Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Saturn Ring]

Is it fact that nearly all High and Primary School teaching jobs in Korea only give teachers 2 weeks off plus the standard set of public holidays?
I love teaching, and dont mind sports days and a few extra duties, but can't stand working during school holidays (Ie when sts are not there) doing 'busy' work.
The other reason I love teaching is the 10 weeks a year to get away and do other things.

[Misera]

(for GEPIK only): Yes we get 20 days of paid vacation days to be used during the breaks per year.. rest of the time we teach camps (summer/winter) or sit at school. Most don't give busy work (like mine) but some ask you to write up lesson plans or make materials for your classes the coming semester. You really just sit there if they don't ask anything from you. I just used the time to plan out a bunch of lessons. For winter break, my school didn't allow me to not use days after camp was over and sit at school.. but I was able to not take days and just sit at school for spring break. If your school is nice, they will let you off without using your vacation days. It all depends on your school, but the minimum is 20 days per year plus the national holidays.

[Rteacher]

Most schools used to give much more vacation time, but partly because so many foreign teachers publicly posted here about getting more time off than teachers at other schools, GEPIC reportedly got tired of hearing complaints from teachers who got less vacation time, and they pressured schools to not give so much.

The other big factor - especially in Gyeonggi province - is that many Korean teachers (spurred by the anti-American/pro-communist teachers union) complained to the education ministry that foreign teachers were getting too much pay for too little work. Consequently, officials ordered schools to keep the native English teachers "more busy".

[cruisemonkey]

[Misera]

[billietea]

public elementary Gangwondo...desk sit until the clock ticks over the 5 everyday and during breaks when there are no kids. I can only lesson plan so much, you know? I spend a good 15 hours sitting at my desk each week as I am all caught up on all lesson plans. This time is used to review English grammar and better myself and or communicate about important topics on Dave's. You must get over the frustration and questioning if you are to survive...."go with the flow".