Korean Job Discussion Forums

[kerbythepurplecow]

Self-training or self-study, or what not, is there anything official about this anywhere, or is it just something the nicer principals allow. Mine had originally stated that I would have Thursday and Monday off. Now I find out it's vacation or show up as the guy has no documentation regarding self-study.

[andrewchon]

On those 'gift' holidays such as Chuseok Fri and Mon, you're supposed to be working at school but you are not. So, you tell your co-teacher that you're 'working' on some topic ( e.g. how to make lessons more fun) at home. Then you hand in a 'research' paper you've flogged off from the net (about 1 or 2 pages) on Tue and everybody is happy.
This happens because in Korea the school holidays and vacations are for students. Teachers get 15 days a year (officially, but rules are very loosely applied).

[kerbythepurplecow]

I don't think my principal believes in working from home. It's kinda some bull how they're always trying to make me waste vacation days.

[prideofidaho]

For the last two years I was simply given days off like all the other teachers at the school, but this time they want me to use vacation days. I called the powers that be and since Monday is technically not a holiday, I have to use vacation.

It's sucky, and makes me really annoyed when the reasons are because I am not a Korean teacher, but whatevs. It's one day and to be honest, I've got bigger things to worry about.

If your school lets you do work from home time that's cool, but it's not standard. My P did it once and won't do it again because I pissed him off by booking an airline ticket before getting my vacation approved (he seems
really level-headed like that, and my VP is turning out to be quite the *beep*.

Just enjoy your time off, and don't give it a second thought.

[tigershark]

My co-teacher gave me three options.
1. come to work and no one will be here except maybe a master of the custodial arts or a janitor if you want to be a dick about it.
2. do the self-study research paper thing.
3. Take the day off and don't get paid.


I chose option 2. I am doing a paper on Chuseok and it's culture. Although I'm not sure if that will fly as I think it's supposed to be related to teaching. I asked for an example of one but they had none... so whatever.

Back to my original point which was.... I had to fill out an official looking form and they make a request to someone... and my request gets accepted or denied.

so we will see tomorrow!

[yingwenlaoshi]

These public schools are getting really anal now. If they're going to close the school, wtf are they worried about? They really seem to be cracking the whip at foreigners lately.

[ekul]

My school has Thursday off and they told me I'd need to show some self improvement work. I assumed they would want it on Monday but she demanded it there and then. This was on Tuesday, so I just had to print some old lesson plans out and hand them in. I don't mind being asked to prove I did some self study or whatever, but asking for the work before the day in question has even come around is ridiculous. It all goes in a little folder somewhere for when the inspectors come round but I don't see what the rush is all about.

[Countrygirl]

I asked my co-teachers and all the Korean teachers have to use a vacation day for the days off. Last year I had to use a vacation day but this year I guess they forgot. Wonder if they'll remember next week after the fact.