Korean Job Discussion Forums

[The Great Toad]

let me be brief ... I hope this does not get back to my employer .... but in case it does ummmm I think EPIK is a fine job that pays on time... offers training workshops .... ahhh and consistantly works to accommodate all their many monk----- scratch that - native Ingles teachurs... however:

A high ranking (very kind and hard working ) official of the local government education Dept has informed me that I will NOT be paid extra money for teaching English summer camps. Yet, I am nearly certain the Korean English Teacher will make extra money for it and that the students will be paying money for the Camp...!!!

Therefore, I just want to say how easy and pleasant my job is. And, how pleasant my many windowed apartment is... and ummmm by the way is that just a tad cheap? and even unfair WAHHHHHHHHH

Oh and I also like to say they ARE following the contract and DO offer me many free Korean foods and dinners where my CQB door kicking knees get cramped...

[Draz]

2-3 DAYS? Whatever you whiner. Most people are working 2-3 weeks, or more!

[Ruraljuror]

Your choices:

a) Quit your job.
b) Do the camp.
c) Do the camp, but do a crappy job and leave this job when your contract is finished to find a job that will give you vacation or pay you for working camps (whatever works better for you).

But it's important to note that this IS NOT AN OPTION, no matter how upset you are:

d) Complain to EPIK and point out other teachers who get a full summer break with no camp, and demand the same treatment.

I would think that would be obvious for most people, but I feel like it needs to be said after "Whinefest 2008" about Winter Camps last year.

[rationality]

[OculisOrbis]

I dont care about the camps - paid or unpaid. All that's important to me is my time off and the dates I'll get it. My school can't/won't tell me when or if I will have a two week camp. I asked repeatedly last week and kept getting brushed off and told it was impossible to plan since its too early. WTF!!! TOO EARLY ?!?!? BS, you can start planning anytime, but they wouldnt even talk to me about it - they just kept repeating the mantra ......impossible .....impossible .....impossible ....impossible

I finally had enough and wrote a letter telling when I would be taking my contracted days off and hope it doesnt inconvenience them since I have given them plenty of time to plan around those dates (which I placed at the end of the summer vacation to provide the greatest flexibility.)

Soon after I submitted the letter, I was called to meeting with the VP and CT who told me I couldnt just pick my days - I had to wait. Well, sorry, I already told you I wont be available for those days - too bad.

But its impossible, we will tell all korean teachers and you the dates three weeks before school vacation starts. You have to follow korean teacher procedures.

But I'm not korean and you told me earlier this year I'm not a teacher - just an assistant - so that doesnt apply to me. In addition, being a foreigner, I require more time and need alot more advance notice to plan my travel to visit friends and family since none of them are in this country and this is my one of two chances a year to see them. If I have to wait until that late, I wont be able to afford any flights that arent already sold out. I need to know before June and I'm willing to discuss this and help plan to pick the best dates for everyone.

No. Impossible.

OK, I hope you can accomodate those dates in my letter because I will not be available to do a camp during that time. Thank you.

Now I hope they wont be disappointed when I dont show up for any days of (last minute) planned camps that conflict with my time out of the country.

[dporter]

Assuming you signed a contract:

1. Are you working days other than those specified in the contract? For example, Saturday or Sunday.
2. Are you working more hours per week than stipulated in the contract?

If not, I'm not sure what your justification is for more money.

[azzwell]

1. Are you working days other than those specified in the contract? For example, Saturday or Sunday.
2. Are you working more hours per week than stipulated in the contract?

[azzwell]

double post

[azzwell]

1. Are you working days other than those specified in the contract? For example, Saturday or Sunday.
2. Are you working more hours per week than stipulated in the contract?
[quote]

Ha ha.
1. Because Korean teachers either have the time off or get paid extra
2. Because they never tell us when we can take vacation till the last minute
3. See one and two

Enjoy your time here

[marlow]

[matthews_world]

I must have lucked out.

I'm in an elementary school and need to work only 3 camp days at my school and possibly another 3 elsewhere.

[Insomnia]

Can't you use your vacation?

[The Great Toad]

You have failed in the deductive reasoning of my hypothetical parallelogram dynamic Corean Sk00l Camp greed Drama...

1) The Korean teachers ALL are paid during the summer BUT they write a standard nonsensical letter that they will be doing Edumacational Research during this paid period NOT just taking a rest at home...

2) So, my supposition is that the Korean Teacher will be paid his regular salary plus around 25Gs a class! This is becasue the principal chooses to have the sk00l pay him extra for this.

3) If the school (the local ED office won't ) chooses to also pay me then they can...


4) Never forget the fact that the sk00l will charge the students for these summer camp classes therefore it would be insulting and outrageous to the Korean Teacher if he was not to receive a cut of the Green Korean Pancake.

5) But in my case I am the low pup on the cast system and thus can be dealt with righteously by thee most Holy Priest Class...

Ergo, I may feel very disenfranchised should the school not pay me extra... And should this be the case you can be positive I will have my revenge by getting thirds fourths no fifths! on the free Kimchee they give at restaurants... and later clogging or shattering the Corean Commode of my Vengeance's Choice!

No No of course I will do a fine job at it regardless!!! - yet I am discouraged by the lack of generosity towards my great bulk especially considering all the excellence I've already invested into the young learners here and miscellaneous assistance I have given outside the classroom.

[vonnegutjr]

Hey, I'm with you poster. I am righteously pissed about not being paid dick for summer and winter camps. I may take the disgruntled teacher approach and do a pretty laxidazical job wherever they place me. It seems to me, and I'm not sure, but if you live in or near a big city your more likely to be screwed over during summer and winter. I have been looking at switching jobs after 6 months because of the 1.6 I'd have to pay if I switched earlier. It is actually on my mind and pissing me off at work just thinking about having to do it. I really like my school, I do not like the idiots who think it is a good idea to push foreigners to work, plus for free, in the summer. Hey K teacher's, go ahead, rest up, and get some education. The foreigners here are all pros and need not have any more training, god forbid, I say stick em in a classroom and let them work for their salaries. F***. Pay or vacation. greedy bureaucrats.

[ekul]

The summer/winter camps take far more effort to run effectively than a typical school week where you just re-use/refine two lessons per week. Personally for the amount of effort that goes into them I'd appreciate an extra supplement, especially because we teach without a co-teacher. IMO for all intents and purposes these classes are after school extra-curricular lessons and should be reimbursed as such.

I've heard figures banded about that the camps have a budget of up to 1million won. Personally I count 45 minutes as a teaching hour, so only teach 3 hours a day. Yet I know of other teachers who teach their camps and then have to seat warm for the rest of the day until the 8 hours are up.