Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Kiddirts]

My boss wants me to come in an hour early and "prepare" before class because all the other native teachers do it. I reason that the native teachers "prepare" because they actually need to learn the lesson themselves before they teach it. Pretty much I have what I need when I need it...whether its photo copied worksheets or song lyrics or anything else. I certainly don't need an hour to do it. What I want to know is...is it typical for Hagwons to pay or is the hour of prep-time usually something that is expected of us...for the extra 50 minutes I'll have, what's this guy want me to do, give a mock lesson to an empty class? So are you guys paid?
Thanks...

[Son Deureo!]

My contract says I have to come in an hour early for preparation, and it is not paid. Since I work a 5-hour block shift, I don't really have a problem with this, as my day is already short. Sometimes I use this time for actual work (making tests or worksheets, or writing report cards, etc.), other times I read, study, surf the net, chitchat with the Korean teacher or hang out with the kids in the computer room. I also frequently stumble in as much as half an hour "late" for this "prep" time, and there have been no complaints about it.

However, if I had a longer workday that already had breaks and splits (say 8-9 hours between first and last class), I'd probably balk at this extra hour, especially if it were unpaid, and I'd argue that this is the time you use for preparation. It will probably not help your case to tell your director that you don't spend much time preparing for your classes.

Alas, I was aware of this extra hour from the getgo, as it was in the contract I signed. What does your contract say? In theory, that should count for more than anything that the other native teachers do. If their contracts don't require that either, who knows, maybe you'll inspire a general revolt against that policy?

[Kiddirts]

the contract originally said that any prep-time contributes to hours worked even if overtime pay is necessary at 30,000/hr...we negotiated because he thought this was too much...so I flat took that out of the contract. But now he wants me to show up ahead of time, and for the most part, it's a waste of time. All the other teachers are looking at their books trying to learn english (they're terrible! Can barely say hello) and he seems to think I need to do the same. I've heard that preparing and showing up early is rather common, but how are most compensated for it?

[Son Deureo!]

The only people I've ever known who are required to come in early for prep are people who teach in block shifts (all your classes are in a row, with only very short breaks in between). You didn't mention whether or not this is the case for you.

But I've never known of anyone who gets paid for prep time, mandatory or otherwise.

[Kiddirts]

All my classes are in one long block, 6 hours at a time 3 two hour classes back to back to back with no break...I usually walk out that evening with no voice left. Anyone want my job in Daechi? I'm going to Japan to work in a male host bar.

[Mr. Pink]

Isn't it stipulated in your contract that your salary includes "other duties" besides teaching?

Such as meetings and training days etc?

I don't think you need an hour to prepare at any hawgwon either. At most perhaps 30mins to photocopy some supplements.

But a lot of times that hour early is just for show, at least it was back when I worked hawgwons. Most of us would just "look" like we were preparing (probably took us 15mins cause we had done it so often and had what we needed) . Bring a magizine or newspaper. In my experience the being there a bit early makes it look good for you when you want to extend or get a reference letter. You should know Korea is about "looks" in an office. If the boss sees your face, they assume you are doing work.

[Gord]

[Squid]

Gord needs to shrill-down, wise-up, and for once practise what he or she loves to regularly preach.
You (OP) negotiated a fixed prep. time from your contract in order for your tightwad Wongjangnim to save a few bucks and now he's squealing like a stuck pig you're not there. That's what it says right???

Either negotiate the clause back in or tell him, in the politest way possible, to get stuffed.

Wishy-washy nonsense, again, from Gord.

Squid

[Son Deureo!]

It sounds to me like the hogwon owner sprung the "you have to come in an hour early every day" bit after the OP had already signed away his right to be paid for prep time.

I highly doubt that his having to come in an hour early every day is what he actually agreed to, otherwise he probably wouldn't be complaining about it. He probably just agreed that he didn't need to be paid for the time he was already spending to prepare for class.

Kiddrts, I have a hunch that talking to your boss about this will be like talking to a brick wall, but you should try to talk to him calmly and rationally. Telling him to "f--- off" or that your Korean co-workers can't speak English properly will do nothing to help your cause. If talking to him calmly doesn't help, than I think you have three options:

1) Passive-aggressive. Show up when you damn well feel like showing up, as long as it's in time for class. When/if your boss complains, just say "Oops, sorry boss! It won't happen again." Repeat until your boss gets the hint or fires you (sounds like it won't be that big of a loss).

2) Cosmetic capitulation. Show up when the boss wants you to, but do as much or as little work as you feel like doing. Just do what you'd do at home. Have take-out food delivered to the teachers room. Surf the net. Write letters to the folks at home. Study Korean. Read books. Your boss probably cares more about it looking like you've been there prepping for an hour than you actually getting anything accomplished. If your classes are going well, than does it really make that much difference whether you're picking your butt in the teacher's room instead of at home?

3) Behave like a professional teacher. Use that hour to actually prepare things for your classes. Make games and worksheets that you can re-use in other classes, or perhaps even at other schools. Read the teachers guides that came with your textbooks. Read ESL Cafe for ideas. Y'know, actually work and stuff. It just might make you a better teacher.

Which of these options you take is entirely up to your sense of style. From this post, and previous posts of yours I doubt there's anything you can do to improve the relationship between you and your boss. For whatever reason, he's already decided he doesn't like you and wants to milk you as much as he can, and generally make your life difficult. If it's of any consolation to you, you're not the first teacher in Korea that this has happened to.

[ulsanchris]

I think in most hagwans teachers are expected to come in an hour early to prep for class. I would guess that at most that this is unpaid. Teachers are generally paid just for class time, and are epected to be prepared.

BTW If you prep properly it takes longer than ten minutes and involves more than just photocopying stuff.

[crazylemongirl]

Kiddirts, all teachers need to do prep. You should be doing prep it will make your lessons better.

As for this ongoing debate, people the buy the hour thing only works for wage earners. We're collecting a salary. Most real teachers back home are 'paid' for 40 hours a week. However they are often pulling far more than that.

CLG

[hadeshorn]

Jesus tap dancing christ Gord.

We are paid by the hour! Ok by the hour.. Its not like we turn up from when to when and do work within that time. We are usually paid by the hour and guaranteed a minimum amount of hours pay each month.

However they will try and screw on any non time. EG at my school (which is cool and I have no problems as I work 95 hours a month and get paid for 100) There is another teacher who is the best teacher there and usually gets 10 hours of overtime each month. However with halloween last week it cut about 5 hours out of his overtime and he didnt get paid for that.. Even tho he was at the school. But there were no classes because of halloween and we had these long breaks in between scaring kids.

When we arent in an industry of making someone else incredibily rich and us being in the battlefields, is when I will start coming in and worrying about prep time. But we have a sheet on the wall at our school saying when we are gonna do prep time, and I put up my hours and ran out the door. I get in there.. Look at the text book. Do my two pages.. Give out homework.. Control the chaos and boom. Next class.

So Gord, I understand your points about people wanting to be paid for everything. But yeah, while im school, I understand that since im doing them a service.. I should get paid.. If not.. then i retreat into my time and go home.

[some waygug-in]

You can argue for hours about the injustices of unpaid prep time if you want to. But that is not going to help your cause. If you want to stay on reasonably good terms with your boss, you should come in the hour early.
Simple as that. If you don't care about your relationship with your employer, then be prepared to suffer the consequences. I'm not going to say it's right or wrong, it's just how it is here. If you want your boss to treat you decently, you have to at least give the appearance of complying with his wishes.
Whether you actually use that time to prepare is up to you.

Prep time varies depending on the class size, level, age, materials etc. What I usually do is come in and do whatever prep work I need for the day, and then spend some time preparing extra activities, games, or whatever. I find it interesting, in that I try to be creative so it doesn't bother me to do it. (I also know that the more extra stuff I can prepare, the more interesting my classes will be)

Feel free to do whatever you like, but don't expect things to go well at your workplace if you openly oppose your boss.

Cheers

[Squid]

I was harsh on Gord, and apologize.
From more postings on contractual difficulties from the OP, it looks like he/she has landed a two-bob watch.

But I'd be interested to know how many teachers here are paid actual salary vs hourly pay with guaranteed minimum hours per month.
I say if it's salary, get in and do the prep. as part and parcel of your working day, if the latter then clock in, do your prep., teach and leave.

This is academic as most contracts clause in unpaid prep. time anyhow.