Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Dan]

[stevie rotten]

i sometimes get kids to write harassing letters to whoever they don't like then read out any replies that come back and have a good ol laugh.

[weatherman]

Took me some time to think about this.... When it comes to the work that is required of me, I don't slack. In fact if I don't do a good job of what I have to do, I don't feel good about myself and feel guilty if I do anything fun after. This feeling of guilt drives me to do a good job. I can't justify myself going out for beers if I did a s u c k y class. I need to teach good to enjoy myself outside of class. All this said, my obligations to my school cost me about 30 hours week. In all my free time, which I spend a good deal in my office or library reading the broadsheets, I generally feel like I should be more productive, like getting my English Teaching Certificate, studying Korean or going to the gym more. In this maner, in regards to my own time I feel like I am slacking, but not to the hours I owe to the University.

[My 2 Cent]

slacking is the most important part of the teaching in korea experience if you ask me...
i reckon i got it down to a fine art at this point.

for those u talked about hiding the newspaper in class: dont.

The first thing i do is take it out for the students to see. i sift thought every page and show them every single photo and tell them what countries they originate from. sometimes i will use a magazine.
this is guranteed to take up a solid 10 minutes before they lose interest.

Then its time to do one of the following:
color pencils and blank paper - let them figure out the rest
spelling test
drawing test (of words written on board)
preparation for "important future spelling test" (which may or may not happen)

With your periodical scanned/previewed for the best bits, now its just sit back, relax and read while the kids do their busy work.

Sometimes, with my kindi classes i just let them do their own thing (as long as they sit down), and i just chill and write out sums of how much money i expect to make - estimates could be for that day, week, month, or for upcoming extended vacation/visa run.
It can be a good idea to write calculations of future incomes on the board as one can create the illusion to other korean teachers/bosses passing by that you are teaching math on the sly. believe me this works.

Dont get me wrong...i kinda like the kids. they can be very smart and intutitive. they know when my handphone rings its time to shut up and let teacher take care of important business...like finding another position for more cash. They should expect the korean teacher's candy jar will soon be half empty if they just maintain low volume levels for 5 minutes - so everyone is a winner.

As a teacher, I really hate mornings but the kids know when i come in the door those nasty bright lights got to go off. by now they pre-empt my doing it... they are smart alright.

As the day continues, so do the classes...

Thankfully the last 3 weeks or so my middle school/elementary kids have been improving on their one card/uno abilities in leaps and bounds. I try to win quick so i'm a free agent to write out and organize my schedule while they play their games.

Yeah i work long hours, but i dont really work - at least not in the hagwons. Whats the point?

Looking back to my first year here i actually made a really big effort teaching my kids. the result was getting fired a day after xmas because my school wanted a female teacher instead.
Hey that's business! no hard feelings right?

The last thing you can expect is respect or thanks for a job well done here...so why do it?
Follow the money trail and get out when u can...
Thats what im doing and i'm now making 3 times what i was this time last year.
For the most part none of us are real teachers so lets call a spade a spade and be honest about it. Cut out this "im a professional...i'm a teacher" bulls@@.
This whole industry is a joke, and those who don't see that are pawns in the money conspiracy.
wake up and smell the money.

[hadeshorn]

Good grief My 2 Cent..

Your post really rang a bell with me.. Here here! And kudos for not being a (cat, but the other word thats probably censored).

Now we just have to wait for Gord or Austin to drop by and damn you to the seventh level of hell.

[Zed]

Hell I'l do it.


I want to be a teacher.

You're in my way.

Screw all you bastards that want to be any less

[phaedrus]

I JUST HAD TO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS DEAD TOPIC

So many people gave Shawner88 criticism. I think slacking is good sometimes.

At my hagwon I put in as little energy as possible and gave students activities that allowed me to sit in my chair and daydream. I hated doing extra work and did it as quickly as possible with as little quality as possible.

Why? Because my hagwon put as little effort into me as possible. Can I get airfare for contract renewal? NO. Can I get my own apartment if I pay the difference? NO. Can I get a raise? NO. Can I get a reasonable amount of vacation between contracts even without pay? NO. Can I get my severance without having to argue about getting it? NO.
You get the picture....... NO respect-----NO good work.

The hagwon was an English business. I was a pay for effort business.

My new job is public school. I get respect and reasonable benefits. No one is trying to get profit at my expense. It feels good and I put in 100% effort everyday.

[dominic]

Unprofessional? hahahaha that's a joke, who works at a "professional school'? NOT I. Hogwans are the most unproifessional businesses I have ever seen in my life. Slacking is unprofessional? Give me a break

[seoulmon]

When I first started working I worked up a sweat over my lessons. I'd prepare for several hours, have a set schedule and in the end I even had a (gawd!!) TEST (last word written in Holloween faunt).

Being not from Korea, I thought my whole point was to "teach." It's coming on the second year now, now I do everything but teach. Basically it's an English club. People get together, BS and sometime find a girlfriend/boyfriend.

SO, inconclusion, SLACKING IS THE BEST PHLOSOPHY.

WHOOOOOOOOOOPPPPSSS that wasn't thePOST question. (Must remember to spank my self later).

Is kimcheeking really teaching if he is that SERIOUS! I bet his students hate him. I almost hate him jsut reading his post!

WHOOOOOOOOOOPPPPSSSSS I just caused another 3 page irrelevant argument.

[Juggertha]

man, either i've got it totally wrong or you guys do.

I work in a school.

I teach.

The students learn.

I'm treated with respect by ALL there and i'm sorry to hear that that's a rarity out there.

[TheUrbanMyth]

[buddy bradley]

Did you know that 'slack' is another word for 'coal-dust'?

[Juggertha]

[TECO]

I still laugh when I read the title of this thread