Korean Job Discussion Forums

cubanlord · Joined: 08 Jul 2005 Location: In Japan!

Once you rate it, please tell us what you rated it at and why.

some waygug-in · Joined: 25 Jan 2003

My school is OK in some ways.....like I get paid, but there are certainly areas that are ..............in need of improvement.

I guess it's always hovering between a 3 and a 4. (possibly a 2 if the boss tries anymore weird stunts over the summer)

These days, one of my major complaints is that the boss won't turn on the AC for more than a few minutes at a time. Some of our classrooms are a good 10 degrees hotter than the outside temperature............uggg.

Other complaints............the boss won't bugger off and let me do my job.
If he would stop trying to micro-manage my classes, I think my life would be a lot easier and I would be able to get better results.

It would be nice if the school would invest a few thousand won into buying some teaching resources. It would even be nice if the teachers were given a copy of the textbook we are supposed to be teaching. Rolling Eyes

It would be nice if the boss would ask us what level textbooks are appropriate for the classes, and also it would be nice if the students were at least at about the same skill levels/age.

It really is frustrating trying to teach a class of 8-year-olds with a couple of 12-year-old kids thrown in.

There are other things as well, but that's what hagwans are all about.

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

Mine varies between a 7 and a 9. Yesterday for the first time in ages I felt like I had a "bad class", but had to remind myself that I had two really great classes, too. Most of the time it ranges from OK to supurb.

rothkowitz · Joined: 27 Apr 2006

5.Passing time.2 more months......

Due to tests I haven't had a class in 2 weeks.Though under the guise of "supervision" I've had to stay at school 9-5.

Hater Depot · Joined: 29 Mar 2005

5.

I am seriously considering starting a job search to find a school that doesn't try to screw me. I like my coworkers, love my students, and have a good schedule. But I won't stand for being cheated.

sadsac · Joined: 22 Dec 2003 Location: Gwangwang

I would go between a 7 - 9 on any given day. Good boss, great students, driver is a stupid bitch. I like the place, 2nd year now and then a nice long break. Smile

Rteacher · Joined: 23 May 2005 Location: Western MA, USA

My (high school) classroom is well-equipped, the head of the English department goes out of his way to help me, I'm popular with practically all students, and I make extra money with evening overtime classes (including elementary kids...)

There is still probably too much corporal punishment going on, and I've had some disputes over vacation days and pay...

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

I rated my high school a 4...I can't wait to change jobs.

I knew hakwons were bad, but I didn't expect the same silliness at a public high school, especially because I was told they had a new program. They didn't, unless you count bringing in a foreigner and then doing the same old thing counts as a 'new program'.

But the worst: They took the very low ability kids and those with behavior problems and gave them to me for 2 periods a day so they don't disrupt the science and math classes, etc. I didn't come here to lighten the burden of the Korean math department.

The administration is just as treacherous as any hakwon boss, interpreting the contract as they see fit.

The location of the school is kind of nice though.

Alyallen · Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2006 8:12 pm Post subject:

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

ilovebdt · Joined: 03 Jun 2005 Location: Nr Seoul

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

YBS, you might enjoy this:

Summer camp has just been announced. Out of the 120 boys in the school, they chose the 40 lowest (including the emotionally disturbed) and assigned them to me for the morning class (2 hours). (The afternoon will be with the better students.)

If anyone has any idea at all of what to do with this group, PLEASE let me know. I'm kind of in panic mode at this point.

Merlyn · Joined: 08 Dec 2004 Location: Korea

I voted Nine. I really can't complain with 16 hours a week, 2.4+ salary at a University, nice living accomodations on campus 2 mins walk from my work place. Great foreign teachers to work with. Working with my brother at the same place. Very close to Seoul. 2 months vacation summer and winter apart from a 3 week camp in one of those. I'd give it a ten if my hours were slightly more grouped together and no 1 camp.

VanIslander · Posted: Fri Jun 30, 2006 4:30 am Post subject:

Crazy eight.

jacl · Joined: 31 Oct 2005

I rated it a 7. There are things that annoy me that would at other places. Pay is on time. I don't like the spying that goes on, but am not at all worried about what anyone does or thinks. I have to rip into someone every so often. I'm left alone at my job, but students can be irritating when they speak Korean.

I'm pretty sure that my boss isn't paying taxes. Last contract, he deducted 3.7% on a 2.2 salary, but I had plenty of OT that was not taxed. This contract, I'm getting deducted the proper rate (49,000 something) and I have a new OT job that starts next week early in the moring on Tuesdays and Thursdays (6:30-8 am) at a big company. It pays 30,000/hr (90,000/wk) and my base pay is 2.3 plus an extra 100,000/month for the first 10 months for not flying home. I get medical and pension (and benefit 103,500/month from that this contract and 98,550 last contract - it's building up). Got my severence and the end of last contract. There are 3 teachers plus my boss. No pressure for reports or testing. I could choose to not do either and just smile.

I live in the boonies a bit though and sometimes I have to get out from climbing the walls and go blow too much money in Seoul or the nearest town. Apartment is spacious with separate bedroom and kitchen.

Next month I will clear 2,763,100. On my regular shift (2-9) I have a total of 29 fifty-minute teaching hours. On MWF, the van picks me up at 1:45 and drives me home at 8:50. On TTh, the van picks me up at 2:15 and drives me home at the same time. So, I'm only at the school for a total of 34 hrs/wk. I can do whateve I like during my free time at the hagwon.

If I don't take all my vacation, I get compensated for it.

What irritates me the most is the lack of lifestyle and the ignorance of Korean staff. And the lack of respect from some children. Those things are pretty minor though.

It's a pretty easy job.