug-in]

I agree with Grotto. It sounds to me like they will be trying to sneak in a few extra classes in on your "free time" after you have started. I may be wrong, but that's exactly what happened to me.

If they don't have enough students to set a firm schedule, you may want to be looking elsewhere anyway.

Best of Luck.

[nrvs]

i'm getting some hilarious offers from the recruiters today

"*operating hours : 9:40~7pm teaching hours 27,5 hours per week"

is my favorite so far. i wonder what happens during the 20 unpaid hours i have to sit around at the school? "i think you leave early most day!" consoles the recruiter. right.

[JAMZ]

i spend alot of time just sitting around at my school. i only have 15 contact hours and probably 10hrs max of prep time... but i'm here about 35 hours a week. i'm not really complaining though.

[manlyboy]

Does anyone get paid for prep time? I don't know anyone who does.

[Sarah-in-Korea]

I work at a high school from 8.40am-4.40pm (40 hours a week) but only teach 24 classes a week. The rest of the time is prep time, grading workbooks (about 4 hours a week), meetings, lunch breaks etc, but I don't get paid for it. It's worth it to do a 9-5 job tho, better than starting and finishing late IMO. Jobs here work on a 'per class' payment, but of course you need to put more effort into your job than just those actual hours. How many jobs are by the hour back home, unless you are a temp? 7 hours extra a week is ok, just don't let them slip in extra classes in that time.

SiK

[Paji eh Wong]

[Toby]

Find a friend to stay with or somewhere cheap to stay.

Do privates.

You choose your own hours and earn much more money.

There are sites with so many privates on it is easy to get started.

Then, find a public school that will sponsor your visa and will pay you 30k an hour for teacing in the afternoons.

Soon adds up.

[Juggertha]

[justagirl]

How about 4 days a week (Mon-Thurs) from 3-9 pm?

Come in to the school by 2:30 each day, except for the weekly meeting which is at 2 pm.

So, 96 teaching hours and 3-day weekends.

What would be acceptable pay for a first-year teacher at this job? It's not in Seoul and has all the normal perks like housing, airfare, severance, pension, health care, etc.

[Toby]

[T-dot]

got you all beat.

contract 120 net hours, so they actually mean 160-170 hours (you cant leave the school) a month because you dont fulfill the "net" hours.

[Toby]