Korean Job Discussion Forums

[magicmajenta]

Does anyone have any opinions or feedback about them? About their reputation and whether they're good to work for. I got an offer of 2.1 million won with free apartment. In the email, they sent youtube vids of the school:

http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=HeraldSchool

So just wanted to know if anyone knows anything about them.

This is my first post here by the way. I know Korea's where the money's at for ESL teachers.

[Paji eh Wong]

[magicmajenta]

So if you were in my shoes, you would not accept employment? I would like to have an answer as it would really help me decide. Did you work for that school or its former incarnation by the way?

[jlb]

When I worked for them, there was a lot of sketchy crap in the contract that was used against me numerous times. Read carefully or better yet, post it here.

[bnrockin]

Ok, I am in your shoes in a way. I begin employment in May and so I'm going to be applying for jobs soon. If I was offered employment from herald schools, I would not take it. I have heard too many bad things, and even seen some foul play on here from them.

This is all second hand info, and I guess third if it's coming from me. There are many schools in Korea that will f you over. You just need to come smart and do your homework. If you aren't sure, don't take it. There isn't exactly a job shortage there.

[hubba bubba]

This is the Free Rice ad, right?

I watched the videos. That housing is WAY too small, and it is ABOVE the school? Who wants to live above their school? Sick? They're coming over. Late? Haha.. They need someone to cover an extra class?? Good thing you are only one flight of stairs away. Wanna play loud music, have a party, guests, etc? Hope your director doesn't mind.

Something to think about.

[Paji eh Wong]

[magicmajenta]

Here's the contract that I copied and pasted:

SANBON HERALD SCHOOL

FIRST YEAR CONTRACT


This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT has been made this February 20th, 2007 between

Sanbon Herald School, being established under the laws of South Korea at, 1142-8,

5F Sungwon Bldg, Sanbon-dong, Gunpo-shi, Kyonggi-do, Republic of Korea (hereinafter referred to as the "Employer") and ______________ , a citizen of __________ whose passport/ID number is __________ (hereinafter referred to as the "Teacher") under the terms and conditions set forth below.

Both parties agree on the following terms and conditions:


CLAUSE 1 (APPOINTMENT)

The employer agrees to employ the teacher during the period stipulated herein.

b. The teacher agrees to accept the employment and will work in his/her full capacity for the school.

CLAUSE 2 (PERIOD OF EMPLOYMENT)

The total Agreement term is approximately one year from March, 2007 to March, 2008, commencing from the first teaching day and ending on the last teaching day of the teacher's twelfth full teaching session.

CLAUSE 3 (THE EMPLOYER�S RESPONSIBILITIES)

The employer and teacher are equal individuals working together to provide quality English instruction under the terms stated in this contract.

The employer will honor the terms and conditions of employment for the teacher as stated within this contract.

The employer will guarantee the teacher a salary in consideration of the teacher�s teaching hours and proper preparation for the classes.


CLAUSE 4 (THE TEACHER�S RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES)

During the terms of this Agreement, the teacher must cooperate and comply with the instructions and disciplines of the school. Assisting the Supervisor or Director, he/she must carry out assignments as directed by the employer.

The teacher must have adequately prepared for the classes in advance.

At all times during the term of this contract, teachers must maintain a clean and neat appearance. While suits and ties are not mandatory, a professional appearance is desirable.

The teacher�s work will include the following:
Teaching the English language (Target students� ages: 6 � Middle School)
Development of educational programs and materials
Curriculum design and implementation
Indoor and outdoor classroom activities for/with students
Level testing, Grading, evaluation, and assessment of students
Providing students with individualized care
Attending teacher�s meetings and workshops
Other related school activities

CLAUSE 5 (WORKING HOURS)

During the term of this Agreement, the teacher should work in cooperation with the Supervisor or Director from Monday through Friday.

Teachers will be required to attend some special events throughout the year (Workshop, Graduation Ceremony, Sports Day, etc.) which may fall on a Saturday. Teachers will not receive additional compensation for these days.

The teacher agrees to teach 120 teaching hours a session and to adequately prepare for classes.

CLAUSE 6 (SALARY AND OVERTIME RATE)

The employer agrees to pay the teacher salary of 2,100,000 won for 120 hours per session and preparation for classes.

The payment of the salary is to be made once a month.

Each hour exceeding the 120 hours/session will be considered as overtime. The payment for the overtime will be 15,000 won per hour. Attendance at scheduled staff meetings and workshops, along with preparation for classes is mandatory and not considered as overtime.

Salary, overtime pay, and fringe benefit condition should be kept confidential.

CLAUSE 7 (TAX)

Income tax and inhabitants� taxes will be withheld in accordance with the Korean tax law.



CLAUSE 8 (VACATION and HOLIDAYS)

a. The teacher will be allowed to have all national holidays off. These are listed below.

May 24th, Jun 6th, Jul 17th, Aug 15th,Sep 24th,Sep 25th, Sep 26th, Oct 3rd, Dec 25th, Jan 1st, Feb 6th, Feb 7th, Feb 8th.

b. The teacher will also be allowed to have winter and summer vacation, according to the Herald school calendar. Each vacation will be 4 to 5 days (including the weekend).



CLAUSE 9 (ACCOMMODATION)

The teacher will be provided single accommodation, which will be located three minutes walk from the nearest subway station.

The monthly rent will be paid by the employer.

The cost of utilities for the accommodations will be paid by the teacher.

For the first three months, the Employer will withhold a deposit of 200,000 won each month (600,000 Won in total), in order for the employer to pay off utility and telephone charges, received by the employer during the two months after the termination of the contract.

Any balance due to the teacher after all bills have been paid will be transferred to the teacher�s bank account back home within two months after the termination of the contract.

CLAUSE 10 (YEAR-END BONUS)

Upon completion of this one-year contract, the teacher will receive one additional 1 month salary as a bonus. Income tax will be withheld from this payment.

CLAUSE 11 (TRANSPORTATION)

A pre-paid ticket from the teacher�s home city will be provided to the teacher.

On completion of the full contract period, the employer will provide the teacher a ticket for passage from Seoul, Korea back to the teacher�s home city. The return air ticket will be provided at the time of termination of employment


In the event that the teacher continues employment under a subsequent employment agreement with the employer; the return air ticket will be provided at the time of completion of the subsequent contract period(s).

Air tickets provided cannot be exchanged for cash equivalents or transferred to persons other than the teacher. The employer does not agree to, and is not liable for compensation to the teacher, whether in cash or otherwise, for air tickets which are not used by the teacher.

c. If the teacher leaves the school prior to completing the one year�s contract for any reason, the teacher will be responsible for paying back the cost of the original airline ticket to Korea.

CLAUSE 12 (DISMISSAL OR VOLUNTARY RESIGNATION)

The employer reserves the right to dismiss the teacher from employment for the following causes:
Neglect or inability to perform his/her duties stipulated in this agreement
Frequent absences from work or lateness
Receiving two warning letters
Criminal behavior or misconduct

The employer agrees to give the employee 30 working days notice in the event of dismissal. However, in the case of a teacher�s criminal behavior or misconduct, he/she will be dismissed from employment immediately with no warning or notice.

In the event the teacher wishes to resign from his/her employment, he/she can do so by giving at least 45 working days notice to the employer.

CLAUSE 13 (GOVERNING LAW & JURISDICTION)

This Agreement is governed by the law of the Republic of Korea.
This Agreement is made final and firm unless any material modification or amendment to this Agreement is executed with the full knowledge and consent of the undersigned and incorporated into this Agreement.

In witness thereof, we have affixed our signatures hereon:

___________________________ ____________________________

Employer � Herald school Teacher



___________________________ ____________________________

Date Date

Well, what do you think. I can get a call any time now for a phone interview. And yes I don't know what a "good job" is like in Korea comparatively speaking compared to other ESL jobs in Korea that is why I really need the advice of people on this board. Any help would be appreciated.

[just because]

There are a couple of things that stand out...

First...holidays

[magicmajenta]

The teacher of the school has been the one I have been communicating with and he seems to like working in the school and says the Saturday events aren't that bad. He even says that teachers like the fact that the accommodations are in the same building because they can go to their rooms and take a nap. What do you think!!! Any comments. Take into consideration that he is a teacher in the school. I would like to have opinions on this as I am new to working in Korea.

[just because]

It is your decision....

I personally wouldn't sign...kindies and only 6 days holiday a year max. Forget about it...you would need to pay me a lot more.

[magicmajenta]

[saw6436]

Absolutely I would not sign. 1st, Your living in your school. Not good. Not enough privacy or freedom. But If you liked living in a doem during uni then...ok. 2nd, 120 hours a session. How long is a session? I didn't see it specified in the contract (perhaps I missed it). 3rd, Refunding the school airfare is, in my book, fair IF you bail real early (with in your first 3 months or so), but your contract doesn't specify a time frame. What if you leave in your 11th month, 29th day?

I've been working over here almost 10years now. No way I would sign that as a new teacher. And again, I have never heard anything positive about any Herald School at any location.

[magicmajenta]

I'm going to get a call tomorrow. Anyone else know what questions to ask. I'm assuming a clarification on how long is a session would be a definite one that needs to be asked. Anyone know what other questions I should ask based on what you see in the contract.

[magicmajenta]

I just got a call earlier from the head teacher of the school. He says he likes it there and has been there 2 years and is going to renew his contract I believe. Anyway I asked him about the weekends and he says there's like 4 of them where you will be required to work. And you do get some compensation allbeit minimal from what he said. I also asked him about the sessions in the contract and what it means and he DIDN'T know what it meant himself. And he goes something to the effect of feel free to write in what I want on that part of the contract so that it will be desirable to me or something to that effect. I then asked him what happens from here. He said I think they will have to print out my resume or something and that I will get a call from the school's owner who is a Korean woman. Any opinions so far. Bail out now!?!?!? Or see how the call with the owner goes??? Maybe some suggestions on questions to ask the owner??