Korean Job Discussion Forums

sonicmatt · Joined: 04 Oct 2007

My parents are coming to visit and I was wondering if other people's schools gave them time off to spend time with them. My school is making a big deal out of it,but I told them I want to spend as much time with them but still do my duties teaching. They are coming also when we do have classes. Thanks.

cruisemonkey · Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 4:20 pm Post subject:

Unless you take holidays, why would you expect any time off just because Mommy & Daddy are coming to visit?

Goku · Joined: 10 Dec 2008

They will definately not give time for something like that.
Unless you have the equivalent of some crazy radical hagwon hippie owner. Or they really really love you.

Even though Koreans are much more familiy orientated than the west, taking time off to see family or taking time off in general is grievously looked down upon.

Korean work ethic is very high, at least attendance. (Which is highly ironic when you think of the amount of actual work people do, another story...) So they expect you to still come into work. And the fact that we're foreign teaches who have 1/2 the workload of Korean teachers would only compound the image that we're lazy.

I totally understand where you're coming from in terms of spending time with your parents, especially if they fly from their country just to visit you.

I think it's far fetched though to expect time off unless you were on REAL good terms with you boss. But then, you wouldn't be asking us on forums if it was ok, if you were on good terms.

Xuanzang · Joined: 10 Apr 2007 Location: Sadang

Just ask to leave early when you dont have after school classes or 5th period. That's pretty reasonable.