Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Hank the Iconoclast]

I was just wondering if any of you ran into this situation with your school.

One weekend, I went to Daejeon to buy some English textbooks for my middle school classes. I acted like it was no big deal because I was confident that my school would reimburse me and I was excited about seeing some progress in my student's English. I bought about five different books that are appropriate for my level of students. All of my co-teachers in the past encouraged me to do so and even told me they had a budget for this kind of thing.

Fast forward a few days, I explain to my co-teacher at my main school that I bought some books and wanted to show her. She seemed enthusiastic and asked me the price so she could reimburse me. I was confident that I would be seeing the money by next week. Last week passed and I didn't hear a peep about it.

Finally, this morning I asked her about it after I was encouraged to by some of my co-teachers. She told me that I needed to tell her about it beforehand and that once again she needs a receipt for the office to reimburse me. I showed her the receipt on the first day and had her copy down the prices for each book. Still that's not enough and they need to see the receipt again. Of course, I carry a receipt with me everywhere I go even two weeks after the fact and the price of the books are listed on the book itself. /sarcasm. I doubt they will decide to pay me because I bought them on my own time. I thought that was called taking the initiative.

I decided to go the extra mile and it backfired on me. I thought a little extra effort would pay off but apparently it is better just to teach out of their crappy textbooks and make up random lessons out of thin air. It makes me feel like a better teacher when I buy a bunch of textbooks for my students.

I know this is only about 80,000 won but I feel a bit betrayed. Please tell me if I am overreacting or if this is par for the course. I am not freaking out over this but I do want to know your thoughts. I don't want to be a blogger like some on this board. heh.

Edit: I think this would be better in the jobs forum.

[nomad-ish]

that happened to me too. i bought a couple books and english games after i got the ok from my co-teacher. then i brought it in the stuff and the receipt and asked to be reimbursed. nope, i had to tell her what i wanted and then they'd go buy it.

anyways, i never saw that money again, so when i was getting ready to leave i began selling the stuff!

edit: of course you're not over-reacting, it's natural to feel kicked in the a$$ after you go out on your own time to buy things for your school and the kids, and then your co-teacher dodges the reimbursement. i suggest that you remember to take those books with you when you go or sell them afterwards.

[Hank the Iconoclast]

[Kimchieyescream]

http://isohunt.com/torrent_details/20057745/esl?tab=summary
Download, it takes some time because it is huge. Print at the school and photocopy. A lot of crap, but some really good things in there too.

[Draz]

[Hank the Iconoclast]

[Draz]

[xtchr]

[Rteacher]

Whether it's reimbursed or not, there's nothing wrong with teachers buying the books and teaching materials they want to use.

I usually try to get the school to pay, but if they can't (or won't) I just buy whatever neat stuff I can afford to get.

That said, I think I was kinda misled recently by my Korean co-teacher who kept encouraging me to get materials that would be reimbursed by the school's Gyeongi-do allotment.

She also kept suggesting that I buy them online from some Korean website, which didn't appeal to me at all, so I told her that I'd get them myself.

After spending over 100,000 won, I showed her books, flashcards, and receipts, but she negatively responded by saying the ministry official had told her that our technical high school shouldn't use any "difficult" books.

Later she showed me a lot of mostly Korean-teacher oriented stuff she bought online (plus a bunch of DVDs that mostly appeal to girls...) and I could understand that she probably spent most of the budget for native-English teaching materials herself.

[Dome Vans]

I'd go with Rteacher here. I went to Ikidari to buy some text books a couple of weeks ago. My schools will happily re-imburse me for the books....but to be honest I can't be bothered to get them to pay it. It's for my extra classes and I buy one book and then photocopy the pages that I need for the students.

Total was about 30 000 won. But at the end of the day I wanted these books and I get to take them with me when I finish, so have no problem with it coming out of my pocket.

Hank, I'd take them back, get the money back and then look forward to moving onto your new school, next contract.

[DongtanTony]

with the wealth of knowledge on the internet...why did you feel compelled to purchase new books to begin with??

Did you receive approval beforehand?? You, quote/unquote, "felt confident" you would receive a reimbursement, but you never had a verbal agreement or written agreement stating otherwise?

Your school thought they were your own materials and that you WERE taking initiative...If I were a school administrator...even back home in the states, I'm just giving you a pat on the back too, without prior approval.

They've purchased curriculum materials for a reason...it may not have been the best of reasons...especially from your perspective...but someone made the choice long before you came along. Did you think you were going to replace an entire curriculum in a public school? If you were a teacher in your respective home country do you think your position would carry that authority??

Really folks...get some real world experience before you come to Korea...don't just blame these shortcomings on Koreans...beef up in your own business acumen before thrashing someone else's.

[Hank the Iconoclast]

[DongtanTony]

You never cleared this with your supervisor...department head...or anyone else in a position of authority.

You had "a good idea" your reimbursement would happen based on the communication skills of your co-teachers...not a superior.

Is it stated in your contract...anywhere...that materials purchasing is part of your job titile?

This is simple chain of command...your supervisor was probably teaching you a lesson about it...and how you shouldn't try to circumvent the process, just because your personal feelings are that their current curriculum materials are inadequate.

I will reiterate...this is simple everyday business/professional environment stuff. You made an assumption...you ate 80 bucks. You didn't check with your supervisors...you ate 80 bucks. You had no verbal confirmation let alone any written confirmation...you ate 80 bucks. You went out on a limb...you ate 80 bucks.

I wasn't necessarily referring to your comments when I said people shouldn't blame the Korean staff who denied you...or are delaying you.

There were other posts on this thread.

Now I am referring to you......your lack of professional environment experience, in any country including your home country, oozes out of this thread. You had no verification from your superiors...then you run to the forum crying woah as me. Other people try to help validate your claim of woah as me, when they themselves made the exact same inexperienced foibles you did.

Actually...I did work two public school fifth grades last year in Gumi. A total of 9 fifth grade groups...in addition to my hagwon. Did I ever really touch a textbook? Nope. Thematic approaches to education help you identify a skill set...expand that skill set...and create a lesson for that theme/skill set in your classroom. You could have referenced a unit, analyzed what the unit was attempting to teach...and simply created your own lesson. With the wealth of knowledge on the internet, wait I hear an echo, why did you ever buy books in the first place??

[sunhelen]

A lot of times publishers will give teachers free copies of their books.

By the way, the co-teacher said Hank would be reimbursed, so he should be.

[Hank the Iconoclast]

I bought textbooks because I was at English Plus and I fancied them. It's as simple as that. I am not making a huge fuss over this and I only mentioned it to my principal once. I am not storming to their office and making demands. I came here because people on here do have more experience than me. I am not claiming to know everything and everyone has to start somewhere. Since you are so knowledgeable, I shall bow to your lovely tidbits of information.

However, the other people on this thread were much more polite and in the long run I will take their advice over yours. Thank you very much. I don't really understand the whole self-righteous bs but this is the internet and I expect it. That's your attitude towards most of us here.

I do supplement with information over the internet in mostly all of my lessons including websites like Boggle's World. Still, I liked the books and I bought them. I don't regret doing that in the least bit. Monetary reimbursement would have been nice but it's not going to deter me.

I am so glad for you that you never touched a textbook.

Have a nice day.