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renzobenzo1
Joined: 08 Sep 2007
Location: Suji, Yongin
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 Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 9:37 pm Post subject: Feeling tired and overworked. Burntout |
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This is more of a rant than anything.
I feel near exhaustion point.
Being a teacher uses a lot of energy and having only 2 weeks off in almost 9 months is pretty tough going.
I am starting to feel like a zombie.
Give me tests to mark, paperwork and 2 months holiday any day.
And what the hell is with the policy of sitting at your desk for 6 weeks for half days anyway when you're not even going to be teaching after that because you're going home...
I have spent the whole year prepping and have about 2 years of teaching material up my sleeves.
Sure you might say it's easy money just sitting there at your desk but why don't they just give you 2 weeks paid holiday and let you go, making it a 10month year.
Seems like a waste of time and mis-used energy to me. |
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oldfatfarang
Joined: 19 May 2005
Location: On the road to somewhere.
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| Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 10:04 pm Post subject: |
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It's all about control in Korea. Keeping you at your desk - doing nothing for hours/days/weeks on end - is to let you know that your are under someone's control.
Negative reinforcement is the norm here - I can't imagine a Korean manager using positive reinforcement to motivate an employee. None of this 'let them go and get refreshed for the new term nonsense' - no, it's I'm in charge and you'll do as I say.
That said, my Principal has 'authorised' my upcoming holidays in a large block - if his superiors (and immigration) deem me worthy of resigning that is. |
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thegadfly
Joined: 01 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 10:18 pm Post subject: |
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Buy a pillow for your desk? Buy a PSP and play some games? Get a portable burner/picnic set and have samkyupsal at your desk?
Yeah, teaching is a draining gig, and when you suddenly have a lot of office time imposed upon you, it drags even worse -- teaching a class is a lot more work, but the time flies by.... |
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jeffkim1972
Joined: 10 Jan 2007
Location: Mokpo
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| Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 2:04 am Post subject: Re: Feeling tired and overworked. Burntout |
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| renzobenzo1 wrote: |
This is more of a rant than anything.
I feel near exhaustion point.
Being a teacher uses a lot of energy and having only 2 weeks off in almost 9 months is pretty tough going.
I am starting to feel like a zombie.
Give me tests to mark, paperwork and 2 months holiday any day.
And what the hell is with the policy of sitting at your desk for 6 weeks for half days anyway when you're not even going to be teaching after that because you're going home...
I have spent the whole year prepping and have about 2 years of teaching material up my sleeves.
Sure you might say it's easy money just sitting there at your desk but why don't they just give you 2 weeks paid holiday and let you go, making it a 10month year.
Seems like a waste of time and mis-used energy to me. |
The reason you must sit at your desk is because the school advertises to the whole world that there is a "foreigner" present full time at the school.
So when a new prospective customer comes in and sees you, they are automatically assured their kid will speak fluent english in no time.
That is the great mystery about having you around even though you are not needed for teaching.
You are not only hired to teach, but your presence is required because it is part of the hagwon's marketing campaign to always have a "foreigner" present at the school. |
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renzobenzo1
Joined: 08 Sep 2007
Location: Suji, Yongin
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| Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 2:08 am Post subject: Re: Feeling tired and overworked. Burntout |
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| jeffkim1972 wrote: |
| renzobenzo1 wrote: |
This is more of a rant than anything.
I feel near exhaustion point.
Being a teacher uses a lot of energy and having only 2 weeks off in almost 9 months is pretty tough going.
I am starting to feel like a zombie.
Give me tests to mark, paperwork and 2 months holiday any day.
And what the hell is with the policy of sitting at your desk for 6 weeks for half days anyway when you're not even going to be teaching after that because you're going home...
I have spent the whole year prepping and have about 2 years of teaching material up my sleeves.
Sure you might say it's easy money just sitting there at your desk but why don't they just give you 2 weeks paid holiday and let you go, making it a 10month year.
Seems like a waste of time and mis-used energy to me. |
The reason you must sit at your desk is because the school advertises to the whole world that there is a "foreigner" present full time at the school.
So when a new prospective customer comes in and sees you, they are automatically assured their kid will speak fluent english in no time.
That is the great mystery about having you around even though you are not needed for teaching.
You are not only hired to teach, but your presence is required because it is part of the hagwon's marketing campaign to always have a "foreigner" present at the school. |
I work at 2 public schools  |
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jeffkim1972
Joined: 10 Jan 2007
Location: Mokpo
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| Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 5:38 am Post subject: |
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| Liar! you work at a hagwon! |
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PGF
Joined: 27 Nov 2006
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| Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 5:42 am Post subject: |
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| I know hagwons sound terrible, but damn......sitting, doing jack for hours, even if jack is playing computer games or watching movies, sucks. Better to find a hagwon that works you for 5-6 hours a day and let's you come and go when you do not have a class than be subjected to mandotory sloth...it's one of the 7 deadly sins, I think...at least it was in a movie I once saw.... |
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nomad-ish
Joined: 08 Oct 2007
Location: On the bottom of the food chain
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| Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 3:19 pm Post subject: |
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i thought we were talking about sitting around all day during the winter vacation, in between camps?
hagwons  |
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nomad-ish
Joined: 08 Oct 2007
Location: On the bottom of the food chain
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| Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 3:20 pm Post subject: |
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| oldfatfarang wrote: |
It's all about control in Korea. Keeping you at your desk - doing nothing for hours/days/weeks on end - is to let you know that your are under someone's control.
Negative reinforcement is the norm here - I can't imagine a Korean manager using positive reinforcement to motivate an employee. None of this 'let them go and get refreshed for the new term nonsense' - no, it's I'm in charge and you'll do as I say.
That said, my Principal has 'authorised' my upcoming holidays in a large block - if his superiors (and immigration) deem me worthy of resigning that is. |
u hit the nail on the head there for sure 
edit: although, i do find my co-teachers give me lots of compliments... but it's usually because they're about to ask for something  |
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The_Conservative
Joined: 15 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 6:25 pm Post subject: Re: Feeling tired and overworked. Burntout |
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| jeffkim1972 wrote: |
| renzobenzo1 wrote: |
This is more of a rant than anything.
I feel near exhaustion point.
Being a teacher uses a lot of energy and having only 2 weeks off in almost 9 months is pretty tough going.
I am starting to feel like a zombie.
Give me tests to mark, paperwork and 2 months holiday any day.
And what the hell is with the policy of sitting at your desk for 6 weeks for half days anyway when you're not even going to be teaching after that because you're going home...
I have spent the whole year prepping and have about 2 years of teaching material up my sleeves.
Sure you might say it's easy money just sitting there at your desk but why don't they just give you 2 weeks paid holiday and let you go, making it a 10month year.
Seems like a waste of time and mis-used energy to me. |
The reason you must sit at your desk is because the school advertises to the whole world that there is a "foreigner" present full time at the school.
So when a new prospective customer comes in and sees you, they are automatically assured their kid will speak fluent english in no time.
That is the great mystery about having you around even though you are not needed for teaching.
You are not only hired to teach, but your presence is required because it is part of the hagwon's marketing campaign to always have a "foreigner" present at the school. |
Hakwon teachers don't sit at their desk all day for days on end. |
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Kenny Kimchee
Joined: 12 May 2003
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| Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2007 3:58 am Post subject: |
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| This is the number one reason I'm so glad I'm not on JET any more. |
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Mr. BlackCat
Joined: 30 Nov 2005
Location: Insert witty remark HERE
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| Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2007 5:14 am Post subject: |
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oldfatfarang wrote:
| Quote: |
| It's all about control in Korea |
This should be pasted on every visa, tourism ad, plane ticket for here. |
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Gamecock
Joined: 26 Nov 2003
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| Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2007 3:52 pm Post subject: |
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Ok...I understand being annoyed at having to sit at your desk during vacation times at a public school...
But if you are "exhausted" in a public school position, you've either got health issues or have never had a real job in your entire life. I'd hate to hear your complaints if you "worked" 8 hours a day almost anywhere else. And, for a starting position in most countries, 2 weeks vacation is the norm. |
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renzobenzo1
Joined: 08 Sep 2007
Location: Suji, Yongin
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| Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2007 5:58 pm Post subject: |
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| Gamecock wrote: |
Ok...I understand being annoyed at having to sit at your desk during vacation times at a public school...
But if you are "exhausted" in a public school position, you've either got health issues or have never had a real job in your entire life. I'd hate to hear your complaints if you "worked" 8 hours a day almost anywhere else. And, for a starting position in most countries, 2 weeks vacation is the norm. |
Well I find teaching more draining of my energy than say an office job.
It's even harder when you don't have a co-teacher at 1 school and are constantly telling the students to be quiet non-stop. |
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nomad-ish
Joined: 08 Oct 2007
Location: On the bottom of the food chain
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| Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2007 6:50 pm Post subject: |
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| Gamecock wrote: |
Ok...I understand being annoyed at having to sit at your desk during vacation times at a public school...
But if you are "exhausted" in a public school position, you've either got health issues or have never had a real job in your entire life. I'd hate to hear your complaints if you "worked" 8 hours a day almost anywhere else. And, for a starting position in most countries, 2 weeks vacation is the norm. |
it all depends on how u teach. |
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