Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Seul]

Hi all...

I have been searching some older threads on this topic, but I am still confused. I am a public school teacher for SMOE. Last year, I taught about 18 regular classes, 3 "after-school" classes within normal working hours, and held a weekly English contest as an other class adding up to 22 classes. I did not get paid extra.

This year, however, they are having me teach just 10 regular classes, 2 teacher classes, and 10 "after-school" classes that fall within regular working hours.

I have a friend that works for GEPIK that says I should be getting paid extra for these "after-school" classes even though they fall within my normal working hours and even though my total classes are under 22 a week.

The new schedule is a little bothersome because I feel this is about money. I am seeing the students WAY LESS this year. Even though 3rd and 4th grade now has 2 classes a week, I will only see them for one. Last year, I would see all my 5th and 6th graders twice a week. This year they are dividing the entire 5th grade into 3 levels: A, B, and C depending on their skill level. So I will alternate teaching those levels, but just twice a week. So pretty much I will only see the 5th and 6th grader once every 10 days or so. I hope that made sense.

I believe this has been done so that they can try to get me to work these "after-school" classes (again within normal business hours) but so that they could try to get by just with me getting paid by SMOE.

It seems like the school is getting paid. I just got my hands on the "after-school" student list and beside each kid it says "우영비 15,000".

I am annoyed because...
-The kids will see me much less this year. By the way, the regular English classes that I won't teach will be taught just by a single Korean teacher.
-I have to prepare for like 9 different levels of every week.
-I feel like some is profiting while taking advantage of me.

So, I hope all that made sense. Do I have a legitimate gripe? Should I be getting paid extra for the "after-school" classes that fall within regular work hours and under my 22 weekly class limit?

[b-class rambler]

[jmuns]

what does your smoe contract say? also i would not be comparing gepik to smoe or any other programs. they are not the same, and everything varies from school to school as well. some people get paid extra, some dont. some people get paid 20k/hour for extras and some 30k/hour. nothing is the same across the board.

[b-class rambler]

[tokkibunni8]

Your school is not trying to cheat you out of any money. If it falls under your working schedule and within 22 hours, it is not overtime pay. For those that gets paid are the lucky few.

It's different from school to school. You don't really have grounds to stand on. The contract states up to 22 teaching hours within the normal working schedule.

LIke i said, those are the lucky few. A friend gets paid for his summer/winter camps, which I don't. I can't use him as a reason to try to get paid for my camps because it does states up to 20 hrs of classes while shcool is not in session. He's one of those lucky ***** that getes paid because he lucked out at a school that is willing to pay him.

[wallythewhale]

Wow. Come to think of it, that's a great way for the school to earn extra income. They hire you. Set you off with 10 classes; use you to run 2 teacher's classes; and then throw you into 10 after school classes that students will have to pay extra for. Their not working you, but they sure are working the system.

[seoulsteve]

[tokkibunni8]

I have 13 hrs of afterschool classes a week. My students pay not a single won. I have never heard of any schools in my area charging their students to attend English classes. It's a shame that public schools are charging students. My school used to have 4 teachers, down to 3 now and non of our afterschool English programs charges. It really is a shame for public schools.

[b-class rambler]

[Cerberus]

OP, anything within your regular working hours is a "normal" class,

NO MATTER that your school calls it an afterschool class (which is assinine, is this an elementary where most classes are in the morning?).


So, anything within the 8:30-4:30 (or thereabouts) timeframe is "normal class" time (per your contract) and anything outside of that time frame would then be considered a true after school class, where you'd have to be paid overtime.

[Seul]

Thanks for all the responses. I've thought about it a little bit. I don't completely know the entire picture. As someone mentioned, it could be the fee is just for materials. I will find out.

A friend has told me that if the students are paying for the "after school" classes, that teachers are entitled to extra compensation.

I had read before about people getting compensated for the "after-school" classes... something like 7K to 8K per class.

---

While these classes do fall within regular school hours, I do make the distinction between them and "normal classes" because not all the students will participate in them. This year most of the kids will see me very infrequently, 3rd and 4th graders just once a week and 5th and 6th graders every 10 days or so. They'll be taught by Korean teachers alone for their other English classes.

I am not complaining about having to teach 22 classes. This is a great job to me, but if people are getting paid for the "after school" classes, well I would like to also. I like money.

It does seem though from the responses that getting paid for them in this case is not the norm. So, it's all good... I'll go on to enjoy a nice school year.

Thanks for the feedback everyone.

[Cerberus]

[Capo]

It seems very shady to me. Your students are paying for those classes and the school or one of the authorities is pocketing the money. You should be assigned to the regular classes to make up your hours. This also means you have to plan way more lessons without compensation.

Afterschool classes are entirely optional, I taught 3rd and 4th graders but have turned down 1 and 2. Last year students paid 30k for 8 x 1 hour classes. Pretty good deal for the students if you ask me, this year its up to 40k per 8. 100% of them money goes to me, I design the syllabus, make the lesson plans and teach by myself.

[Cerberus]

[nomad-ish]