Korean Job Discussion Forums

MoneyMike · Joined: 03 Dec 2008

Hey guys,

I teach for EPIK at 2 middle schools in Gwangju. I was under the impression it was standard for schools to be closed during January, then reopen early in February, but no classes til March. Is that correct? My co-teacher at my Monday-Tuesday school told me today that this school will reopen on February 5th, with classes starting February 6th, but we won't be into a new semester until March. I'm pretty sure thats what he said anyways, for some reason his English is always great when talking about inconsequential things, then turns into near gibberish when he's telling me something that matters to me.

Anyways, my question is, is this normal? I figured I might have to go in for deskwarming, but didn't think I'd be teaching classes again until March. When do your schools go back after vacation, and when do you guys n gals start teaching again?

Thanks!
Mike

Big Mac · Joined: 17 Sep 2005

Yes, that's right. Public schools start up again in early February. Then you have about a week or so of useless classes where nothing much gets done. Then they have a spring vacation until the new school year starts in March. Basically the time between now and March is wasted time.

Nobody told me last year about the spring vacation until the last minute. They insisted that I had to teach the entire month of February, then suddenly told me at the last minute that I was on vacation. Weird.

zeppelin · Joined: 08 Jan 2005

travelnguy · Joined: 27 Sep 2007

We have had the one week of classes in February for the last 3 years. This year is different though. We are teaching until December 31. There will be no classes this coming February. All students will come back for one day for the 3rd grade graduation.

waynehead · Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Location: Jongno

Can anyone explain the rationale behind this schedule to me? I've never gotten a straight answer.

Why not just have graduation at the end of the term in Dec/Jan, then have an uninterrupted break until the new term in March?

andrewchon · Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2009 4:56 pm Post subject:

If that was done, there'd be hordes of in-between students with nothings to do.
Maybe they'd even find out that there is a life outside school.

Unacceptable, this is Korea,
no babies are born here, only students are born in Korea.