Korean Job Discussion Forums

[CentralCali]

Fairly often, people complain about not knowing the school's schedule. Since the second semester will start next week (at least, for my school), I've decided to put some of the important items and dates here in both Korean and English. Some of the dates are approximate and others are fixed. When I say fixed date in this post, I mean that it's the same date for all the schools, not that it's the same date every year. Check with your supervising co-teacher (aka Foreigner Handler) to get the exact dates for your school. If he or she can't or won't get that information to you, go to the school secretary. Hope this helps!
-------------------------------

학년도 학사일정/Academic Calendar

개학일/First Day of Semester. August 29 for most of the middle schools in Busan whose schedules I know.

영어듣기/English Listening Test. September 6, 7, and 8. I think this is a fixed date. For the middle schools, the 7th graders take the test one day, the 8th graders the next, and the 9th graders the day after the 8th graders.

한가위/Holiday. September 12. Fixed date. In this case, it's for 추석/Chuseok (Thanksgiving).

한가위 연휴/School holiday after actual holiday. September 13. Fixed date. In this case, it's the day after Chuseok.

개교기념일/School birthday observance. This varies by school and is not always the supposed date of the school's founding. The principal decides at the beginning of the academic year what day it will be observed.

개천절/National Foundation Day. October 3. Fixed date.

한글날행사/Hangeul Day Activities. Varies, but is near October 15 (interesting aside: in North Korea, Hangeul Day is January 15). Some schools simply have calligraphy contests or essay contests; other schools may take the day as a holiday.

사생대회/Art Contest. October 11 (for schools in Busan). Usually taken as a field trip. Every year I've been at my school, each grade has gone to a different park (all 9th graders from all schools to Children's Park, for example).

중간고사/Mid-term Examinations. Approximate. October 13, 14, and 15 for my school. If you'e lucky, all thee days of the exams will be regular weekdays. Some principals give the students the half-day off after the last day of exams, while other principals have the regular class schedule resume after the last exam.

대학수능일/Scholastic Aptitude Tests (SAT). November 10. Fixed date. Check with your co-teacher or school secretary to see what the schedule for this day will be. The start and stop times are different than usual.

기말고사/Final Examinations. Approximate dates. The finals for 9th graders are three to four weeks prior to the finals for the 7th and 8th graders. Be fully prepared for the 9th graders to not care a whit about any class, any subject, after they finish their finals. Also be fully prepared for the principal and vice-principal to "exhort" all the teachers to make the 9th graders care. For my school, the 9th grade finals are November 14, 15, and 16. The 7th and 8th grade finals are December 5, 6, and 7.

방학식/School Vacation Ceremony. December 30. Approximate. This is the last official school day this calendar year (not academic year) for the students. After a ceremony in which the top students are commended and departing teachers make their bows, the students will be dismissed. The teachers have to stay at school until the principal tells them it's time to hit the road. Don't forget that more often than not the winter camp classes being the very next weekday after this ceremony.

개학일/1st Day of School. This is the first day of classes after the winter break. There will be a short ceremony during first period. After that, the regular class schedule kicks in.

졸업식/Graduation Ceremony. 9th graders get their middle school diplomas. Top students get certificates. More departing teachers make their bows. Some of the newly arrived teachers make their bows. Students are dismissed. Teachers camp out at school until the principal tells them to hit the road.

종업식/Last Day of Lessons. This is the last day of lessons for this academic year. The 2012 Academic Year will begin on March 1st. As that's a national holiday, the actual first day of school for the 2012 academic year will be March 2nd.

방과후학교/After-school Classes. These run from Tuesday through Friday and are held during the 7th period. You are required by contract to conduct these since they are held during your actual regular working hours. If your regular (1st through 6th period) classes number less than 22, then you will not get the full incentive (extra pay) for the after-school classes. You get the incentive only for classes in excess of 22 per week.
----------------------------------

Remember that there are other issues related to the calendar. One issue is winter camp. Whether your school has camp classes or not, whether those camp classes fill the entire winter break or not, the GET is required to be at school during non-holiday weekdays. Thanks to some whining GETs during this summer break, none of us is legally permitted now to "prepare lesson materials from home" as we were in the past and as all of the Korean teachers still are permitted. If your principal permits you to take a day off, then that day absolutely will be charged as a day of vacation. If you leave the country during the break, that also is required by law to be charged as vacation. If you are not renewing your contract in the same Metropolitan City or Province, then you get one week vacation for winter. If you are renewing in the same Metropolitan City or Province, then you get one week vacation for the winter break and another two weeks vacation for renewal. This vacation cannot be "carried over" to the new academic year; you must take them as the last 3 weeks of February.

Yes, I know. People have done it differently in the past. You may have done this differently in the past. My school and I certainly have done it differently in the past. This is not the past. Things have changed and the POEs are required to verify that the GETs are physically present at the school. If you leave early (even after classes are done, but before 4:30) then you will be charged vacation days.

[Chet Wautlands]

Awesome work man!

[CentralCali]

Thanks, man. I figured I might as well put the time "desk-warming" to some use!