Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Soju808]

I am currently working with the GEPIK program, and my contract states that I have to teach 25 hours a week.

(I have been doing that up until now with no problems)

So I have been commuting between two small schools and teaching the same content at both schools. I used the basic GEPIK guideline.

However, just recently it was decided by my employer that I remain at only one school. As part of the regular curriculum I teach from grade 1-6, plus Step and Jump from grades 3-6. And because my school is small, there are many classes which are left over that don't follow under the GEPIK guidline. So basically, 13 extra classes (All different levels) where I have to design the curriculum.

At first I asked my school if I could have some money to go out and buy textbooks for those classes, but my boss told me no because they don't have any money left on their English budget. She told me that I have to research on the internet and come up with my own plans.

Now, imo that's a lot of work. I basically have to prepare,design, and teach 25 different classes a week, all which are on different levels, with no guideline and no support from my school. Plus I have to submit a full detailed report for all those classes before hand.

I researched lesson plans, looked up various games, and tried to do the best I could. However, when I submitted my outline and detailed reports to my boss, she blasted me saying that it's not creative and that I didn't put a lot effort into it. She basically didn't even give it a chance because she has really high expectations and very wishy washy on just exactly what she wanted me to teach.

For example, she told me that I should work with the kids on their reading, and they can learn it by using the step and jump books. So for a few classes I prepared, I am basing it around the step and jump book with a few activity twists. Then when I submit those plans, she tells me "why are you using the step and jump books?", these classes are separate from our regular curriculum. Another example, if make the class interactive, she blasts me for not teaching. If make the class based on teaching, she blasts me for not making it interactive, and so on...etc..

So I finally told her that this work is overwhelming on me, not because I can't do the work, but because I can't do it to her expectations (which I have no idea what they are). Then she told me,

"so what, you can't handle it? Then you lied on your contract that you could teach 25 hours. I am going to tell the principle tomorrow that you want to break the contract because you can't handle 25 hours of teaching"


Can they fire me?

[Jeff's Cigarettes]

22 hours, not 25 in GIPEK contract.

[Soju808]

Ahh, I have the older contract. I have to teach 25.

[Jeff's Cigarettes]

WTF, how old can it be? It's been 22 for the 4 years I've been with them.

[D.D.]

I make all my classes up without any text books. It is easy if you use youtube. The levels are not that different that you can't repeat the same lesson for many different classes.

It makes the job more interesting and it is easy to make better lessons than those stupid books.

[Soju808]

No idea, but yeah in my contract it does state 25 hours.

[Soju808]

[Jeff's Cigarettes]

[cruisemonkey]

Soju808,

Your situation sounds like a complete nightmare that's not going to change until your K-co-teacher changes. How long until you finnish your contract?

This is easy to say... but, I think you should start to ignore the co-teacher and cut down on your planning workload. Make slight adaptations of the same lesson for different levels.

Get your classes cut back to 22 per week! Something is wrong/weird if your contract states 25 (or someone has pulled a fast one on you). Contact GEPIK.

I doubt very much they will fire you.

P.S. Your co-teacher is not your boss. The v.p. and principal are.

[Soju808]

[Jeff's Cigarettes]

It's Korea fighting and they have beaten you. Contact the GEPIK head office and complain. Also, get any back OT paid.

[The_Source]

Tell them you will do the extra work as soon as you re-negotiate your salary with them.

Until that day comes (which will be never), they can take a flying leap.

[ttompatz]

note to the OP:

you are contracted for 25 classes. You have 15 hours for prep.

Do what you have time for and ignore the rest.
When your co-teacher complains just simply say that you are contracted for 40 hours of work. When it is done, it is done. If they want more prep then either the co-teacher does the prep and research or it won't be done.

NO is your new word of the day. Be firm but not confrontational.

If all that fails, walk out. QUIT.

You CAN replace them (even in another public school) far easier than they can replace you out in the sticks.
(especially with their crappy, modified, non-standard, NON GEPIK contract) .

[Soju808]

Thanks everyone for the help advice and feedback. I'll take it all into account.

Honestly, before when I was teaching at two schools, I didn't really mind teaching 25 hours a week. I enjoyed working the kids and would have gladly taught more hours for free. I did a lot of extra prep work (such as making vocab/grammar sheets) for each class to ensure each class got taught to the fullest.

The main problem I am having is just never satisfying her with any lesson plans that I come up with. And her always telling me that I don't take teaching seriously and questions my motives for being in Korea.

[Young FRANKenstein]