Korean Job Discussion Forums

bovinerebel · Joined: 27 Feb 2008

I currently teach 24 classes a week. I'm paid extra for the 2 classes above my contract requirement so I have no reason to complain. Having spent last year teaching only 19 classes a week I certainly feel the pinch of that extra class a day.

Far from being lazy I put a lot of effort into my classes . Recently my days have gone from 3 classes and a maximum of 4 classes to a minimum of 4 classes and generally 5 classes a day. I have noticed it's really effecting my ability to put enough energy into all my classes. The will is there but the body can't keep up. How many classes do you teach and what do you think is a fair number to expect someone to do with the necessary energy ?

The koreans teachers do a maximum of 17 classes as part of their standard contract and i notice they hardly have energy to drag themselves home at the end of the day . Their classes certainly require less of the pressure to be entertaining that ours do . They also earn the same if not more money . Reason to be upset ?

Scouse Mouse · Joined: 07 Jan 2007 Location: Cloud #9

I am in a similar situation... from 18 last year to 22 this year. I am goosed!

poet13 · Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 11:23 pm Post subject:

13 one week, 14 the next.

(Doesn't include after school program)

bovinerebel · Joined: 27 Feb 2008

Yeah poet , that sounds brilliant . Could wake up all enthusiastic with that scenario. The reason I'm asking is to get an indication of how raw a deal I'm getting in the context of what others are expected to teach . I now carry the workload that 2 native speakers used to carry for only an extra 200k a month. Hardly worth it . Contract signing time is here and all that .

Hogwan teachers need not comment that they do more . They aren't expected to sit around school from 8:30 in the morning until 4: 30 everyday , or teach classes of 40 students forced to be there . It takes a lot more out of you.

I still think this is an easy job. But nobody likes doing more than they can get away with right ?

spliff · Joined: 19 Jan 2004 Location: Khon Kaen, Thailand

Sounds like it's to little.

poet13 · Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 11:33 pm Post subject:

The other foreigners in my city work 22, 20, and 18 classes a week.
I may work fewer classes, but I also do free stuff. Skit club, debate club, and mentoring a couple of "bad" students.

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

spliff · Joined: 19 Jan 2004 Location: Khon Kaen, Thailand

TeeBee · Joined: 18 Oct 2007

I'm at a public middle school, and I'm on 26 lessons a week at the moment, including after school classes (which I do get extra pay for). I have to agree with bovinerebel that it does get a bit tough putting everything I've got into each lesson. It's frustrating when you really want to do a good job, but when you hit lesson 6 of the day, it starts getting a tad tougher.

BUT, I've had worse jobs with longer hours for less pay, so I'm not going to complain too loudly. Yet.

Easter Clark · Joined: 18 Nov 2007 Location: Hiding from Yie Eun-woong

nobbyken · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Location: Yongin ^^

I do 20 a week, with 4 after-school classes at 25K/hour.
Zero preparation for normal classes required, just what I choose to put in.
A little prep for after-school classes, but little compared to prep in elementary school.

Draz · Joined: 27 Jun 2007 Location: Land of Morning Clam

22 classes a week with plans to add much much more. :-/

They wanted me to come in for 3 hours (on top of the 22 classes + 3 afterschool classes) every other Saturday. I said no.

bovinerebel · Joined: 27 Feb 2008

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

27*40 minute classes per week and yes, it can be a bit of a chore (but I like the extra 400K+ per month) and I still head home at 4:30.

Public school, 3 mil per month + benefits (airfare, housing, medical, pension, 6 weeks contracted holidays, etc) for teaching fewer classes than a hakwon jockey.

I don't get the downtime that others get but I certainly enjoy the beaches more with the added cash flow during the extra vacation time.

.

Dome Vans · Guest

Last semester 19, which included a wednesday extra class of 1 and a half hours, which because it finished after the 6th period I got paid 40 000 won for it.

This year they're definately trying to cram in more extra. So I'm up to 24 hours. I've agreed to one extra on Tuesday morning and one on Thursday morning. So I'm off to Seoul tomorrow to get a textbook for this because I'm not planning more lessons for the morning ones. I probably spend 4-5 hours a day doing lesson planning so I'm not doing it for the extra. So 20 is included in the contract and I get paid extra for 4 hours each week. Puts me on about 2.7 for the month. Not bad at all.

I won't actually have the full working (24) week starting until April because not all the extra are set up yet. Also similar to ttompatz I'm home at the same time everyday 5:10pm.

I can imagine by June I'll be feeling a little jaded. Which is the perfect time to be re-newing and taking two weeks holiday. Smile