Korean Job Discussion Forums

[genesis9]

ok heres my situation.
one of my co-teachers is a project teacher who proposes new teaching methods to smoe.
anyway ive given 1 lecture to 100+ district teachers and 4 open classes so far from march... so u would probably understand how busy i was. some days i would go home at 9-10.
i never asked for overtime.
but its all good cuz i really enjoy it.

anyway after many open classes and a lecture, ive been getting some offers from other schools for after school class positions.

my principal and vp said its all good for me to take this one position (twice a week/ 2 hrs a day/ starting at 4)
but my co-teacher (project teacher) and my head teacher kinda "forced" me to reject this offer.
their reasons were
1. it will get busier with the project (which has a lot to do with their promotions but really has nothing to do with me)
2. that if i take this job i would have to leave 1 hour early.
3. addition workload will be so much and they are really concerned about my health...lol
4. and that i can do as many after school classes as possible next year.



i understand that it will get busier cuz in the second semester we have to open 3 more classes to consultants, inspectors and many district teachers but i figured that im not obligated to stay after 4:40 yet i did on my own.

i have a feeling now that my head teacher and co-teachers take this for granted i think.

but i cant help thinking that my rights have been violated.

any advice?

[different]

At this point you're being taken advantage of. You're probably a generous and appreciative person and you overestimate how generous and appreciative most people are.

Talk about it with the principal and VP. They have rank over the co-teacher and head teacher, right? And emphasize the fact that you've been going above and beyond what's required of you and that they should not take your extra effort for granted. Get the recognition you deserve. Otherwise, after all your work your head teacher might just write you a thoughtless, generic reference letter when you leave. In the work world unfortunately you can't assume you'll get appreciation or recognition for your extra effort.

And if they're not appreciating you enough to let you get a little side job, then they don't deserve your help anymore, at least not for free.

[ChinaBoy]

Agreed. Listening to the co-teacher instead of the principal is silly.

Not sure how you figure they're violating your rights. You stayed late because you love working.

[Chamchiman]

[genesis9]

thanks for the kind words.
i guess im still not quite used to "korean ways" of communicating.

it's almost impossible for me to communicate with my p or vp since they dont speak a word of english...
my co-teachers are very nice but im not sure if my arguments are directly translated to p & vp without any "contamination" and thats why i used "they kinda force me to..."
i figure that 2 hours a day, twice a week side job wouldnt really affect my quality of work at school but i guess my co-teachers believe that it would.
well thanks for the advice and ill see what i can do about it.

[genesis9]

thanks for your advice. i do have a good relationship with my co-teachers but im not sure if my arguments and opinions are direcltly translated to my p and vp without any "contamination"
thats why i wrote "foced"
and yes ive already clearly told them that my priority is my school and im sure theyre very aware of that cuz i did so much work since march.
4 open classes, 1 lecture, made the entire handbook, voice recording of the handbook and etc....
they just want me to continually focus on our school.....only our school.
by not allowing me to get this little side job.

but now one things for sure i will no longer work helping my co-teacher's project after 4:40...

[genesis9]

if i could speak korean well enough i would speak to the p or vp directly.

i feel that my rights have been violated because they spoke to p and vp on my behalf. im still not sure if my opinions and arguments are directly translated to p and vp by my co-teacher without any "contamination". also the excuses theyve given me are nonsense.

1. it will get busier with the project - id love to help cuz its a good experience it still isnt my responsibility
2. leaving 1 hr early - after school classes are approved by smoe
3. my health issue - what a bs reason lol
4. next year?

if u read my thread carefully again i never complained about working late.
i clearly said stayin late workin isnt an issue because i love teaching and my job.
my concern was my co-teachers and head teacher seem to violate my rights by continually speaking on my behalf without my consent.

[marlow]

[D.D.]

Not to sound mean but I would not be able to do my old job ever again if everyone was like you. My old job was a chiropractor and requires people to have a spine. Working extra hours for free?

[genesis9]

my intention wasnt to be judged on my working hours but advice on my situation. and my spine is perfectly fine:)
my school is in one of the poorest area in seoul with not much english education background.
some days i work late because i love to provide the best teaching materials i could come up with to my students. creating a successful class where effective and enjoyable learning takes place everytime is a good enough reward for me.

everyones situation is different and everyones priority varies. and mine does not focus on money at this point.

twice a week i teach basketball and english at a orphanage for free. i guess u wouldnt understand that either??

[D.D.]

There is more than enough hours in an 8 hour day to provide excellent quality classes. Korean is not a third world country and if you let they use you for free you hae been duped into feeling sorry for them. Charity work is awesome but you should not confuse a public school in Korea as a charitable situation.

Give them an inch and they will expect a mile. I wish this was not the case as I also like to help out but in Asia when you don't demand to be paid for your efforts they tend to ask more and more of you. This also makes them think that the rest of us who believe our time has a finacial value are jerks.

It's pretty simple in your place of work demand to be valued and in your spare time do the charity thing in other places if that makes you feel good.

There is also no need to post a question about being used and then defend your postion. You are feeling the affects of not being respected because you don't really respect your own worth. People pleasers feel they owe the world stuff because they of self worth issues.

I make a lot for my extra work because I demand that. I also do a good job and it helps people.

Your need to protect your position is a sign that you are stuck in a perspective. Try living another perspective so you can experience more of the spectrum. It is always about balance and your pain is that you have crept too far towards the working for peanuts end of the spectrum.

[genesis9]

about half of my 5th graders dont know alphabet. the other half can barely write.
their levels are extremely low and it is almost impossible to stick to the text book thus i have to always create modified teaching materials according to their needs and levels.

and thx for ur advice. u seem to understand this job very well and i will definitely take ur advice into consideration.
thx for ur support.

[Leslie Cheswyck]

Hey, a lot of Korean teachers teach on the side. Maybe your illustrious colleagues are doing that....(?)

But their talk of fatigue, ha. And they want you to spend those hours helping them.

They do want their cake and eat it too, don't they.

Kudos on you for sniffing that one out.

[D.D.]

I write materials for 28 classes a week and in there is about 15 different lessons in there. Youtube is very good and I show videos and get the students to tell me the words. I then write all the words into a mind map and the kids practice writing them.

[Zulethe]

I wouldn't want to be the guy or gal that takes your place when you leave. Write them an apology letter in advance.