Korean Job Discussion Forums

driftingfocus · Joined: 08 Feb 2007 Location: Boston, MA

How common is it to be able to get overtime in a public school in a rural area (my town in particular is about 60,000)? I was hoping to be able to teach an extra class a day, or at an after school program if the school has one (I have not gotten an answer on that yet from the recruiter), but I'm wondering how possible that will likely be?

Dome Vans · Guest

I would have thought very likely, especially with the new government throwing money at English teaching.

I live in a city of 30 000. My schools are in rural areas of 500-1000 people, so tiny.

Generally you get paid extra for teaching anything before first period and after 6th period, which is the same as Korean teachers. At one of my schools I teach the period before 1st period, twice a week. They offered and I took it. The students pay for that.

At my other school I teach a one and a half hour lesson on Wednesday afternoon. This paid for by the Office of Education because most of the kids don't have the money or the chance to go to a Hagwon.

Just doing this bumps my salary up by 400 000won a month.

Have a talk with your school about this see what they can do. Failing that check with your Office of Education if they have anything for you, I take it you're an EPIK teacher?

But remember to ask questions about how much you'll be paid, when you'll be paid, what students you'll teach, what you'll have to teach. Good Luck!

Hank the Iconoclast · Joined: 08 Oct 2007 Location: Busan

I teach before first period (Thursday) and after sixth period (Tues and Wed)and I don't get paid extra for it. They say that's part of my contract hours...are they pulling the wool over my eyes here?

driftingfocus · Joined: 08 Feb 2007 Location: Boston, MA

Gamecock · Joined: 26 Nov 2003

I get more Overtime than I want in the 2 schools I teach at in my rural area. There aren't many hogwans here, and most of the kids can't afford them anyway, so the schools have really made an effort to provide kids with extra English classes. The great thing about all my extra classes is that they still fall within my normal workday. So I'm home by 4:30 and still get my OT pay.

I would say overtime will probably be available, IF the principal likes you and isn't xenopobic. I've seen bad principals like this in rare cases. In my second year the principal liked my work and gave me two more extra classes than my first year. So now I teach the kindergartners at my public school as well.

driftingfocus · Joined: 08 Feb 2007 Location: Boston, MA

Gamecock · Joined: 26 Nov 2003

This year i have 2 extra classes on Tues and Thur (2:20-3 and 3:10-3:50), 1 extra class on wed (2:20-3) and 2 on Friday (3-3:40 and 3:50-4:30). I was offered more classes teaching teachers in my school district after normal work hours, which i declined.

My situation may be a little different from a lot of public schools. I'm not sure. And you can't really guarantee there will be overtime at all, nor I think dictate WHEN the classes will be. I would say don't plan on overtime and you won't be disappointed. If it happens, it's a bonus.

Another thing I've found working in rural public schools is that if you develop good relationships with your co-teachers, many of them will come to you asking you to do private lessons with their own children. I've never done this, but if i wanted to I could be banking extra cash this way. It's also a distinct possiblity.

Dome Vans · Guest

Hank the Iconoclast · Joined: 08 Oct 2007 Location: Busan

Colorado · Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 4:42 pm Post subject:

I teach 16 hours a week during school hours and 8 hours after school. I get overtime only for the two hours a week over my 22 contract hours.
Sad

Gamecock · Joined: 26 Nov 2003

All my "extra classes" are above 22 hours a week. That's why i get OT pay even though they still fall during my regular working hours.

driftingfocus · Joined: 08 Feb 2007 Location: Boston, MA

Hank the Iconoclast · Joined: 08 Oct 2007 Location: Busan

If I was working outside of normal school hours, I would expect to get overtime. Since I teach mine at 8:20-8:50 and the others from 3:40-4:25, I don't complain.

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

I was wondering how common it is to decide that overtime only counts in weeks when no classes are canceled. I have 22 regular classes and 3 overtime afterschool classes but some regular classes are canceled almost every week so I end up working less than 25 classes. Do I still get paid overtime for the afterschool classes? I guess I'll find out, but I won't agree to work them next time if I don't!

Gamecock · Joined: 26 Nov 2003

I have classes cancelled every week for a variety of events. I NEVER teach the full 22 regularly scheduled classes, but I still get paid my full OT for my "extra" classes.

This week, for example, my Monday morning classes were cancelled because the kiddies had to practice for the upcoming sports day, Rolling Eyes

on Wednesday I had a special demonstration class but all my other classes were cancelled, and on Thursday morning the kids had to practice their dance routine for sports day. So I taught about 12 of my 22 classes. But still get all my overtime!