Korean Job Discussion Forums

[special_k]

Hi everyone,

I have a potential contract with the hours 2-9. They say you have to come in an hour earlier to plan lessons and will probably have about 30 classes per week 40-45mins each.

For those of you who work 2-9 and have a similar structure, do you have to come in early to prep and do you always get out at 9pm? Also, with the 30 classes, are these likely to be repeat classes or 30 different classes?
The contract says that report cards must be written once a month, if there are 30 different classes this would take ages!!!

They also state that there will be staff meetings 4 times a month outside work hours which will not be counted as overtime. Has anyone had any experience of this?

Thank you!!

[ttompatz]

[egrog1717]

Sounds like a run of the mill crappy Hagwon contract... See if you can't find yourself something better...

(Unpaid OT is a deal breaker for me... At least in Korea where it means absolutly nothing)

[sheba]

It depends on the school... sorry i know this statement never helps!

I had to arrive an hour before class for prep, I used that whole hour for the first month, after that it was waaay too much time to spend constructively on class prep.

My contract stated 30 classes too, but 80% of the people I knew working at hagwons never worked that many classes except during vacation time when they like to add lots of special classes. Usually I taught around 25 classes a week (45-50 mins each). In my case I saw every class only once a week, so I almost never repeated a lesson... I was lucky to have 2 classes using the same book. Even though I had to 'prepare' say 20 different classes a week, it didnt take too long. I never had to do reports though, and my school never forced me to go to meetings (because they were all in korean), even though I worked for a franchise and it was mandatory nationwide! (Supposedly). I wouldnt be keen on attending meetings weekly though, especially out of work hours! Once a month maybe... Oh, and I left straight after my last class, anywhere from 6-8pm. I only spent a maximum of 6 hours at work, even with a full class schedule...

[Kryten]

[Globutron]

Lets see... I come in at 1:30pm, and classes start at 2:30pm. Preparation time takes about 5-30 minutes, depending on if I have to use the copier or not, and how much. Sometimes I have about 100 sheets to copy. Seems such a waste.

50 minutes per class, with 10 minute breaks in between until 7:20pm. I'm actually very very happy with this set up, but I'm not sure about others.
At 7:25 I have middle school classes of 40 minutes. Depending on the day, I either have two classes with a 40 minute break between them, or just one class and I can go home as soon as it's finished at 8pm ish.

However, we also do something called phone teaching where we call all the kids we teach, from Phonics level allll the way up to the teenagers in the evening for 5 minutes and write the commentary sheets for each one, which I tend to do as I'm on the phone, so an extra 5 minutes per student. This starts in the middle of the month and ends at the start of the next month.

This can keep me at school until 10:30 if I choose to finish them all early in the month, or you can spread it out evenly. But I doubt you'll get a phone thing, really. I don't think it's common?
It's a bit of a strange addition, really, but I don't mind.

The great thing is, is I don't have to think. The whole day is relaxing, and I spend about 2 hours of the day just reading, or chatting or whatever I'd do at home, really.

Basically - As little as 7.5 hours, up to 9 hours a day, but it sure doesn't feel that much.

[Chambertin]

[red_devil]

[carleverson]

you're gonna be tired as hell after the first week...

welcome to hogwon hell...

[carleverson]

[vassalage]

Have you interviewed at the school yet? You can get an idea from the owner. What area is it in? Daechi/Dogok is a hard core English area that usually requires a lot of extra work. Definitely talk to one of the old teachers.....someone who has been there a while.
Are you replacing a teacher or has anothers contract just finished.

[special_k]

Thanks so much for all ur comments people. It was a couple position, they emailed me saying they would pass on our details to the director for an interview so I replied with phone times. Then they reply telling me it's already been given to another couple! Grrrr without even getting an interview!! What could I have done wrong, I emailed her about 5 mins after the job was posted on here lol.

I will be looking for these hours though, so all ur comments are noted!!!

xx

[seonsengnimble]

If you're teaching 30 classes a week, chances are you won't be teaching 30 different classes. In my experience, I've always had MWF classes and T/TH classes. So, in total, I would expect 12 classes.

[Goon-Yang]

Preperation for hakwon classes...lol.

"Hey kids...what page are we on?" should be all the prep you need.