Job Discussion Forums

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

I have a very relaxed work environment--I am supposed to be there for office hours for five hours per week, and we are alloted 15 hours of prep time, but there's no rule that says I have to sit there in my office for those 15 hours. If I need to run errands, or if I feel like going out to lunch, or if I just want to relax in our library or at home for an hour, I can. (In contrast, another program here requires that its teachers basically just sit around in their office for several hours just because...)

What ends up happening is I end up doing a lot of prep at home, in front of my computer, in the evening and on weekends. I always bring materials home to grade over the weekends. I have no problem whatsoever bringing my work home with me, primarily because my brain is always on--I am always thinking of new ideas, ways to change lessons, etc. Just because our school is open from 9 until 4 doesn't mean that I only think about my job from 9 until 4. I really like the flexibility of my schedule. I am actually far more productive at home than at school anyway.

What about the rest of you? Do you have to spend X amount of hours on site? Do you work overtime? Do you work at home? And do you mind working at home?

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Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

Not sure what the rules are in most countries but in HONG KONG, I once read you are NOT ALLOWED to take home student exam papers for grading. A teacher once was caught doing this, and she was severely reprimanded.

Boy Wonder · Joined: 29 Mar 2004 Posts: 453 Location: Clacton on sea

I did at the beginning of my present job in a muggy frenzied zeal to be professional and organised and to try and do my best for my students.

Now the only thing I take home from this place are my wages once a month!

I succumbed to the realisation after two months or so that teaching isn't valued at all at this particular establishment.

The Schools refusal to bring in any school resources.i.e books/audio-visual aids or even colouring pencils for the multitude of kids we have here gives them no right to expect anything more than the absolute minimum.
My lessons are all planned and homework/tests marked entirely onsite.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

A lot of my work is done at home. I'd rather do it here than at work since I don't have to be at work except to teach. My office has most of my books in it, but if I have stuff to do on the computer, like tests or worksheets, I do it at home.

phis · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 250

Our school started with the 'do it at home if you want to' philosophy. Unfortunately, the native teachers who were working here at that time took it as 'just turn up for class (unprepared) then disappear again until the next class' (also unprepared) philosophy.

This quickly gave rise to the idea that you were only doing a 'part-time unimportant job' that required minimal effort, although the contract clearly stated that you were employed in a 'full-time capacity'.

We now require our teachers to be 'full-timers'. We make this clear before they sign the contract, and so far nobody is complaining.

Tell people the truth up front. This may make it more difficult to get employees. But it certainly gets rid of the 'backpacking' element.

ntropy · Joined: 11 Oct 2003 Posts: 671 Location: ghurba

On the very odd day when there isn't something from work going home in my backpack, there is a whole whack of it bouncing around between my ears. I reckon I get more planning done on my two-way 1/2 hour walk between parking and work than I do the rest of the day with all the interruptions. And I hate those 3 am "Eureka" moments that wake you out of a sound sleep.

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

I share an office and a PC with another teacher. I often do word-processing or updating of my grades spreadsheets on my home PC, as I don't always have access to a work machine.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

When I worked for a conversation school, my time out of classes was my own. I either prepared for lessons, ran errands, ate, or did some office work (interviewing students).

At my high school, I work long hours. I can leave the building, but I have to check out officially. I rarely take work home because I just don't have time to do it at home anyway. Many times, though, I work on ideas for lessons and mull them over with co-workers by phone or fax from home.

thelmadatter · Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2005 2:06 pm Post subject: work

I rarely take work home because I get too distracted (by the TV, the fridge etc Laughing

) But Im lucky enough to have my own small office, and I do come in on weekends to work... esp. Sun when no one is here and it is quiet. I get a lot done then! (But I balance it out playing Hexic on work time Wink

)

The G-stringed Avenger · Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2005 2:33 pm Post subject:

I'm lucky, I don't have to take work home with me... unless I'm sleeping with one of the students!

Woah flamers, back off, I'm just kidding.

Boy Wonder · Joined: 29 Mar 2004 Posts: 453 Location: Clacton on sea

They might not fit in my bag...but hey there's a few senoritas here that i wouldn't mind taking home with me on a regular basis............if i didn't already have a stunning ex student waiting for me each night!!!

shmooj · Joined: 11 Sep 2003 Posts: 1758 Location: Seoul, ROK

I used to take a lot of work home. I lived near work and, like Denise, my hours were flexible. I think my home life suffered something chronic. My wife never knew when I needed space and when I didn't and it was easy for me to whack up the hours I worked rather than spend time, real time, with my wife. I think working at home made me think that me being around was better for her. Not so. She doesn't want a body int he house, she wants me to interact with.

So, now, I turn off the second I finish my last class. I absolutely refuse to do any work at home unless it is absolutely necessary and then I let my wife know that I am doing it and how long it is likely to take.

Interestingly this contrast stems from the attitude of my bosses at work. When I did a lot of work outside the school and a lot of voluntary overtime, it was in a job where there was no expectation on me to do it. Now that voluntary overtime is expected of me, I refuse to do it. Ironically, I prefer the latter - I certainly find it less stressful and it prevents me from being a workaholic.

So, no, no work for me at home any more. Life is too short...

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

Interesting point, shmooj. I think I would react the same way if I were expected or forced to work overtime. I've always been lucky to have flexibility in my schedule, so I've always been more than happy to work from home in exchange for a bit of goofing-off time at school.

d

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

For me, the line between work and home is blurred. I do a lot of online work as well as in class work, and sometimes both at the same time if I get my way with the webcam next month.

One of the rooms in my three-bedroom apartment is my little office, with stacks of EFL materials, cables running to and fro, and of course, a coffee maker. My wife uses it as her office too. Teachers are coming in and out here all the time, much to my playful dogs' delight.

Now that I discovered several free wi-fi hotspots around town, work is constantly around if my laptop picks up a signal.

On that note, I need a vacation. Going for a business/vacation road trip in a rental car through central Mexico later this week. One stop...the town of Tequila, Jalisco.