Korean Job Discussion Forums

[asams]

So my boss asked me to write a book about debating for us to use for a higher level class beginning in March - I never said yes. I didn't say no, but I didn't say yes. I was waiting for her to come to me with an offer for compensation.

Friday she asks me if I've finished and that she needs to take it to the publisher by Tuesday. I try to explain that people get paid a lot of money to do this stuff and I don't have the time or resources to do it, much less the expertise. She says I should send it to her by Sunday evening and simply to get out of the building because I had a headache I said "ok, fine" and left.

I don't intend to do this one bit. There was no mention on her end of compensation and there's no way I am going to do all this extra work so they can steal the credit for my work and not compensate me fairly.

Do you think I did the right thing?

[Unposter]

Sure, you do not have to do it. But, you need to be very direct, clear about her intentions. Most speakers of English as a second language just don't have your knowledge of the subtelty of the language. Be direct or your director is just going to be confused and upset by your behavior.

[ontheway]

No, I don't think you did the right thing.

You should have told her "NO!" and explained why.


It's better to say "no" before the other person has it in their mind that you have said "yes." Then you can explain and do it all before the other person gets angry.

Now, you'll still have to explain, but she'll be angry because she has deluded herself into thinking you're going to do what she wants, and at the same time, she's worring that you didn't. So, when she finds out you didn't do her project for her, it could be a bigger fight now.


Yes, of course, your reasons for not doing such a huge project were correct. It's just your tactics that I disagree with.

[tanklor1]

When were you asked to write the book? I really don't see a good outcome for this. As far as she was concerned you were already on your final draft. You should have talked it over when you were asked. Honestly, (for a laugh) I'd lie through my teeth about it. I'd send her a frantic e-mail tomorrow stating that "My computer crashed with the book on it" and I'd act extremely sorry about it. Not becuase I didn't do it, but rather that my computer failed.

This would buy me time and pretty much give a fresh start.

I'd state to her that she could wait to pay me for the extra work becuase she doesn't have the book. And every time she'd bring up the book I would state "Don't worry you can wait to pay me for it."

It sounds like you're going to be in sh!t anyway. Might as well have some fun with it.

[yingwenlaoshi]

I would've refused off the bat, but I don't blame your for ignoring her. WTF is she doing asking you to write a book? When would you have the time to do that and why would you if you weren't getting paid for it?

[asams]

i like tanklor's idea.

i realize i should've said NO right off the bat. I'm not going to be there for a few days so I'm going to send an email and then we'll talk about it when I get back.

What can she do besides be upset? There's nowhere in my contract that states I must comply with such a request.

She's really a great person, it's a good school to work for, but they've never had foreign teachers. I don't think she realizes that foreign teachers have contracts that explicitly state what their job requirements are, whereas no Korean would ever say no to another Korean, even if it meant giving up their free time and getting nothing in return

[berrieh]

[asams]

sorry. that was confusing. i like tanklor's idea but i'm not going to use it.

i'm going to send her an email listing the reasons why i decided not to do it

[berrieh]

[moosehead]

[yingwenlaoshi]

Yeah, for what they pay, it's pretty unfkgbelievable what some of these places are asking teachers to do. Takes time to do these things. I can understand somewhat if you're paid well to be some sort of school teacher/consultant where the consultant duties entail a certain limited amount of jobs to be done within a specified time frame. But still. Even preparing is a bitch. Especially since at public schools, it's a box of chocolates as far as what kind of co-teacher you're going to have and at hagwons where there really isn't any time coupled with too many classes.

But a book? That's just ridiculous.

[Jeff's Cigarettes]

JUST TELL HER THAT YOU'RE NOT DOING IT UNLESS PAID X AMOUNT PER PAGE. IF YOU REALLY DON'T WANT TO DO IT JUST ASK AN UNREASONABLE PRICE. YOU DO REALIZE THAT SHE'S GONNA TAKE THE BOOK AND PUT HER NAME ON IT.

[asams]

Here's the email I sent:

Dear ____,

I'm not going to be able to write the workbook about debating you asked of me. My
reasons for this decision are numerous, but here are the two main reasons.

First, I am no expert on this matter and in order to provide a quality education I would
need several weeks worth of planning and various materials which I do not have. I feel
it would be in the best interest of ____, and the students, if we were to choose a
book written by a more knowledgeable source.

Second, there was never a mention of monetary compensation when you asked me to write
this book. I tried to explain that this was not in my contract and therefore would mean
I am entitled to overtime pay at the least. Authors of ESL books, even workbooks, get in
excess of 50,000 Won per hour plus a bonus given before work begins and royalties on
every book that the school sells. Royalties are a percentage of the price the student
pays for the book. This figure is usually somewhere between 10-15%.

It would be my pleasure to advise you on which books or materials are suitable for this
class, or any class, but I cannot write a book for a class without the provisions I've
outlined.

I hope you have a great Sunday and I will see you on Tuesday.


The figures I came up with were some I saw on here from others writing books. The royalties thing was pretty much BS.

What do you think?

[Jeff's Cigarettes]

You work for gipek? If so you may want to take out about ot pay as i believe it's only 7000 per hour for non-teaching ot. What if she accepts that...u still wanna write a book for 7000 per hr? i wouldn't.

[asams]

don't work for GEPIK - I work for a hagwon - my contract states that extra teaching hours can be counted as overtime.

Besides, she wants this by Tuesday, I'm not gong to have time regardless.