Korean Job Discussion Forums

[elias poncho]

Hi,
I was just wondering if anyone had any info on this particular hagwon. I'm up for a position there and was curious if anyone knew anything about it.
Thanks.

[garykasparov]

I can't speak on behalf of the school. Consider asking the following questions before you sign a labor contract with the school.

Talk to more than one of the foreign staff and ask pointed and specific questions when the boss is not listening.

1) What are the hours? (start time / stop time / breaks).

2) 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.

3) Do they always pay on time?

4) 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)

5) Do they really pay overtime or avoid it with creative book keeping?

6) 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)

7) Do they have national medical (with the little booklet)? (no=red flag 3)

8 ) Do they pay into pension? (no=red flag 4)

9) What about the holidays? 10 or more working days? (legal requirement here) (no=red flag 5)

10) When and how do you get your holidays?

11) What extra stuff do you really have to do - mentioned or not in the contract.

12) Then consider the quality of life issues - things that are important to you that aren't mentioned here (housing, furnishings, bathroom, access to recreational facilities, shopping, banking).

13 Do they take additional deposits in addition to the delay in payday? (yes=red flag 6)

[elias poncho]

Thanks for the advice. I'm not at the stage of signing yet, I'm still waiting to hear back after the interview. The agency I'm using, ATC, already sent me some e-mails addresses of foreign teachers who have been there over a year. I asked them about the overall experience and if they'd recommend it. I was just wondering if anyone around here knew anything extra or had heard anything.

[Saxiif]

I don't know anything specific about LCI except for the contract that I've seen in the contract posting thread which have been horrific, some of the worst and most unfair contracts that I've ever seen. Based on that, I'd steer away from LCI or at least get the contract and post it here.

[elias poncho]

Definitely good to know. Do you remember any of the specifics about what made it so bad?

[Saxiif]

[elias poncho]

That's interesting. The HR woman on the phone said specifically that it was a monthly salary. I suppose there's not too much to do until I'm actually looking at a contract. Thanks for the heads up though.

[ttompatz]

[elias poncho]

I'm not brushing off any advice. I was merely saying that I have no intention of signing a contract yet and that I have the time to get answers to all of those questions.