Korean Job Discussion Forums

[gillod]

I recently received a job offer that would require me to resign from my GEPIK job (It's not a teaching gig, it's work in private industry). I've been at my school 19 months now, so I'm in the middle of a 2nd contract.

According to the contract I have to give 30 days notice and a Letter of Resignation. Fine, no problem.

Has anyone done this? Do you have tips/advice?

[urge2serg2]

i'm also considering resigning from my epik job. i've heard that your school will be super-pissed if you resign. i dont know what kind of relationship you have with your coteacher and admin, but i wouldnt be surprised if my coteacher turned into godzilla as soon as i give them my 30 day notice.

does anyone know if your coteacher would suddenly turn into a jerk the instant you submit your 30 day notice?

[jrwhite82]

I can understand why it would be so frustrating for them. It takes quite a bit of leg work to interview and screen a new teacher. Then all the hand-holding they need to do when a new teacher first gets there. Plus, how disjointed it can make the classes and the time it takes for the kids to adjust too. I can understand why many coteachers get pissed at NETs that quit early on a contract that they promised to complete.

So yeah, the coteachers will often get upset that the guy/girl they finally got brought up to speed is leaving them in 30 days. They now have to replace him and train the new guy all over again, just after they finally got out of that phase. Breaking a promise is no way to keep friends.

But you have to do what you have to do. So don't feel bad about it. Just don't expect everyone to be your best buddy while you wait out your time to ditch them. That's being unreasonable.

Furthermore, this thread has two examples of why restructuring the hiring seasons will not really benefit the schools, teachers or students. (Teachers are still going to quit/get fired mid contract.)

OP - I would definitely tell them it's a private industry non-teaching job. That would help them save face a little bit. However, you might not want to tell them the name of it, if you think they might react unreasonably.

Tell them you liked teaching there, but don't feel like you can make a career out of it. Tell them you don't feel your job is secure with the new policies being passed down. Tell them you can't wait 5 months for the position, so you have to take it immediately because it's a once in a life time offer. Basically tell them as many things as you can that allow them to save face. This will lessen the chance of you burning bridges and upsetting them. You don't want to do that, especially if you have built them. If you want, you can offer to help interview/speak to applicants. (You're not required though). Try to prepare a bunch of stuff that you can leave behind to help the new guy or your coteachers. If they were friendly to you and honored their end of the deal, I don't see the harm in doing a little more than is required of you (maybe give more than 30 days and do some extra stuff around school to make the transition to a new teacher easier).

[austinmc86]

Wait until June 1st and I will take your job.

[suprd3vil]

I am at a cross roads as what to do.
I will be giving my resignation at the end of this month (effective for the end of may to allow for my 30 days) but the reasoning is part because of a drastic change at my school that has negatively effected my work conditions.
I have been at my school for 7 months now (in Korea teaching for 2 years) However, at the beginning of the current semester my school got a new vice principal who has been making everyone connected with the English program at my school miserable. It's a poor school and most parents put little emphasis on English. She has decided that this is unacceptable and that our school should be at a higher level than any of the other schools in our area. As a result, she has decided that we will be practicing for a play contest for almost 8 months before the contest (I have to give up my lunch hour every time we practice because our kids refuse to come after school) We are also doing writing contest, diary contest, speaking contest, family singing contest, and others. Each we (my brand new never taught before co-teacher and I) are responsible for preparing, grading, awarding, and reporting for. She has instituted once a month open classes in addition to the normal open classes.
I'm also teaching extra classes after school which, when I began to teach them, were designed as story/game time with an English emphasis (very little prep) and have been changed to be classes (without a book = lots of prep) that I have to each in a playroom classroom with little resources outside of crayons (Which I can only use once a month).
Oh yeah, and I teach 2 of these and only have been paid for teaching one!

I have tried to bring up all of my issues with the vice-principal but she only speaks Korean and wouldn't even look at me when I convinced my co-teacher to act as an interrupter for me. My co-teacher was also punished after helping me do this and now has to check in and out with the vice principal every day.

I don't want my last month here to be any more hellish than it has been so far but feel that I should be honest and tell my school that she is the main reason I went out looking for a new job and will be leaving the school.

*edit* My new job is not in teaching

I don't know what to do....

[southernman]

^^

I would just thankfully hand in my letter of resignation, your VP is being outragious with her demands. Spell everything out in your letter of resignation.

Be very kind about your co-teacher and very truthful about your VP in your letter. You will have to give a copy of your letter to the Principal and a Supervisor at the POE.

Don't give it a second thought, you have tried to air your justified concerns and were fobbed off. Good luck in your future endeavors

[jrwhite82]

Have you talked to your coordinator about your contract issues? The contract is very black and white in terms of hours worked and pay that is to be owed. You are entitled to your lunch break. Otherwise, you should leave an hour early.

Have you tried going over the VPs head? I know that usually spells disaster in the long run and ruining the relationship between the two of you and reduces the chance of getting renewed to 0. But it sounds like there is no relationship and you don't want to do another year there anyway.

Either way, you're quitting and have found other work. Do you need a LOR to get your visa transfered to a new job? If so, leave this stuff out of it. If not, think of the repercussions it might have on your coteacher (who you seem to like and is trying her best to help you at great risk to her own career). Will this possibly cause her extra grief and hardship?

[NohopeSeriously]

[Ramen]