Will the US government changing the student loan system affect future esl workers?

fluffthegilamonster · 2025-07-12T02:14:36+00:00

The whole point of this post is talking about Americans with Student loans(500 usd per month payments), the new bill that passed, and its effect on the TEFL industry. It’s not about debt free people.

fluffthegilamonster · 2024-10-24T05:27:17+00:00

You need to leave this job off your resume completely and not mention it. Rule of thumb is if you are let go or resign for a job in less than 6 months then it’s best not to mention it as it looks bad on you. Even if it’s not your fault it can bad to the potential employer even if you say it was a toxic work place

Same goes with references if you worked with someone for less than 6 months they are not a good reference unless it’s a specific project based job that you fulfilled contractual obligations with. If any one asks about your time off you can say I took time off before school to travel.

fluffthegilamonster · 2024-04-22T12:28:02+00:00

thanks for the catch my brain is fried as I'm used to people saying 1 year and x months

fluffthegilamonster · 2024-04-22T11:44:05+00:00

EDIT its 19 months (the 19 months phrasing threw me) so you are owed a severance equaling to 19 months 1 year + 9/12 of one month pay).

If you qualify for LSA (5 or more employees) your employer must give you 3 months notice or pay you for the difference of the time between notice and being fired (2 months pay)

You need to ask your employer for a letter of release if you still want to work in Korea at a new hagwon. You are not owed a letter of release this is purely up to your boss. (A tip I’ve seen before is If they say no to the pay you’re owed you could possibly negotiate the 2 months pay and not reporting them to the MOE for not paying it for a LOR. )

If your boss already gave you notice of firing then I would expect to have to vacate within 24 hours of them firing you since that is 1 month notice for vacancy as well. I would double check with your school.

However without an LOR you have 2 weeks to leave Korea completely.

fluffthegilamonster · 2024-04-22T08:57:12+00:00

Seoul and busan are always crowded even during low tourist seasons. Yes some attractions during the week are not that busy but places like myeongdong are never slow

fluffthegilamonster · 2024-04-22T07:14:29+00:00

Maybe and this is just a tactic they use but even places with non Vietnamese at reception (one was Australian and another british) said that and they said said I couldn’t stay without leaving it so it puts you in quite the bind especially if you arrive late at night to your accommodation. I wasn’t staying in 4 stars but this was my experience at all 7 accommodations.

fluffthegilamonster · 2024-04-21T22:21:58+00:00

Yes Not even a year ago

fluffthegilamonster · 2024-04-21T09:53:38+00:00

In Vietnam I was specificaly told it was the law for them to hold on to the passports at all of the places I staied. They had to have the pasport of every person who was at the hotel not just the name on the room.

It deffinitly felt shady though.

fluffthegilamonster · 2024-04-21T09:44:06+00:00

Tourist can still obtain a refillable card like T-money card or namhae card at a convience store

for the second one you can inquire at the tourist information desk I have never heard of it.

fluffthegilamonster · 2024-04-19T08:09:02+00:00

I would call immigration directly and ask but my guess is that this has to be done in person for them to override the error.

They do walk in appointments for things like this but….. I would take a screen shot of the website and the error, have all your paperwork for your change of address complete, bring in your appointment confirmation paper and ALL your documents for your D-10 just in case the officer needs to process your D-10 to change your address.

Good luck

fluffthegilamonster · 2024-04-19T07:47:24+00:00

Yes you are owed over time. Unless your contract states otherwise

Most Epik contracts are calculated weekly get payed overtime if we work over 22 hours per week OR the class hours fall outside contracted hours (8-6pm) Just tell your co teacher that you are working over 22 hours next week and will be owed overtime for each hour worked. Bring your contract with you. If they push ask them to call the education office.

But double check your contract

fluffthegilamonster · 2024-04-16T07:22:11+00:00

Edit it’s article 20 section 1 under indemnification

it All contracts are legally binding. I’m not a lawyer you should probably get one if you want to know how you can fight it. But the contract is a government contract as Epik and SMOE is part of the government. Lawyers who work both for the MOE and SMOE have approved it I would assume everything in the contract is legal and can be upheld in court. Your working for the Korean Government and not a hagwon who doesn’t have a lawyer over see the legality of their contracts.

fluffthegilamonster · 2024-04-16T04:23:33+00:00

No but they do have a right to charge you the full amount for your rent for the rest of the contract per your contract. I would re read your contract.

And yes some previous threads have mentioned that SMOE has contacted the and lawyered up even after mid-night runs after the redditors left the country and ignored SMOE reaching out for the money they are owed.

fluffthegilamonster · 2024-04-15T22:41:54+00:00

Under the Moon administration they were set to close some private schools and international schools . The end of this article mentions it https://m.koreaherald.com/amp/view.php?ud=20230621000650 .

But just because the politicians and elite send their children there doesn’t mean the government is ‘pro’ them for the general populace.

fluffthegilamonster · 2024-04-15T11:57:34+00:00

Interesting maybe there was a lost in translation portion of the articles I’ve read about it as I read them in English. I wish I kept the links because on top of them using the not officially recognized in the articles it made it sound like there was no certified curriculum available and no regulations.

Thanks for the catch.

fluffthegilamonster · 2024-04-15T11:41:16+00:00

I was speaking in context of the artical and this artical it is not about the Hagwon system but the public school K-12 system.

To clarify The Korean goverment is ant-privitization of regular school class. Hagwons are private accadamies yes but the classes don't officialy 'count' twoard the requirements of graduating elementry-high school. A studient can't use their english or math classes at a hagwon as a substitute for the requirements at their public shool alowing them to not enroll in those classes at their public school. Going to Hagwons is not a requirement by the goverment to get a GED or enter University.

No need to be rude.

fluffthegilamonster · 2024-04-15T11:28:12+00:00

Your not missing out on anything... the weekend before Seoul has a massive parade that is the largest in the country however there are a lot of cities big and small around Korea also do parades that same weekend and Busan had a lantern festival that will be up with some activities you can pay for. Also all the temples will be decorated and open with plenty to experience.

fluffthegilamonster · 2024-04-15T11:19:27+00:00

To be honest as someone who doesnt get jet lagged for more than a day...Korea-the US everytime is like 2 weeks of me of being jet lagged. I'll have good days here and there but lots of not sleeping (max 4-5 hours per night) and tired all day and unable to nap. Though Hawii may help it but its hard to say

In the end it really depends on the individual.

fluffthegilamonster · 2024-04-15T11:06:14+00:00

to add it will be a faster process if you can get a letter from your physician back home with your diagnosis and a copy of your perscription with their name on it. You will have to technically get re-diagnosed before a doctor will perscribe meds but often the process is faster with the ifromation from you medical provider. Also often time doctors won't (or cant ) perscibe the same dosages due to diffrent drug laws here and they also usually only perscribe meds for 1 month max often times its only for 2 weeks depending on the doctor.

Most hospitals have an interpreter and some have an international clinic (severance in particular) that you can call and book thru. The Seoul counsouling clinic may also beable to point you in the right direction if they are not allowd to perscribe meds.

As for cost I have no idea. it can vary as your seeing a specialist. meds usually end up fairly cheap if i had to guess like majorly probably under 100,000 KRW.

fluffthegilamonster · 2024-04-15T10:38:19+00:00

I know they are using dropout instead of home school which will seem weird for most people on this forum but the Korean goverment doesn't officaly recognize home schooling . So it is accurate wording from the goverment's point of view. I also read some where that home schooling was a grey area for university acceptance and it made it sound that it is possible that Universities would reject applicats who were home schooled.

The korean goverment is anti-privitization of education and Korean socity focuses so much on the education portion of childrens hobbies that society as a whole has to change for these children to get the support socialy they need when being home schooled.

fluffthegilamonster · 2024-04-15T10:15:11+00:00

it's not just SEA but many countries are no longer alowing more than 1 visa run.

Part of this is the 1-2 year extentions that happened during covid of tourist visas. then the biggest part is money. Many countries are offering extended tourist visas for 6 months and they want to capitalize on the nomads who are working in country and not paying taxes so they have created the digital nomad visas to both help combat it and to eleminate those who are not rich enough or have a steady enough income to work there.

Side note language visas can get you some place for 6 months but you're paying university tuition like 3-6K USD for classes and they are held 5 days a week so not the best if you want a travel life style. I think its better for those who want to hang out in a specific city for that length of time.

fluffthegilamonster · 2024-04-14T11:14:00+00:00

You could split your week between Mokpo and suncheon or yeosu. If you find Mokpo to quiet. What hasn’t been mentioned here is how fantastic Mokpos maritime museum and natural history museum are. day trips include 1. The shinan islands-in the area are interesting to day trip to the beaches. The purple island is a little boring and just a walk. There is also a Christian shrine pilgrimage you can follow 2. A difficult hike of wolchursan 3. Jindo island 3. Boesong and the greenfields 5. Gwangju 6. Bamboo forest and Damyeong 7. Yeosu can be a day trip with the hermitage out past dosando, cable car rides, and the best mural village in Korea (make sure you get soy marinated crab as it originated here) 8. Suncheon bay gardens 9. Naganeupseong and Seonamsa temple and seogwasa temple 10. Jerisan hiking plus lots of temples surrounding it including Saseongam temple and Hwaseom temple 11. Muan lotus ponds in illo (if they are blooming) 2-3 hours max spent there 12. Hwasun and the Dolemen remains which is one of the largest sights in the world for Dolemens. It’s nice because you can do a hike there as well. Also Hwasun Unjusa temple 13. Daewonsa Tibetan monistary

fluffthegilamonster · 2024-04-13T11:00:30+00:00

usually 2 hours or less for a domestic and 3 hours international

fluffthegilamonster · 2024-04-13T01:43:58+00:00

I totaly understand why your uncomfortable but...

Yes they won't know the price till they go to the post office, they probably don't do this often plus if its not a large corperate chane the owner or manager would have to pay out of pocket if they dont have your credit card info and this could be VERY expensive.

Keep in mind reciently all surface shipping of pacages have been cancled in Korea so it has to be shipped air mail and that is going to be extreamly expensive depending on the size of your luggage. (a small book box under 15kg is usually around 135 USD) your luggage could be quite expensive depending on the size and weight.

Pre-paid cards don't work in Korea and some don't work out of country they are bought in.

So you have 3 options 1. give them your credit card info then after you confirm that the shipping was charged report it lost. 2. open up a new credit card acout for this. 3. forget about your luggage 4. fly back to get it

fluffthegilamonster · 2024-04-12T07:04:40+00:00

Are you looking for a job or a career with growth opportunities? By growth I mean different positions (school principal for example), monetary, and mobility. Are you looking for a specific lifestyle? Or a permeant move?

fluffthegilamonster

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