Korean Job Discussion Forums

[gsxr750r]

My uni job just went unigwon in a big way. It sort of was one already, but pretty much on a volunteer basis (I enjoyed the extra cash sometimes).

Today, we had a meeting (arranged last week) where we were told that our school Dean has decided to start a "new program in Korea" which is "the first of its kind."

(My waygook coworker then leaned over and began whispering the schools that have had an identical program in place for as long as six years...)

I knew this would be about adding a few extra early-morning class hours to our schedules (if we chose to). Somehow, between hearing "voluntary" last week, and the meeting this week, "a few voluntary hours" became 5 to 6 mandatory 8am to 9am hours per week. I already teach 9 hours on Thursday and Friday, so I told them teaching a morning class at 8am just wasn't going to happen. It quickly became apparent that they had planned too many classes for how many teaching hours we actually had available.

The soution from my boss: "Well, how about Saturday?"

I think I ruffled some feathers when I immediately told them no way, no how, and also repeated the same instantaneous remark when they said the program, if successful, would spill over into our vacation.

Due to my already busy Thursday and Friday, I was able to get out of the meeting teaching only 4 extra hours per week -- by making Mon/Tues a 1 1/2 hr class, and one hour on Wednesday (which I had totally off before this). Pay is a bit higher (33,000 an hour) and this is not for credit, so no testing.

I'm now up to 25 hours (3 of which are a writing class, which is like teaching 6 hours, as far as grading/prep).

At least they're paying us more.

One of our teachers wasn't there, so he'll arrive to find his schedule has changed, and he'll be upset (he isn't big on expanding the schedule).

The thing about this is that few of us (Koreans included) feel this no-credit program will fly. It's too many class sections -- for no credit -- early in the morning. At best, I figure we'll retain half of the students after the first month. We waygooks were discussing that we hope they don't blame it on us when the students stop showing up because they'd rather sleep in.

Actually, I like a few extra hours for extra pay, but I like having more of an option, too. This was basically dictated to us.

[Gideon]

Are you referring to Suwon University?

Sounds simliar to a story I heard the other day.

[gsxr750r]

Nope. Different.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

The philosophy of so many Korean employers seems to be that they should try to make the 'most' use of their foreigners as possible. This is understandable, but what they don't seem to realise is that if they want to get and keep the 'best' foreigners (especially ones with experience and a commitment to Korea) they can they will have to provide them with the best working conditions possible. That means not giving them a load of Micky Mouse BS. If my school district ever wants me to relocate to a different job all they'd have to do is insist that I start doing some BS work outside my regular school lessons.

[inkoreaforgood]

[Thunndarr]

[blynch]

[khyber]

"If it is successful, it will spill into our vacation".

Don't the first 4 words solve everything?

[rothkowitz]

Stay firm,have it squeezed into your regular time,enjoy the pay-off.

[happygirl]

Similar story. We've had the early morning classes in place for a while. When told to teach the 8:30 class in the fall, I said NO. Teacher's meeting this week and I'm told the same. I immediately said NO again. I was completely ignored.

Also got regular teaching schedule. I will be sitting on campus for 3 hours and 15 minutes with no classes. Of course the gap is split and it's 40 minutes travel time to my apt. I'm stuck there.

Also, on Wednesday we have no regular classes. The morning class does meet. With travel time I'll be putting in almost 3 hours for 20,000W.

This is not what I signed up for. If I'd wanted to work 8:30 to 4:30 I would have gone to an elementary school. I know acceptance is the key to getting along, but this is frustrating. And I've got the best schedule. Can't believe what they did to the others!

[PRagic]

Don't do it. If you bend over now, you'll be sore the whole time you're there.

[gsxr750r]

Well, the outcome of this is that I will work 3 extra hours. Bummer is that I would have had wednesdays off entirely, but I will have this one 8am class for 1 1/2 hours now (same class on Monday too).

The one teacher who was still away on vacation just returned a few days ago. He must have told them NO, IMPOSSIBLE, because I was informed he would not be teaching the morning class, and the schedule would be paired-down.

It's not all that bad getting just 3 extra hours. It's not graded stuff, anyway. Just conversation time. Could be worse.

[mindmetoo]

Yeah. My school sort of partnered with some kind of high level English academy for middle schoolers (we're elementary). Long story short, they booked too many classes for their 3 whiteys and they wanted to get this whitey to fix their mistake. I teach night classes. They were on a morning schedule. I told them that wasn't going to fly. "How much money will it take to make you agree?" "I'm not here for the money."

The look I got with that line was akin to telling a Korean you really do like being alone.

I might have tried to work something out but when at 9 pm they're trying to get me to teach 4 hours of morning classes at 9 am the next day and it's only at the very last minute they realize they're up a creek... you know... it just says so much about how the school will be run.

I kind of intimated that I would quit. And that would not have been an idle threat.

[Ilsanman]

The correct answer is 'Glad to be back, and go *beep* yourself'.