Korean Job Discussion Forums

[yuria]

After attending yesterday's Gangnam camp meeting, I couldn't help feeling extremely frustrated and angry at what I had heard, and as well perplexed at why the FTs weren't as angry as I was. I then realized that what had me really annoyed were all announced in Korean, a meeting that was supposed to be lead 90% in English. As I am still angry and unable to think coherently, please bare with my rambling. I'll just put in point form what I can remember of the meeting, and see if the other teachers who attended yesterday's meeting understood yet weren't concerned with these issues..

1. From what I understand, the summer camp schedule previous FTs had participated in were made so that FTs would teach 4~5 classes a day, with the KTs taking over the club activity(80 minutes). This is completely doable and understandable. From what I heard at yesterday's meeting, FTs will be teaching 6 classes AND leading the club activity as well. That would make it into 8 classes a day. Now, they did mention that the KT would be asked to teach 1 or more classes per day(I don't know how much of that will actually happen), but even in that situation, the FT has to be in class and sub-teach with the KT, meaning that FTs are still teaching. It doesn't mean that we can step out of class and take a rest.

2. Students are being asked to pay nearly 400,000won for this 3-week camp. Seriously, this is more expensive than attending a hagwon for one month.

3. When asked about the hours we are working overtime, (in contract it says we will work a maximum of 22 hours, this calculates to 18 overtime hours) they mentioned that this is why we were getting an extra 70,000won per day. The lady who was in charge of organizing this camp specifically said that whatever classes we were teaching after 12:00 was our overtime pay. Uhmm.. I don't know if my calculations are from another planet but 20,000won for every extra hour I teach after 12:00 does not add up to 70,000won. 4 classes before 12, 4 classes after 12. If we are going down to specifics though, it would be 18 class hours we should be paid overtime for.
70,000won x 5 days = 350,000won
20,000won x 18 hours = 360,000won
Not that the 10,000won per week that we are getting less matters much.. But from what I have heard, the FTs who worked at the summer camp received the same OT pay for teaching 4~5 classes a day. Something is seriously not right.

Obviously I didn't apply to work at a public school for the money. I came here so that I can put some time and effort into preparing and teaching my classes, and recuperating so that I can teach all my classes with both enthusiasm and energy needed. If money had been the issue(I'm not saying I don't care money, it's important as well), I would have gone to a hagwon or just do privates. There is no way that I can teach 8 classes a day, and teach each class with the same energy needed. Even 6 I find to be too much.

Sorry to be rambling so much, I just need to rant, but I also would like to here some thoughts as to what you think I could do to get this changed.

[jellobean]

I haven't worked for Gangnam, but I have close friends who did.

Last two times, foreign teachers taught in the morning and Korea teachers nominally led club activities, but actually FT did it themselves most of the time. It really depends on your location head and your assigned KT. Lessons for morning were provided, but some subjects had good lessons and some had sh** lessons.

Overall, given what they are charging students vs. what they are paying teachers, they have to be making a ton of money. If you actually calculate contact minutes (you don't get your breaks and your lunch to yourself at many locations), they aren't paying enough overtime. The 6 weeks vacation (as opposed to the old 4 weeks) is because the camp is now contractual but was (technically) optional before the most recent contracts. The extra 2 weeks vacation were added to placate teachers who had old contracts that didn't require the camp. Be very careful about ruffling feathers. I know one FT who refused to work both halfs last summer (contract only requires 1) because he wanted to be able to offer a free camp at his own elementary. He was harrassed, intentionally put at a camp as far as possible from his apartment and threatened that if he doesn't work both weeks this winter they will force his KT to work instead. The camp head has also showed up at his school trying to dig up dirt on him (possibly to get him fired), but his KTs and admin closed ranks and protected him b/c what he did was for his home school.

Yes, it's a bad situation, but the Gangnam teachers as a group don't have a backbone. The teachers that speak up and complain get squashed. They might pay better than other public schools, but its still the same sh**.

[marlow]

[jellobean]

Of course, but they aren't about to give in here. I watched this go from optional to contractual and at the time teachers could have complained and possibly made a difference, they didn't.

[Binch Lover]

I worked Gangnam-gu summer camp and it sucks!! We had to fight tooth and nail for 1 break during the day to get a bit of energy. The people in charge are pretty stupid, and the curriculum was rubbish. The social science section in particular was too difficult for my Korean co-teacher to understand, and she has a high level of English (Stafford from NZ you retard, I'm looking at you). All in all, it was very tiring and frustrating.

With regard to the money issue, the numbers are pretty much exactly OK. There's nothing to complain about really, cos it adds up to what the contract states (think about time off for lunch...). It just sucks that it's pretty much compulsory.

Gangnam-gu teachers as a whole tend to think they're the dog's bollocks cos they work for "Gangnam-gu". Money isn't that much better than SMOE, you work more hours and you don't get the extra 2 weeks for re-signing. Gangnam school also tend to be more demanding, and of course there's the whole insane camp thing.

[Sody]