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Winter camps: A rant
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crazylemongirl



Joined: 23 Mar 2003
Location: almost there...

PostPosted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 3:18 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I had 80% attendence rate for my camp this summer and won a prize for my last set of camps from my education office. My school takes the camp very seriously and is expecting me to win again.
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TheUrbanMyth



Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired

PostPosted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 3:41 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

laogaiguk wrote:
TheUrbanMyth wrote:
Cooking day?

Game board day?


I'm just doing the regular lessons that I would be doing otherwise.


Are you kidding? I am constantly bombarded by the kiddies about cooking day. Grades 1 through 4 are doing no cook stuff while 5 and 6 are doing actually cooking. You should see how angry the grade 4's were when they saw they only had 2 recipes while grade 5&6 had 3 Smile
But seriously, it is a good way to integrate imperatives and instructions.


Nope not kidding. I just found out MY schedule today.

3 80 minute classes everyday. 1st class: Grades 1&2 (40 or so)
2nd class Grades 3&4 (20 or so) Grades 5&6 (as of yet to be determined)

I was given absolutely no materials. Since I had already had to shell out for the books for my extra-cirrucular classes and I shell out every now and then for candy (for the kiddies) I think I deserve a break. If they want me to cook, they'd better supply the materials and a Korean supervisor. I am probably the world's worst cook. Getting toast to brown properly is a major enginnering feat for me. Laughing Laughing Laughing

Throw 40 or so children into the equation and that's a disaster just waiting to happen.
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Return Jones



Joined: 06 Feb 2004
Location: I will see you in far-off places

PostPosted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 3:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

crazylemongirl wrote:
I had 80% attendence rate for my camp this summer and won a prize for my last set of camps from my education office. My school takes the camp very seriously and is expecting me to win again.


If they're kicking you to the curb in about 6 weeks because you're a women (as you mentioned previously), why kiss their butts? Do a good job, but do it for the kids. With all of the horror stories you've posted in the past, I doubt they'll be giving you a glowing reference anyway.
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crazylemongirl



Joined: 23 Mar 2003
Location: almost there...

PostPosted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 6:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Return Jones wrote:

If they're kicking you to the curb in about 6 weeks because you're a women (as you mentioned previously), why kiss their butts? Do a good job, but do it for the kids. With all of the horror stories you've posted in the past, I doubt they'll be giving you a glowing reference anyway.

1. Just got a great reference off my K' Teachers there (principal is the butt munch who makes my life miserable).
2. Having stuff like awards looks good at any job interview.
3. I can't do a medicore job (Type-A personality).
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mack the knife



Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: standing right behind you...

PostPosted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 6:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
3. I can't do a medicore job (Type-A personality).


Serious heart attack/stroke material. Seriously. Why beat your skull against a brick wall? A brick wall with nails sticking out of it.
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Return Jones



Joined: 06 Feb 2004
Location: I will see you in far-off places

PostPosted: Thu Dec 22, 2005 7:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

crazylemongirl wrote:
Return Jones wrote:

If they're kicking you to the curb in about 6 weeks because you're a women (as you mentioned previously), why kiss their butts? Do a good job, but do it for the kids. With all of the horror stories you've posted in the past, I doubt they'll be giving you a glowing reference anyway.

1. Just got a great reference off my K' Teachers there (principal is the butt munch who makes my life miserable).
2. Having stuff like awards looks good at any job interview.
3. I can't do a medicore job (Type-A personality).


That's good. I'm just saying you should perform for the kids, not for the buttmunch or some dubious award from the ����û.
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bellum99



Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Location: don't need to know

PostPosted: Thu Dec 22, 2005 8:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

It's an ethical problem. Something I never have because I always do what is best for me in any situation.
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jacl



Joined: 31 Oct 2005

PostPosted: Thu Dec 22, 2005 8:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Oh boy! Sounds like good times. Look for a good hagwon (maybe an oxymoron) if you want to work again here for another year. I'm doing winter camp three hours/day in the morning and then my regular shift from 2. Thing is, I get paid 50% more for it and they're just conversational classes. And only 10 students per class. My boss isn't anal about lesson plans. In fact, he's never mentioned them.
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jacl



Joined: 31 Oct 2005

PostPosted: Thu Dec 22, 2005 8:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

crazylemongirl wrote:
Return Jones wrote:

If they're kicking you to the curb in about 6 weeks because you're a women (as you mentioned previously), why kiss their butts? Do a good job, but do it for the kids. With all of the horror stories you've posted in the past, I doubt they'll be giving you a glowing reference anyway.

1. Just got a great reference off my K' Teachers there (principal is the butt munch who makes my life miserable).
2. Having stuff like awards looks good at any job interview.
3. I can't do a medicore job (Type-A personality).


You work too hard. Too much time into it can be self-defeating.
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jacl



Joined: 31 Oct 2005

PostPosted: Thu Dec 22, 2005 8:21 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

How do you teach 40 kids a language they can't speak at once anyway? You'd need about five heads with Stretch Armstrong necks.
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TheUrbanMyth



Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired

PostPosted: Thu Dec 22, 2005 3:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

jacl wrote:
Oh boy! Sounds like good times. Look for a good hagwon (maybe an oxymoron) if you want to work again here for another year. I'm doing winter camp three hours/day in the morning and then my regular shift from 2. Thing is, I get paid 50% more for it and they're just conversational classes. And only 10 students per class. My boss isn't anal about lesson plans. In fact, he's never mentioned them.


Many people who are working in the public school system cut their teeth on a hakwon. Yes "a good hagwon" is an "oxymoron". The VAST majority will try to get away with paying you as little as they can, while working you as much as they can. Spent four years in the hakwon system and while I won't say "never again" I much prefer public schools (at least mine)
As for winter camp I am only doing 3 80 minute classes which I prefer to your schedule above. Good luck. Split shifts can be murder. (50% MORE?) You really lucked out with your hakwon. As for lesson plans most hakwon foreign teachers don't have to do them. That's the Korean teachers job (as they are considered "real" teachers). At least that's been my experience.
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jacl



Joined: 31 Oct 2005

PostPosted: Fri Dec 23, 2005 5:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

TheUrbanMyth wrote:
jacl wrote:
Oh boy! Sounds like good times. Look for a good hagwon (maybe an oxymoron) if you want to work again here for another year. I'm doing winter camp three hours/day in the morning and then my regular shift from 2. Thing is, I get paid 50% more for it and they're just conversational classes. And only 10 students per class. My boss isn't anal about lesson plans. In fact, he's never mentioned them.


Many people who are working in the public school system cut their teeth on a hakwon. Yes "a good hagwon" is an "oxymoron". The VAST majority will try to get away with paying you as little as they can, while working you as much as they can. Spent four years in the hakwon system and while I won't say "never again" I much prefer public schools (at least mine)
As for winter camp I am only doing 3 80 minute classes which I prefer to your schedule above. Good luck. Split shifts can be murder. (50% MORE?) You really lucked out with your hakwon. As for lesson plans most hakwon foreign teachers don't have to do them. That's the Korean teachers job (as they are considered "real" teachers). At least that's been my experience.


Yeah, my winter camp classes are 80 minutes each. I teach the first class 9:30-10:20/10:30-11 and the second class 11-11:50/12-12:30. These are just conversation classes, so they won't be a headache. It'll be easy since I have my notebook connected to the net, a printer (mine) and TV (mine). "Pets and Animals for 100, Alex" (hee hee). I've done the same shift before (August summer camp) on top of my regular afternoon to evening shift. It was quite stressing. I was angry then though since I thought I should've been paid more (100,000 under half). It'll be better this time.
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bellum99



Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Location: don't need to know

PostPosted: Sat Dec 24, 2005 9:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

What I love is how they forget all the extra hard work you did during the year when it is time for a new contract. You bust your butt and then they shaft you a few months later for a couple of won. I have done camps that gained huge new interest in the school and they made huge money, but then screwed me over when it was time to pay for the work.

Don't fool yourself when they give those large fake praises....their admiration and respect disappears fast. I take it when they give it but I always remember the way it it.
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