Korean Job Discussion Forums

politica · Joined: 12 Dec 2006 Location: Suwon-si

I know, this shouldn't be a problem, but its becoming one.

Here's the situation. I'm with GEPIK, in an elementary school. I have an outrageous amount of money for my afterschool class. So much so that, as some of you might remember, I lost two teaching hours a week to a magician (pretty much just because we needed to spend the money on something).

Well now I've been told that we need to start spending at least 100,000 won a week (I teach two classes- four classroom hours), starting next week. There's really nothing I NEED. I use a book from the internet (and my coteach doesn't really want to get textbooks), we have a well-stocked library that no one ever uses, we have a good amount of games, the accountant doesn't want us to spend any more money on food . . .

Any clever any ideas on what on earth I could buy? Things that would be cool/fun/useful for an advanced elementary class? I'm fresh outta ideas . . .

Thanks,
politica

lifeinkorea · Joined: 24 Jan 2009 Location: somewhere in China

Why do you need to spend the money? I don't get it.

politica · Joined: 12 Dec 2006 Location: Suwon-si

I would assume because if we don't spend it, they'll assume we don't need it and won't give us anything in the future?

I can't predict what my school might need in the future . . .

politica · Joined: 12 Dec 2006 Location: Suwon-si

And besides, if *I* don't spend it, my coteach is going to spend it . . . probably on something like a bloody magician who steals my classroom hours. Argh.

OculisOrbis · Joined: 17 Jul 2006

give yourself a well deserved raise.

Robot_Teacher · Joined: 18 Feb 2009 Location: Robotting Around the World

Pizza party? Field trips? New sports equipment such as bases, balls, bats, etc.

Morgen · Joined: 02 Jul 2008

Can you send it to that other guy who needs a new projector bulb?

Ukon · Joined: 29 Jan 2008

a raise

politica · Joined: 12 Dec 2006 Location: Suwon-si

Okay, okay . . . a raise is out of the question too. I already proposed that . . .

Rusty Shackleford · Joined: 08 May 2008

As a Korean tax payer, I'm furious at this thread/situation.

reimund · Joined: 01 Oct 2007

Do you have to spend it in increments of W100,000 per week? Or can you spend it all in one lump sum?

Countrygirl · Joined: 19 Nov 2007 Location: in the classroom

Posters for the wall, individual whiteboards, small things like erasers and pencils for prizes, dictionaries, movies, and classics like Huckleberry Finn that you yourself might like to read during dead times at school. I know that you have lots of books but I'm of the opinion that you can never have too many books. Books about the theory of ESL or Teaching and grammar books are always useful and are not under the label of textbooks.

RufusW · Joined: 14 Jun 2008 Location: Busan

Save up for an interactive whiteboard.

Morgen · Joined: 02 Jul 2008

Yeah, I would go nuts buying game prizes. My students would kill each other over a sheet of Spongebob stickers for a prize and they study like nuts to get it. If you really really don't want to get any more books, then maybe some movies which you can then surreptitiously lend out to your grateful friends at summer camp time. Or something like an idioms or slang workbook for each student, something you wouldn't base a class on but can open or close each class with. Or get a class pony!

Out of curiosity, what book from the internet do you use?

Jammer113 · Joined: 13 Oct 2008

Digital video recorder to record the plays your students make to put on the internet.

English readers to build a library.

Flashcards out the wazoo.

A new set of costumes.

Reference books for teachers and students.

New set of scizzors/color pencils.

A set of 20 cards on which the students write special letters to their parents.

Edit: Most of these things you said in your post that you already have... sorry... I sent a PM, too. Our schools are under the same special program...