Korean Job Discussion Forums

fromtheuk · Joined: 31 Mar 2007

I was told about this on Monday but it only sank in this morning.

My co-teacher is looking after a Grade 5 class for the whole morning. Their teacher is ill.

That means I have nothing to do today, apart from on afterschool class this afternoon.

Now, I can relax and do almost nothing until late afternoon.

The one thing I like about this job is every now and then I get some extra little benefit which makes life quite enjoyable.

Which experiences (either major or minor) have you had at work here, which made you feel just a little better about life? Laughing

xCustomx · Joined: 06 Jan 2006

I've got you beat. From November 28-December 10 I teach a total of 2 classes because students are preparing for and taking their final exams Very Happy

I'm using most of this free time to finish the second edition of my schools newspaper and study Korean

nate2008 · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Location: Daegu

This is why I love working in a public school. Random periods of freedom are very frequent and very convenient. I was able to use most of my free time during midterms to complete all of my grad school application essays, and even the applications themselves. I think I'm going to use all of my upcoming freetime during finals to prepare lesson plans for my winter camp coming up, which I am really not looking forward to. Crying or Very sad

AussieGav · Joined: 02 Sep 2007 Location: Uijeongbu

I am also finishing off the preparation for my winter camp. Three weeks of winter camp ahahhhhh. I will also be seat warming through winter vacation.

I feel guilty though if I am not working or at least look like i'm working during times when there are no classes. There is no way I have enough to do in order to be productive all the time. My desk is a bit public in the staff room, my screen faces the door and I sit right next to my handler. What do you all do to fill in the time? Do you pretend to be busy? Or, just keep a low profile?

fromtheuk · Joined: 31 Mar 2007

I just use Dave's. I don't think my co-teacher cares. Laughing

We have our own office which is next to the English classroom. Thankfully, it's private and none of my other colleagues are nearby.

That's the best thing about my school. Isolated and loving it. Laughing

AussieGav · Joined: 02 Sep 2007 Location: Uijeongbu

Wish I was isolated lol.. Everyone wants to see what's on the FT's screen.

espoir · Joined: 09 Oct 2008 Location: Incheon, South Korea

Well it could be worse, the winter camp at my school lasts a whole 4 days. After that I spend the next 2 months seat warming with only my principal, vice-principal and the janitor as company Sad

so not looking foreward to it. Especially considering every other teacher gets to vacation for the duration.

The only upside is my office has a large couch, so I have a feeling that I will be taking numerous naps on that.

but enough negative, last week I judged the incheon english speaking competition and not only got the entire afternoon off, but they paid me an additional 100k won for the afternoon Smile

ghohn · Joined: 08 Jan 2008

I watch a lot of NHL online. I don't think anyone cares but it works out well because 7pm E.S.T games start at 9a.m Korean times. So basically there is a game at any time of my workday Smile

ThingsComeAround · Joined: 07 Nov 2008

Lucky Public school S.O.B.s!! Crying or Very sad

mountainous · Joined: 04 Sep 2007 Location: Los Angeles

Teachers often do not get paid for non teaching hours, never mind what the contract says.

You will notice lots of teachers fighting for their $$$ in labour court.

macaronique · Joined: 14 Nov 2007

Soometomes I actually want to go to class and talk to students, seeing they speak the most Eglish out of my schol and I am the only nativE Teacher and have one coteacher . I just do what she tells me to do make a crappy lesson plan cause I am new, (2months)surf the internet all day and listen to words like "yoogi" "choggi" "hamnida" and coggi.

On the bright side we are going to seoul tower and a palace I will be doing quite a bit of seat warming in the winter, but can anyboy say online poker 90 person sit and gos all day

sojourner1 · Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2008 4:26 pm Post subject:

dean_burrito · Joined: 12 Jun 2007

I was denied using vacation time around New Years.
Then two weeks later they told me I do not come to school from December 27th to January 4th. Then I have a nother week from January 24th to Feb 1st. And I still get to keep my vacation days for later use!

saw6436 · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Daejeon, ROK

Previous Hagwon I worked at. The Owner gave me 2 round trip plane tickets to the USA and $1,500 as a wedding present.

Same owner farmed me and the other foreign teacher out to teach some classes at the local uni'. Pay was supposed to be W1,000,000 for 96 classes (this was 1998). The Uni messed up and paid my director for 4 teachers (not 2). He gave us teachers the extra wind-fall.

Same owner paid me two salarys for 6 months when I covered a "midnight runners" classes.

All of the above were completely unexpected. Best place I have ever worked.