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First time ESL teacher

 
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jnsil



Joined: 08 Dec 2006
Location: The States

PostPosted: Sat Dec 09, 2006 7:30 pm    Post subject: First time ESL teacher Reply with quote

Hi, hi. I hope that there is someone kind enough to give my very first contract offer a once over and let me know what kind of things I'm missing. It is a small hagwon and they have a few things going for them: 1. All of their teachers have been there for a couple of years 2. The teachers that I emailed said that they were always paid on time and the school is good to work for. However, some aspects of the contract seem stiff and I don't appreciate the inconsistancy. Let me know what you think? Please? I'll bake you cookies.

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I. EMPLOYMENT OF TEACHER

1. Within the parameters of Korean Labor Law, Employer hereby employs Teacher to teach ESL classes under the terms and conditions set forth here in this Agreement.

2. Within the parameters of Korean Labor Law, Teacher hereby accepts employment from Employer to teach ESL under the terms and conditions set forth here in this Agreement.

II. QUALIFICATIONS

Teacher must be judged qualified to teach and be able to submit all the necessary documents required by the hiring procedure of the Institute.

III. PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT

2. From time to time Teacher may be required or requested to teach outside and apart from the place of employment.

IV. DUTIES OF TEACHER

1. During the term of this Agreement, Teacher will accept, obey, and strictly comply with the instructions, supervision, training and discipline of the Academic Supervisor. These duties will include instruction in any and all phases of the instructional program, administrative duties related to the classroom duties, lesson planning, attendance at scheduled staff meetings and workshops and any other duties as may be assigned by the Academic Supervisor. Teacher will be required to participate in the Institute's activities such as parties, sports day on Saturday once a month. The Academic Supervisor is responsible for establishing the environment necessary for work and lecture.

2. Any time worked over 30 hours per week is deemed overtime. Only classroom contact hours in excess of over 30 hours per week approved by the Academic Supervisor are considered overtime. Attendance at scheduled staff meetings, counseling for feedback, lesson planning and workshop are not considered overtime nor teaching hours.

3.Teacher must inform Academic Supervisor of any necessary changes in classroom or hours.

4. In the event that Teacher must miss classes or be late with a reason which Employer finds acceptable, Teacher must inform Employer at least 12 hours in advance to allow Employer to arrange substitutes.

5. Teacher should submit lesson plans to the Academic Supervisor regularly.

6. Teacher is not allowed to perform ESL instruction outside the designated classroom without prior approval from Employer.

7. Teacher must not make public, information that the Teacher obtains at the institute while working or after resigning.

8. Teacher shall not accept any outside employment whatsoever, without specific written permission from Employer.

9. At all times during the term of this Agreement, Teacher understands and agrees that Teacher will strictly adhere to and obey all laws, regulations, provisions, instructions and guidance from the Government of Korea or any local government of officials.

10. Teacher will be present at the place of employment and available to perform regular or special duties as specified herein above except for those days (which are Teacher's regular of assigned holidays, Teacher's paid vacation days, emergency leave days for Teacher as provided herein below and in case that Teacher is not able to attend the place of employment due to illness or accident).

11. For marketing purposes, the teacher�s profile (including name) may be placed on a brochure or Internet, etc.

12. Teacher is required to come to S.O.T 30 minutes prior to the first scheduled class.

V. COMPENSATION AND OTHER TREATMENT OF TEACHER

1. Salary

Employer will pay Teacher 2.05 won,as compensation for all services rendered. Payment for employment will be calculated every month and be made in won.

This salary will be paid on the 10th day of every month. The Teacher�s salary begins upon first workday after arrival at S.O.T. Korean income tax (3.4%) and National Pension plan (4.5%) will be deducted from the Teacher�s salary. Teacher�s salary determines the actual amount to be deducted as per Korean won. Under no circumstances will pay be withheld from the Teacher.

2.Teaching hours

A class over 50mins will be calculated as one hour

A class less than 50mins will be calculated by the sum of the working hour of month

3. Overtime

If the Employer requires the Teacher to work in excess of 30 hours per week such overtime or extra hours shall be paid for, in addition to the monthly salary, at the rate of 16,000 Korean won per hour.

4.Paid Vacation

Preschool teacher will receive 1 week summer vacation and 1 week winter vacation as scheduled by school�s plan.

Vacation days will include Saturday and Sundays.

Regular class teacher will receive 10 days vacation. 10 days will include Saturday

and Sundays. (Vacations can be spread out over a period of time)

If Korean National holidays and those days which S.O.T closes intentionally

are included within, are as part of vacation time, they will be counted as vacation days.

Vacation times must first be approved by Employer.

5. Paid Holidays

Teacher will observe holidays as prescribed in a yearly calendar by Korean law.

6. Housing

Teacher will have his/her own bedroom and share a kitchen, a living room and a

bathroom . Furnishings provided by the employer include the following : share a TV, a

bed, a gas stove, a refrigerator, a fan and a washing machine. Housing shall be equipped with western-style toilet. If teacher finds furnished housing, S.O.T School does not provide extra furnishing.

Teacher is required to pay the cost of monthly service, utility and telephone charges, for

the accommodation provided. Employer will deduct the last month�s charges from the

deposit of 250,000 Won which is deducted from the teacher's salary as in clause 11

below.

7. Transportation and Travel expenses

Employer will provide Teacher with a one way economy class ticket from the original departure to Korea. In the event that Teacher completes the full contract, Employer will provide Teacher with another one way economy class ticket from Korea to the point of hire at the time of termination of employment. If Employer and Teacher both agree to an extension of employment, the return air ticket will be provided at the time of completion of the subsequent contract period

8. Severance pay

Severance pay, equivalent to one-month salary, will be provided to the Teacher upon completion of one year contract.

9. Medical Insurance

Teacher will be covered by medical benefits under the Korean Medical Union (Government Health Organization). The cost of this insurance will be paid half by the Employer and half by the Teacher. The amount that the Teacher pays will be approximately 1.7 percentage of salary, but the percentage can be changed by Korean Law.

10. National Pension Plan

In accordance with Korean Law all foreign workers employed by a Korean business shall pay into the Korean National Pension plan at a rate of 9% monthly upon your salary. However, Teacher will pay only half, at a rate of 4.5% and Employer will pay the remainder.

11. Deposit

Employer will deduct 200,000 won as deposit from the first salary as a compensation for any damage or loss by Employee, and any unpaid utility fees or bills. The remainder of the deposit will be given to the Employee upon the completion of the contract.

VI. INSTRUCTION FEE DEDUCTIONS

1. In case of an absence, the amount equivalent to 1/20 of one month salary will be deducted from the Teacher's instruction fee. A substitute teacher for the absent teacher will receive the instruction fees, but Employer will not regard the substitute teaching as overtime.

2. Teacher has to be punctual to classes. Three times of being late will be considered one

absence.

3.When teacher quit his/her work in six months, teacher needs to pay back the all the inviting expense including airfare, agent fee, etc


VII. PENALTIES

Employer may penalize Teacher when Teacher violates the contract.

The penalties are as follows:

1. Warning

Teacher shall be reprimanded and must submit a written apology.

2. Retraining

Employer shall stop Teacher from teaching and retrain the Teacher when necessary.

3.Absent without notice

When teacher is absent without notice, pay for two days will be deducted.

VIII. DISMISSAL

Employer will have the right to dismiss Teacher for clear and frequent neglect of duties under this agreement. When appropriate, prior to any such dismissal, Teacher will be warned of dissatisfaction with performance and will be afforded at least twenty days in which to remedy the same. Criminal or other conduct inside or outside the place of employment that would at the discretion of the Academic Supervisor seriously jeopardize any student or staff person, or the reputation of Employer, will cause immediate dismissal and neither warning nor time for remedy will be given. In the event of dismissal, Employer will provide a letter of release to the teacher, as required by Korean Immigration.

IX. VOLUNTARY RESIGNATION

In the event that Teacher voluntarily resigns prior to the termination of the term of this Contract:

1. Employer will not sign the letter of release form currently required by the KOREAN IMMIGRATION OFFICE to allow the Teacher to work for another organization in Korea.

2. Teacher shall not receive return airfare to the point of original departure.

3. Teacher shall owe the amount of the original airfare to Employer.

4. Employer may assess the loss done by such an act and charge such amount to Teacher.

5. The value of any extra benefits allowed by Employer beyond the contract requirements may also be assessed as a loss.

X. RENEWAL OF CONTRACT

1. Employer and Teacher may renew the contract for the period of one year.

2. Teacher shall notify Employer of the Teacher's intention of renewing the contract in writing at least 60 days prior to the termination date of contract.

3. Employer shall notify Teacher of their decision in writing at least 60 days prior to the termination date of contract.

4.Pay will be negotiated according to teacher�s accomplishment of his/her teaching year.

XI. TERMINATION OF CONTRACT

Employer reserves the right to terminate this contract for cause with written notification sixty days in advance and for serious cause without notice. In such a circumstance, Employer will provide teacher with letter of release

Penalties stipulated when :

1. Teacher is found to be in breach of contract.

2. Teacher is involved in a bad scandal that may tarnish the reputation of Employer.

3. Other circumstances for which Teacher is responsible make it undesirable for Employer to continue employment.

4. Unexcused absence occurs more than twice in a two month period.

5. Employer concludes that Teacher cannot perform class activities, or lacks the qualities necessary to be an effective teacher.

6. The documents submitted to Employer are proved to be counterfeited.

XII. EMPLOYER PROPERTY

Teacher must return the following items when the contract terminates :

1. All the things that Employer has rented or lent to Teacher.

2. All the money lent to Teacher.

3. Teaching materials.

4. Reference books owned by Employer.

5. Any other property owned by Employer.

XIII. COVENANTS

1. Teacher hereby agrees, covenants that Teacher will not undertake any teaching or employment with any people or organizations other than Employer without prior written approval. Failure to comply with this clause will cause immediate dismissal.

2. Teacher hereby agrees, covenants that at all times during the term of this agreement or subsequent to the termination of the agreement, Teacher will not use the name of Employer for business purpose.

XIV. INDEMNIFICATION CLAUSE

1. Teacher will indemnify and hold harmless Employer from any damages which Teacher may sustain, in any manner through the misconduct or negligence of Teacher.

2. Teacher will indemnify and hold harmless Employer and Employer's representatives from any damages which Teacher may sustain, in any manner, through the refusal by The Government of Korea to permit entry to the republic.

3. When Teacher terminates the contract unilaterally, without a reason which Employer finds acceptable, Teacher must compensate Employer for all the expenses in finding another Teacher. In that case, Teacher�s instruction fee will be automatically withheld.

4. Employer may assess the loss done by Teacher and charge such amount onto Teacher.

XV. GOVERNING LANGUAGE

This agreement has been drawn up and has been executed in the English language and the

English language text of this agreement will govern and prevail over any translation.

XVI. MERGER CLAUSE

This agreement constitutes the entire understanding between the parties with respect to the subject matter and supersedes all previous negotiations, commitments and writings with respect. This contract nullifies and voids any previous contract between the two parties.

XVII. GOVERNING LAW & JURISDICTION

This agreement will be interpreted according to the domestic laws of Korea. A competent court in Korea will have jurisdiction in regard to any dispute or claim arising out of, or in connection with, this agreement. Employer and Teacher have executed this agreement on the date indicated below. Intending to be legally bound and IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Employer and Teacher have appended their signatures.

====

Thank you kindly.
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ttompatz



Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea

PostPosted: Sat Dec 09, 2006 7:46 pm    Post subject: Re: First time ESL teacher Reply with quote

jnsil wrote:
Hi, hi. I hope that there is someone kind enough to give my very first contract offer a once over and let me know what kind of things I'm missing. It is a small hagwon and they have a few things going for them: 1. All of their teachers have been there for a couple of years 2. The teachers that I emailed said that they were always paid on time and the school is good to work for. However, some aspects of the contract seem stiff and I don't appreciate the inconsistancy. Let me know what you think? Please? I'll bake you cookies.


This should have been posted in the contract review thread to get a good reply but I will add in my 20 won worth here.

2.Teaching hours
A class over 50mins will be calculated as one hour
A class less than 50mins will be calculated by the sum of the working hour of month


This is great if you are working 50 minute classes (120 per month) but if you are working the kindy classes you could end up with as many as 180 classes per month for the same money.

3. Overtime
If the Employer requires the Teacher to work in excess of 30 hours per week such overtime or extra hours shall be paid for, in addition to the monthly salary, at the rate of 16,000 Korean won per hour.


This is VERY low. In fact it is lower than your hourly wage.
It should be 20k for a 40 minute class and 25K for a 50 minute class.

The holiday schedule clause is BAD. It should be 10 days NOT including weekends (2 calendar weeks) per year.

The tax rate is double what it should be and there is no mention of pension.

The airfare - you should get a ticket home and back or cash equivalent at the end of your year EVEN if you stay or renew.

There are some RED FLAGS here that need to be addressed.

My advice is talk to MORE THAN ONE of the current teachers at each school via e-mail when the boss is NOT watching over their shoulder.

If they only let you talk to one teacher at each school, then pass.

Ask specifically about:

+Pay - do they really pay overtime. Do they avoid it by NOT giving credit for public holidays? Get the rate settled.
+Classes - how many, how long are they and what is the schedule really like.
+Pension and medical - do they really pay into it? Does the foreign teacher have the medical plan booklet?
+Vacations - how, when, how long and who decides? This is often a very big area of contention between teachers and hakwons.
+lunches - they are not considered a work hour? do you have to spend it with the kids?
+airfare to Korea - is it prepaid - in the contract it should be waived after 6 months.
+Housing - what is it like. What are the extra costs - your free apartment could cost you more than 150k per month.
+Quality of life issues - proximity to shopping, banking, etc.
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