Korean Job Discussion Forums

Captain Von Sillypants · Joined: 17 May 2010

Hi Dave's people--

My KT is requesting something that I'm curious how to handle.

Some weeks I don't teach my full 22hrs. She's asking that I make up for these hours on other weeks. How the {insert blasphemy} am I supposed to explain that I am to teach a MAXIMUM of 22 hours per week, unless I am getting overtime pay? I attempted it, but she seems to think that I MUST teach the full 22 hours. It's tricky, because she lets me leave early sometimes to do my banking. I do help her out with tests, and she keeps the students past the bell a lot of the time, so I'm teaching more than what's in my contract.

I know I know in Korea people have to often cave a little to get other favors, but this is one of those things that I don't want to cave on. Any recommendations on how to handle this the right way?

Any suggestions?

--The Cap'n

Ramen · Joined: 15 Apr 2008

Just wave your contract at her.

AsiaESLbound · Joined: 07 Jan 2010 Location: Truck Stop Missouri

Those 40, 45, or 50 minute classes count as 1 teaching hour. In elementary this means 22 classes that are 40 minutes long; not clock hours.

lowpo · Joined: 01 Mar 2007

warmachinenkorea · Joined: 12 Oct 2008

Contract states 22 hrs/week. Anything over is OT

Captain Von Sillypants · Joined: 17 May 2010

Ramen · Joined: 15 Apr 2008

ThingsComeAround · Joined: 07 Nov 2008

How is it that these classes end up getting missed? If the classes are cancelled (homeroom teacher pulls a fluff day) then it isn't your fault. You don't need to concern yourself.
If you don't have school because of such-and-such free day- well, you are SOL. The GPOE has some clause that states that the children must be taught- but that usually means that you just have to be in the room with them for forty minutes. Games, tests, movie, whatever you want (or what your co-teach lets you get away with).

And yes, if it goes over 22 hours in one week you should get your OT

nomad-ish · Posted: Thu Jun 17, 2010 5:45 pm Post subject:

i've heard of co-teachers trying this before. just tell her that your contract states that you teach a maximum of 22 classes per week and that anything over 22 hours a week is overtime.

classes do not carry over, if they did, what's to stop our co-teachers from loading some 30 hour weeks after exam time passes?

Seoulio · Joined: 02 Jan 2010

What is the exact wording of the contract?

Pretty sure the school is well within their rights to reschedule a class that is cancelled and that they have evry right to force you to teach 22 hours week as per the contract.

The contract basically says that if cou can not be forced to work more than 22 hours without overtime pay, if they want to FORCE you to 22 hours every week I am pretty sure that they can.

Now as people said the can not carry over ( one week has 16, so they give you28 the following week, you can't balance out the equation like that, but if say all of your thursday morning classes were cancelled so they dump the 4 classes after lunch on FRiday, they can do that no problem.)

So by here saying you MUST work 22 hours, she is wrong that you MUST do it, but if she forces you TO work 22 hours aweek with a wonky schedule due to whatevr snafu comes up I am pretty sure there is contract clause stopping her from doing so.

Ramen · Joined: 15 Apr 2008

Captain Von Sillypants · Joined: 17 May 2010

oldfatfarang · Joined: 19 May 2005 Location: On the road to somewhere.

OP Don't worry. Koreans like to read contract 'their way' i.e., to their advantage' Making up for missed classes (by scheduling them in future weeks) is a common hagwon trick used on newbies. Your PS school shouldn't be doing this, and it's not legal.

Your PS contract should state: " Actual class instruction hours ... shall not exceed twenty-two (22) hours per week."

That means you don't have to teach 22 hours per any week, but you can't teach more than 22 hours without getting overtime. In some weeks you won't teach anything like your 22 hours (this week I taught 7 hours).

If your co-teacher won't budge, refer this to the local POE District Supervisor. It would pay to be tactful and explain that you are going to do this if she can't read the contract correctly. Sadly, there's no face saving for anyone if she doesn't get it.

passport220 · Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Location: Gyeongsangbuk-do province

Yes, you can �make-up� hours from previous weeks as long as you don't go over the 22 hours max in the process of making up hours ~ if you only have 20 hours of regularly scheduled classes, they can have you teach 2 hours of additional hours along the way. Never to go over 22 hours in any given week.

Did your KT tell you exactly what he/she has in mind? If you have a good relationship with your KT and the school and they ask you to teach the odd 23rd hour on a rare occasion, it may be worth doing it in the long run just to keep the relationship strong. If it is a regular occurrence, call the regional rep from your EPIK office and have THEM explain the rules of the game to the KT.

Captain Von Sillypants · Joined: 17 May 2010

I've helped her out in the past as a favor, but she does favors in return, but she stated that this would be her policy. I certainly don't want this to become a set thing. A class here and there is no big deal. A policy making me work some 28hr weeks would be BS. I want my cashee!

If another week had 20 hours, of course I'd make them up to total 22, but just about every week I have has 22 classes. She's saying that I'd have to go over the 22.

I emailed her that I'd be happy to help, but only if she gets school approval because of the budget. I think bringing money into it and the fact that I don't want her to get into trouble for costing money is a good tactic. Hopefully it works. If not I'll be making some phone calls.