Korean Job Discussion Forums

[nstick13]

Has anyone ever requested your vacation days at a different time than the school? My school is only on vacation in August officially for about 5 school days, and being with SMOE we get 21 total; 10 summer, 11 winter?

I would prefer to travel in October or so, though. Has anyone taken a week or two off then? Thoughts on doing so? I'm very much of the opinion that it never hurts to ask, they can only say no. Just curious previous experiences.

Cheers!

[bbud656]

You take vacation when there are no kids to teach. summer and winter breaks.

[Modernist]

I wouldn't ask, actually. If it is a public school, then you should remember that teachers are expected to sacrifice for the good of the school. Just like our students are expected to stay late past the time the school 'officially' ends to study more, and are expected to come to school during their 'official' vacations to do camps for various subjects.

They will almost certainly refuse, firstly, and secondly it will just reinforce their existing bias that Westerners only care about themselves and their preferences and have no interest in the greater good of the school. Thirdly it would screw over your co-teachers who would have to carry your load plus their own for 2 weeks in October.

It's not worth it. Be glad you get a decent vacation at all, considering what hagwons offer, and don't abuse it.

[winterfall]

[Ramen]

are you getting married, death in family, having a baby, etc.? you can take from 5 days to 3 month paid/add'l 3 month non-paid (if having a baby) leave for these events.

[nstick13]

As an interesting addition to this that I saw on the SMOE FB group is that, considering national holidays do not count as vacation days, someone will not have enough days where there isn't officially "school" to utilize all 21 vacation days as laid out in their contract.

I'm going to double check with my co-teacher this afternoon, but I think I may have come upon the same thing.

Anyone know why SMOE gives 21, but other provinces only give 15? Not complaining by any means, mainly curiosity

[nathanrutledge]

[shostahoosier]

[nstick13]

Last year, in Chungbuk, I only had 15 days.

I understand the point about thinking about others, and had I thought this would be a burden on a co-teacher I wouldn't have even considered it. Basically, their classes are from the text book and mine are conversation classes that I'm not even sure are reflected on the exam. That's 12 of my 22 hours. The rest are just picking up in the textbook with the 2nd graders, teaching the lesson the Korean co-teacher would be teaching were they leading that class instead of me. They're always there anyways. It would require no extra planning or anything for them, nor even extra classroom hours.