Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Lemon84]

Most jobs are advertised as 30 teaching hours a week. So what does that actually mean??? If the class is 40 mins long, do you teach 30 hours worth of 40 min classes? ie teach 45 classes a week? Or does it mean that every hour you teach 1 class that is 40 mins long and you have 20 mins for extra preperation time etc?

I do realise all hakwons will operate slightly differently, but how does it work at your hakwon???

[frankly speaking]

Usually if the class is 50 minutes that counts as an hour, however at most places that I have worked that do 45 minute classes, that only counts for 45 minutes, so yes, you will be teaching 30 full hours of classes about 40 or so classes a week. I wouldn't do it. The best thing is to read the contract carefully, and have it written how many actual classes that are taught in the contract.

[hellofaniceguy]

As previously mentioned, don't do it. 30 hours at 45 minute per class...40 classes! 50 minute classes...30 classes....
I learned my first year to never ever agree to this type of contract...and I don't....4~5 50 minute classes a day only....and no split shifts...if the school really wants you and cares about quality teaching, they will agree.

[Lemon84]

[wallythewhale]

[Radius]

[linky123]

[frankly speaking]

I don't know what state you are in Radius, but I have never taught 7-8 class hours, being at work for 8 hours doesn't mean teaching 8 hours.

Most schools that I worked for in the US (5 years in 3 different states) students either began classes at 8AM and were let out at 2PM, or 8-30-230.
That is only six classroom hours. Yes I had to arrive about 1 hour early and usually stayed an extra 30 minutes to an hour after, but I only had 6 hours of classes and usually one of those classes was a study hall or a planning period. You got screwed if you were teaching in the US for 7-8 hours. I assure you that is not standard in every school system.

Lemon: There is a big differences between 8 back to back 45 minute classes and 6 50 minute classes. First of all, don't count on any class being the same. You will need to come up with a lesson for each class. You might get to reuse some, but what works for one class doesn't always work for a different group. Class dynamics play a big part on what material I create. YOu will most likely have to do your lesson planning the day before or before class each day. Many teachers don't do any lesson planning, they just go in and read straight from the book. That is fine if all you want to do is pick up a paycheck.

Make sure that your actual number of classes is listed in the contract with exact total classroom hours.

[Lemon84]

Thank you very much everyone for your input.
Wow.. Now I'm completely confused as to whether I should accept the offer or not...

[storysinger81]

I've found that jobs in Korea (even ones people on this forum call "hard") are much easier than teaching in the U.S. The worst thing here is that it's actually kind of boring at times compared to teaching in the states. That and your role here is so much less important.

However, as a teacher with experience, you can do better. If they count minutes in the classroom, find a hagwon that pays OT starting at 100 hrs/month. For the 50 minutes =1 hour, then 30hrs/week is ok. Check and double and triple check with your hagwon what counts as an "hour".

Consider public schools. You'll start at the top pay grade with teaching certification and 2 years experience (except now they have that 1+ thing after you've taught Korean PSs for two years which is higher). And the better schools often specifically request qualified teachers.

[PRagic]

Six fifty-minute classes, 5 days a week. Period. That was the standard deal when I first came over in the early 90s. Anything else is b.s. and will turn out to be a pain in the arse when trying to figure o.t. or other salary related issues.

Keep it simple. Life in Korea is complicated enough when you first come over.

[PRagic]

Oh, and this meant 120 hours a month. So in any given month, if the teaching requirements were fulfilled, we got 3 or 4 day weekends thrown in.

I had one experience where that place then tried conning us into believing that these long weekends figured into our (government stipulated) number of vacation days. In the end, we won that one. The 3 or 4 day weekends were necessitated by the scheduling and did not count against our vacation days. They could have had us teach that extra day or two, but that would have meant overtime pay.

[Sadebugo1]

I personally believe teaching more than five periods per day in a five-day week diminishes your ability to provide meaningful lessons. I do it, but I know I'm not as effective a teacher as I could be with fewer classes.

Sadebugo
http://travldawrld.blogspot.com/

[sketcha]

wallythewhale made a good point about preparation time

big difference between prepping for 8 classes as oppose to 4 or 5

and some hagwons also require you to do some data entry (inputting students' homework scores, test scores, etc)

mind you, 30 minutes classes (compared to 45 or 50) are great if you dont like your students :p

our hagwon is based on a 50 minute class - which I doubt count as an hour, and our school does try to get 30 hr teaching per week from all the teachers via extra classes, misc work

but, Pragic, wtf - what's with the school trying to con its teachers that national holidays count as your vacation day?

glad you guys fight it and won

[yingwenlaoshi]

30 hours means 30 classes. No more than 50 minutes. That's it.

But, it's up to you to negotiate.