Korean Job Discussion Forums

AsiaESLbound · Joined: 07 Jan 2010 Location: Truck Stop Missouri

I got word of this today from my co-teacher. Yep, they are saying it's a part of my job to teach Korean teachers 1 to 2 hours per week unpaid. Already, I'm maxed out at 30 hours and having to rewrite all my lesson plans from March 2nd as they claimed they needed more original supplementary ideas in them to use next year due to curriculum lacking American culture. I'm also required now to create American culture lessons to teach 10 minutes of each class from now on starting this week. I required to participate in many other activities such as coming in an hour earlier some days to be a greeter. Well, and the list goes on.

Needless to say, I declined that it was wrong to require me to teach an unpaid hour or two when I'm already maxed out, find I don't have enough sitting time, and then I'm contending with many distractions and disruptions both during and out of class. She said she have to talk with my principal and coordinator about my refusal. They consider anything to be a part of my contract even if it has nothing to do with teaching kids such as early morning greeting and teaching Korean teachers. If those Korean teachers were really interested, they would had at least tried to say, "Hi," to me, but only 1 of 42 has so far except my 2 co-teachers.

I'm getting tired of extra demands, co-teacher attitude, and conflicts of interests where I'm told one thing, but they expected another. I'm having numerous issues with this huge public school I'm at. Too numerous and pointless to list here. At this point, I'm thinking I might be more home bound soon than AsiaESLbound...

Senior · Joined: 31 Jan 2010

Either you have the most insane work schedule for any teacher in korea, or you are a troll. What kind of school do you work at?

AsiaESLbound · Joined: 07 Jan 2010 Location: Truck Stop Missouri

PS is public school. This is serious and I've already said NO to it. I have 30 hours, because I teach 8 after school classes a week. It's not an insane work schedule nor does a troll roll here. I'm not to get my after school pay until July, but they are said to be paid classes. Chungcheongnam-do does whatever the hell it wants in it's schools.

Senior · Joined: 31 Jan 2010

AsiaESLbound · Joined: 07 Jan 2010 Location: Truck Stop Missouri

jonpurdy · Joined: 08 Jan 2009 Location: Ulsan

You're correct that you should be paid for it. Any teaching over 22 classes per week is paid. If they don't want to pay you then you don't teach. Even if they want to pay you, you can still refuse if you're too busy or don't want to. Also, your contract is 9-5 (or 8:30~4:30) so they can't have you come in earlier than that, unless they'd like you to leave earlier as well.

If they have any questions about your contract, tell them to call your POE to clarify it. After this conversation they won't bother you, though you may get guilt laid down on your and perhaps your co-teacher relationship will suffer.

However, occasionally coming in early or helping out will earn you brownie points and will be greatly appreciated by the staff. Though only do this if your school treats you well and you have a good relationship with them.

Seoulio · Joined: 02 Jan 2010

K, stop geting into the disagreements then.

Its very simple, you show the contracts and you say NO!.

They cannot force you to do classes if they do not pay you.

I think that they can IF they pay you, but I am not positive.

Point out that respect is a two way street and any "teaching" that you do is counted as overtime.

If they don't buy this then stop teaching your afterschool programs cold turkey.

If you can not broach a deal with your school then you take it up with the district and then SMOE if you have to.

cdninkorea · Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Location: Seoul

If they want you to teach American culture, teach them the part about refusing to do extra work for free. They can't fire you for refusing overtime, paid or otherwise. Threaten to call the board of education and the Labor Board if things get really bad.

Sadebugo1 · Joined: 11 May 2003

oldfatfarang · Joined: 19 May 2005 Location: On the road to somewhere.

The answer is "No!" Be polite, and firm.

If they continue to demand extra classes - inside or outside of your contractural hours - make them give your their demands in writing. Give them written copies of your refusal.

Be polite - and firm. You're going to be exploited until you learn to say "No" (and mean it).

I've had Korean employers ask me to do things up to 5 times - and I've had to refuse politely up to 5 times. They are just testing you - and if you don't learn - you'll leave Korea a very tired and unhappy boy.

Good luck.

And for goodness sake. Can this 'greeting' nonsense. Westerners don't go to college - and borrow thousands of dollars - to get a job as a 'greeter'. This is not a cultural issue - it's just plain demeaning. Grow some and tell them.

TheUrbanMyth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired

shcforward · Joined: 27 Sep 2009

Never, ever, ever teach a class for free.

NYC_Gal · Joined: 08 Dec 2009

1. Don't come in early. It isn't in your contract. If they want you to come in early, have them put in writing that you will leave the exact same amount of time early. They won't, so stop coming in. This is the duty of the Korean teachers.

2. Tell them that you are too busy to teach extra classes. If they want the teachers' classes, do them in exchange for dropping two of your 22 contractual hours. If they want them to be overtime classes, exchange them for 2 of the paid overtime classes and GET PAID.

I had my school give me 20 hours of regular classes and 2 for teachers. I've yet to have to do an overtime class, though once or twice a week have a handful of students come in for homework help during my prep time. I'm not overworked, so do it to help the kids. I offered. If it had been demanded, as in your case, I'd have said "Which class should I skip to make up for it?"

I wish you the best of luck. If all else fails, refuse and call the POE.

balzor · Joined: 14 Feb 2009

My teacher's class is part of my 22 hours and it only meets some of the time. One of my after school classes is part of my 22 hrs and is in my normal salary. the other 2 after school classes are paid although i haven't seen it yet but it should come in this next check. your PS contract should say 22 teaching hours. if you work more than that, that's on you. you have the right to refuse after school classes, it's just normally implied that you will do some of them. 8 classes is too much and you should have put a stop to that early on

stevieg4ever · Joined: 11 Feb 2006 Location: London, England

Anything outside of your contracted hours should be paid.. simple really. But only if they keep to their end of the contract. If you are doing 30 hours then fine: but at least 8 of those hours should be paid (normally after school classes). I did 27 hours (with five of those classes being extra pay). If they refuse to pay then go to your POE but don't expect them to resolve all of your issues.

What irks me about this place is that if your situation starts turning bad and they start to make more demands of you that you refuse (thus continuing the cycle) people will spout off the usual 'need to adapt' 'need to be flexible' cards.