Korean Job Discussion Forums

Bucheonguy · Joined: 23 Oct 2008 Location: Bucheon

I was just wondering what it's like for all of you. They want me to teach 3 hours a day. 2 for the students and 1 for the teachers. Teachers in the morning 9am-10am and students from 2pm-4pm. I don't get to alternate the students so that means about 30 hours of original content for them and 15 hours of original content for the teachers since they don't supply any resources. They also want all of these full lesson plans with a break down of my script and all of my material in advance. I'm at a public school by the way. They also won't give me a schedule and haven't let me know when and how much vacation time I'm getting.

Is this like anyone elses schools because it seems a little rediculous to me. Especially when they showed me the previous teachers schedule and all she had to do was make 5 original classes, work 1.5 hours a day, for two weeks and change students. I really feel like I'm getting screwed over. So, what are you guys doing? Do you have any suggestions for how to handle this rediculous work load?

Ruraljuror · Joined: 08 Dec 2007

Xuanzang · Joined: 10 Apr 2007 Location: Sadang

Make one total lesson for the day and dumb it down for the younger grades. You could base it on this: http://iteslj.org/t/tmm/all.htm. For teachers use one of the Interchange or new Cambridge books. Make discussion topics, put them on post it notes and have them choose one.
Are your classes split into their respective grades or all-in-one?

cruisemonkey · Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2008 10:30 pm Post subject:

First - Your contract should say how many holidays you get.

Second - You decide when you're going to take holidays, not them. To this end, you should strategically place your holidays so that it is difficult for them to schedule 'camps' either before or after your holidays - thus maximizing your time off. Cool

Bucheonguy · Joined: 23 Oct 2008 Location: Bucheon

I just read the contract more carefully. You're right. I think I need to schedule my holidays myself... I just have to figure out the worst time for them.

refikaM · Joined: 06 May 2006 Location: Gangwondo

Sorry but I've NEVER heard of anyone in a public school scheduling their own holidays. Perhaps it happens but not with any of the dozens of teachers I have known teaching in Korea for the past 3 years.

Bucheonguy · Joined: 23 Oct 2008 Location: Bucheon

Well according to the contract, it says 14 days vacation can be used at anytime during the winter/summer break and must be approved at least 15 days in advance by the principal.

refikaM · Joined: 06 May 2006 Location: Gangwondo

Of course.. but the days that you can take those 14 days off must be approved by one's school/principal/whoever.. You can't just say, "Hey I'm taking off from ___ to ____... OK? Great!" Not at least at any schools I've ever heard of..

cruisemonkey · Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2008 12:45 am Post subject: Re: vacation

sojourner1 · Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2008 3:13 am Post subject:

That's gravy train you're on. Use the 4 hour lunch periods for lesson prep as it's tough to have an accurate idea of how to teach until you start working with your students. You may or may not know yet know your students and many jobs specifics that will be involved.

I'm going to be teaching a 3 week camp of 40 elementary students for 6 hours a day. They will be the same students for the 3 weeks, but I couldn't find out anything about the facility, budget, and can only assume they're low level and will Korean talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk too damned much.

I volunteered for this camp since it pays about $20/hour and then I take 3.5 weeks vacation from Lunar New Year until February 18th. I could had just had these 3 weeks off, but I wanted an $2000 for passing go. My main school is taking off from December 24th to February 15th except 1 Korean teacher has to be there each day so they'll rotate where each will work 1 week and get 5 1/2 off. Winter is not so bad...

D.D. · Joined: 29 May 2008

I always schedule my holiday to return on the Thursday before the Chinese new year long weekend as that kills that week then the next week is in trouble because of the Monday and Tuesday being a holiday.

Fishead soup · Joined: 24 Jun 2007 Location: Korea

wayfarer · Joined: 05 Jun 2007

fromtheuk · Joined: 31 Mar 2007

I like the advice about making sketchy lesson plans. You're right they ask for grand things and then don't bother to look at all of it.

The alternative is you put in the time to make a lengthy lesson plan and then use it for the rest of your working life in Korea, perhaps using a different cover sheet for each school you work for.

I've done a lengthy lesson plan and this is my intention for the future. Laughing

mrgisa · Joined: 30 Oct 2008

I'm in a similar position to you bucheonguy.

Doing as suggested by others in this thread:
- making one lesson plan and dumbing it down
- for the teachers, debate topics, let them speak it out

The guy before me did a 1 lesson 11 day camp and I am technically doing a 3 lessons 12 day camp, so I feel your pain.

Remember this when resigning time comes on. I will.

Cool

Gisa ^^