Korean Job Discussion Forums

[lostintranslation100]

I work at a PS and really feel that myself and the other teachers are being used. The workload is more than any other teachers I've ever met. I don't get two consecutive days off, and I'm doing a whole lot more work than my supervisor. Everyone I talk about my situation to says, "Wow that sucks!"

There are worse jobs though and I'm over halfway through my contract so I'm not going to leave or anything. Just wondering, has anyone told their boss "No" when they just have way too much work to do? How much work do you do on your day off?

I was told on Friday that I need to have an Open Class lesson plan prepared on Monday. I work Saturday anyways, but I just felt like saying "F-Off!"

[Rusty Shackleford]

Can you be more specific? Why exactly are you working on your day off?

[blonde researcher]

How and why are you working on Saturdays? Saturday work is not part of the EPIK , SMOE GEPIK contracts.

[lostintranslation100]

I have 2 days off a week but they aren't consecutive. The other teachers and I were told when we first got here that they needed us to work Saturdays or they'd need to find someone who can (none of which was mentioned before coming here).

But that isn't whats really bothering me. I just have so much work (making tests, vocabulary books, lesson plans, etc) that I usually have to work on my days off. It is really getting old.

[lostintranslation100]

blonde- they made us change our contracts so we work saturdays. They said that if we didn't, they'd have to find someone else who would. After 4 months of paper work getting over here, I just said "heck, why not." It doesn't really bother me too much working Saturdays, but it's the homework on my days off that really bothers me.

[Goku]

It's really unusual that the FT has to correct Homework (or even gives it out to begin with)

Hell, I'm sipping on grape juice and eatting dok listening to music and chatting it up with the teachers. I do jack crap during my time off, I just relax and cruise on dave's ... or read.

80% of the day I'm reading... the other 20% I'm asking the kids to : "Repeat after me"

But I can understand how you feel. Sucks to feel like you're being slaved out. It's pretty harsh situation that you can't get out of for the next few months. But it might be something you just have to accept. Not like you can get out of the work... or can you?

[Countrygirl]

There is no way that they could have fired you after coming here before working since both you and the school already had signed a contract...unless you were working illegally. The labor board would have supported the first contract. But since you've changed your contract to include Saturdays you might be SOL. Saturdays don't seem to be an issue with you but don't forget to use it as a negotiating tool.

There are a number of ways of fighting the workload.

Korean style - If you don't care about renewing...and you shouldn't....you can just stop doing the extra work and DON"T TAKE ANYTHING HOME!! Then, when they complain, you say "Sorry, sorry, sorry" I tried to get it done but it was too much. Oh, I forgot...don't worry too much about the quality and just download stuff from the internet.

Western style - have a meeting with the VP and P. with co-teachers and say that you are only going to do what work you can do at school and not at home. You can even call GEPIK (EPIK/SMOE) and complain that they changed your contract after coming here to include Saturdays and about the huge workload. You can call the labour board and see what they say about the contract change. Also, ask them how hard it will be for the school to fire you.

If I remember correctly, they need to give you 3 warning letters if they want to fire you, and I doubt that they could get another teacher in your school so easily and not one that will work Saturdays...but cover your bases just in case.

Remember that schools hate losing teachers and hate the labour board. Use it to your advantage.

My Korean co-teacher friend at another school is disappointed with her NET but they will probably renew him for another year. He has even come to class 30 minutes late more than once (because he wasn't even at the school yet) and she is afraid to tell him that he must be on time. I'm always surprised at the difference in schools here.

REMEMBER: You don't get Chuseok bonus money or Lunar New Years bonus money. You don't get $ if you get married, have a baby, retire or someone in your family dies. You don't get promotions of any sort, and if you renew you will have to fight with your school to get the "promised" raise because they will say that there is no money in the budget. REMEMBER that you are NOT a Korean teacher.

[lostintranslation100]

Yeah, I know what you mean. Why is it that schools hate loosing foreigners? If a teacher resigns or pulls a runner, don't they save money? (Recruiters fee, plane ticket home, etc).

[TheUrbanMyth]

[Countrygirl]

[lostintranslation100]

it's part of EPIK. I don't know, what is a "model english school?"

I heard about another person in Gepik who has something similar going on at her school.

[blonde researcher]

the English centers in the public schools are not organized in the EPIK programs . They are direct hires by the school.
You must have got your papers done in immigration and got a visa number -right?

You are not really an EPIK or GEPIK teacher at all. You are not on the EPIK contract
You are hired by the school and the school principal is your boss- or maybe an education company is providing your program.
The school is getting funds from the government to cover the program. You will have been given a contract that is a composite of EPIK and 'what your school want'
Your recruiter should have explained all this to you a long time ago.

It will be no good complaining to GEPIK as the school is doing this program itself with the extra funding.
You should NEVER have signed a Saturday contract as the first one filed in immigration is legal. Now you signed a new one agreeing to Saturday work you have made it legal for them.

How many foreigners are at your school in the same situation?
How many hours are in your first contract?

Your school is taking advantage of your goodwill. Sounds more like a bad hagwon to me

[lostintranslation100]

If I'm not in the EPIK program, why did I sign an EPIK contract? Yeah, I went to immigration and got a visa number.

There are 3 other foreign teachers in the program. It's not really a bad job at all. I don't mind working Saturdays (it would be nice to have two consecutive days off though), but its the workload that is really getting to me.

I'm talking MASSIVE amounts of busy work. But your right, it is like a hagwon.

[I'm no Picasso]

This sounds really, really bizarre and I hope other people who are just now talking to their recruiters, or preparing to come over for the first time are reading this and taking heed. You're not an indentured servant -- they can't just change everything on you when you get here. Yes, it may be messy to get out of, but don't let anyone take advantage of your newness. If you didn't agree to it when you were safe at home, on the other side of the ocean, then don't agree to it once you get here. There is nothing ethical about this, and a school that would spring all of this on you upon your arrival is not ethical either.

[Goon-Yang]

lol...tell them to find someone else. Trust me...they won't be able to.