|
Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
bradshaw
Joined: 13 Feb 2007
|
 Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 2:42 pm Post subject: questions for the current teachers |
 |
|
| I'm in the process of accepting a position at a school in SK. The recruiter has answered all of my (millions) of questions much to my satisfaction, and I've been given the contact information of a few employees at the school. What are the best questions to ask your potentially future coworkers? To those of you who have been at your schools for a while, what are some questions you WISH you had asked your coworkers about the school before you signed the contract? Thanks guys! |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
|
| Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 3:38 pm Post subject: Re: questions for the current teachers |
|
|
| bradshaw wrote: |
| I'm in the process of accepting a position at a school in SK. The recruiter has answered all of my (millions) of questions much to my satisfaction, and I've been given the contact information of a few employees at the school. What are the best questions to ask your potentially future coworkers? To those of you who have been at your schools for a while, what are some questions you WISH you had asked your coworkers about the school before you signed the contract? Thanks guys! |
Public or private school. Many of the relevant questions are different.
If it is a hakwon please let me quote from one of my much earlier posts!
Talk to MORE THAN ONE of the foreign staff and ask POINTED AND SPECIFIC QUESTIONS (*when the boss is NOT listening over their shoulder).
-What are the hours? (start time / stop time / breaks).
-How many classes per day, week, month? NOT hour many hours per month. 30 classroom hours can mean anything from 1350 -1800 minutes per week standing in front of the class. The difference can be up to 7.5 HOURS in front of the class EACH WEEK.
-Do they ALWAYS pay on time?
-Do they pay at the end of your month or do they have a hold back period (5-10 days after your month end) to prevent runners? (no=red flag 1)
-Do they really pay overtime or avoid it with creative book keeping?
-Do you get credit for classes on the national holidays or do you get the day off but still have to work your 120 hours before you get overtime? (no=red flag 2)
-Do they have national medical (with the little booklet)? (no=red flag 3)
-Do they pay into pension? (no=red flag 4)
-What about the holidays? 10 or more WORKING days? (legal requirement here) (no=red flag 5)
-When and how do you get your holidays?
-What extra stuff do you really have to do - mentioned or not in the contract.
-Then consider the quality of life issues - things that are important to you that aren't mentioned here (housing, furnishings, THE BATHROOM, access to recreational facilities, shopping, banking).
Do they take additional deposits in addition to the delay in payday? (yes=red flag 6)
Most newbies are all starry-eyed when they do their interview and DON'T ASK the right questions then get burned when they get here.
OPEN your eyes, take a deep breath. Your job won't disappear if you don't answer today. It will still be there next week. There are 100's of new jobs listed every week. Take the time to check it out properly.
A year in hakwon hell is a long time.
DON'T take my word for it. Ask some of the runners!
Don't check and you will get burned!!! It is a promise!!!
. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
wylies99
Joined: 13 May 2006
Location: I'm one cool cat!
|
| Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 3:45 pm Post subject: |
|
|
First, don't trust your recruiter. They've never worked at that hogwan.
I once did a phone interview with a "current teacher" who said (first words out of her mouth) "Are you willing to do things that are illegal?"
That was a SHORT interview.
With all of the crap going on at hogwans, you MUST assume the worst going in and be VERY careful.
If it's a hogwan, ask the teacher where he went to college, and how long they've taught in Korea. Find out about the teacher- the one giving you the info- before you ask about the school.
If he/she tells you something like "I went to a small college, and you never heard of it"- they didn't go to college, and the school hires ANYONE.
If the teacher has never worked anywhere else, that's another red flag. The school may be running newbies through the place, and cheating them out of pay/benefits. It's easier for hogwan to cheat newbies.
Also, ask if there have been ANY runners. Even one is a VERY bad sign.
Ask about extra, unpaid work that has been added since that teacher started working at that hogwan.
If all the teacher wants to talk about are bars, drinking, drugs, and other stupid stuff, watch out. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
