Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Kurtz]

I've got a very easy week of summer camp (4 x 30 min classes), then 10 days vacation and then......not really sure.

I'm trying to sweet talk my co-teacher into getting me more days off, as last year I had these horrible reading classes with no co-teacher, which resulted in 0 comprehension as I'm not a Korean speaker so I couldn't explain much what the stories meant.

I mentioned I really don't want to do that again as it was a waste of my time and the students too, so my co-worker said, OK, what can you do at school if not teach reading?

I really couldn't come up with an answer as I could plan the rest of the year in a day, so, what the hell is there to do for 3 weeks in an elementary school apart from desk warm?

[D.D.]

Sounds like a hell school. I always try the no work to do I get to go home policy. I go home at 12 after my camps and stay home on days there are no camps. Not much you can do if they want to be jerks about it.

[espoir]

yea I had to deskwarm all of the winter vacation. On the plus side I was able to create all of my lesson plans and all of the material for this entire semester so i've had absolutely nothing to do inbetween my classes. But on the downside I was stuck in my office alone, cold and lonely!

but this summer break I only have to teach 2 weeks of camps and then no deskwarming!!

[Kurtz]

My school is overall pretty good. Nobody really asks me to do anything outside of my teaching hours but we have a really anal new VP who wants to do everything exactly by the book.

I have to question EPIK though, and ask them about the wisdom of reducing vacation time. As many GET's are basically a pest for the schools, why make them even more so by giving them even more time to kill at school during the recess?!

Seriously, apart from plan lessons which can be done very easily in my case as it's my 2nd year at this school, what the hell can one do for nearly 4 weeks?

Note- I really don't want to hear from any one whose school gave them a month off to tour Asia

[billietea]

[size=18]My PS elementary always makes me sit at the school when not teaching. At first, I thought they were being difficult about it as I was so bored. Then they shared with me that since they, as Korean teachers, must be at the school I must be there, as well. I decided to just go with the flow. Since my apartment didn't have heat during the first 8 weeks of winter, being at school actually improved my health. Now, for summer, I don't have air conditioning at home so I am looking forward to the date they decide it's proper to turn on the air conditioning at school. It is already 90F/32C inside and I am still waiting. To answer your question about what to do with your "chair sitting" time, the sky is the limit. I have been working towards my CELTA. There are numerous text books and pre-course questions to finish before the actual course. I also enjoy reading English fiction to maintain my flow of English and vocabulary as I only use about 5 English words/phrases that they can understand when teaching (outside of the subject matter I am to be teaching). Also, I have been doing lots of research on teaching methods and topics in order to make the classroom a bit more interesting for my students. Other than that, I like to clean the classroom and think about what would help the students learn and utilize more of the English language. I know they go to school and then private learning academy. This schedule leaves them exhausted in regular class. I wish the parents would realize that if they focused on making the public schools better and held the teachers accountable, they wouldn't need to pay a private academy. They could then spend this extra time with their children and pocket the money that they work two jobs to secure. Last night I saw so many kids just getting out of academy at 11pm, it made me sad for them...[/size]

[harlowethrombey]

There are many threads about this topic.

[billietea]

[size=18]My PS elementary always makes me sit at the school when not teaching. At first, I thought they were being difficult about it as I was so bored. Then they shared with me that since they, as Korean teachers, must be at the school I must be there, as well. I decided to just go with the flow. Since my apartment didn't have heat during the first 8 weeks of winter, being at school actually improved my health. Now, for summer, I don't have air conditioning at home so I am looking forward to the date they decide it's proper to turn on the air conditioning at school. It is already 90F/32C inside and I am still waiting. To answer your question about what to do with your "chair sitting" time, the sky is the limit. I have been working towards my CELTA. There are numerous text books and pre-course questions to finish before the actual course. I also enjoy reading English fiction to maintain my flow of English and vocabulary as I only use about 5 English words/phrases that they can understand when teaching (outside of the subject matter I am to be teaching). Also, I have been doing lots of research on teaching methods and topics in order to make the classroom a bit more interesting for my students. Other than that, I like to clean the classroom and think about what would help the students learn and utilize more of the English language. I know they go to school and then private learning academy. This schedule leaves them exhausted in regular class. I wish the parents would realize that if they focused on making the public schools better and held the teachers accountable, they wouldn't need to pay a private academy. They could then spend this extra time with their children and pocket the money that they work two jobs to secure. Last night I saw so many kids just getting out of academy at 11pm, it made me sad for them...[/size]

[billietea]

My PS elementary always makes me sit at the school when not teaching. At first, I thought they were being difficult about it as I was so bored. Then they shared with me that since they, as Korean teachers, must be at the school I must be there, as well. I decided to just go with the flow. Since my apartment didn't have heat during the first 8 weeks of winter, being at school actually improved my health. Now, for summer, I don't have air conditioning at home so I am looking forward to the date they decide it's proper to turn on the air conditioning at school. It is already 90F/32C inside and I am still waiting. To answer your question about what to do with your "chair sitting" time, the sky is the limit. I have been working towards my CELTA. There are numerous text books and pre-course questions to finish before the actual course. I also enjoy reading English fiction to maintain my flow of English and vocabulary as I only use about 5 English words/phrases that they can understand when teaching (outside of the subject matter I am to be teaching). Also, I have been doing lots of research on teaching methods and topics in order to make the classroom a bit more interesting for my students. Other than that, I like to clean the classroom and think about what would help the students learn and utilize more of the English language. I know they go to school and then private learning academy. This schedule leaves them exhausted in regular class. I wish the parents would realize that if they focused on making the public schools better and held the teachers accountable, they wouldn't need to pay a private academy. They could then spend this extra time with their children and pocket the money that they work two jobs to secure. Last night I saw so many kids just getting out of academy at 11pm, it made me sad for them...

[Kurtz]

[JJJ]

To those who like desk warming, wow, good for you. Myself, I did it once a few years back. 2 weeks alone with the janitor in a freezing school from 9 to 1 with an hour commute each way. I survived it but vowed never to do it again. If the K-teachers are off on vacation or "home study" then I should be as well. Last time a school told me, I said fine and was sick with the "flu".

[Kurtz]

For anyone who cares to listen.

This isn't so much about desk warming (my mistake) but more to do with what to do for 3-4 weeks in school.

If you had to come into school for 3-4 weeks, and had the choice of what to do in terms of what to teach ie., reading, speaking etc , what would you do and why? (note, no co-teacher would be present)

[Rusty Shackleford]

There are millions of free lecture courses on the internets, from Berkely, Yale, Podunk U etc.

Read some ebooks,
http://www.truly-free.org/
http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page

Play an online game , World of Warcraft etc.

Post on Daves.........

[WendyRose]

My adviser told me I could to a "home study" last year during the school vacation time I wasn't teaching English camp/traveling. Suggest the idea to your co-teacher/advisor. I gave her a topic that I would learn on my own time (it was the Korean language) and before the time began I wrote a few paragraphs about my intentions. The principal signed off on it and all was well.

It was obviously just a way to legitimize my staying at home and I think everyone knew it. Still, it looks good on paper. If you're invested in ESL teaching and don't have your TESL you could ask if you could work from home on your TESL degree. And if, in the end, you are required to desk warm, bring a workout video or download one from online, watch some movies, write a book...

Good luck.

[Robot_Teacher]

Desk warming? Not nearly as much as during the semester or none at all. It was announced today from the education office that we are required to work all day Summer school classes. They even told me today I would have to work my vacation and I was like, "hardly not," and they ask, "who determines that you have vacation?" I was like, "EPIK contract." "Oh, I see, so we can do Summer school around that, but we do not get vacation like the way we want" they said. "What? Don't you get a Summer vacation?," I said. "No, but education office tells we can't have vacation despite our planning for one," they said while chuckling with co-teacher putting her hand in front of her face and mouth. Going over calendar...."Oh, can you work these weeks?" "No, that's my vacation."

My thoughts...Oh man, this is a really silly unplanned thing coming up during the Summer break. I guess the parents are demanding for there to be school during Summer vacation to accomodate their baby sitting needs.

"Any money availabe for materials?" "No," said co-teacher. "So lets play games and watch fun shows. Lets plan ahead our program," the Robot said. "OK, I plan all," said co-teacher.

What there will be is no plan in place. Spontaneous combustion is hot this Summer.