| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
ds_fan
Joined: 07 Apr 2008
|
 Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 1:50 am Post subject: too much work- advice |
 |
|
working in a kindy hagwon, had a few issues today as one of the kids refused to hand over something, then refused to stand when i wanted him to sit in another seat, then refused to stand outside- elementary class with no co teacher. called a teacher to the room who then comforted him outside bringing him back saying he says hes sorry etc, this is after nothing has been done about my reports abut them stealing from the room, writting on the walls etc.
basically im getting really fed up with the crap, no curriculum exists, no discipline procedure exists and most of the resources have to be pulled from my ass.
im currently teaching from 10am until 4.30pm with 1 hour break for lunch, involving serving them food. I can leave at 6pm, but must have all lessons planned on paper and filed away.
so basically im on 10-6pm- 40 hours a week, that however does include less than 6 hours teaching per day, though lessons are 30mins each.
my contract states,
| Quote: |
| The workday of the Employee starts on Monday and ends on Friday, 120 hours per month. Daily teaching hours are 6 hours per day. However working hours is flexible in accordance with the institution�s schedule and in this case both parties must mutually agree. |
currently im on more than 120 hours a month, but thats not all teaching time, including an hour and a half after school, and an hour for lunch- any advice?
just knackering me, and givin that they are taking the piss with the workload and also wanting me on the school bus at 9.20 every morning im not a happy bunny in my hagwon. Everything else is good though...
cheers |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
afsjesse
Joined: 23 Sep 2007
Location: Kickin' it in 'Kato town.
|
| Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 2:23 am Post subject: |
|
|
I feel for ya buddy. The 120 hours of course will mean Teaching hours, but since it is so vague, you could argue you are doing over and that it doesnt specify what kind of hours they are. I would put my foot down and leave at 430, problem solved. As for the other stuff... Welcome to Korea!  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Easter Clark
Joined: 18 Nov 2007
Location: Hiding from Yie Eun-woong
|
| Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 2:54 am Post subject: Re: too much work- advice |
|
|
| ds_fan wrote: |
| ...no discipline procedure exists... |
As the teacher, discipline is your responsibility. I really don't understand the folks who come on this board and complain that their school "doesn't have a discipline procedure!" Welcome to the profession.
Advice: Cut your teeth this year and the next will be easier. This is a learning experience. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
icicle
Joined: 09 Feb 2007
Location: Gyeonggi do Korea
|
| Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 2:55 am Post subject: |
|
|
I think that the sorts of hours you are talking about are fairly common hours for people who are working in Kindergarten / Elementary Hagwons ...
I am in a kindergarten/Elementary Hagwon ... And my compulsory hours are 9:30 to 6:30 Monday/Wednesday/Friday and 9:30 to 6:00 Thursday/Friday ... Current Teaching Hours 9:50-12:00 and 2:30-5:30 (Monday/Wednesday/Friday) and 4:00-5:30 (Tuesday/Thursday) ... and I also help with and eat with one of the Kindergarten classes (but I do actually enjoy that ... and I have time after it to get organised for the afternoon) ... I don't have the behavioural issues that you describe ... but I know that that can take a lot out of you.
I don't have to have specific lesson plans for each class written before I leave ... In my hagwon we are required to submit a Monthly lesson plan for each of our elementary classes indicating what we will cover in each class ... based on textbooks used in each class ... This is due about a week or so before the start of the new month ... Then each day we complete a daily report which bascially is a brief outline of what we have covered in the lesson / what the homework was / who was away / any problems/issues we experienced ... And this has to by submitted before we leave ... but also only really takes a few minutes at the end of the day .. or even less if you do it as you go ...
What are you required to have ready before you leave work ?
Having to come up with everything is a lot to ask ... Is there no textbook which they use? Some basic outline can really help a lot. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ds_fan
Joined: 07 Apr 2008
|
| Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 3:13 am Post subject: |
|
|
| icicle wrote: |
I think that the sorts of hours you are talking about are fairly common hours for people who are working in Kindergarten / Elementary Hagwons ...
I am in a kindergarten/Elementary Hagwon ... And my compulsory hours are 9:30 to 6:30 Monday/Wednesday/Friday and 9:30 to 6:00 Thursday/Friday ... Current Teaching Hours 9:50-12:00 and 2:30-5:30 (Monday/Wednesday/Friday) and 4:00-5:30 (Tuesday/Thursday) ... and I also help with and eat with one of the Kindergarten classes (but I do actually enjoy that ... and I have time after it to get organised for the afternoon) ... I don't have the behavioural issues that you describe ... but I know that that can take a lot out of you.
I don't have to have specific lesson plans for each class written before I leave ... In my hagwon we are required to submit a Monthly lesson plan for each of our elementary classes indicating what we will cover in each class ... based on textbooks used in each class ... This is due about a week or so before the start of the new month ... Then each day we complete a daily report which bascially is a brief outline of what we have covered in the lesson / what the homework was / who was away / any problems/issues we experienced ... And this has to by submitted before we leave ... but also only really takes a few minutes at the end of the day .. or even less if you do it as you go ...
What are you required to have ready before you leave work ?
Having to come up with everything is a lot to ask ... Is there no textbook which they use? Some basic outline can really help a lot. |
It says in my contract that i must provide a monthly plan for all lessons.
Im currently having to produce an individual lesson plan for all classes each morning. For some lessons I have a brief outline, but for many, i am given a difficult script and told to teach it for 2 weeks, 3-4 times a week to all classes- they complain that these classes are not fun enough and need more games and activities. Nothing else provided by the hagwon. I had a tiff with my co teacher tody when she said at 4.30 i should create a draw the lines worksheet by scanning and cutting out pictures and print out 48 copies- i had all my lessons to plan for the next day. It says in my contract that I have to produce a monthly plan, no mention of individual ones, however I dont know what im doing a month in advance. Im also teaching mothers, just been told to teach them with no advice. Several people will say tough luck, you have to give it your all, but im doing a bit much, and not too keen on the place given the 12 hours in the place shifts 3 times a month for parents evenings in a school where coffee and cigarettes are contraban. This isnt my lifelong career and i simply intend on pullin my weight, not being king english teacher. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
esetters21
Joined: 30 Apr 2006
Location: Seoul
|
| Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 3:39 am Post subject: |
|
|
| You work in a kindy hagwon and have a co-teacher? I can only imagine the bs that is going on in your school. It will only get worse before it gets better it sounds like for your situation. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Mr. BlackCat
Joined: 30 Nov 2005
Location: Insert witty remark HERE
|
| Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 3:44 am Post subject: |
|
|
Easter Clark wrote
| Quote: |
| As the teacher, discipline is your responsibility. I really don't understand the folks who come on this board and complain that their school "doesn't have a discipline procedure!" Welcome to the profession. |
Well, yes, in a perfect world this would be true. But when you work in a hogwan that consistantly underminds your discipline and routine then it is nearly impossible to keep control. Kids are quick learners. Do something bad, FT puts you in the corner, but KT comes running and hugs you and gives you candy? Do it again. And again. Only worse this time. Maybe you'll be sent to the director so you can colour pictures all afternoon instead of sitting in class. Many of us have seen this scenerio many times.
OP, the situation you describe sounds like the ones many of us had to endure our first years here. I know I did (in different ways). You have to put your foot down at some point, decide what your limits are and how far you'll go to defend them. Otherwise they will keep on taking advantage of you. Oh, you'll stay half an hour after work? Next week it'll be an hour. Then two. And they'll act like you're an alien if you ever try to leave at your regular time again.
I don't have any specific advice, though. However, I can sympathize. This is really how you learn your lessons in Korea. If it's any comfort, know that this experience will make you get a better job next time. Or just ditch the place. Like I said, how far are you willing to go?
Good luck. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
icicle
Joined: 09 Feb 2007
Location: Gyeonggi do Korea
|
| Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 3:54 am Post subject: |
|
|
Your description of your work ... is very different to mine ... And does show to me how difficult your situation is ... compared to mine ...
I think I am lucky that the basic outline of what I need to do each week in the Kindergarten classes is relatively presecribed ... The books / activity sheets / materials are prepared and ready ... And at a relatively appropriate level for the class ... And while we do make up some other things to like you said "add some more fun" and add variety ... What we basically need is prepared .... And the basic materials we are working with are relatively good .. which does help a lot ... I also have what I know is a relative benefit of being trained as a Primary Teacher ... and with some definite talents in developing resources etc .. which I can use if I need to ... But so far I have had to develop from scratch less than I thought I would need to ... I think that the situation that you are in is one of the horror stories of working in hagwons ... And that I am in one of the more positive situations (at least it suits me...) ... But I also think that you are in a bigger hagwon than I am ... Mine is still fairly new and still growing ... How big are your classes? My biggest one at the moment has 7 students .... I know smaller class size can make a difference too ...
Icicle |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
esetters21
Joined: 30 Apr 2006
Location: Seoul
|
| Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 3:59 am Post subject: |
|
|
| icicle wrote: |
Your description of your work ... is very different to mine ... And does show to me how difficult your situation is ... compared to mine ...
I think I am lucky that the basic outline of what I need to do each week in the Kindergarten classes is relatively presecribed ... The books / activity sheets / materials are prepared and ready ... And at a relatively appropriate level for the class ... And while we do make up some other things to like you said "add some more fun" and add variety ... What we basically need is prepared .... And the basic materials we are working with are relatively good .. which does help a lot ... I also have what I know is a relative benefit of being trained as a Primary Teacher ... and with some definite talents in developing resources etc .. which I can use if I need to ... But so far I have had to develop from scratch less than I thought I would need to ... I think that the situation that you are in is one of the horror stories of working in hagwons ... And that I am in one of the more positive situations (at least it suits me...) ... But I also think that you are in a bigger hagwon than I am ... Mine is still fairly new and still growing ... How big are your classes? My biggest one at the moment has 7 students .... I know smaller class size can make a difference too ...
Icicle |
No offense to you Icicle but why all of the choppy (etc..) sentences when you write? Although it might be helpful information, it is annoying to read. Once again, no offense, but being trained as a "primary teacher" you don't need to write like that. Many of us are trained teachers, so no need to break it up and dumb it down . |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Zaria32
Joined: 04 Dec 2007
|
| Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 4:45 am Post subject: |
|
|
| It's fine to say that discipline is the responsibility of the teacher...but kind of hard to discipline kids who have no idea what you're saying. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
|
| Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 5:06 am Post subject: |
|
|
goes back to my oft repeated and just as often ignored post:
The hard questions to ask AND get acceptable answers to ARE:
-What are the hours? (start time / stop time / breaks).
-How many classes per day, week, month? NOT hour many hours per month. 30 classroom hours can mean anything from 1350 -1800 minutes per week standing in front of the class. The difference can be up to 7.5 HOURS in front of the class EACH WEEK.
http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=120687&highlight=8888
Sorry, but there is NO answer to your problem in regards to your work hours. You got what is in your contract - as much as it sucks.
In regards to your other problems:
Do a backward search for "kindy" and the poster "tomato". He had lots of great stuff for kindy, 1st and 2nd graders.... including class management.
Managing Unruly & Disobediant 4 ~ 6 year old Kindy Child
http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=79340&highlight=kindy
http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=79023&highlight=kindy
Last edited by ttompatz on Tue Jun 17, 2008 5:15 am; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
spliff
Joined: 19 Jan 2004
Location: Khon Kaen, Thailand
|
| Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 5:14 am Post subject: |
|
|
| You serve them food.... Buy a monkey suit and wear it at all times at work. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
I-am-me
Joined: 21 Feb 2006
Location: Hermit Kingdom
|
| Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 5:23 am Post subject: |
|
|
Make sure they are paying your taxes and severance. If they are not, then they have voided your contract and you can start negotiating on your terms. It happend to me and I put my foot down on how many classes I would teach per day. It worked!  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
valkerie
Joined: 02 Mar 2007
Location: Busan
|
| Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 5:51 am Post subject: |
|
|
I don't agree that the OP should suck up the work hours cos he signed a contract saying 120 hours. Even if that was ALL teaching/contact it would only be 30 a week. Presuming no weekend classes/contact that shouldn't mean being on the school bus from 9.20 and then still being there until 6 (or whatever time it was.)
You are entitled to a 1 hour break (to use freely) if u do 8 hours of work. I would be shouting about having to serve lunch.
My place likes to try to explout us but enough people are now saying 'bog off' and the message is gettign through. (I teach from 9.30 - 6.20 for 3 days. 9.30 - 2.15 for the other 2 days. (30 mins lunch each day). When I started that was only given on the longer days. Something that was changed after I mentioned the right to 30 mins break for 4 hours work. Tho' they are still resisting giving us the full hour on longer days....we shall see). |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
wayfarer
Joined: 05 Jun 2007
|
| Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 9:04 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Don't. Work. At a hogwon. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
