Korean Job Discussion Forums

AussieGav · Joined: 02 Sep 2007 Location: Uijeongbu

Well I have heard it all now. My Middle school is conducting exams today, tomorrow and Friday. I was just told by my co-teacher that we can all go home after lunch. However, in my case, and my case only, I would have to take my paid vacation to do so. So, I told her that I would stay here and save my vaction time thankyou very much. I have no classes and all the kids will be going home at 1pm. What is that rubbiswh? Has anyone else come across such nonsense before?

Fishead soup · Joined: 24 Jun 2007 Location: Korea

You should call a coffee delivery girl and have fun with her take her to the duty room.

poet13 · Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 7:23 pm Post subject:

Wow, what a slap in the face. If they're going to play silly games like, then play the same. Hold them to every minor detail of your contract, and EPIK requirement.
No weekend work....ever.
OT? Forget it.
Korean teacher leaves the classroom? You leave too. They're required by law to be there with you.
Someone asks you to help out with the skit club, the writing club, the poetry club. Tell them, "sure, but they are teaching hours." If not, forget it.
I see stupid people.

Dodgy Al · Joined: 15 May 2004 Location: Seoul

You could... ask some of the other teachers why they are allowed to go early and you are not. Then, in a round-about way suggest discussing the issue with some higher-ups. I'm sure no-one is officially allowed to leave early, so if you start making inquiries, your co-teacher may get nervous (not wanting to risk her afternoons off), and change her way of thinking - just be sure to let her think changing her mind was her idea. And pretend to be very grateful for her incredible kindness.

AussieGav · Joined: 02 Sep 2007 Location: Uijeongbu

Yeah all good suggestions. I've only been here a week but perhaps I can see that the contract is really going to be brought out at every opportunity. AT LEAST I HAD ONE WIN. We accomodation was being sought for my wife and I, we were first offered a one room studio with no kitchen, room 12 foot by 12 foot. I said that if thats the best they can do then they dont have an English teacher. We won and we are moving into a reasonable 2 bedroom appartment on Friday. But I'm guess I wil be comming in during the school vacations lol.

Otherside · Joined: 06 Sep 2007

TeeBee · Joined: 18 Oct 2007

AussieGav, you are having almost exactly the same experience I've had. Let's just hope you don't have the same problems with OT!

poet13 · Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 8:00 pm Post subject:

It's simple. They want to play like that, dont' do OT. Ever.

Otherside · Joined: 06 Sep 2007

Gamecock · Joined: 26 Nov 2003

So let me get this straight...you've been there a week and caused a row over housing, and they were good enough to move you. Is your wife a teacher as well in a public school? If so, your complaint there is understandable. If she isn't a teacher, you demanded they pay out extra because of your marital status? If she isn't a teacher, they may feel upset over that situation and feel like they're going to make you put in your time and earn the extra 300,000 a month they are dishing out for housing. It could be part of the explanation.

Regardless of the housing situation, you're throwing a hissy fit because you have to spend a couple leisurely afternoons at work (during time you agreed to work during your contract!)...on exam week where you probably have done little to nothing all week! I'm sorry, but your "us against them mentality" over this is disgusting. Your co-teachers, who are leaving early, work every other Saturday and are at school far more hours every day than you are. I know the teachers at my school were working until 9pm the last 2 nights preparing exams. You have many benefits that they don't have. Grow up.

poet13 · Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 8:38 pm Post subject:

I see your point Gamecock, and I think it's entirely valid. However, I think the complaint is not that the OP is being to stay at school, I think it's that the three are different rules being applied to the OP and to the K teachers. In a society that stresses harmony, dropping that on the OP isn't very....harmonious.

AussieGav · Joined: 02 Sep 2007 Location: Uijeongbu

Personally gamecock i think your opinion would ahve been better kept to yourself. I did'nt actually recieve anything extra with regards to accomodation, merely what it states in the contract that I am entitled too.

I am aware that the teacher may need to work extra hours. I am also aware that Korean teachers receive a bonus ervery few months and extended leave periods when student are not at school.

I am certainly not highlighting or exageration the "us them" differences merely pointing out a silly situation, which am sure even you have encounteed since being in Korea.

It is true I have only been here a week, it is also true I have not done a great deal during that time other than introduction type classes and the production of a number of audi visual lessons for some cultural classes.

However, with all of this in mind, as well as the fact that this is an information sharing site, I maintain that my post was valid. If we didnt discuss these issues then how would we know how other are being treated.

So your input is in fact really without any value.

EzeWong · Joined: 26 Mar 2008 Location: Seoul

I hear ya.

I have to come in for midterms and sit in my chair... waiting for nothing. I serve absolutely no purpose being there and I got to wake up bright and early to stay 2 long hours.

I got the same raw deal, you can use vaction time to get out of it. But like gamecock said, it doesn't bother me knowing that all the other teachers in this school have much more work than me.

1) They have to work saturdays
2) They have a homeroom to take care of
3) They have grades and testing to worry about (I sit on my ass thinking about... kimchi or something)
4) They work longer hours
5) They HAVE to take care of their students outside of class if somethign happens, like calling students about fights, failed grades, etc.

I can't imagine dealing with they crap they have.

You're complaits valid though.

Your frame of mind is (this makes no sense to be here) whereas the principal is thinking along the lines of (you do diddly squat compared to other teachers, Why should you complain?)

Different perspectives. Honestly, it's not bad though. I used my time for lesson planning. I'm good for the next month lmao

AussieGav · Joined: 02 Sep 2007 Location: Uijeongbu

EzeWong, yes what you say is very true and I'm not really complaining, it is more of "this makes no sense". I am reasonably happy sitting here on my PC designing a poster and making a presentation on my home country for teachers and students. All of which is easy.

I also agree that there are many tasks the K teachers undertake that I would have no desire doing. I worked in a Hagwon for 2 years prior to comming here, life is so much easier and I finish well before the sun goes down.

All in all it pretty good. Just a funny situation is all.

Hank the Iconoclast · Joined: 08 Oct 2007 Location: Busan

Last Thursday, I came in for mid-terms. My teacher picked me up at 7:50 and I left at 4:30. This Monday I went to school for mid-terms at 8:30 and left at 1:00 and yesterday I came to school for mid-terms and taught six period after they were finished.

Did I complain about it? Nope. I just read a book and studied. Gamecock is right.