Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Snowleopard]

I am sorry if this sounds like a stupid question but I really need advice. My school wants me to do afterschool classes. I agreed to do it but now they are saying that I have to shell out my own personal money for a teacher's guide book, which doesn't make sense to me. Why should I have to pay to do overtime that they want me to do? Is this common practice here (i.e. a cultural difference)? I mean, if they are trying to make give them money for a teacher's book, what else are they going to charge me for, the electricity for the room I used to conduct the afterschool classes? My handler started saying that I have to pay because the afterschool classes have nothing to do with the school. If it doesn't have anything to do with the public school, then it not legal for me to work in the afterschool program is it? I don't know everytime I ask her something she sort of gives me the run around. Constructive advice would be deeply appreciated.

[WendyRose]

My school pays for everything and it's my understanding that doing so is typical in Korea.

Is the book you suggested outrageously priced or something? Do they have any books already purchased/owned by the school that you could use?

[Snowleopard]

No, they do not have any used book I can use for the afterschool classes. They only have the ones for the regular classes. No, the book is not outrageously priced. It's more the principle of the situation. I mean what will be next? Will I have to pay for the electricity since I used it for an afterschool class? I�ve just never heard of having to pay to do overtime.

[WendyRose]

[Snowleopard]

Thanks for the advice. I agree there is a lot of good material on the net. They said I wouldn't have access to materials such as paper though, so I would be much more limited in the activities I can do with the class. I think this is why the Korean teachers insist on a book with various activities already incorporated into it.

[Robot_Teacher]

Is showing Loony Tunes Bugs Bunny OK? They really love that as an after school class. How about some Mr. Bean? How about a ball game outside during nice weather?

Their Korean teacher doesn't care what I do as it's a baby sitting thing where I get them at 3 and then they leave at 4 for academy classes.

[Big Mac]

Actually, they are going to charge you for the electricity in the room where you teach these after school classes. It's called a "school facilities fee" and you won't know about it unless you ask for your overtime pay slip. It's five per cent of any overtime you make. And no, I'm not kidding. I was told this is a law made by the government and that they have no choice but to charge it.

I was also told that if I wanted textbooks I would have to buy them myself, but I managed to convince my co-teacher to work it into our English book budget for the year.

I agree that it is very petty for them to do this, but I guess it is a difference of perspective. We see ourselves as doing a favour for them. They think we are making extra money off the school and almost look at it as if we are running our own business on school property.

[Snowleopard]

They actually charged you for electricity Big Mac!!! How did you handle your situation? I'm sorry but I don't think I want to take these extra classes if I have to buy books and pay school facilities fees. I know its not a lot of money separately but all these little things are adding up. I have more than one grade level I must teach so I would have buy a couple of different books. Because the school want each level to have 4 classes a week, I imagine they will go through these books quickly and I will be stuck buying another book. Taking away another 5% on top of that is outrageous. I honestly don't think I make enough money with my overtime if they are going to start charging me for doing this. Who knows what other things they will try to charge me for later? I really don't need overtime, I only accepted it because the school seemed like they really needed me to do it. I wanted to be helpful but this is getting ridiculous. Seriously, this overtime seems to be more trouble than its actually worth. I think I need to have another chat with my handler tomorrow.

[harlowethrombey]

[Snowleopard]

It was their idea to use a book not mine. Personally, I thought it was going to be similar to my winter camp, where I came up with all my own ideas. Thanks for your input harlowethrombey, I appreciate it.

[Surfer Rosa]

The exact same thing happened to me.

My co-teacher and I went to the bookstore to browse for a book