Korean Job Discussion Forums

simonandmartina · Joined: 20 Oct 2008

There are no classes because of the holiday, but I've been told to come in.

I've heard others say that their schools let them stay home. I just wanted to see what the average was.

fromtheuk · Joined: 31 Mar 2007

I've got Monday and Tuesday off. Monday is my school birthday and Tuesday is a national day off anyway. My school isn't the worst after all. Laughing

bobbybigfoot · Joined: 05 May 2007 Location: Seoul

Any school that doesn't give Monday off is lame. It's a great opportunity to give staff a hard earned holiday.

For the record, my hagwon is open on Monday, but it makes me shake my head. The Korean teachers there log so many hours that this was the perfect opportunity to tell its staff, "we care, now go be with your family. Relax." We are closed Saturday because of Buddha's birthday, and of course, Tuesday, so why not close on Monday and let everyone have an enjoyable and much needed 4 day rest.

I say this not for myself but my Korean coworkers. I do not consider myself overworked.

matthews_world · Joined: 15 Feb 2003

OP, you've got a hagwon?? It's possible you've got some latch-key kids to teach.

PS here and no work plus today is sports day.

And Bobby, please re-size your avatar.

cruisemonkey · Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 8:11 pm Post subject:

Monday is a normal school day for me. Today (Fri.) is my school's birthday so I have a three-day 'long weekend', one day of work and then the stat. holiday on Tue. Rolling Eyes

Five days off in a row is just too 'unfathomable' to the Ks - God fordid, they could actually travel to another country... besides, it doesn't fit into the v.p.'s plans for summer vacation. Wink

Goku · Joined: 10 Dec 2008

My school has been so sweet,
I haven't had to teach or do anything in the past 5 days. All I'm doing is planning what to do monday and tuesday....

I've been dying to drop 100,000 for a good spa that's gonna pulverize my body, rub me in dirt, and take my money...

Hmm, why does going to a spa sound a lot getting mugged?

jvalmer · Joined: 06 Jun 2003

Monday isn't a holiday. But the Tuesday is. So they are under no obligation to give you the Monday off.

Zantetsuken · Joined: 21 Dec 2008

cruisemonkey · Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 8:49 pm Post subject:

marlow · Joined: 06 Feb 2005

After today I won't be in until the 11th.

Seul · Joined: 09 Oct 2008 Location: Seoul

SMOE public school here. I have today off, but I have to go into school on Monday which will be a sports day. Tuesday I have off of course and then Wednesday will be a field trip.

simonandmartina · Joined: 20 Oct 2008

Oh, I fully understand that Monday isn't a national holiday. I know that a lot of schools aren't having classes that day, and that a lot of teachers get it off along with the Tuesday. I just wanted to see how many schools give the Native English teacher Monday off as well, if the schools are nice and whatnot.

I work at a Public School, and they won't give me any free days off at all. Chuseok was the same, when they made me come in on the Monday. My school's mighty nice for everything else, but they just won't seem to ever give me a freebie - because freebies aren't in the contract.

xCustomx · Joined: 06 Jan 2006

We had midterms at my middle school this week, so I was off at noon yesterday and today. The principal is giving an extra day off on Monday, and my school's birthday is on Wednesday, so I've got a nice 5 day weekend.

sakim · Joined: 26 May 2008

I'm in the same situation. If the damn school is off and closed, why should I give up one of my vacation days. IT's totally unfair. I don't get it, Already as it is, we don't even get enough vacation days or holidays-dammit give us those days-MOTHERFUCKERS!!!

simonandmartina · Joined: 20 Oct 2008

See, I'd like to be able to find an easy answer and just say that my school doesn't like me, so they're not giving me the day off. But they just resigned me, and they tell me how happy they are to have me here and how they'd like me to stay even longer. I do extra stuff for the school, like Saturday basketball camp and whatnot. I get along great with the students and teachers. Hell, I'm confuses...

I just don't get why they wouldn't think "oh, it'd be nice to give the teacher we like and want to keep the holiday off, the same way we do for most other teachers in the school." Do they really not think I'd be upset by this? Is there something I'm missing, a cultural something-or-other that I'm unfamiliar with?