Korean Job Discussion Forums

afsjesse · Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Location: Kickin' it in 'Kato town.

I've ranted before about how my school is making me come in and sit at my desk during break and how they are planning 2 weeks of conversation classes for students/parents and how I will NOT be getting extra pay for these "because they are within the working hours of your contract"....

But the camel has broke his back and I'm steaming PISSED OFF Evil or Very Mad

Apparently the Gyeongbuk POE sent a fax to the school saying that I ALSO need to teach my coteacher's during winter break for a total of 30 FLIPPING HOURS.... FOR NO EXTRA PAY..... again the excuse they said "these classes are withing your 8 hour work day and thus you will not be paid extra"..... This is on top of the 44 hours I've ALREADY taught them this semester which concludes next week.

A bit of good news, I am being paid extra for the 2, three day camps I have to work during the break.

So for review.

6 days of POE Camps for extra pay... no problem
30 hours of teachers classes that make no sense.... not okay Evil or Very Mad

2 weeks winter conversation classes with no extra pay.. not ok Evil or Very Mad

They haven't showed me the fax and I am hoping for a little support from some Dave Angels... I've NEVER heard of anyone having to teach teaching classes during winter break. This is apparently directly from the POE and the website is next to useless for this province so I dont know who to contact... and no, I dont know who my supervisor is for EPIK.

Could this be the school trying to give me more work?

WAIT! UPDATE..... Now my coteacher's tell me that the 30 hours must be done BEFORE break because they are all busy DURING break with training... they said 30 hours will be done before the 29 of December.

So this isn't there idea for the 30 hours because they dont want to do it.

Any insight, advice, anger medication suggestions..... Idea

nomad-ish · Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 3:57 pm Post subject:

if you're already at your max hours per week, just tell your co-teachers that you're too busy to teach those classes before the end of december - they will have to come in during the break. you can count on probably teaching only half of those classes then Wink

afsjesse · Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Location: Kickin' it in 'Kato town.

Their cancelling some of my normal classes to do these stupid teaching classes.

Anyone have any advice on how I can figure out who is my supervisor for Gyeongbuk POE???? Again the website is useless.

Cerriowen · Joined: 03 Jun 2006 Location: Pocheon

I don't get what you're upset about.

Are you being required to teach more than 22 hours a WEEK? Up to 22 hours a week, they can ask you to teach whom ever the heck they think you should teach. If they want you to stand and give a lecture to the plants in the loby, it's in your contract. Up to 22 hours.

If they want you to teach adults, rather than children, then tough beans. Teach.

It's the children's vacation, not YOURS. You're still getting paid. Why should they pay you extra? Up to 22 hours, on the CHILDREN's vacation, you are still required to work. You get 7 days off, not 5 weeks.

Lots of teachers have to teach winter camps for 2 or 3 weeks without extra pay.

afsjesse · Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Location: Kickin' it in 'Kato town.

I work at 4 schools so that answers the workload.

I'm not upset about teaching, I'm already doing that over break anyways.

It's the 30 hours of teaching classes in 3 weeks that is going to drive me to the grave. I have no time, period. As it is I'm only at my main school 3 days per week and my day is loaded with classes for the most part..

The POE knows that teachers are busy during break with training so I am questioning why they think they can have these classes during that time when their not even going to be here. Extra pay or not is just another thing I'd like but you're right, its part of my pay.

afsjesse · Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Location: Kickin' it in 'Kato town.

Not to mention I have no time to make plans for these guys.....

I_Am_The_Kiwi · Joined: 10 Jun 2008

Teaching PARENTS!? WTF, im pretty sure you shouldnt be teaching adults since your a school teacher.

Teaching adults and kids together is just asking for trouble.

If it goes over your 22 hours a week, then FUK THAT!

patongpanda · Joined: 06 Feb 2007

Are any teachers even going to show up? Seems unlikely.

afsjesse · Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Location: Kickin' it in 'Kato town.

The parents and kids classes will be separate during winter vacation. It was my understanding that if the school makes a profit I am entitled to sompensation, right?

And yes the teacher's are going to show up because they want to do these "vacation classes" before the break. So they're all panicking about which classes and hours to cancel to do this.

If this is a POE directive than it has to be the same for other people in Gyeongbuk... anyone else being told this BS?

yingwenlaoshi · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Location: ... location, location!

So are you getting OT or not?

If you have a public school contract, aren't your students only supposed to be the students at your school(s) and and maybe the teachers (and staff)?

Cerriowen · Joined: 03 Jun 2006 Location: Pocheon

OK that does seem like it would be irritating. I hate teaching the adult classes too. You did sign up to teach kids, not adults... but unfortunately they get to dictate who you teach. Including canceling classes to make room in your schedule.

But you may want to find out if they are charging for these classes. Sometimes they offer free classes to the community.

How is it that you work at four schools? Are you on an F2 visa?

afsjesse · Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Location: Kickin' it in 'Kato town.

Nope, not 1 won for the conversation classes.

Let me explain the 30 hours of teachers classes before vacation bit.

The POE will not give me overtime so this has to be done in school hours. I currently teach 19 hours per week, so that gives them 3 extra hours of class before I hit my limit.

I have 3 coteacher's at this school, my prep time is when they have their classes for the most part.

They want to do all of these 30 hours before the 29th of December. That is a total of 8 days at this school. The 19th I am off to Daegu so no choice there.

So that is 8 days to do 30 hours starting monday with virtually little to no time to make plans.

I'm going to propose to them 3 options.

1. We cancel my students classes to equate the time of teacher's classes to the point needed for the 30 hours.
2. We do this after school in which I get overtime, something they said is not an option.
3. We do a mix of both.

thoughts?

jadarite · Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 4:35 pm Post subject:

Teachers will be busy or not want to come. What I do is offer "make up" lessons. This gives them an easy way to get out of having to come. They never schedule these make up lessons, so everyone is happy. The higher ups think they are working you like a reindeer/elf during Christmas, and you and the other teachers don't have to worry.

afsjesse · Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Location: Kickin' it in 'Kato town.

I work in Uljin county.

I teach at 4 schools, that answers my occupied time.

All of these schools are in the sticks and I am the only foreigner around to teach these kids. I get a nice extra allowance and I really enjoy the job but this vacation fiasco is a mess.

Not sure why they put me in so many schools but I like it. It divides the week up nice.

Cerriowen · Joined: 03 Jun 2006 Location: Pocheon

Sounds reasonable. But you might want to not put it to them as an ultimatum. Koreans get very touchy about that. Just keep shaking your head, sucking your teeth and hissing, and saying 'very difficult'. Eventually they'll come up with an answer.