Korean Job Discussion Forums

jkelly80 · Joined: 13 Jun 2007 Location: you boys like mexico?

I'm elementary in Seobu District for SMOE. I was basically forced into teaching a program at another school (Inwang) in my district. I didn't agree to it and was given one day's notice. It was presented to me as a reading/writing class and my pay was spelled out. Now, two weeks into the program, they tell me I have to give weekly tests and grade them. Keep in mind this isnt my school and I never agreed to do any of this. Everyone else in this program was given a choice and at least a week's notice. I told them I would not be doing any grading or testing until pay was renegotiated. If it isn't I'm teaching the course as it was presented.

So now I'm wondering, if they want to play hardball, can I be fired if I don't back down from my demands? I'm not re-signing, so I'm expected to get the least amount of time off from my school anyway. In that respect they have no leverage over me. I just don't want to lose my severance/pension. Thanks in advance.

poet13 · Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 10:50 pm Post subject:

It's SMOE, not a hakwon. Little chance of your pay being screwed with. If you're not re-signing with them, I wouldn't be afraid to play hardball at all....but wait until some othres chime in, cause I'm just voicing my opinion, not hard facts.

jkelly80 · Joined: 13 Jun 2007 Location: you boys like mexico?

Thanks for the response.

Well, I'm sure I'll be getting the pay that was quoted to me in the first meeting. (25k per 40 min class--not great but above contract).

They (the admin at this other school) have in effect doubled the workload on me, and it's not even my school, and they didn't even tell me about it. They went through another teacher.

There are four other native teachers in this program all of whom were told it was optional and were asked weeks in advance (this was for the original reading/writing camp). I'm not sure if they've been told about the new testing/grading or not. I'm teaching the top level students, some are almost native, so I'm not sure if this testing is just for me or for everyone. Either way, they've completely changed the course so I told them I wouldn't do it, unless my pay is raised, substantially.

I'm not really expecting to get everything I want but I'd like to piss them off a bit and make them think twice about this kind of Korean autocratic BS in their future dealings with NSETs. So I'm just wondering if anyone knows how far I can take this "difficult NSET" act.

Ukon · Joined: 29 Jan 2008

By renegociate your pay, I hope you don't mean contract....from my understanding, the pay for after school classes( I assume this is what it is) is more of a gentleman's agreement....I've heard it go as low as $20 to as high as $60+.

And isn't there a $100 bonus if you teach at multiple schools?

marlow · Joined: 06 Feb 2005

Since they will be SOL trying to get teachers to come over to this economic hell hole, I'd say they had better not be too trigger happy.

jkelly80 · Joined: 13 Jun 2007 Location: you boys like mexico?

poet13 · Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 11:03 pm Post subject:

Well, there is also the limits of regular time. Overtime is not required. Just refuse if it puts you there and you don't want it. I dont think they can fire you for not doing overtime.

aloysha · Joined: 18 Sep 2005

You could play hardball.

Ask yourself if you are going to re-sign with the
school or seek out another PS. If yes, then consider
that they might give you a negative reference.

By no means would I suggest to take it with no complaint,
but it might require some finesse. You might be thought of as
not a team player or �disagreeable� and this would, I
imagine, make finding another PS difficult.

I�m with you, be forceful yet calm and reasonable.

just my 2 cents

Good luck.

prideofidaho · Joined: 19 Mar 2008

If you've given it some time and a fair shake, why not just explain that the work requires too much preparation, which takes away from your regular classes at you school.

I wouldn't bank on them firing you, but the contract is vague and in SMOEs favour on this issue. I'd be really surprised if you were fired over this.

Try and ease out of it. I put up with a job that gave me so much crap through SMOE last year, and switched to another school this year. No big problems there. I think I put up with it too long.

Don't let the stress get to you...it makes everything worse.

Good luck!

Ukon · Joined: 29 Jan 2008

Bibbitybop · Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Location: Seoul

1. Overtime can be required, it's in the contract.

2. SMOE is NOT fire-happy. I've heard of 2 teachers in history getting fired. One for drugs, one for inappropriate sexual advances. I even know one guy who had a sexual harassment complaint and he wasn't fired, just told he wouldn't be re-signed. Play the "bad NSET" role at the other school. Call in sick there a lot.

3. NSETs are "assistant" teachers. Tell them you need a co-teacher (who then, regularly, takes care of the grading, testing, etc.).

jkelly80 · Joined: 13 Jun 2007 Location: you boys like mexico?

Bibbitybop · Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Location: Seoul

jkelly, I don't know if you have to do overtime AND do it at another school, but I'd guess SMOE would say "it's up to your principal."

Here's what I'd do: Contact your NSET Representative, district and/or SMOE officials. Ask them about the situation. See if you can get this testing bs out of there. I'd go with the "I'm an ASSISTANT teacher, I need a co-teacher present and I'm don't have a K-teacher teaching certificate. I'm unqualified to test (even if you aren't) and it's against policy be without a co-teacher."

I know NSETs who REFUSE to teach without a co-teacher in the room. Actually, the guy that I observed during orientation recommended it due to legal issues and safety issues (what if a child gets hurt and you can't communicate in Korean adequately).

Explain that you will plan and teach lessons, but unless I'm mistaken, making, administering and grading tests is not in the contract or part of the NSET duties in the hand book.

If all else fails, demand overtime pay for the grading, preparation, etc. or don't do it at all.

cj1976 · Joined: 26 Oct 2005

I'm with SMOE. I'm fairly sure that once you reach the contracted 22 lessons per week anything above that is optional -despite the intentions of your principal.
Those 22 hours can be at your school or any other school and your principal does have authority on that.
I refused to do after school overtime and the school never pressed the issue further.

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

If they fire you they have to give you a LOR. Play hardball and don't put up with rubbish like that.