Should I Quit? Advice needed.

[Atomic]

Hi, I just wanted some advice regarding my job. I've been in Korea just over a month working for a Hagwon and I was wondering how standard the conditions of my job are. Basically I agreed to 30 teaching hours a week maximum and my office hours are 9 to 7. As it's worked out I'm doing 35 lessons a week (30 hours) and I've generally got so much to do that I don't leave I don't leave until 8pm (the problem is not so much lessons and the lesson planning but the other stuff they've got me doing, writing and marking tests and stuff), I do more or less 11 hours without stoping. As a result I'm knackered all the time, my lessons are suffering and I've been looking at other jobs for an alternative
On the other hand I don't if these are normal working hours in Korea and I'm just whining, can someone tell me?

[dchrzano]

I'm sorry to hear that but I have yet to hear a happy ending story at a Hogwon. You can try switching to public school or looking on sites like Seoul Global Center for other jobs.

http://global.seoul.go.kr/

[DWAEDGIMORIGUKBAP]

10 hrs a day at work is not npormal for esl in korea.  I'm at work 1.30pm - 9pm 4 days a week and 2.30pm - 9pm once a week.  so 7 and 1/2 hrs 4 days a week and 6 1/2 hours once a week.  I am only teaching about 23 hours during that time, even though my contract is for 30 like yours.  I probably get at least 4 hours of just desk warming time a day where I sit and read or surf the net.

I gather you're doing a kindy with afternoon ele / mid school stdnts?  Those jobs used to be 9am - 5pm but these past two years they have all added a few hours for some reason and they are a sucker deal now unless they pay over or around 2.8mil imho.

Even an afternoon, no kindy hakwan for about 2.4mil like I have now is a step up from what you have, I assure you and say it not meaning to gloat.  Yeah if it is draining you and making you unhappy - aim for a job lik mine or an after school or public school gig.  But do not quit until you have something lined up to start for when your notice period would end.

[nardthefox]

Find something new. That place is sucking you dry. Get something else lined up and put in notice. A year of that will ruin your smiles.

[uncreativename]

Yeah that's too much, even for Korea! How long are your classes? I teach 6 50-min classes MWF, and 5 50 min-classes on TTh, and almost no marking. I work in a hagwon as well. Those hours of yours are ridiculous, I truly feel for you,

[pmacara]

Hey.  I sent you a private message but then my comp tweaked out!  Did you get it??  I can help you out with advise etc

Cheers

[AC_in_Korea]

What about asking your boss outright?  Of course there is a way to do it - without being aggressive or defensive.

You could ask him/her what the rate for overtime pay is, because you noticed that you have more classes on your schedule than your contract states.  Although check this because your contract may actually say 30 teaching hours, not classes.  If it says classes, then overtime should be paid.  If it says hours, then you are right on track according to your contract.

You mentioned you've been here for a month - it's always difficult at first.  My first year ina  hagwan - I spent two hours planning my classes to ensure they were perfect. :)  By the end of my third year at the same place, I was lesson planning in minutes.

I'm sorry to hear that but I have yet to hear a happy ending story at a Hogwon. You can try switching to public school or looking on sites like Seoul Global Center for other jobs.

http://global.seoul.go.kr/

I loved my hagwan, and stayed there for three years.  Of course there were massive changes during those years, and they were frustrating - but I was always paid on time, the correct amount.  I know that is rare though.

Good luck to you.

There is no harm in asking your boss - if you don't like the answer- you are thinking of leaving right now anyway right?

[BritishGuyinKorea]

Hi, I just wanted some advice regarding my job. I've been in Korea just over a month working for a Hagwon and I was wondering how standard the conditions of my job are. Basically I agreed to 30 teaching hours a week maximum and my office hours are 9 to 7. As it's worked out I'm doing 35 lessons a week (30 hours) and I've generally got so much to do that I don't leave I don't leave until 8pm (the problem is not so much lessons and the lesson planning but the other stuff they've got me doing, writing and marking tests and stuff), I do more or less 11 hours without stoping. As a result I'm knackered all the time, my lessons are suffering and I've been looking at other jobs for an alternative
On the other hand I don't if these are normal working hours in Korea and I'm just whining, can someone tell me?

All depends on what is written in your contract. If it clearly stipulated that you would not be doing this as apart of your job and it would be considered overtime, then you might have a valid argument. However, generally most hagwon contracts are carefully worded so they can pretty much get you to do what they like. I suggest you take a detailed look at again before you make any decisions :)

[Yu_Bumsuk]

Those conditions aren't that uncommon for a hagwon. Are you the only FT? Talk to the boss about whether they're considering hiring another.

Basically, if you're being treated well at work and generally feel respected and appreciated, it would be best to put up with it. If you're being treated like crap by people and have to put up with so much work then start contacting recruiters in Taiwan, Japan, and China.

[DWAEDGIMORIGUKBAP]

Those conditions aren't that uncommon for a hagwon. Are you the only FT? Talk to the boss about whether they're considering hiring another.

Basically, if you're being treated well at work and generally feel respected and appreciated, it would be best to put up with it. If you're being treated like crap by people and have to put up with so much work then start contacting recruiters in Taiwan, Japan, and China.

There are plenty of afternoon only hakwans in Korea yu-bum with much lower workloads.  I did a kindy 9-5 once which is 2 hours less than the op is doing and it killed me, long classes etc, very draining...  Even a 1pm - 9pm gig with a whole six 50 min class day sounds better than what the op has and those gigs are a dime a dozen.

[firebreaker]

That's definitely not normal for a hagwon. Looks like you're working as long as the Korean teachers and possibly doing tasks that are not part of your job. I'd continue my search for a different job to just transfer your visa over. You might be able to squeak your way into the August intake for public schools, but you need to get a move on. The deadline for paperwork may have passed.

[jwoon]

Last year I worked for CDI which I highly disliked which is why i'm at a P.S. school now.  But I still didn't have to work that long each day but I didn't really get any holidays and I had to work weekends sometimes as well. So I don't think what you have is standard.  Your getting jerked around....I think.

[DWAEDGIMORIGUKBAP]

Last year I worked for CDI which I highly disliked which is why i'm at a P.S. school now.  But I still didn't have to work that long each day but I didn't really get any holidays and I had to work weekends sometimes as well. So I don't think what you have is standard.  Your getting jerked around....I think.

Straight up, no 'I think' about it - unless the op is on about 2.8mil.

Morning hakwans always used to be 9-5pm with kindy and then just one or two ele classes afterwards.  I know becuase I had one.  But the past few years the owners have been getting greedy and adding a few more ele / mid school classes on to the kindy.  beofre two years back you never saw morning - aft ele jobs that went past 5.30pm at the latest, or you didn't see many of them.  I love kindy and interivewed for a few kindy gigs before taking the job I have now and even though the money I was being offered was pretty good, usually over 2.5 or 2.6mil - there was no way in hell I could manage the hours and workloads they were offering, and they all had simmilar schedules to the op.

[Yu_Bumsuk]

Those conditions aren't that uncommon for a hagwon. Are you the only FT? Talk to the boss about whether they're considering hiring another.

Basically, if you're being treated well at work and generally feel respected and appreciated, it would be best to put up with it. If you're being treated like crap by people and have to put up with so much work then start contacting recruiters in Taiwan, Japan, and China.

There are plenty of afternoon only hakwans in Korea yu-bum with much lower workloads.  I did a kindy 9-5 once which is 2 hours less than the op is doing and it killed me, long classes etc, very draining...  Even a 1pm - 9pm gig with a whole six 50 min class day sounds better than what the op has and those gigs are a dime a dozen.

Indeed there are way lower workloads. I've heard of people doing less than half what the OP is for decent pay. However breaking a contract that early and getting a new job in Korea is going to be very difficult. I'd recommend sticking it out a few more months and seeing what happens.

I can certainly relate. I started at a job that was a joke but where the workload was fairly light. Then a FT left and didn't get replaced and it started to get a lot heavier. I could put up with the complete disrespect if the job was easy, but I wasn't going to work my ass off to be treated like crap. After a couple of incidents I gave my notice and left. What's funny is that I probably spend more hours at my current job than I did at my old one, but I really like it and don't mind so long as I'm treated like a teacher and allowed to do a job I love they way I want. Yes I feel exhusted after some days, but it feels worthwhile. That's why at least based on my experience I'd suggest the OP weigh work conditions against work hours.

[mai.lor]

Hwagons are like that, majority of the time you will do more than what your contract says and most of the time you can't do anything about it....i say find a new job....

[donuts81]

11hrs seems like a high workload. As others have said you need to check your contract for the overtime clause. Do they count 1 class as an hour or is it by the clock?

Plus if your doing an unreasonable amount of extra test writing/ marking etc then I don't see any harm in talking to your boss. How often are you testing? Once a month or once a week? It doesn't seem normal to do doing 3 extra hours everyday at a hagwon.

[Davox]

If it's not too much to ask or against site rules, can you say what hagwon/organization you work for?  I'm a little curious.

Either way, it sounds pretty standard for a kindy-elementary hagwon these days.  And the paperwork, while unfortunate, is part of the job.  I used to work a shift very similar to yours once;  I believe I taught more than you but did less paperwork and correcting at that particular hagwon.  It was pretty brutal.   Like others have said,  anywhere from 2.5 to 3.0 (with 2.7 or 2.8 being average) is probably the going rate for that shift these days, but I have to say that the extra money isn't worth the extra workload to me.  Which is why I work in a public school now.

As to whether or not you should quit...my advice is to stick it out a little bit more before deciding.  If you've only been there a month or so you likely haven't found your groove yet.   If you wait a few more months  you may find you get better at handling the workload.  Or maybe not, who knows?  Either way, you'll have a better idea of exactly what one year at the place will do to you.   It the place is still causing you huge amounts of stress in a month or two, you'll know what decision to make.

[leabea87]

Those hours are normal working hours for KOREANS, not foreigners. They know this and are just taking advantage of you. I'd get out ASAP!

[tamnier]

If you told me you were working in a Public school I'd tell you you were working in a sweatshop.  But a hagwon, those hours don't really surprise me.  I suggest you try to find a job that gives you reasonable hours fast, they're overworking you to death.

[sheila]

My first job was at Korea Poly School YT. 2.5mill for 9-7:30. 300,000 extra for Sunday grading. It sucked. I worked a lot more than the other people around my area and was just getting paid maybe 200,000 more than them.  I had enough of that after a year to switch to PS. Good luck resolving your situation.