Korean Job Discussion Forums

[tob55]

Leave it to the school reps to add mud to the water...

I have just spent the better part of my morning debating the apparent disregard for the recognition of Korean regulations concerning pay and level increases when completing a Teacher Training Program (TTP) such as TEFL/TESL/TESOL, etc.

I don't want to flame here, and I am aware that this thread may quickly die as some do, but I at least would like to get some feedback from the people who have completed such training programs with regard to their pay / level increase.

Here are the facts as I understand them from information in my possession from several of the POE's (Current to spring 2007)

1. People completing some form of TTP with a minimum of 100 hours MAY be entitled to an increase in level and pay (The amount is determined by the given POE, i.e. GEPIK has typically been 100,000 KRW while others have indicated as much as 200,000 KRW depending on the location.)

2. People whom I've contacted have been telling me that their TTP certificates come for various providers around the world and Korea, and that there is no standard for verification of who sponsors a given program UNLESS it is directly connected to a University or Institution of Higher Education. (This means that many of the programs are offering their services on a take it for what it's worth basis. Kind of scary when you consider the fact that people are spending a lot of money on something that may or may not be accepted by a local school.)

3. People MAY receive an increase in level and pay one time each year during the course of their contract if they complete training that IS NOT a duplication of previous training that has been accepted by the local POE as a qualification for employment. (This simply means that if you don't have a TEFL/TESL/TESOL or equivalent certificate you may take a TTP during your contract period and become eligible for a level / pay increase. This is in addition to obtaining the level / pay increase by completing a degree program such as a MA or PhD, etc.)

4. People can and do frequently take courses either online or on-site and receive level / pay increases from their local POE when their school reps are willing to follow through with their responsibilities to do the paper work. (I know of a few cases where people were denied and given some flimsy excuse about not enough time, or it isn't in the budget, etc. HOWEVER, these arguments boil down to the school reps neglecting to do their job because it is too must of a hassle for them to help the native English teacher.)

5. At the end of the day it fully depends on whether or not the school reps are wiling to follow the rules which have been spelled out quite clearly in Korean and English by the POEs who provide them with the money to pay foreign educators to teach their children Korean.

Now, I am aware that this issue focuses mainly on public schools, but it might well apply to hagwons as well in some situations where the contract language allows for it. I want to retrieve as much information as I can in a short period of time, because this issue does affect the overall atmosphere of English education in Korea to some extent.

I would like to come up with some consensus that can be used to generate a formal report that will be submitted to the regional POEs with regard to English teachers in the country. This may not be your thing, and I appreciate you taking time to read this, but if it isn't your thing, please understand that this is just a request for information that is pertinent to the topic.

I know occasionally the posts and threads tend to go many directions, but we want to keep this one focused for as long as we can. This will give me an opportunity to gather real information from people who have experienced the good and bad of this issue. No names will be used, and we will not ask for any personal information from you directly other than which Province in the country you currently reside. (I know this may appear invasive, but we are only using Province names to indicate where a respondent reported receiving or not receiving the benefits of their TTP. If you don't want to post your information publicly then just send me a PM and I'll be happy to receive the information that way.)

Thanks and I look forward to receiving your responses.