Korean Job Discussion Forums

suprd3vil · Joined: 14 Jun 2009 Location: Sindorim, Seoul

I teach at a small poor public school south of seoul and have loved my job since I started at the end of September but things have changed a lot and I don't know how to handle it.
A week ago we got a new Vice Principal who is intense (I also got a new co-teacher who hasn't taught before). She (VP) has set her focus on the English department completely. In the past few days I have been told that my school winning second place in the area wide play contest was an embarrassment, that I should have won first, no excuses. Because of this we now have to start practicing the play next week, almost 8 months before the contest.
Last year we started 2~3 weeks before and I was forced to give up my lunch hour each day to do so, as the kids were unable to stay after. I understand having to do that for 2~3 weeks but for 8 months seems completely unfair.
I also have to organize a minimum of 4 singing contests throughout the year, and teach the kids English pop songs during class
(and some how also teach grades 1&2 the same even though I never have them)
She has also demanded several speech/debate contests and month long writing contests for the entire school (approx 1400~1800 papers a week that I have to organize, collect, and correct)
On top of all of this she has decided that open classes will now be held monthly, at her discretion, with no warning (ie. she will usher other teachers, co-workers, and parents into my classroom with out a word)

I feel overwhelmed and scared. I know there is no way for me to do all of this. I have told my co-teacher that I feel that it is too much and that I don't think I can and that is not fair. She agrees with me but is afraid that she will be punished if she tells this to the vice principal. Everyone in my school has refused to help me translate my concerns. I feel trapped. I am willing to lay my job on the line to have her understand that this is unreasonable and will give my month's notice if I have to. I just don't know what I should do.
Any advice would be welcome.

nukeday · Joined: 13 May 2010

I'd put in my notice. This goes above and beyond what is expected of you.

Or put up with it until your contract is over in september.

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

Simple solution to the problem.

Tell your co-teacher that you are contracted for 40 hours per week.

From that total you are teaching 22. that leaves 18 hours for everything else and you will NOT give up your lunch breaks or work beyond the 40 hours to get it done.

Let her pick what she wants and the rest gets left in the dust.

"NO" is a magic word. You have to learn how to use it.

.

OculisOrbis · Joined: 17 Jul 2006

You can try contacting the regional or provincial director and get them to try to rein in that nutjob you have for a vp. Failing that, I would just quit.

You dont really have any other options unless you do what the vp wants and you slowly kill yourself with work overload OR you refuse/ignore what the vp wants that is unreasonable, continue doing what you did before, and he makes your life at school miserable and/or he fires you.

ED209 · Joined: 17 Oct 2006

With situations like this, has anyone ever regretted quitting? The only regrets I've had is not quitting soon enough. OP, if the VP won't shift, you need to weigh if it's worth keeping this job. When a new VP and co-teacher arrive it pretty much is already a new job, forced onto you.

winterfall · Joined: 21 May 2009

This could also be her way of forcing you out. When Koreans hold you to unreasonable demands / work schedule. It's their way of saying, its time to leave. 99% of the people get the message and quit on their own. Happens most frequently to people much older than their boss. Does happen on occasion to foreigners.

ssmith · Joined: 23 Sep 2009

I suggest that you talk with your VP and have someone with you to translate. Let her know your situation clearly with supporting facts. I have talked with some of my teachers here and they feel she just may not understand the situation you are in. She may feel it is totally reasonable for you to do this since you don't have any admin duties unlike other teachers.

Show her what you are doing and give some suggestions for making things right. Don't go in there raging and complaining as she will not like this. Go in there, show respect and outline what your concerns are. If nothing is addressed over the next little while start to make your letter of resignation (if not done already).

If you want another job in Korea this is a safer way to go as you are less likely to not get another job here and appear on the rumored Korean employers black list.

jonpurdy · Joined: 08 Jan 2009 Location: Ulsan

Do what ttompatz says. Don't give up your lunch hour. Only work in the contracted hours. And for the things that you actually do complete, do a good job. It's better to have a few well thought out activities than a bunch of quickly and ill-prepared activities. That way they can't fire you or complain about poor performance.

ESL Milk "Everyday · Joined: 12 Sep 2007

It sounds like the vp is trying to make a name for herself.

I used to give up my lunch hour for speech contests... it's not a great feeling-- but at the same time, I found that singing, debating and drama are a lot more fun and interesting to teach than grammar and spelling. You can find a lot of the basics online and just sort of relay that info.

Soooo you could say 'yes, I'll do this, but that means no proper classes'... and if you're using a book, throw it out the window and only teach drama, singing, debating and speaking. Correct the papers in class... every day, you can just let them go and walk around and correct them at your leisure. Only get them to hand stuff when they're done, and just do one big marking time... and see if you can share the load with your co-teachers. The vp probably only cares about her reputation and getting ahead, so she could go for it... if she doesn't, she's just being unreasonable.

The open classes thing is ridiculous-- the whole concept is utterly ridiculous and unfair. Learning can't be measured by a single class, it's that simple. See if you can get out of that!

Also, you might be able to lump the grade 1s and 2s in with the grade 3s... if you have a big English Space, see if you can get them all together. Pick out some easy songs and practice them every time you see them... that means no planning for those classes, just singing.

It might not be so bad... I would only go above the vp's head if you're sure you understand what she means and know that the workload crushing you... you never know who is friends with who, and it could be worse for you than the vp... if she is trying to force you out, it might not just be her decision, and the people you're complaining to might have some part in it all...

Epik_Teacher · Joined: 28 Apr 2010

OculisOrbis · Joined: 17 Jul 2006

Most are (useless), a few arent. It's worth the call even if it amounts to nothing.

suprd3vil · Joined: 14 Jun 2009 Location: Sindorim, Seoul

Update: my co teacher decided that it was more important to speak with the vice principal then sit back and accept her demands so we went down together to explain our concerns. The vice principal was angry that my Co brought me with her and refused to even look at me, but she did listen (kinda to me and mostly to my Co) and seemed to understand. I told her that i felt the amount of open class and extra work would not help the students and maybe even hurt their learning. She accused me of not being perpared for class or a bad teacher. I told her that i welcome her to visit my class any time that she would like, as long as she says hi to the kids and tells them shes there to watch me. She ran off saying she would have to discuss it with the principal. I got no promise that things would get better but I have a feeling they will. I am very glad that I pushed to be able to talk with her myself, I feel much better. I know it is still a lot of work even without the open classes but I now feel that if I try and show her an effort she will be more understanding and that I can go to her and explain myself.

OculisOrbis · Joined: 17 Jul 2006

'discuss it with the principal' means that 'later I can tell you the principal agrees with me and you must do it.'

I hate to say it, but its a long bumpy ride downhill from here for you.

Keep us updated.

oldtrafford · Joined: 12 Jan 2011

Start looking for another job, serioulsy. I work with these bureaucrats everyday of the week, she's bored and it looks like she's got it in for the Englisheee department, and the good old Johnny foreigner!!

CentralCali · Joined: 17 May 2007

Friend: You just earned yourself two big fat goose-eggs on the required open class evaluation, which, by the way, happens to be part of your renewal package. And if the co-teachers don't want to have a work life of hell either, you're going to get low marks from them.

Honestly, I think your mistake was in letting them go against the contracted provisions in the first place. "Give an inch, take a mile" isn't just a metaphor here.