Korean Job Discussion Forums

[MollyBloom]

Since the contract is vague, I am not sure what constitutes for overtime. The other FT and I have a lot of stuff to do, and I wouldn't mind, except that it is cutting into a lot of prep time and of course, I don't want to be taken advantage of.

Do any of these qualify for overtime:

1. Greet the students every day from 8:20-8:40 (my contract states work starts at 8:40). However, I am allowed to leave 20 minutes early. I can't always do that because I have work to do.

2. Monthly English quiz for grades 3-6. I have to make two different tests, 40 questions each, corresponding to the lessons in the National Curriculum. The principal picks the tests she wants, and a total of 60 questions are made into one test. Then I have to read said tests in the afternoon over the broadcasting system. This takes about an hour to do.

3. Weekly English quizzes. In the afternoon and morning I have to do live quizzes and tape quizzes in the afternoon.

4. Monthly English test for grades 5/6. Certain students from each grade are picked and have to answer questions, Golden Bell style. Each grades takes an hour, so from 1-3pm I have to read the quiz questions.


As I said, I don't mind helping out except that it's taking a few hours a week of my prep time away. I just want to get paid for any work that is taking away that time if it is allowed. I know that during working hours they can make me do whatever they want, but if it is during 5th and 6th period, are they considered "classes?"

The other FT has been working for SMOE for 3 years and she says she is going to ask for overtime. While my relationship with my school is now strong (after my crazy co-teacher left), hers is declining. I don't wan to piss anyone off for my last 5 months.

[Otherside]

Here's my take on the situation, as a fellow PS teacher.

[Bibbitybop]

You won't get anything unless your school is really cool. They aren't required by the contract to pay you extra for that. What I would do is argue that you are teaching when you are broadcasting. See if that gets you above the 22 teaching hour rule.

Any teaching you do over 22 teaching hours, or any outside of business hours, is a minimum of 20,000 KRW per hour.

Any overtime when you are not teaching is a minimum of 6,000 KRW an hour.

[MollyBloom]

Thanks for the responses. I will talk it over with the other FT and see what she thinks.

[egrog1717]

[MollyBloom]

I am teaching 22 hours a week.

[The Gipkik]

And if you leave at 16:20 and you haven't finished prep for the next school day, let your lesson suck. Tell you co-teacher or whoever that, sorry, I didn't have enough time to prepare for the classes, I need more time to prepare. That should do it.

[Xuanzang]

[D.D.]

I would split work up as active and passive. Active equals 22 hours teaching and getting ready for class is 18 hours of what I call passive work.

The greeting at the gate is active work, so are the tests and broadcast time.

I would charge 30000 for 45 minutes of any extra active work. So two days of greeting at the gate would be 30000 extra.

In other words you are being fooled into doing extra work. Overtime is an option not an obligation even within the 40 hours you do a week.

I would refuse overtime at 20000 as it is too low regardless of what the contract says.

Koreans have fun pushing us around if you let them. Time to grow some balls or get a spine.

[KYC]

I'm also with SMOE and had similar problems, though I'm not doing as much as you are. I also understand not wanting to piss anyone off or step on toes, but sometimes I think it needs to be done. I let my school get away with a lot of stuff during the first semester. I didn't want to upset anyone or seem too demanding, so I let everything slide. BUT a lot...a LOT of resentment built up inside me day after day. It made me really unhappy and it showed. I always kept to myself and rarely smile. And when the semester ended, I thought it was all over...until the new semester came and they came up with more ideas/work. I just snapped....

I spoke to my handler in a professional manner, but I was quite firm. We worked out a solution. I still do SOME of the things I did before (broadcasting, assisting in a lot of extra curricular events, testings, English Village, etc...) but not as much as before. Also, my teaching hours have been reduced to 18 not 22.

As a result, I'm 100 times happier. I'm really enjoying my last few months here. I'm glad I'll be leaving with good memories instead of bitter ones.

[ekul]

I wish my school had the initiative to do some of those things. All I do is introduce an English pop song at the beginning of the week. They sound engaging, plus my school is fairly generous with what constitutes OT

[oldfatfarang]

Op. You have to be firmer. Squeezing the last drop of Englisheee out of the native speaker is a national sport in Korean schools. They don't care if you leave Korea totally exhausted. They just 'get another one.'

My ex SMOE school scheduled me to talk to students (in the English Room) during all of my lunch breaks. They also scheduled me to teach song classes on Saturdays.

Of course I said: "No," and had to pull my contract to finally get them off my back. But, it was all down hill from there to not being re-signed.

Your problem might not be a problem.
If you don't want to work for SMOE next year - just say: "No."
If you do want to work for them next year - just say "No"- politely.

Good luck.

[Bibbitybop]