Korean Job Discussion Forums

ddeubel · Joined: 20 Jul 2005

This issue is not black and white. Yes, get paid for your work, extra or whatever. But that doesn't mean not doing your best during the time you are at work and giving your time to students during the time you are paid.........

I replied to jacl because he stated he wouldn't go out of his way "in the classroom" to help students of differing levels (ie. design a better program, prepare extra work, mark extra work, give added attention to... etc...) This is a different issue. A teacher is paid to do their best. I've seen too often in Korea and in the West, teachers whose motto is " get through the day the easiest way possible......" Which means in essence -- keep em quiet, occupied and NOT learning. In teacher lingo it is called, "busy work". It was this I was addressing with my own comments.

I do agree, get paid for extra classes. Unless there is a very personal and "humane" reason for doing so. But when in the classroom, on salary, go out of your way to do all you can to help..........don't just try to get through the day (unless on those rare days when you really are having a bad day. We all have those.).

My viewpoint.

DD

jacl · Joined: 31 Oct 2005

sonshine20 · Joined: 17 Nov 2005

I'm a teacher in the States and on average, I spend 3+ hours of unpaid overtime a day. I create materials to meet the needs of the many different students in my classroom. I don't get compensation, respect, or much of anything else for it. I consider it my job. I get the satisfaction of knowing I did my best and knowing I've helped each individual child learn as much as possible.

When I return to Korea to teach, I may not expect to put as much extra time and energy into my job, but if a child is far enough ahead of his peers that my instruction to the class isn't particularly beneficial to him, it is STILL my job as a teacher to teach him! That may mean finding ways to enrich the lessons or use alternate materials.

But then I'm a teacher because I want to teach. Not because I thought I'd get good pay for it. Smile

ddeubel · Joined: 20 Jul 2005

jacl,

My comments in general were not directed at you. I've read some of your posts and never got the impression you were "loafing" it. But I was also curious about your statement and meaning??????

jacl · Joined: 31 Oct 2005

Students do get better one-on-one time in the hagwon scenario. I don't have any time to plan since I teach over 6 to 7 classes/day. I work with a computer, however, and I design things for active class learning on my own time. That's about as far as I go. Maybe some searching for materials, etc.

Alyallen · Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2006 10:06 pm Post subject:

I guess I should say something since I am the OP of this thread.

Like I said earlier, I work at a public school. There will be two classes for "middle" and "high" level students. The max number of students for each class is 10; 10 from the third and fourth grade (middle level) and ten from the fifth and sixth grades (high level). At last count, there are 40 students from the third and fourth grade and 20 fifth and sixth grade students competing for spots.

Even though I will get paid for teaching those special classes, I still will try my best to improve everyone's English to the best of my ability. I can only hope that these extra classes keeps the more knowledgable kids engaged and motivated and also gives the other students who are in the regualr classses the chance to shine. As far as I know...students in these special classes still have to attend the general English classes as well.

Teachers work long hours without necessary getting overtime because that is what teachers do. I like to think of myself as a teacher, so I will do what ever is necessary for my students to succeed. If noone here agrees with my ideals about this so be it, it's my time to waste....not theirs.