Teaching Placement

The TESOL certified teachers are placed by American TESOL Institute in widely located schools across South Korea. The institutions where the TESOL trained teachers are assigned are interestingly diversified, ranging from remotely located rural schools to the plush, urbane private schools.

The jobs of ESL teachers are seen to possess the common features

DURATION
The term of employment is for a year (365 days) which shall be on on March/01/09 and ending on February/28/2010.

FLIGHT FARE
Up to USD 1000 of purchasing price of the airfare for teacher’s flight to Korea via Thailand shall be reimbursed by Employer within a month upon working at the school. The flights should be from your home country to Bangkok connecting to Incheon International Airport in Korea.

Upon completion of Contract, one-way trip to the airport of return for either his/her home country or another country of shorter distance will be provided when the trip occurs within the first 10 days as of termination of employment.

SCHOOLS
Employee shall work at one of the elementary, middle, or high schools appointed by Employer.

Upon completion of the first year term, Employee may request for a change of school and region subject to approval by Employer, and this is not considered as a renewal of the term.

Employee shall work eight hours per day including lunch hour for five calendar days per week from Monday to Friday and shall not work on Saturdays, Sundays and Korean national holidays.

The Work Hours of Employee shall follow the normal work schedule of civil servants of the Korean Government; however, such Work Hours may be adjusted by school principal as he/she deems appropriate as necessary.

Employee’s regular teaching hours shall not exceed twenty-two hours per week. Employee may be asked to teach extra hours within and/or out of the regular working hours. Extra teaching should not exceed 6 hours per week without Employee’s consent.

For the extra class teaching hours aside from the normal 22 hours per week, Employee shall be offered with supplementary class instruction pay at the rate of 20,000won per hour or use it as contribution holiday in which 8 hours’ teaching will be considered as one day.

During school vacations, Employee may be asked to participate in special classes or English day camps up to 20 hours per week.

Employee’s salary shall be paid on the twenty fifth (25) of each month. If this day falls on a National Holiday, Saturday or Sunday, the salary will be paid on the immediately preceding business day.

The Korean income tax (approx. 3% which is exempted for foreigners, except for Canadians, for the first two employment years in Korea) and the national pension contribution (approx. 9%, of which Employer pays for the half, refundable for the US and Canadian citizens at the end of Contract term) and the national health scheme (approx. 5%, of which Employer pays for the half) as required under Korean law shall be withheld each month from Employee’s salary.

The pay scale is as follows; category one for 2.3 million KRW; category two for 2.1 million. KRW; category three for 2 million KRW)

When Employee has not worked a full month, salary for that month shall be paid on a pro rata daily basis either from the first day or until the last day of work.

If Employee should be absent from work without a prior approval, his or her salary for that month shall be deducted by the amount calculated on a pro rata daily basis for the number of unauthorized absent days.

Upon completion of a one-year contract, Employer shall pay Employee an extra 30 days’ average wage as a severance pay for Employee’s continuous employment of one year.

Employee shall not claim against Employer any compensation and/or payment other than those provided for in Contract.

The category 1 Employee whose contract is renewed for a second term or subsequent terms at the same school may be eligible for salary raise up to the maximum GEPIK limit of 2,500,000 won by 100,000 won per year respectively. The increase is at the discretion of Employer, will solely depend on the teacher’s performance.

If Employee obtains further qualifications such as a Masters degree or TESOL certificate (with over 100 course-hours) during the contract term, if applicable, he/she will be promoted to the next employment category (with corresponding raise in salary) the month following the date of course completion. However, promotions shall be limited to one pay category increase per year. (i.e. Category 3 to 2, or Category 2 to 1; not Category 3 to 1).

The Term of Employment may be renewed by a mutual written agreement between Employer and Employee, provided that each renewed employment term is one year.

The written notification of renewal or termination of Employment shall be provided two months prior to the expiration of Contract.

In the case of renewal of this contract pursuant teachers shall be given a fourteen day (weekend and national holidays inclusive) additional home leave vacation period which is extra, beyond the 14 days’ yearly paid leave. Home leave must be taken during the vacation periods not conflicting with school schedules either just before or just after the contract year is completed.

Teachers renewing his/her contract will receive reimbursement of round trip airfare based on economy class air-fare of the most direct flights available from Incheon to the airport nearest to teacher’s residence within 2 weeks upon return to Korea.

If any teacher does not travel to either his/her home country or another country other than home they will be given the amount of money equivalent to the round-trip airfare within 2 weeks upon renewal of Contract.

If Employee completes the Term of Employment without the intention to renew and leaves Korea within 10 days from the expiration date, Employer shall provide the airfare for Employee’s one way return flight to the employee’s home country either in the form of reimbursement or direct purchase.

Employers shall provide teachers with free housing. All efforts will be made to provide an apartment within walking distance to the school or near transport facilities.

Employer shall provide their teachers with medical insurance pursuant to The National Health Insurance Act of Korea (The National Health Insurance Act states all government employees will be liable for 50% of costs). If a teacher has his/her dependents living with him/her in Korea, Employer will also pay for health insurance for them.

Employee who is working in a designated rural area shall be entitled to a paid allowance of 100,000 Korean won every month and additional 5 working days’ paid leave during the contract term.

Employee shall be entitled to a paid leave for a total of fourteen working days during the term of the employment. Weekends (Saturdays and Sundays) and the Korean National Holidays do not count as vacation days. If Employee renews the contract, up to 7 days of unused yearly paid leave may be rolled over to the new contract period. This carried over paid leave may be used in the new contract period, but it may not be rolled over into any subsequent contract period.
In case of a maternity leave, the first 60 calendar days shall be a paid leave by Employer.

Teachers shall be entitled to a paid sick leave if an illness or injury prevents him/her from performing the duties under this contract, provided, however, that he/she obtains Employer’s prior consent.

Employee may take a Special Leave for a number of days as set forth below for each of the following events;
Seven consecutive calendar days for Employee’s marriage.
Seven consecutive calendar days for the death of Employee’s parents or spouse;
Five consecutive calendar days for the death of Employee’s child.
Teachers should faithfully observe his/her school principal’s requests on his/her duties as defined in Contract.
Principal shall evaluate teacher’s performance of official duties.
Teachers should make every reasonable effort to fulfill their prescribed duties and responsibilities according to the contract terms and conditions.
Teachers should make every reasonable effort to uphold the positive reputation of the Korean teaching profession by conforming to the norms and behaving in such a manner as expected of teachers by Korean society.

Without principal’s permission, Teachers shall not be employed or involved in other paid business (including a part-time job).

The terms of this contract and the rights and obligation of the parties hereto shall be construed, interpreted and determined in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Korea.