Korean Job Discussion Forums

ulsanchris · Joined: 19 Jun 2003 Location: take a wild guess

btw shawner didn't you notice the working hours in your contract before you signed.

shawner88 · Joined: 01 Feb 2003

Well at that job yes, I did. It said 30 hours/week. But whereas at most schools 30 hours means 30 classes, they considered it to be time in class. 40 minute classes were 40 minutes, not one hour.

Be sure you clarify that with your boss beforehand.

SuperFly · Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Location: In the doghouse

Had a friend who taught kindergarden in the country. He would take his kids on nature walks every third day for 45 minutes. They had a mountian right behind the school so not far to go for fresh air and nature trails. At the top they would wash up, drink cold mountian spring water and sing some songs and play volleyball. He milked it as much as he could, and it was a nice gig from what I understand.

Dan · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Sunny Glendale, CA

I deeply cared about my students getting an education, whether the manager, the kids and the parents cared or not.

if I "slacked off" it was usually to grade papers and whatnot while giving a class a written test.

but you know what, teaching was one of the best jobs i ever had. if it paid better, i might have done it as a career, and to be honest, i really miss my kids even after 3 months, and i hear they still ask about me occassionally ^^

I am considering after retiring from my current field to teach it in college.

Len8 · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Location: Kyungju

I like that post about practicing Korean with your students. It's a great way to slack off. Just have your dialogues written on paper, and pull them out when you need to. Get them to teach you a Korean song as well. Write it out in hangul on the board if you can, and then get the students to correct it. They'll love you for it.

gypsyfish · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul

kimcheeking · Guest

Len8 · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Location: Kyungju

I practice my Korean with the students, because I've found that I get a bit of extra respect. I try not to come across as a total greenhorn, and my survival Korean is passable, so they are challenged a little when they help me.

As far as the music goes, most of my adult classes loved to sing and were happy to help me learn. They were quite flattered that I would want to learn Korean songs, and provided me with their own CDS with songs that I liked. Took me out to the occasional norebongs too

Butterfly · Joined: 02 Mar 2003 Location: Kuwait

bucheon bum · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

IconsFanatic · Joined: 19 Jan 2003

Circus Monkey · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: In my coconut tree

Hmmm. Sometimes it's hard to be professional when the boss doesn't give a damn.

CM

captain kirk · Joined: 29 Jan 2003

Nothing wrong with making choices that maintain and develop one's basic good character. It's in one's own interests. It's really important here, sincerely having the bests interests of others to heart. It shows in everything you do, and people respond to interest with interest. The alternative is a downward spiral, which may be gradual but gets there in the end (heh-heh, chuckle of a devilish doorman Shocked

Here's a moral/ethical question; if your boss is a fool/twit do you put out your maximum effort to make his dreams come true, even if he seems to talk down when feeling haughty or annoyed his situation isn't impoving rapidly enough. If you think he might be a fool/twit it could be you're character is lacking, and full of lame excuses. What do you think? I think it's a boat you're on, the one-year voyage, and they're you're fellow crew. Like family. Moods. And you can't let a spat get in your eye and follow up with excuses to slack. Not because it's 'goody-goody'. Or a 'should'.
This last contract I've watched the Korean teacher and she does it for the kids. It's just you and them in the room. You, given the opportunity to do your best (for them). Or short change yourself and them concentrating on excuses and pulling the coin. 'The more you're in it for the money the worse you'll be treated'.
I've done it both ways, and am looking at ethical/moral questions. It's all up to you, and there's the temptation to slack. But at what cost?
Excuses can become infinite.

hojucandy · Joined: 03 Feb 2003 Location: In a better place

my principal positively encourages slacking - she is always telling me to play more games, take the the kids to the park etc. to top it off she orders in food for them at least once a week and we all sit round and eat.
my favorite thing to do in the summer is taking them up on the roof with a bunch of waterpistols and chasing eachother around.

i think i have the best school in korea. the classes are 25 minutes each! the kids are learning english well too.

Butterfly · Joined: 02 Mar 2003 Location: Kuwait

Another point is, if you have a schitty boss who cheats you etc. Work your nads off for him/her, do everything, work even harder than you would for a good boss. Get the parents / students on your side and at the end of your contract leave. Watch him beg you to stay, and tease him by 'considering it'. Given the number of slackers working in Korea, he'll have GREAT difficulty replacing you and will have to deal with students asking about you all the time. I did this in my first year in Korea, the guy had ripped me off several times and thought I hadn't noticed. I raised it with him during my new contract 'negotiations'. I left the school and they replaced me with an inexperienced young buck who partied too much. Haha. Vengeance is sweet.

And all the while I felt satisfied that my students had got their money's worth.