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Private Public School - Legitimate?

 
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Dukey77777



Joined: 28 Jun 2007
Location: Chungcheongbuk-do

PostPosted: Mon Jul 16, 2007 9:45 pm    Post subject: Private Public School - Legitimate? Reply with quote

Hey all,

I've been actively searching for a public school position - I have an offer from a Jecheon school that the "foreign" teacher claims to be a "private public school." Some of the contract details don't match what the recruiter claimed, but he said I could edit the contract and email him back the changes. Anyway, when the recruiter referred me to the sole "foreign" teacher at the school, he was clearly asian and knew the recruiter by name. Is this something I should be alarmed about? I have been warned that hagwons lure you in by advertising an appealing public school position, while f**king you when you actually get here.

Oh yea, and they say I pay my own airfare (position starts immediately...Thursday) and it will be reimbursed.

Any thoughts are appreciated. Thanks to everyone on daves for providing me with endless research.


Last edited by Dukey77777 on Mon Jul 16, 2007 11:12 pm; edited 1 time in total
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ttompatz



Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea

PostPosted: Mon Jul 16, 2007 9:51 pm    Post subject: Re: Private Public School - Lying Hagwon in Disguise? Reply with quote

Dukey77777 wrote:
Hey all,

I've been actively searching for a public school position - I have an offer from a Jecheon school that the "foreign" teacher claims to be a "private public school." Some of the contract details don't match what the recruiter claimed, but he said I could edit the contract and email him back the changes. Anyway, when the recruiter referred me to the sole "foreign" teacher at the school, he was clearly asian and knew the recruiter by name. Is this something I should be alarmed about? I have been warned that hagwons lure you in by advertising an appealing public school position, while f**king you when you actually get here.

Oh yea, and they say I pay my own airfare (position starts immediately...Thursday) and it will be reimbursed.

Any thoughts are appreciated. Thanks to everyone on daves for providing me with endless research.


Sounds like a hakwon or worse. Especially since they want you on a plane without a visa for an ASAP opening (like tomorrow?).

Schools are on vacation until the end of August - so what is the rush and why can't they obtain your visa in the proper manner?

Hakwons on the other hand are up to their pits in kids who are out of school and I can see where they would be in a panic.

My personal thoughts, based solely on your brief description above, would be to avoid it like the plague.
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Yu_Bum_suk



Joined: 25 Dec 2004

PostPosted: Mon Jul 16, 2007 10:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

What's the level - elementary, middle, or high? A real private-public school would be only one of the three.

What are the hours? A real PS wouldn't have you working past 5pm unless you were doing special evening classes at a high school.

What are the length of the lessons? All elementary schools have 40-minute lessons, middle 45, and high schools 50.

Does the school have a website? There are hundreds of hints if you can get more info.
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Dukey77777



Joined: 28 Jun 2007
Location: Chungcheongbuk-do

PostPosted: Mon Jul 16, 2007 10:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

*edited*

I just don't know if it's believable or not, I feel like everyone is just lying to me to get me to come over and then take advantage once I'm trapped.


Last edited by Dukey77777 on Tue Jul 17, 2007 8:05 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Dukey77777



Joined: 28 Jun 2007
Location: Chungcheongbuk-do

PostPosted: Mon Jul 16, 2007 10:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

*edited*

Last edited by Dukey77777 on Tue Jul 17, 2007 8:05 pm; edited 1 time in total
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bosintang



Joined: 01 Dec 2003
Location: In the pot with the rest of the mutts

PostPosted: Mon Jul 16, 2007 10:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Dukey77777 wrote:
Contract says 9-5, but both the recruiter and "foreign teacher" stated that you could come in at 11 AM if you started then, or leave early if you finished your classes.

Contract stated 20 hours per week at 45 minutes per class, but "foreign teacher" stated 15 classes a week.

The name is ****** Boys Middle School.


I just don't know if it's believable or not, I feel like everyone is just lying to me to get me to come over and then take advantage once I'm trapped.


Sounds a bit weird, but plausible. I'd avoid it if you are not familiar with Korea and go for a more "normal" position.
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Yu_Bum_suk



Joined: 25 Dec 2004

PostPosted: Mon Jul 16, 2007 10:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Dukey77777 wrote:
Contract says 9-5, but both the recruiter and "foreign teacher" stated that you could come in at 11 AM if you started then, or leave early if you finished your classes.

Contract stated 20 hours per week at 45 minutes per class, but "foreign teacher" stated 15 classes a week.

The name is ****** Boys Middle School.


I just don't know if it's believable or not, I feel like everyone is just lying to me to get me to come over and then take advantage once I'm trapped.


Well I've never heard of a 'Boys (only) Hagwon' so I'm sure it's a regular public middle school. And middle school classes are 45-minutes long so that adds up. Often contracts will say 20 or 22 classes but you only teach 15 or so. I wouldn't expect your first class to start at 11AM very often - somewhere between 9 and 9.30 would be more likely - but from what you describe it sounds like a legitimate public school.
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Yu_Bum_suk



Joined: 25 Dec 2004

PostPosted: Mon Jul 16, 2007 10:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Oh and the haste may result from wanting you for a summer programme (did they say 'camp'?) for which they need a foreigner (to get extra funds).
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latinthrilla



Joined: 10 Feb 2006

PostPosted: Tue Jul 17, 2007 12:14 am    Post subject: it may be real Reply with quote

I have worked at a Private school before. Your classes may actually be less than what is in the contract. It is not like working for a school under a city school board and it is not like working for a hakwon either. I haven't heard of your school but it sounds ok except for the airfare bit. Don't be surprised if you don't start until 11 at least one day a week and end arond 2 or 3 some days.


These jobs are few and generally very good but get them to write specifics in the contract. They probably won't break the contract because wealthier kids go these schools and it would look bad on them if the teacher pulled a runner or filed complaints.

More specific q's just ask.

Good luck
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laogaiguk



Joined: 06 Dec 2005
Location: somewhere in Korea

PostPosted: Tue Jul 17, 2007 12:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

There are "private" schools run like the public school system (but much better as they get public funding and the tuition). I worked at one. This could be one, but like you have done, check it out because you are right in that hagwons use that tactic sometimes.
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