Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Voyeur]

After reading posts about YBM and receiving an offer from Pagoda that seemed maybe even a bit misleading, I am curious to see if my calculations are right and what most people make per teaching hour.

Here are some quick calculations based on what I have seen offered and been offered (at first glance, not after negotiation, for say a teacher with good background and a year's experience - again, ballparking it)

For Full Time Work:

YBM's standard contract offers about 1.8 million for 90 hours a month + housing = 20,000 Won/hour + full housing (but very modest accomodations - probably ~19,000 / hr if you take their housing allowance instead).

Pagoda offered 18,000 / 50 minute class = 21,600/ class but only 100,000 won living allowance. Since accomodation likely costs you ~450,000 that brings you down to about 18,160 W / hour for a 120 class (100 hour)/month schedule.


Meanwhile for Kids

2.1 Million for 120 classes (100 hours and might not work right up to the maximum 100 hours) + FULL Housing. That works out to about 21,600 / hour and again, you very well might not be reqired to work every last hour of your 100 hour/120 class per month max.


Now, is it just me, or is full time kids teaching not more lucrative than full time adult teaching on the face of it? Remember the adult teachers are getting heinous split shifts on top of this. I thought split shifts were the premium paid for full time adult teaching but otherwise it was on par with kids teaching.

From what I have seen, privates or using agencies or direct corporate contracts and stringing together your own adult schedule from multiple sources at the standard 40,000 won / hour seem like the only way Adult teaching is on par with kids teaching financially. And then, only if you can work a nice schedule and really manage to cut down your travel time.

Any comments? What factors am I missing or did I get wrong?

[eamo]

If you're getting 2.2-2.3 plus a generous housing allowance (500,000) at a kiddie hagwon then factor in the severance and free flights......It's a nice earner!!!

I get a nice lunch everyday too. That saves a fair bit.

I looked at all the deals the adult institutes were offering the last time I was looking for a job and found them all to be not so attractive as kiddie hagwons.

Problem with kids hagwons is that they vary so much. Finding a good one takes luck and perspiration.

[Voyeur]

Problem being that these were the offers I was getting as an experienced teacher with a good resume and background from Pagoda and YBM vs. in many cases 1st year Hogwon offers.

It only takes 1.9 Million, 120 class / month maximum, and free housing - fairly standard to match or beat the Adult institutions in salary for the same teaching hours.

But then the adult places also have heinous split shifts to boot. And 2nd year or 3rd year Hogwon offers are probably at least 2.1 or 2.2 .

Most offer severance, air fare - adult or kids if you teach full time.

[Koreabound2004]

I teach about 60-70(50 min) classes a month for 1.8....is that good?

[Son Deureo!]

Voyeur, you're right, but there are a few things that don't quite fit into this equation.

First, how trustworthy are the kiddie hogwons? At both of the kiddie hogwons I worked for I did NOT get everything I was promised. At one my vacation was doled out one day a month (not even on weekends), got cheated out of mandatory overtime pay, the free apartment stank like open sewage, and my schedule had split shifts almost as bad as an adult hogwon. At the other my pay was cut, vacation time was taken away, and I had to threaten to call the Tax Office to get my last month's pay and severence. At both the bosses were horribly unprofessional abusive twits who micromanaged any possible joy out of teaching, constantly reacting to the last mommy's complaint.

I haven't had to deal with any of this nonsense at the adult hogwon I work for. For the most part, the management is sane and predictable. They do expect you to work, but they pay you what they promise.

Plus teaching children is a LOT more stressful than teaching adults, regardless of splits. Teaching adult conversation the teaching for the most part is actually quite pleasant.

Also, at the adult hogwon I work at, there are raises. I get quite a bit more than the 18,000/hr that you quote. And I have another raise coming up in two months. At the kiddie hogwons I worked for a raise seemed to be out of the question.

As for the figures you quote for rent, my experience has been different. In my second year, I get 300,000/mo for housing, and my rent is 400,000. I had to but down 5 mil of my own for key money, but so what? I get it back when I move out, and should anything happen between me and my hogwon I don't have to look for a home as well as a job.

Is it a step up from the kiddie hogwon? Yes and no. Splits really do suck dog balls, but that's not a bad price to pay for a more stable work environment. And in time, it does pay better.

[Real Reality]

[Homer]

[Real Reality]

Homer,

From my experience, my relevant teaching experience did not increase salary (or benefit) offers. My relevant teaching experience and relevant teaching certification did not influence salary (or benefit) offers.

[Homer]

That may be because you did not look in the right places or failed to negociate?

Since my second contract here, I have always gotten a raise and/or an improvement in work hours and conditions.

When I first arrived, I had 2 years of teaching experience back home and a Teachers liscence, this got me a better deal then other newbies.

Your experience will only be recognized if you present it and yourself professionally.

Some schools will offer better packages for experienced teachers. It is up to the teachers to find these schools through a little thing called an effective job search.

Now, if the OP has experience and is getting 2.2/2.4 offers I would say his experience is making a difference. You should not however expect a doubling in salary becauseyou have experience. It is all a question of being realistic and reasonable.

[Voyeur]

In terms oif background only a real teachers cert and experience in the west or MA really matter generally I find.

But experience teaching ESL in Korea does matter I find.

Sure if you stay at the same adult Hogwon for 2 years you can go from like 18k to 22 or 23 k a class in the third year but then you need a few years more just to catch up with the ground you already lost.

STRICTLY financially it does seem that if you get what is promised teaching kids full time beats teaching adults full time unless you have some kind of direct corporate training gig.

Of course exceptions abound.