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Clockout
Joined: 23 Feb 2009
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 Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 6:09 pm Post subject: Not teaching first 4 weeks |
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I have been at my new GEPIK middle school job for 2 weeks now. I have spent my time sitting in on classes and working on lesson plans. I was first told I would teach my own classes starting on Monday the 20th. Now I have been told that because of mid-term preparations that I won't have my own classes until May 6th (after the holiday.) Of course they still expect me to be here 8 hours a day which is fine but they haven't given me any direction at all for what they want me to teach or what they expect from me.
This seems to be the opposite of many experiences people have had of teaching as soon as they arrive. Should I be grateful for my excessive prep time? Is this a good problem to have? |
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cruisemonkey
Joined: 04 Jul 2005
Location: Hopefully, the same place as my luggage.
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| Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 6:27 pm Post subject: Re: Not teaching first 4 weeks |
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| Clockout wrote: |
| Should I be grateful for my excessive prep time? Is this a good problem to have? |
I for one, have never complained about be paid not to work.  |
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Clockout
Joined: 23 Feb 2009
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| Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 6:31 pm Post subject: Re: Not teaching first 4 weeks |
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| cruisemonkey wrote: |
| Clockout wrote: |
| Should I be grateful for my excessive prep time? Is this a good problem to have? |
I for one, have never complained about be paid not to work. |
Haha, I understand there are worse problems to have. Aside from the fact that I haven't seen my settlement allowance yet (Grrr). I am just not clear about their expectations of me. If I hadn't taken the initiative to develop some lessons, I'm pretty sure I could have stared at the wall for the past two weeks without them mentioning it. |
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ekul
Joined: 04 Mar 2009
Location: [Mod Edit]
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| Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 6:46 pm Post subject: |
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| well you have discovered dave's, that's something to do for an hour a day :/ |
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harlowethrombey
Joined: 17 Mar 2009
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 6:51 pm Post subject: Re: Not teaching first 4 weeks |
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| cruisemonkey wrote: |
| Clockout wrote: |
| Should I be grateful for my excessive prep time? Is this a good problem to have? |
I for one, have never complained about be paid not to work. |
Amen to that.
By comparrison, let's break down all the things I dont have to do to be a full-time teacher in Korea:
I dont have to grade homework.
I dont have to grade tests.
I dont have to plan a different lesson every day.
I dont have to enter student grades into a labrythine (sp) computer system.
I dont have to deal with parents.
I dont have to create IEPs (although this may be a negative)
I dont have to attend faculty meetings for the entire school.
I dont have to work at home. Ever.
I dont have to plan all my lessons during a single planning period.
I dont have to rush to eat lunch in 20 minutes.
If you teach back in the States just reverse all of those.  |
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KYC
Joined: 11 May 2006
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| Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 9:01 pm Post subject: |
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May 7th?? OMG...if that was me I'd be doing backflips up and down the hallways...
Enjoy it while you can. |
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Clockout
Joined: 23 Feb 2009
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| Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 10:41 pm Post subject: |
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One other question:
My co-teacher has never handled a foreign teacher before and is often unsure of how things are supposed to work with me.
I opened a bank account at KB right when I got here with no problem (even without my ARC card.)
Since I've been here for nearly two weeks now, I've asked her about getting paid for my settlement allowance. Also, today is actually my regular payday. She is insisting that I can't be paid until I have my ARC card, which I won't have until at least May 1. KB told me I can deposit and withdraw funds at the local branch even without my ARC.
I feel that I should be paid according to my contract despite not having an ARC card. Is possessing an ARC necessary to getting paid? |
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D.D.
Joined: 29 May 2008
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| Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 10:59 pm Post subject: |
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It might be nice to be cruising but I hear alarm bells when I hear your story.
Insist that they start giving you some respect. Call head office soon. Pay should never be late. |
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Clockout
Joined: 23 Feb 2009
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| Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 11:12 pm Post subject: |
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| D.D. wrote: |
It might be nice to be cruising but I hear alarm bells when I hear your story.
Insist that they start giving you some respect. Call head office soon. Pay should never be late. |
Yes, I agree. I am certainly not enjoying this situation. First of all, I came here to teach. At least put me to work. Also, I get nervous when people don't know what is going on. To be fair, no deadline has actually passed yet but I am fairly certain I am not getting paid today or Monday.
What would be the most effective office to call for GEPIK? |
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Otherside
Joined: 06 Sep 2007
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| Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 11:24 pm Post subject: |
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OP, if they don't pay you today. Threaten to down tools. No pay, No work!
Oh right, you're already there... just get your ARC and get paid, everything will sort itself out. (however, PUSH them on the settlement allowance, as that should be paid within 2 weeks of your arrival) |
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kasain
Joined: 25 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 11:25 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Also, today is actually my regular payday. She is insisting that I can't be paid until I have my ARC card, which I won't have until at least May |
I wouldnt worry about your money. It is Korea law, that you have to have an ARC card to get so much money. When I worked in Seoul, they had to give me cash for my 1st payday as I had no arc card. They gave me 700,000 but owned me 2.3M. So they made out a check to a teacher had her deposit the money and then bring it to me.
This is Koreas way of preventing illigals or peopel without proper visas from working. Yes, you can open a bank without an ARC card if someone at your school vouches for you.
I wouldnt worry about not working. My 1st 8 weeks in Uljin I had 6/8 weeks off, and got paid.
As for your settlement money it doesnt dirrectly come from the school most likely. It comes from the school board. So that ones different. You have to much time on your hands and new to Korea and trying to evualate everything. In doing so stressing yourself out. Your school seems to be doing everything ok. |
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Clockout
Joined: 23 Feb 2009
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| Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 11:30 pm Post subject: |
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| Thanks for the input. |
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refikaM
Joined: 06 May 2006
Location: Gangwondo
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| Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 11:34 pm Post subject: Pay |
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| I was paid in cash for my settlement allowance, and I thot everyone received it that way (?)... After winter vacation, I didn't start teaching for 4 weeks, and then only a third of my classes for 2 weeks after that.. You can do some kind of planning as you should have some idea of the classes you'll be teaching (MS/grades 1-3)... Lots to organize and figure out.. Check out the plethora of websites for which ones you feel will help you the most.. Copy off the activities that look interesting/fun for the kids...Stuff like that... Should keep you a little busy anyway... |
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Clockout
Joined: 23 Feb 2009
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| Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 12:07 am Post subject: |
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Nothing like a little Dave's group therapy to put my mind at ease  |
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D.D.
Joined: 29 May 2008
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| Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 12:19 am Post subject: |
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It took me 4 days to get my Arc. Why don't you have one after a month.
How's your house? Are they being nice to you or ignoring you? Do you have a desk and a computer? An Office?
China and Korea taught me to stand up for myself as being too nice does not go far in Asia. |
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