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Jizzo T. Clown
Joined: 28 Apr 2005
Posts: 668
Location: performing in a classroom near you!
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 Posted: Thu Nov 02, 2006 3:34 pm Post subject: What's the deal with all of this vacation time?? |
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I've been reading some of the posts here and I'm amazed at the amount of vacation time some of you guys get.
How on earth would you ever land a job where you basically work half a year and get half a year off, then get paid full-time wages?!
I work for an American uni and I hardly get any time off--the public school teachers have it better than we do! |
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rusmeister
Joined: 15 Jun 2006
Posts: 867
Location: Russia
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| Posted: Thu Nov 02, 2006 3:55 pm Post subject: |
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I would think a majority of teflers abroad does not see summer pay. All of those who do, correct me! (If you get minimum wage, it doesn't count!)
We pay for it in different ways. There ain't no free lunch (TANJ! as Larry Niven put it) |
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gaijinalways
Joined: 29 Nov 2005
Posts: 2279
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| Posted: Thu Nov 02, 2006 4:06 pm Post subject: |
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In Japan it is possible as part-time uni lecturer, but we don't get;
an office
our own computer
any research money
job security
class schedule security
an assistant
someone who makes copies for us
much chance to put input into the admin end (if any)
We do have
more lesson planning
more lesson teaching
less attractive teaching times (depends on the uni)
more numerous commutes to different campuses
You tell me, is it worth it?    |
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Sheikh Inal Ovar
Joined: 04 Dec 2005
Posts: 1208
Location: Melo Drama School
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| Posted: Thu Nov 02, 2006 4:22 pm Post subject: |
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At the more sought after establishments in the Gulf, 3 months + religious holidays ... all at full pay ... is pretty much the norm ...
Add to that the re-acclimatisation and wind-down time and you're cooking ...
Of course, it's not all roses, there's plenty of wind-up time in the middle ... |
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Jizzo T. Clown
Joined: 28 Apr 2005
Posts: 668
Location: performing in a classroom near you!
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| Posted: Thu Nov 02, 2006 7:53 pm Post subject: |
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Oh, we get summer pay--as long as we work from May-August!
Well at least we get offices and student workers to do our bidding (like getting coffee or making our copies or powerpoints).
Still, we teach a minimum of 23 hours/week (I teach 27) and get about four weeks' paid vacation/year, which is almost enough to make you want to go back overseas. I hear Korean unis are the place to be.
Oh, and gaijinalways--
Research money...what's that??  |
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Gordon
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 5309
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Thu Nov 02, 2006 11:11 pm Post subject: |
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I can't speak for all universities in japan and I am pretty sure my situation (in some ways) is better than most. I teach f/t at a university in Japan.
I have a 3 day work week (most years it has been 4 days/wk) teaching 12 hrs/wk
I work approximately 30 weeks/yr (2 big breaks and a 3 wk Christmas break)
a massive office
research and travel budgets (worth about $3,000/yr)
no office hours are necessary and very few meetings
subsidized housing
From talking to other uni teachers in Japan, this is a very good situation, especially in regards to virtually no meetings. However, to offset this, I get significantly less pay than at other universities in Japan. But I am happy to get less pay for more time off. It is enough to support a family of 4, go on 2 overseas trips/yr and save a little (very little).
There is no way I was able to come even close to this when I was teaching in a college in Canada. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2006 12:21 am Post subject: |
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gaijinalways wrote:
| Quote: |
In Japan it is possible as part-time uni lecturer, but we don't get;
an office
our own computer
any research money
job security
class schedule security
an assistant
someone who makes copies for us
much chance to put input into the admin end (if any)
We do have
more lesson planning
more lesson teaching
less attractive teaching times (depends on the uni)
more numerous commutes to different campuses |
I'm FT at a university in Japan, and I don't have an assistant, someone to make copies for me, much chance for input into the admin, or job security (who does with renewable contracts instead of tenure?).
I plan more lessons than anyone FT or PT and teach more.
Luckily, my schedule so far has been classes on 3 days of the week, but I still have to show up 5 days a week. Nobody hovers over me, though. And, with summer break being a month off, that only means courses are not in progress; I still have to go in. Same for winter break (longer), in which I have only 3 official days off. Of course, I'll take my vacation time then, but I think you can see my point. |
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Gregor
Joined: 06 Jan 2005
Posts: 842
Location: Jakarta, Indonesia
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| Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2006 11:23 am Post subject: |
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In China, we at the language mills don't get so much time off. More than a full-time job in the US, sure, but still...
In Indonesia, we got all the Christian holidays AND all the Muslim holidays AND the vacations. It seemed like we got almost half he year off, when you count in weekends. It was awesome. That's just one of the perks of TEFL.
There are two sides to that coin, by the way. I used to go NUTS listening to all the uni-pukes who had just finished school, never worked a day in their lives, and complained about how much they had to work in their TEFL jobs. That used to just SLAY me.
Before I was a TEFLer, I worked in a union shop printing the Austin American Statesman. Jesus, even in a union gig, we had to WORK. Compared to the economies of where I've lived doing different jobs, working in a Chinese language mill is probably the best pay I have ever had for a job. I don't think I'd EVER have been able to buy a home even as a union salaried printer. Certainly not in a thriving downtown area, like where I live now. |
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mondrian
Joined: 20 Mar 2005
Posts: 658
Location: "was that beautiful coastal city in the NE of China"
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| Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2006 11:42 pm Post subject: |
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| Gregor wrote: |
In China, we at the language mills don't get so much time off. More than a full-time job in the US, sure, but still...
In Indonesia, we got all the Christian holidays AND all the Muslim holidays AND the vacations. It seemed like we got almost half he year off, when you count in weekends. It was awesome. That's just one of the perks of TEFL.
There are two sides to that coin, by the way. I used to go NUTS listening to all the uni-pukes who had just finished school, never worked a day in their lives, and complained about how much they had to work in their TEFL jobs. That used to just SLAY me.
Before I was a TEFLer, I worked in a union shop printing the Austin American Statesman. Jesus, even in a union gig, we had to WORK. Compared to the economies of where I've lived doing different jobs, working in a Chinese language mill is probably the best pay I have ever had for a job. I don't think I'd EVER have been able to buy a home even as a union salaried printer. Certainly not in a thriving downtown area, like where I live now. |
I agree completely.
Other teachers here, especially the Chinese ones, continually ask me if I am tired after I have done 6 hours teaching in the day (with a 2 hour lunch break in between) .
No way!
I was a medium sized restaurant owner for 7 years in a UK city (150 covers + shops). THAT was hard work: 7 days a week, minimum 12 hours a day and more at the week-end. Stress, stress, stress!
I feel as if I am on holiday and have been for the past 12 years, since I sold it and did TEFL!
Oh, and I'll add the fact that it would have taken me 25 years of working to own my own home in the UK, whereas I have bought outright my own apartment in China within 2 years of coming here, just using my Chinese salary (with no extra funds added) |
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saint57
Joined: 10 Mar 2003
Posts: 1221
Location: Beyond the Dune Sea
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| Posted: Sat Nov 04, 2006 2:53 am Post subject: |
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the public school teachers have it better than we do!
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That sounds a bit snobby. You should be a public school teacher.
Last edited by saint57 on Sat Nov 04, 2006 3:07 am; edited 1 time in total |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Sat Nov 04, 2006 3:01 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
Quote:
the public school teachers have it better than we do!
That sounds a bit snobby. |
If one can put up with the students in an American public school. I think that is easier said than done. I have not taught in a public school but my mother has and have heard enough horror stories. |
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Jizzo T. Clown
Joined: 28 Apr 2005
Posts: 668
Location: performing in a classroom near you!
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| Posted: Sat Nov 04, 2006 3:05 am Post subject: |
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| saint57 wrote: |
That sounds a bit snobby. |
No, not snobby (not as snobby as your avatar anyway--who the hell is that?). Just a fact.
Would you rather work in a public school or a university? Which job offers more vacation?
Get the idea? |
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saint57
Joined: 10 Mar 2003
Posts: 1221
Location: Beyond the Dune Sea
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| Posted: Sat Nov 04, 2006 4:05 am Post subject: |
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University students get more vacation time than public school students. Is that what you're asking? You work at a university in the U.S.A., but you could be a parking lot attendant for all I know. If I were applying for a job as a parking lot attendant at a university I wouldn't expect the same vacation time as the students. On the other hand, I don't imagine the president of your university gets much time off either.
Get the idea? |
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White_Elephant
Joined: 02 Sep 2006
Posts: 175
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| Posted: Sat Nov 04, 2006 4:40 am Post subject: |
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| Jizzo T. Clown wrote: |
| I hear Korean unis are the place to be. |
Where did you hear that? If vacation time is all you want then that might be the place for you. I get almost six months of paid vacation a year. Still, I'd rather work somewhere else like Thailand, the Middle East or even Japan (with far more working hours). It's all about the quality of life for me and Korea just doesn't cut it.
Some of the things I have to deal with:
1. Students who generally do not want to learn English and see no need to speak it.
2. Students who are generally very rude to their professors and refuse to cooperate when asked to do so. Don't even think of putting them in pairs because they will just speak the L1 and so loud that it drowns out the sounds any attept to speak English.
3. Students who are so immature that some days I wonder how they ever passed kinder care. At least my teachers taught me that hitting other students in class is unacceptable and that throwing things will get me punished. Get use to temper tantrums because they are not that rare in this culture.
4. Students who cannot communicate in sentences unless reading from a script but somehow manage to use swear words including "F..." in class.
5. The head of my department consistantly forces female students to have sex with him for their grades. I've had one student leave my class one hour early to attend his "class" every week.
6. The same head of my department lied to me when I first started saying that he made a mistake on my contract. I should not get a bonus at the end of my contract equivalent to one month's pay. That I should sign a new contract to exculde the bonus because HE made the "mistake." Nevermind that the pay is required by the law of the country. The same university refused to pay all of the profs. their bonuses this year until they went to the labor board to complain and were forced to pay up. Well, I refused to sign a new contract and this same head of dept. hasn't even so much as returned a single greeting. I and the rest of the foreign staff are completely ignored.
7. Get ready to be treated like an unwelcomed guest or a stray dog for no other reason except that you are a foreigner.
8. Expect not to get the same bonuses during holidays that the Korean profs. get or to get any of the same gifts from the uni. admin. Expect nothing. Watch your fellow Korean colleagues walk away with gift after gift from the uni. while you get nothing. Last year the F. profs. got a Christmas gift and the cost of it came out of their salary. I'm NOT kidding.
9. Don't expect to go on ANY of the trips with the department. They often take trips to Japan, Thailand, resorts etc. with the students. You are NOT allowed to go because you are a foreigner.
10. Have any trouble adjusting to your new home and environment? Don't expect your uni. employer to help you in any way shape or form. In fact, the prof I replaced left his elec. and gas bills behind. I talk to the Uni who is responsible for the accomodations and I am met with, "it's not my problem. I give you his phone number."
11. Yes you are promised an office but you have to fight tooth and nail for it. Have trouble connecting to the internet in your office? Too bad, you'll have to wait three weeks to get it worked out.
12. In the neighborhood, only one person speaks English and he's done me a number of favors.
13. Eating? There are not many restaurants and most of them have no English on the menus. Most of them don't serve foreigners alone anyway.
14. Expect one fat paycheck every month.
15. Expect long vacations.
So what do you think? Want my job?  |
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rusmeister
Joined: 15 Jun 2006
Posts: 867
Location: Russia
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| Posted: Sat Nov 04, 2006 5:10 am Post subject: |
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| JZer wrote: |
| Quote: |
Quote:
the public school teachers have it better than we do!
That sounds a bit snobby. |
If one can put up with the students in an American public school. I think that is easier said than done. I have not taught in a public school but my mother has and have heard enough horror stories. |
Just don't blame the kids when it is the school structure and environment which they naturally react to. (FTR I am an ex-public school teacher that believes that Gatto is mostly right - I believe because I was there and saw it with my own eyes.) It's not the students. It is the designed system with its philosophy, which they pretend it doesn't have.
Public teachers are well-paid government servants (in NY and CA at least, in places like ND it may be debatable), many of whom really try to teach kids and do a good job, never realizing that it is the system itself which is sabotaging them. |
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