Korean Job Discussion Forums

[crazylemongirl]

My third year classes have been cancelled for the entire of feburary. In the morning the copy out either some hanja or english vocab and then in the afternoon they watch movies.

Today I had my afternoon classes cancelled so that the kids could watch soccer.

Why do the schools bother with this charade of feburary classes?

[Hollywoodaction]

More cash for the schools.

[crazylemongirl]

well this is a public school so moot point...

[marcus]

You make it sound like every school watches soccer all through February. Maybe it's not February classes, just your school.

If the kids didn't pay, and if you teach something that's not on the college entrance exam, the school isn't going to be too worried about third year elective courses.

It's probably a pain for lesson planning but at least you'll have more time to practice your hanja.

[red headed stranger]

To keep the kids out of the house?

[buymybook]

Because they love to go out in the snow and cold weather!

[peppermint]

my kids finished the textbook before winter break, so it'sa week of word searches and movies if they're good ( worksheets if they're not)

[Yu_Bum_suk]

I've been wondering myself what we're going to do. We start 13 February. First week's lesson is ... hey, let's look at my photos from Thailand (minus a few carefully edited out). When that runs out it's time to test the quality of my pirated Harry Potter IV.

I'll start thinking of some real lessons towards the beginning of March.

[ulsanchris]

There is really a lack of logic to this. All the final exams were in december so they should have nothing new to learn. some of my students had their exams in the first couple of weeks in december. so they had a week of nothing to do in december and nothing to do now. korean kids are supposed to spend 220 days a year in school but they waste so many of those days.

[TheUrbanMyth]

You guys have classes? I get to sit on my behind for 4-8 hours a day.
Extremely boring. I wish I had classes to teach. I've done all my lesson plans (those few that aren't provided by the school) a full week and a half in advance, cleaned out my desk... There's only so much surfing on the web a person can do...although I usually (though not always) get to go home early (after lunch).

I don't understand the logic here. I have to come to school, sit there for an entire morning (looking busy) have lunch and then told to go home? Why come in in the first place? Ah well such is life.

[Kimchieluver]

I've been doing supplementals. I like it because it keeps me on the getting up before 8 AM routine.

[deessell]

Today is my last day(I have been back from winter vacation for a WEEK). Next week is Spring vacation...no classes until March. An extra two weeks vacation that I didn't know I had.

[Demophobe]

Yes....bizarre. They have winter vacation, do their exams, come back for a few weeks, then have grade 6 grad...up to which point they really do nothing. All grades continue in their "old" grade and it isn't until March that they start the next. Yet this is the "new school year". Ugh. The thinking behind this is really odd. Finish the school year, have a final exam, then come back and clean the school, sing songs, play recorders for three weeks until they can begin the next grade.

I still have classes with them, but they are in "non-learning" mode as they feel as though they are finished. Really, it doesn't make sense. Luckily, my schools have given me every afternoon off until March, so doing half-days is fine with me.

On top of the strange school year structure, the Korean teachers don't even know what grade they will be teaching yet...nor, if they transfer schools (again, the thinking of the "after 5 years you have to move" is odd as well) do they know which school they will move to. So much for being able to move house in a reasonable amount of time, if necessary. That or face a long commute, whcih could be up to three hours, depending on where you live and are eventually placed. My wife still doesn't know which school she will be at; something that is really causing some stress for us lately.

The 5-year rule I could understand for some schools, namely the highly sought-after schools in the cities. However, if a teacher wants to stay in a "country" school, they simply cannot, even with these schools being the least desireable in terms of workload. They do rack up the points at these rural schools, which eventually come into play when one seeks promotion, but nevertheless, they are not a popular destination, and teachers who are happy at these far-out schools still have no choice but to go.

[margaret]

This whole thing about the February classes has made decide that Koreans are almost as insane as Americans (though mostly in different ways). Where I am the elementary students go in for one week and then have 2 more weeks off. That's so crazy to have a week of school during the vacation.
the only reason I can see to make the kids come in when they're between grades is to train them to work all the time like their parents. But it's backfiring because these kids love having free time and I bet when they grow up they might not know what to do with it but they'll value it.
Margaret

[SPINOZA]

Seems really strange reading all this. I'm in public school and our grade 3s had their graduation ceremony yesterday and...that's it! They're on 'Spring Vacation' til March 2nd when they'll start high school.

Our 1s and 2s (shortly to become 2s and 3s) are in today for what ever purpose...and so, sadly, am I...sat on my arse bored sh1tless! There's supposed to be some special teachers' meeting this morning but I'm not holding my breath.