Korean Job Discussion Forums

[wayfarer]

Sat down at my desk this morning to find a note from my K co-teacher informing me that "you seem to prepare lesson plans by September 8" for a weekend English camp on three Saturday afternoons. She doesn't say anything like "are you interested in working some overtime on the weekend?" Just a written notice informing me that it's all arranged and now I have to make lesson plans. Wtf?

How am I supposed to take these obnoxious demands to perform duties that have nothing to do with the contract signed by me and GEPIK? I'm not interested in working Saturdays, and my contract exempts me from working Saturdays.

Suggestions on how best to explain that to my school while causing minimal tension? As I've mentioned previously, my main co-teacher is a bossy cow, but her note does mention that this camp is an order from my town's Education Office. Or so she says. Maybe it's best to just contact Dain Bae first?

[ttompatz]

[hugekebab]

[wings]

Pretty much the same thing happend to me yesterday, but it was regarding after school classes with pay way below the contracted over time. I told them that I wouldn't do the class. They were really angry, especially since all the kids were waiting for me in a classroom (they gave me 4 minutes notice about this extra class) I was really nice about it but just told them that I wouldn't do it. They are angry about it right now, but it will all be forgotten in 2 weeks.

Tell them that you won't do it unless they pay you whatever you feel it is worth to you per hour. Make sure you get everything in writing, and make sure they know that you don't HAVE to do it, but that you choose to.

[D.D.]

One thing that I learned teaching in China is if they know they can manipulate you it will keep on getting worse.

First it will be a weekend camp and then you will be invited to dinners with lots of kids for free englishee talk,................... I also learned that they won't respect you if they can control you.

I like this word Control Drama- the first Celestine Prophecy book describes it very well.

People have control dramas and if they can control you it is like sucking your energy.

This scenario you described has control written all over it. So think about what you want to do and do it. If you don't follow your own will then you are being controlled.

A gentle no is a useful tool in this world. Or asking for lots of cash usually scares them away.

[Some of the Mothers Said]

Hi. The posts above give solid advice. If you really don't want to do the Saturday work, you have a number of options. When I first came to Korea, way back in 1999, this was the best advice I was given. Control your emotions.
Perhaps what is written below will help you with the delicate matter of negotiations. (Remember I don't know you, your co-workers, or the situation at your school)
I'd write a note back to the co-teacher (this is the way she like to pass on bad news?) informing her that you will "Take a look at these extra classes" Don't use the word Saturday, or weekend. If she replies with a note, then you will need to speak with her face to face, and don't forget to take the notes with you. They may come in handy to clarify a misunderstanding.
Koreans often talk in circles, so, at times you have to be patient. When your co-teacher approaches you, or you approach her, be polite, but don't give her a definite yes or no. This will put some smoke rings around the circle so that you can have time to find out some more information. Remember, she, and or the school may be being pressured by the Education office to get someone in.
Find out exactly who you would be working for. The Educational Office may not be aware of your contract details, and having a third party to blame will help her save face. (I assume your on an E2, so the VP or Principal must give permission for you to work out side of school.)
Decide for yourself if it would be beneficial for you just to do the classes. Deals can be done. 70,000W per hour cash in hand is a decent rate.
If you REALLY don't want to do the classes, the next step is to politely inform her that your not interested in doing "extra classes" at the moment.
When she asks why, you can give her one or two reasons like a full schedule at school, or simply you don't need any overtime at the moment thanks.
If she says you HAVE to do them, then I guess it's time to ask questions like "I have to work on Saturdays now?" "I don't remember having to work on the weekend before." She should start second guessing herself by now, or getting agitated. If she persists, bring out the contract to re-enforce the no weekend work policy, and and say that you understand that it's not her fault. Be polite but firm in saying, "No thanks."
If it escalates further, time to see the the VP, and call Dain Bae.
I hope this has helped.
Let us know how it goes!

[wylies99]

Maybe she did it in a note to CYA (herself) and be able to blame you when it all "hits the fan."

[wayfarer]

Thanks for the comments, I think they were sound. Since she "informed me" of this with a written note I opted to respond in like fashion before leaving today. Just thanked her for the opportunity and declined. We'll see how she takes it.

What absolutely bowls me over is when they just throw these things at me as if they wouldn't have even imagined I would object.....

I don't think the written word counts for enough in this society. Too much collective subjectivity and tribal consensus... it's an excellent environment for corruption and abuse but not a very good one for an autonomous individual. With all this sort of garbage and the won going down the crapper, I'm not very tempted to renew next year.

[Some of the Mothers Said]

I think you made a good move with the note and polite comment Wayfarer. Stick to your guns, be relaxed and calm, and please up date when you have time.
Try not to beat yourself up over one pushy co-worker mate. At least they gave a little notice. I recall being "informed" about weekend work on Friday afternoons. Ahhhh.
Trust me, when you have moved on, wherever you decide to go, she will probably still be treading water in the same shop. This time next year, I reckon you won't even remember her name.

[wayfarer]

Here's what I wrote for her yesterday afternoon:

[her name],

Thank you for letting me know about my new Wednesday afterschool class. I look forward to beginning it after Chuseok and will begin planning lessons for that class.

However, although I appreciate the generosity of the Anyang Education Office, I will politely decline the offer to teach the weekend camp. I prefer to keep the usual Monday through Friday work-week that was agreed upon between my employer (GEPIK) and me. After giving it some thought and consideration today, I've decided that I am already satisfied with my work and salary and I don't need any weekend work.

I suspect that the Anyang Education Office is simply not aware of the contracted terms of my employment, which exempt me from working Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. If they are shown my contract, they will understand, I'm sure. If there is any difficulty from them, then Dain Bae from GEPIK can be called upon to explain the matter, no doubt.

See you tomorrow,
[my name]


Her response this morning was to glare at me sullenly when we passed in the hall, and then later, in the teacher's room, to harang me about how teachers in Korea work on alternate Saturdays, and about school duty, and about how the Education Office already made these plans, blah blah blah... my repeated response to each of these whinings was simply to say, "I understand that, but I'm not contracted to work weekends and I'm not interested". At last she turned the foul look on her face away from me and shut up. I suppose that's the end of that.

[Some of the Mothers Said]

Great job.
I think that may be the end of it, although, she may use this against you some time in the future, in a mean petty kind of way. I thought the letter you wrote was very good. Very polite and direct. The reference to the Government Office was very nice, giving an escape route for both her and the school. Perhaps next time, try to omit the reference to working on the weekend unless you have no other choice. Korean's can be very sensitive about this, and don't like being reminded of this working distinction. Her reaction by trying to make you feel guilty is a common tactic, and one she may use again in the future. Now that the box is open, a firm NO will have to be your answer.
If she uses the fact that you don't work on weekends as a device in order to make your relationship difficult with co-workers and admin, then perhaps you should look for another place to work in the future.
Thanks for keeping us up to date....

[jkelly80]

You could say you understand about alternating Saturdays for Korean teachers. Then let them know you understand about the massive amounts of vacation Korean teachers get in summer and winter. Offer to work alternating Saturdays (from 8-12 like they do) in return for having all of the summer and winter off (ie no camps), like they do. See how they like that bit of equality.

[Binch Lover]

[spliff]

Tell them you'll work the camp for 40,000 per hour. If they say they can't pay that then you can spin it as being their fault that you won't be working the camp.

[Ruraljuror]

jkelly has been on fire lately. I'm liking all of his responses for the last few weeks. Keep it up, your fine work has not gone unnoticed.