Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Anasazi]

I'm looking at an offer from SLP Gwangmyeong. Has anyone had experience with this school? The contract looks mostly acceptable, from what I can tell, but it makes me a bit wary that they're willing to hire me without an interview. (If it matters, I'm white, female, and a US citizen.) Should this be flattering, or a warning sign?

For people feeling especially kindly - or bored - I've included the whole contract below. If you're feeling snappish and busy (but still generally helpful), would you check out the separation from employment section and workload sections? I'm not very good at catching things that might not work out well there.

Thanks!

A. GENERAL OBLIGATIONS

1. Supervision

Under the supervision of Director and Academic Director, the Teacher will work closely with the other staffs of the Institute in planning, observing, conducting and reviewing classes, and in consulting with students and their parents. As a member of the Institute, the Teacher will contribute to the cumulative resources of education dedicated to developing, implementing, and evaluating a comprehensive program for teaching English to Koreans.

The Teacher should follow the rules and standards instructed by the Institute and obey the laws, regulations, instructions, and ordinances of the national and local governments in Korea.


2. Performance Evaluations

As a general matter, the Teacher may be evaluated in writing or verbal comment by his or her supervisor. The Institute has the right to determine if a performance appraisal is needed on an monthly or more frequent basis. The evaluation will include a review of the Teacher��s job qualifications and performance, including but not limited to the quality of his or her work, knowledge of his or her job, job skills, attitude, working relations with co-workers and students/parents, initiative, attendance, punctuality, and/or disciplinary record. The review is designed to provide both the Teacher and his or her supervisors with time to discuss his or her strengths, weaknesses, career objectives and other concerns.

3. Separation From Employment

Employment elsewhere is strictly prohibited in accordance with Korean Immigration Law, thus will be considered to be a serious violation for immediate dismissal and will be automatically followed by official notice to Immigration Office. The lack of professional attitude such as tardiness, absence, negligence of preparing classes can also be a serious cause for possible dismissal.
In case the Teacher fails to complete the contract, the Teacher shall pay back to the Institute the actual amount of airfare and visa fee paid by the Institute.

B. WORKING CONDITIONS AND COMPENSATIONS

1. Workload

There are 12 work sessions in the one-year contract period. A session consists of 22-24 teaching days. The Employee will devote no less than 1 hour a day at the institute for lesson planning with co-teacher, student evaluation, reporting, consultation with parents, interviewing with new students, supervision of play, maintenance of the English environment during breaks, workshops, teachers�� meetings, and upgrading one��s professional knowledge and skills.

Any part of the Teacher��s workload can be converted into research and development work under his or her supervisor��s instruction as well as interview and consultation with students or their parents.

Staff meetings will be scheduled at the discretion of the Institute Director or Academic Director. Attendance is required. Staff meetings will allow time for discussion of topics of current concern within the program such as new policies, procedures, methods of training, instruction, curriculum, and other matters as needed. Staffs are encouraged to help work out practical solutions to problems at these meetings.

2. Work Schedule

The work week runs from Monday through Friday in monthly periods. The Teacher��s schedule will be assigned by the Institute Director and Academic Director.

3. Monthly Salary

The Institute will pay the Teacher the monthly salary in Korean currency on the last working day of each month as follows:

a. 28 teaching hours per week: 1,900,000 Won
(Even if the teacher has less hours than 28 teaching hours per week, the Institute should pay the monthly salary of 1,900,000 Won to the teacher.)

If a regular payday falls on a non-workday, the Teacher will be paid on the last workday immediately preceding the regular payday. Due to the nature of tuition collection on July and December that meet the Institute��s vacations, the Institute may split the Teacher��s payday into two; one before vacation, the other after vacation.
4. Overtime Payment

Overtime teaching is paid at the rate of 1.2 times of the regular pay beyond 28 teaching hours per week..


5. Withholdings and Deductions

Korean law requires the Institute to withhold national and local taxes from the Employee��s salary.


C. BENEFITS

1. Housing

The Institute will provide the Teacher with single accommodations. TV, refrigerator, washing machine, wardrobe, telephone, gas range, bed, sheets, blankets, pillow, dishes, silverware, etc. will be provided with housing. Utilities are not included and are responsibilities of the Teacher.

2. Medical Policy

The Medical bills will be shared (50/50) by the Institute and the Teacher.

3. National Pension Plan

In accordance with Korean Law all foreign workers employed by Korean businesses shall pay into the Korean National Pension plan at a rate of about 4.5% (or the ratio stipulated by the Korean National Pension Law) deducted from monthly earnings with the employer's contribution of about 4.5%
Refund of the National Pension to a teacher who becomes a compulsorily insured employee, where the Pension Act of the Teacher's home country provides the benefit corresponding to the lump-sum refund of the National Pension Plan, the lump-sum refund of this plan shall be paid to the foreigner, according to Korean Law.

4. Airfare
a. The Teacher hired out-country

The Institute shall pay round-trip airfare between the nearest International Airport from the Teacher's place applied and a major city in Korea. Round-trip airfare is provided only once. A one-way ticket will be provided to Korea and at the end of one's contract an one-way ticket to the port of the departure will be provided.

b. The Teacher hired in-country

The Employee hired in-country shall have the visa trip to Osaka, Japan (round-trip airfare) paid for by the Institute.

In case the Teacher fails to complete the contract at any reason, the Employee shall pay back to the Institute the actual amount of airfare and visa fee paid by the Institute.

5. Teacher Training

The Teacher shall have a period of training before starting to teach in the Institute. During the 5 day training period, and for the break between the training and the start of teaching, the Teacher will be in the Institute for classroom observation. The Teacher will receive briefings from the Academic Director, and will get acquainted with the local institute policies.

6. Paid Vacation

The Institute provides the Teacher with 12-15 working days of paid vacation benefits in one contract year to enable him or her to take time off for rest and recreation, and to enhance the efficiency of work as a teacher. Due to the concurrent nature of SLP��s management, the vacation will be scheduled on annual SLP academic calendar decided by the Institute and SLP headquarters of Sogang University. Besides, all of teachers should be off on all the Korean National Holidays

7. Completion Bonus

On completion of one's responsibilities of the full contract period, an additional month of regular salary per one year shall be paid as severance pay. If the Teacher, however, does not complete the full period of one year contract, none of the severance pay shall be paid according to Korean Labor Standard Law. Severance pay will be paid by bank transfer no later than 45 days after the Teacher has left the Institute. Korean severance tax will be withheld. Any outstanding debts will be subtracted from the severance pay.

The Institute reserves the right to terminate this agreement for cause with written notification sixty days in advance, and for serious cause without notice. The Teacher agrees to give written notification sixty days in advance of intention to terminate this agreement or of interest in renewing it.

The effective date of this contract is the first teaching day in the Institute. The period of this contract will be one year from . A delay in the Employee��s arrival at the school may call for renegotiation of the contract.

[Derrek]

Although chains can differ from school-to-school, I would suggest you read this information found on EFL-LAW, which contains a reference to SLP (Sogang Language Program).

http://www.efl-law.com/KETA.html

[Anasazi]

Thanks, Derrek, and everyone who sent me a pm. Everything was very helpful. (I don't think I'm going to take this one.)