Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Badmojo]

Here's the deal.

I'm going on vacation in a couple weeks so the Korean teachers have to cover my classes.

And, en masse, they're turning this into a problem.

Why are they upset? Because it's extra work and they're not getting paid for it. That's not my problem.

Because they see me leaving for a week and they don't get any vacation time themselves. That's not my problem.

I fully intend on leaving detailed lesson plans. I'm going to prepare pistol classes for them, all they have to do is walk in, teach, and enjoy.

But no, they have to complain to me. "Why are you going away for so long?" "We don't want to do this." "Why do you leave us with plans, we want to teach in our way." I can tell you right now that "their way" is also known as "wasting my students' time" and that's not going to happen. I'm not so careless with my classes.

Has anybody else run into this same problem? Your coworkers making you feel guilty for taking what's rightfully yours? Do you think I should acquiesce and let them do whatever they want with my students while I'm away, when I know for a fact that it's not going to be productive?

[captain kirk]

Ok, I'll say it; it sounds like you need a vacation

[sistersarah]

just give them the lesson plans, leave it up to them if they use them or not. go on vacation and don't worry about it.

[sadsac]

Just go and enjoy yourself. Don't bother with lesson plans as that is a complete waste of time.

[J.B. Clamence]

You have every right to take the vacation that you are entitled to, and you are right to say that it's not your problem that the Korean teachers have to do extra classes. If that's a problem for them, then it's between them and the boss. It's not your problem or your responsibility.

However, I believe you're adding insult to injury by leaving behind lesson plans and insisting that the teachers follow them. If it's extra work for them and they're not getting paid for it, then it really ought to be up to them how they should go about it. You don't have much of a choice about leaving them with extra classes, but I don't think it's fair for you to insist how they should perform their extra (unpaid) duties. Let them teach the way they want.

Like others have said, relax and go on vacation. Let the students have a break doing nothing or whatever with the Korean teachers. You can pick up where you left off when you get back.

[Grotto]

must be your first year

#1 pull the pineapple out of your rectum
#2 dont worry about lesson plans, if you havent figured it out by now actual teaching dont mean sss hhhh iiii ttt eee, you are here because you are a white face in a room speaking english thats it
#3 stick a finger in your ear and ask them why they are talking to you about it? It is the directors problem not yours.
#4 enjoy your vacation...I did

[Derrek]

Tell them that if they don't feel the boss treats them fairly, they should quit.

Tell them that if there hadn't been vacation offered, you wouldn't have taken the job. After that, ask them why they took the job if there was no vacation offered.

And go ahead and prep for the classes. I don't know where these other nutheads work, but if I left on vacation without doing some prep for my teachers, i'd hear about it.

The last thing you need is the Korean teachers taking your entire vacation to complain to the boss that they don't even know what to teach your students.

[Badmojo]

Derrek, I hear you.

I don't understand the backlash.

What's wrong with leaving plans? What's more work for the Korean teacher? Following what I leave them or them having to prepare everything themselves from scratch?

Who else gets some?

"Lesson plans are a complete waste of time." Maybe for you. Not for me.

"Let them teach the way they want." I can kind of see your point. But they know nothing about my classes, they know nothing about my book. If I were to cover their class, I'd want exact instructions. This is not my class, these are not my students. Korean teacher, how do you want it done?

That's the professional way to act.

Grotto - if I ever had any respect for you, it's gone now. "Teaching doesn't mean anything, must be my first year, blah blah blah." I'd glad I'm not your student. Anytime you want a free lesson on how it's done, step into my classroom, I'll teach you a few things.

[crazylemongirl]

sounds to me that you should leave the plans... if they follow them then great. If not you have your planning done for the first week you get back. Win win situation.

[fidel]

[Grotto]

To a muppet in a hogwan, possibly so, however to those of us there with actual teaching positions definitely not. Lesson plans are invaluable, even essential for teachers. Something you obviously don't understand being ' a white face' in a room just talking random nonsensical words in English.

From what I can envisage from your "lesson".

Ahhh the voice of ignorance and stupidity This coming from someone who has no idea of my situation the stupidity of my hogwan and the difficulty of teaching decent lessons

My hogwan has told me not to teach reading and writing as this is only a speaking and listening hogwan

Dont give homework it is too hard for the students

Dont give tests, it is too stressful for the students

As for understanding take a long look in the mirror....how many asian, black, hispanic faces do you see doing the job of English teachers in Korea? 1% less?

I try very hard to give my students the best teaching I can, without the support of the director, owner, pricipal and parents...yes parents...they complained when I gave an oral exam to my students. I thought they would be pleased that their son/daughter was getting some one on one time with the teacher but no

Before you spout off at my posts why dont you walk a mile in my shoes you may learn something

[Gord]

[Grotto]

Your point is? You're hired to do a job under certain restrictions. If you were were hired to work at a Sony store, you don't start complaining that they should stock Hitachi products because it would make your job easier.

If you are unable to do the job assigned to you, then why steal money from your employer and students? Why not quit and let someone who is capable of operating within guidelines?

If I enroll into a Chinese checkers class, I'm there to learn how to play Chinese checkers. I'm not there to learn how to operate a digital camera. If I wanted to learn how to operate a digital camera, I would enroll in a digital camera class.

Realistically, every student enrolled in a speaking class will already be taking English writting lessons. If they are enrolled in an English speaking class, that is what they are there for. Don't get mad at them because they are simply reminding you what they are paying for.

The point of insulting someone twice is when they are too stupid to realise the original insult and you must reenforce your point by being even more blatant.

I was hired to teach English, teaching English is teaching a whole not just a part. If I, who am a certified teacher, deem that my students are deficient in a certain area I feel it is my duty to help them improve that area and become better English speakers. If they cannot read the material I am using then should I not help them to be able to read it

If I was teaching chinese checkers I wouldnt worry about it either, but English is much more complex than a childs game. Sorry to have to point this out to you Since when do analogies to Chinese checkers and digital cameras have anything to do with teaching English Its like comparing apples, oranges and muffins they are all seperate items.

Realisiticly Yes I am sure my kindergarten aged students dont have any problem with their reading skills.

Once again your blatant stupidity consists of making assumptions and then trying to justify them in ways that have no bearing on the topic.

It is not an English speaking class dipwad, it is an English class.

As for stealing their money If I didnt care then you could classify it as theft, but as I do care about my students you have no standing in which to slander me.

Take a long hard look in the mirror. Maybe you have a decent job but some of us are in hogwan hell just counting the days until we can move on to an actual teaching job

[Demophobe]

@ Gord: Good post.

@ Grotto: Come on, man. You may be a certified teacher, but you weren't hired to do educational assesment needs, were you? No. You were hired, just like all of the non-certified teachers to do whateevr your employer wants you to do.
You seem to have missed Gord's point through good analogies. Why are you so high on yourself, man? If you are a certified teacher, what are you doing here? What does "certified teacher" mean anyways? I'm just asking for clarification, not mocking you. If I were a parent, and my kid's teacher wasn't doing their job the way they were told, I would complain too. They do pay your salary.
We are way off-topic, here.
Grotto, it really sounds like you are looking for gold in a desert minefield, mate. I have no idea what that means...it just sounds applicable. Probably not.

[Demophobe]