Korean Job Discussion Forums

ds_fan · Joined: 07 Apr 2008

got called in to see the boss today, she wanted to see my lesson plans, i brought in my file containing an individual lesson plan for every single lesson iv taught for the past 3 months,

she and the coworker complained that they were not in a neat order and didnt have any evaluations. They said they want these for the next teacher who arrives at the school to use.

Its in my contract, that i must provide a monthly lesson plan and that all resources will be provided by the school- they dont have a curriculum and im making all resources myself, covering my ass by making an extra copy of everything and placing it in a folder, which is bulging now, as is my lesson plan folder. I cant make monthly plans as i dont know what im teaching a month in advance.

I saw red when i was criticised for doing them a favor and pulling my weight. I dont see why i should create work and plans for next years teacher.

There was a yelling rant in korean from the director and i spoke with the francise owner on the phone, who then spoke with the director in what seemed to be a shouting match, then i got told to go teach a class.

Would you stand for it, or pull a midnight runner?

sorry for the rant btw, just had to get it off my head.

xingyiman · Joined: 12 Jan 2006

ds_fan · Joined: 07 Apr 2008

i know celta etc ask for that crap- but iv had enough of planning, im a qualified teacher- a proper teacher, not esl. I realise the importance of planning, but lets face it. Its a kindergarten hagwon.

I dont see any point in having a written plan filed away and have to write lesson evaluations- im the only foreign teacher- the boss wanted to see them and grumbled in loud stern korean screwing her face up- she cant read english, why the hell do i even need to show them.

While they might be great for the next teacher who arrives, its not my job to produce crap and im not doing some qualification. I wonder where the work is from the previous 2 teachers they have had? They dont seem to ever mention them and i was told by my recruiter they had never had an english teacher before.

9-5ing it next week, with no bloody classes, iv got 5 days off as in my contract, and the school is closed for 10 days, but could they not have been decent enough to say just take this day or whatever off. No one here speaks english.

xingyiman · Joined: 12 Jan 2006

ds_fan · Joined: 07 Apr 2008

on that note, im not going to do it just yet, i need to bleed my back account dry and that could take about 2 months, im not considering finishing the contract, the novelty here has worn off and i dont really know many english speakers, iv been here nearly 4 months now, and the prospect of doing another 8 months of doing 44hours a week in a job i dont like doesnt appeal to me too much. If i was to pull a fast one over the course of a weekend, what goes on, i expect threatening phone calls etc, but can they take any legal action? I know there are a million posts about this, but the search function is screwed.
Damn it, these people- im being nice assuming the majority of koreans are friendly- just no one involved in english teaching.

yingwenlaoshi · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Location: ... location, location!

Just say "ok" and don't do them.

TheChickenLover · Joined: 17 Dec 2007 Location: The Chicken Coop

I would say you understand their position, but they need to be clear with their requirements from you BEFORE the semester or the past 3 months have past.

This happened to me at my old high school. I was told that my lesson plans that were "fine" before no longer good enough & ALL of them must be very detailed & scripted. I refused saying that they needed to provide a detailed template of what they would like. I did & they changed the bar.

They were not happy. The rest that followed was me being told to either sign a paper or I couldn t' work there anymore.

I said fine, & packed up my things. They were shocked & I left.

I have not regretted my decision & will be in high school in my city starting september.

Remember, this is a hogwan job. It has ZERO work experience. Don't get overly stressed about it. Kindergarten is just babysitting while trying to teach the babies something. Noone would expect it to be a real academic school & you should not be so stressed as to try to make it so.

Do what I did. Say no. If they persist, simply say you don't work for people like that & pack your things. Two things will happen:

1) They accept your position. Life will get easier

2) You leave & find a better employer. Life will get better.

Either way you win.

Chicken

i · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Location: Seoul

There are good bosses out there. I am grateful whenever I read these posts. My boss asks nothing and just says how much he appreciates my work everyday. But I've worked under some real asses before. I'm not a good teacher. I don;t know what I have to teach day to day. Don't have the books. But I wing it like I do life. Don't know what to do next, looking over the kid's shoulder looking at his book. Hangman time or pull out the UNO. Keeps them happy. I'd probably be fired at a public school job on day 1.

rhinocharge64 · Joined: 20 Sep 2006

A lesson plan for a hogwon, now that is dam hilarious. Sounds like they want you out fella. Start looking for another job!!!!!