Korean Job Discussion Forums

reactionary · Joined: 22 Oct 2006 Location: korreia

i'm fuming. I came here without a visa (it was an urgent position) or signed contract, this is what my hours were via email:

2. The schedule is Mon-Fri 8.45-1.30 Class time 1.30-3.30 is prep
time.

sounds good right? but it sucks because it's just one class. My NEW schedule is

8:30-2:00 teaching, 2-4 prep.

I gave my documents today. I still have not signed a contract. Should I tell them to screw off? Where can I stay? Technically, they are obeying the contract they gave me (but did not sign) because it says up to 30 hours teaching, which this is....but it sounds like a ploy to me.

ilovebdt · Joined: 03 Jun 2005 Location: Nr Seoul

reactionary · Joined: 22 Oct 2006 Location: korreia

it's nearly an extra hour of teaching a day...i took this position because thought i felt i could be making more than 2.2 mil (they were firm on this), the hours were really lax...keep in mind, this class (which went from 4.5 hours to nearly 6) is just ONE class. same students all day...

reactionary · Joined: 22 Oct 2006 Location: korreia

also, i will be teaching before my visa run to japan. isn't this illegal?

Corky · Joined: 06 Jan 2004

I'm not sure I understand your post. Do you mean they're paying you the same amount and getting you to teach an extra class? If so, you should ask them to adjust the salary based on the overtime rate. If you're not teaching an extra class, then you shouldn't worry too much about this.

reactionary · Joined: 22 Oct 2006 Location: korreia

i'm not teaching an extra class, but the one class i teach just became about an hour longer.

A first offer that got me over here: 9:00 (come in at 8:45), teach until 1:30. Basically that is 4.5 hours of teaching. Then 1:30-3:30 is prep.

B Now: 8:30 (Come in at 8:30 or 8:15? not confirmed yet), teach until 2:00. That is 5.5 hours of teaching. 2-4 is prep.

Same salary. The contract, again, which I didn't sign yet (supposed to tomorrow), stipulates up to 30 hours of teaching a month - but again, what got me over was condition A that was e-mailed to me by the HR.

J.B. Clamence · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

reactionary · Joined: 22 Oct 2006 Location: korreia

OK, so then I should definitely refuse to teach until I have my visa then?

jmbran11 · Joined: 19 Jan 2006 Location: U.S.

This is a relatively minor "change" in contract here. In fact, this is one of the most minor complaints I've ever heard of. Plus, you're schedule is pretty reasonable. If it doesn't violate your contract, I'd say suck it up. Now, teaching with no visa, I'll not offer advice on. It's illegal, but everyone does it. Get on your visa run quick.

bellum99 · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: don't need to know

Seems good to me. I wouldn't complain too much. You need to be a little bit flexible. The new hours are reasonable. Paid prep-time is not common and those hours are good. You have time in the evenings for private teaching and still have free time for fun. If you make a bit deal about this it will probably sour the relationship before you really started.

****GET THE VISA FAST!!!

reactionary · Joined: 22 Oct 2006 Location: korreia

I'm pretty surprised that no one objects to the fact I'm teaching 20 extra hours per month. Keep in mind, this is not easy teaching either, I will really have to use the two hours prep (maybe even more to really do a good job)

Frankly, if I wanted to work this many hours, I'd rather be working at CDI and getting paid 30,000 an hour to begin with, but I feel like that has been jeopardized since CDI has fairly specific hiring times.

I guess I've calmed down reading a few posts, but I'm still not too happy about it all.

OiGirl · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: Hoke-y-gun

Poor baby...

You don't have a visa, you don't have to teach there...

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

Welcome to Korea. Expect many, many, many schedule changes over your next year. Don't expect much warning either. You're lucky if you're told the day before, instead of having someone banging on your door wondering why you're not already at school.

Aside from sucking it up, you've got a few options:

1) find another school quickly.

2) refuse to sign the contract, pointing out the promise under which you were brought half a world away, and be prepared to go home on your own dime.

mrd · Joined: 02 Nov 2006 Location: fluorescent-filled paradise

In then end, what they are asking of you is still within your verbally agreed contract terms (total monthly hours). They are completely within their rights to ask you to fulfill the terms of the contract which you have informally agreed to fulfill. You still have a sweet deal. If you're not happy with this, then I wonder if you'll be happy with anything.

Imagine the nerve of that hogwan, wanting you to work for pay!

reactionary · Joined: 22 Oct 2006 Location: korreia

haha, i'm getting attitude when other people talk about how "my korean co-teacher is lookin at me funny!!"