Korean Job Discussion Forums

[politica]

I'm running into a bit of a problem with my coteach (public elem, GEPIK), looking for insight, advice, sympathy

It all began about a month ago when we got an opportunity to apply for a grant worth about 15 million won. My coteach didn't want to apply for it. "Its too much work." I said of course we should apply for it, there are a million things we could do with that money.

Apparently we got the grant, and she never told me . . . until today. In the mean time, I was busy preparing our Advanced Class lesson plans for the semester. I'm very organized this semester, focusing on grammar (using an online workbook) and culture, phonics and speaking. I'm also trying to stick to my schedule.

Let me digress for a moment. Part of the reason I supported applying for the grant was because my coteach told me we might be able to do an additional afterschool activity, which would mean more classroom hours, and overtime pay, more me. Its not all about the money, but it is about the money.

Flash forward to today. I am informed that starting next Monday, we will have a "magician" coming in to teach our Monday after school class (2 classroom hours). One day? Okay. Once a month? Maybe . . . But no, said "magician" will be teaching the class EVERY MONDAY.

Now, aside from the fact that I'm pissed about my schedule and lesson plan being disrupted . . . and I seriously question what kind of English the students are going to learn through this "edutainment" . . . the killer is this: I lose 2 of my classroom hours. 40,000 won/week down the drain. Boo.

And to top it all off, my coteach adds: "Haven't you always wanted to learn magic?"

[BS.Dos.]

I'm reminded of the pilot episode of Arrested Development:

Michael: So, I see you're still doing your little tricks Job.
Job: Illusions Michael. I perform Illusions. Tricks are what a hooker does for money.

It stinks to lose earning potential, but then this is Korea, so you have to expect the unexpected. If it were me, I'd sabotage his magic box first chance I got.

[Michelle]

[prideofidaho]

Wow, that sounds a bit sleazy...some sad clown tricks passed off as after school lessons.

Similar thing happened at my school. I'm denied after school lessons because a) the old teacher got 'tired' from it, and b) the school has free labour coming in a few months from some US college grads.

It sucks, but perhaps not a lot you can do, other than drop hints that stealing your after school lessons is 'not on'. Nobody works for free, and they're delusional if they think that you're not a bit annoyed at their move.

[Rory_Calhoun27]

This reminds me of the ol' curse, "Be careful what you ask for, you just might get it."

If you're happy with your coteacher, take the other great sage advice, this one the Christian Slater epic, Pump Up the Volume. "Don't rock the boat, especially when you're sitting in it."

[Goku]

I'd go right back at the teacher and be like

"But English IS magic..."

Anyways, sounds like bollocks to me. What kind of person thinks that magic is going to teach the kids anything. I'm going to learn English through magic?

What's next? I'm going to learn English by drinking it through a bendy straw?

Ug.... What a waste of money... that could go into your pocket...

[oldfatfarang]

Oh Lord. I just about wet myself reading this.

Let's get this straight:
- No one wants to apply for money.
- You suggest they apply.
- They get money.
- Instead of increasing your hours/pay - they reduce them.
- They pay a 'magician' to do your job.

Only in Korea, surely.
Or is this the best troll I've seen?

[Kikomom]

And the clown gets the grant money.

Oye, my head hurts.

[Burndog]

This is the BEST post EVER.

A magician!

I love Korea....I really do!

[Aelric]

[TheUrbanMyth]

Ah but does the magician have a degree and CBC check though? Surely this can't be legal, if he's just some Joe Blow Korean off the street.


As for your co-teacher asking about learning magic, just tell her. "How can I learn magic? If I'm not teaching the class, I'm not going to be there."

[bundangbabo]

[JJJ]

...and they are most likely paying the magician more/class than what you were getting. No surprise.

[Robot_Teacher]

They pulled a magic trick on you! LMAO!

Really, even if they hired a magician to come in 2 hours a week, you deserve to utilize some of that English edu grant money for OT afterschool classes you want to teach.

[Xuanzang]

No wonder they have the highest EFL spending rate and the lowest results for money spent. They're going to magically become native speakers because of the balloons and rabbits out of the hat. Well done unknown school.