Korean Job Discussion Forums

[RobotTeacher]

Anyone know anyone who's taught there? Apparently no foreign teacher left to talk to.

Feeling kinda freaked out at this point. Contract reads like a "what not to sign" example.....

Kicker was being asked, before I signed the contract, what about teaching saturday classes....one of the clauses clearly states "No saturday classes"

[BigBlackEquus]

What does the contract say? Post the things that bother you.

My guess is that the contract reads badly because the previous teacher ran off or something. Or they had a bad egg, or someone they treated poorly.

Tell them straight how you feel about Saturdays. They had better offer extra pay for those classes, to the tune of at least 30,000 to 35,000 won per hour -- not dependent on if you have not reached the base hours worked, either. They might simply be asking if you want some OT, or if you are open to the idea.

It is prudent to be cautious, in any case.

[RobotTeacher]

Schedule

1. Working hours are as follows: 9;00-5;00 pm, Monday to Friday and shall not work on Saturdays, Sundays and any National Holidays of Republic of Korea.
2. If needed, the teacher can request to leave the premise of the school during working hours and should consult with a supervisor beforehand.
3. Actual in-class instruction hours are set for 24, 50 min classes per week and any additional classes exceed these number of classes due to supplementary class instruction, the teacher is entitled to get paid Over-Time at a rate of 20,000 Korean Won for each 50 min. class after 24 classes. The teacher has a right to refuse any over-time duty that exceed more than (37) class time.


(I don't have the right to refuse until I'm at a 30 + hour work week)

3~6 % tax deduction will be withheld by the Korean Government. Over time rate for each hour will be 20,000won but the teacher has the right to refuse overtime.

(Or do I?)

1. The school agrees to provide the teacher a round trip ticket.
2. Initial airfare to Korea will be reimbursed to the teacher upon submitting the receipt of the ticket and at the end of the contract the school will purchase the return ticket to the teacher.
3. For a local hire, the school will provide a cost for a visa run to other country for the teacher to obtain a proper working visa.
4. However, in the event the teacher fails to complete the full contract term, he or she will reimburse the school the cost of the said airfare.

(So, I'm being hired in country, do I get a plane ticket home at the end like the promise was?)


Instructor's duties

A. The teacher shall not behave in any manner, which may damage or tarnish the reputation of the teaching profession. The teacher shall comply with and observe any codes of conduct applicable to Korean teachers.

B. The teacher shall not engage in any other job (including a part-time job) during the term of employment

C. The teacher shall not be involved in any activities, which may cause harm to the students or be of detriment to the reputation of the school.

D. At no times should the teacher display any misconduct towards the students

E. The teacher has to help the Korean English teachers to improve the English conversation

(E - Apparently sounds like I get to teach the Korean teachers to speak english.....am I doing this for free?)

As well, this contract does NOT stipulate the following.


"GOVERNING LANGUAGE AND LAW
1 - This contract has been dran up and executed in the Korean language,
and the Korean language version of this contract will govern over any
translation thereof.
2 - Details of this contract can be changed in accordance to the
governing laws and regulations of the Republic of Korea.
3 - The Korean language version of this contract will be signed by both
the employer and the teacher.
4 - The employer certifies that this English language version is a
direct and faithful translation of the Korean language version."


Now, bear in mind I've already been asked to teach 1 out of every 3 saturdays as a "special program"

[UncleAlex]

I'd be wary about teaching at a school where a foreign teacher did the
midnight run, especially in Chollanam-do province where society is much
more closed and biased against us than farther up north. I taught at a
girls' high school in GwangJu a few years ago and suffered much subtle
forms of discrimination and exploitation, although I bit the bullet and stuck
it out. I heard from a friend of mine that the teacher who had replaced me
took off during Chusok of that year. I guess the school tried to take much
advantage of her too. This abrupt request, or more precisely demand, to
teach on Saturdays indicates that the school will try to sponge out of you
as much as it can for no extra cost in salary. Before you know it, you'll be
conducting teachers' classes and asked to help out in the English drama
programme after school with no overtime pay which the Korean English
teachers get. Get it straight from the high school now what it is it exactly
wants you to do, and lay your cards on the table so you don't have to go
through the hassle of a midnight run or obtaining a Release Letter.

[Mr. Pink]

I have a few things to say:

1) 20k per overtime class is TOO low. Get that upped.
2) It should say you can refuse any overtime after you have done your 24hrs. 37hrs? WTF is that? That would kill me. I don't even know if that is humanly possible, as you would be teaching in an exhausted state which leads to bad teaching.

Other than that the other things are take em or leave em type things.

[BigBlackEquus]

Respectfully... hell no. This is nothing more than a hagwon job with many, many more students and a long day.

That contract leaves you wide open to be worked to death with little to show for it.

Even the bare-minimum base is too many hours. 24 is a lot for a high school. And that clause saying up to 37 hours, or whatever... no way.

Most high school contracts out there are from between 18 to 22 hours per week during the same 9 to 5 time slot. And after that, the OT kicks in.

Personally, I would pass this one up. There are better high school gigs out there. Let some sucker take it. As was mentioned, this school is already pushing, and you haven't even signed the contract yet. This place will push, and assume, and push, and push some more. I've seen it before. It is the Korean way. Bosses and jobs like this are best avoided unless you enjoy a fight.

And yes, the OT would have to be 35,000 won per hour to be worthwhile to me. That is what the Korean teachers make for OT. Don't allow yourself to be bullied into the "but the Korean teachers must stay here and do a lot more work/extra jobs before they qualify for the OT."

They do, but they also get a guarenteed pay raise on a scale which blows away anything you will likely ever get as a foreigner. They have job security. You have none, past your contract.

Don't walk. Run.