Korean Job Discussion Forums

[oni]

I unfortunately have strep throat and can barely talk but was just told by my co-teacher that I have to do open class as planned( 2 tomorrow and 5 on Friday)
My co-teacher wanted to delay our open class till next week but prinicipal said got to keep on schedule!!!!

Has anyone been in a similar situation????
I'm annoyed and disappointed that they don't care about my health and keeping open class schedule is more important.
I haven't been to school all week and my co-teacher told them that
I can hardly talk.

[BoholDiver]

I would address the parents at the beginning and tell them you are sick. Then teach the class as normal.

[egrog1717]

So long as you've got no other symptoms go in but refuse to speak... Say a couple of words to the parents at the start and let your co-teacher deal with the rest... They want to be [insert mod edit here] about it, too bad for them...

[hellofaniceguy]

Remember...no one can use you unless YOU let them.
What is more important....your health or more sickness teaching?
Obviously you are not working for a decent person. They only care about the money.

[Senior]

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=186427

[CentralCali]

The problem here would be that the open class is part of the renewal package. The principal, vice-principal, and others evaluate the class.

[balzor]

Tell the parents before and teach your lesson. Tough it out for 45 whole minutes. People work when they are sick all the time. Drink some hot tea before and dose up on some Chloroseptic(or Korean Equiv). If they ask why you are still there, just say "because I love to teach English". They will love you long time

[balzor]

[wesharris]

What's the korean version of chloroseptic ?

[balzor]

[sarahsiobhan]

I feel your pain. I used to get strep regularly, and once it was so bad it morphed in Scarlet Fever. (I know...it's so Victorian....) Anyway, I used to be in a dinner theatre company when I was in University, and as we were just a bunch of amateurs there was no such thing as an understudy. I got strep, and I did the first show in absolute agony.....but I did it. By the next night I was feeling better as I'd had some penicillin, and usually after 24 hours on antibiotics you start to feel more human. You can probably get a doctor's note saying you are too sick; I was never allowed to go to school when I had it, Dr.'s orders.

Sidenote- to those who have not had strep throat, it's not 'just a really sore throat'..... a sore throat is to strep throat what a tadpole is to a Northern pike...same water, different creature altogether.

[princess]

I was expected to teach three open classes in one week, while I wa so sick with bronchitis. I coughed an dblew my nose all through the open classes. I had to do two open classes with a 5 minute break in between on one day, and the next day I had to do my last open class. It was truly awful, but I somehow got through them all. I had a fever too and I thought I would faint during the classes...that's how sick I was...afterwards, the boss had the nerve to lie to the parnets and say I was sick because I was nervous....yeah right...whatever... I kept the nasty cold/bronchitis for more than half the summer...one of the Moms came up to me afterwards and said "but it's summer". so? You can get sick in summer, too.

[SeoulNate]

The Friday one should be a moot point.

Go to the doctor, get some meds and strep will go away in 1-2 days max.

As for the one tomorrow, i would place that one on you. You should have been to the doctor. You did say you were sick all week.

[eljuero]

I hate this aspect of Korean culture - the need to push on or look like you're pushing on when taking a break would be so much saner. Unbelievably stupid on some level.

[ThingsComeAround]

I heard of a guy that missed his open class and lost his job.

That's right, he lost his job. It was a rumor, however the lunacy surrounding "open class" or "English Cafe" is way too much. As though we can scratch our @$$ all through the year but that one day we come in a shiny suit and its all acceptable. It makes no sense, just a glorified entertainment class and coffee break with networking afterward.

Another poster had it right- you should have seen the doc earlier in the week- don't wait for a co-teacher/principal to refuse you medical attention.