Korean Job Discussion Forums

[MitchCraig]

Hello everybody!

Moving to Ulsan in like 3 weeks and been doing a lot of research online on what to kind of expect as I am completely new to teaching, Korea and all that!

One thing that I've came across quite a lot and heard a lot of different opinions about (as well as a few arguments haha) is "Deskwarming".

I was just wondering, some people have said that it is mostly public school teachers who have to deskwarm, like those on the GEPIK program. Is this the case or is it like 90% of all schools in Korea most likely have to do it? FYI, I'm working in a private academy (I think!).

Also, if I do end up doing it, how many weeks a year of it are we talking and when abouts?

I might regret saying this but I'm actually not worried about it too much. I love getting money for nothing!! Also means I can come in hungover as, maybe even pre-game (discreetly of course) in school haha. Joke I won't do this, don't tell my boss.

Cheers,

Mitch

[koreatimes]

Public schools have desk warming, private schools (the hagwons) have office hours.

The reason why people hate both is that it means you can't be home or do something else. Sitting in a room, not needing to plan for non-existent classes, and being at a school eventually "creeps" up on you. You don't want to be there, anywhere but the school.

The length of these solitary confinement hours varies depending on the school and whether or not you have summer/winter classes. In winter we stopped regular classes near the end of January and students came back for one week in February. Then, it was spring break before the new March school year. Maybe a month total then.

Summer break seemed to be shorter. I think it's the end of July through August, but I don't remember exactly. We had summer classes, so I didn't really have much time off.

At a hagwon, usually they want you out of the school when you aren't teaching. Contracts usually are for 30 class hours and if you don't teach 30, then the remaining time you sit at your desk. I never had to put in a lot of office hours and I had 2.5 salary. It was mainly just in between classes. However, I did take split shift schedules. It wasn't as bad in Korea as it is in China.

You should find out your schedule from your school, then tell us what it is. Then, we can say if it's good or not instead of guessing.

[Son Deureo!]

Deskwarming does exist at some hogwons, but not months on end of just sitting around in an empty school. Hogwons would go out of business if they did that. What can happen, though, is that a hogwon may insist on you maintaining working hours of a set time regardless of whether you have classes or not (e.g. 2-10pm). If the school has a policy like this, and days where you have few classes, you may be sitting around for hours at a time with little or nothing to do. At one school I worked at, we had days with only one or two classes (it was a new school), and we'd be required to sit in the teachers room for 6-7 hours. When our hogwon canceled all classes because of a citywide snow day, we still had to come in for a 3 hour workshop, then sit around until 10pm.

In our case, we were allowed to read, surf the web, chat, etc. as long a we didn't leave the premises. I know people at other hogwons who were required to look busy and sit up straight at their desks while deskwarming. In either case, the novelty wears off quickly.

IMHO, it is a mistake to think of this as getting free money for doing nothing. You aren't being paid an hourly wage, you're getting a monthly salary. Your employer wasting your time in this way doesn't really benefit anyone, it's just a crappy egotistical power trip.

Not all hogwons do this, so it's something you should probably ask a current teacher about before you sign.

[TheUrbanMyth]

[DaHu]

I'd damn well rather sit at a desk playing computer games than be trying to teach 40 unruly kids.

[ttompatz]

I have to go with TUM on this one.

You are salaried (not an hourly employee) and are paid to be at your place of work during your contracted time.

If the employer chooses to have you sit at your desk rather than in front of a class or going home then that is their choice.

You are paid to be there, not necessarily to be productive (although there is no reason your desk warming time can't be productive.

Use your time, don't let it use you. Professional development, upgrading of your skills, language learning, etc. are all good options for your time.

.

[Son Deureo!]

[Malislamusrex]

Then if you have upgraded your skills enough your school will do anything to keep you and you have a golden ticket. If your school really really really wants to keep you they will tell the BOE we have to give him time off or he will quit.....

[Son Deureo!]

BOE has nothing to do with where I work. I do not now, nor have I ever worked for a public school in Korea.

[Steelrails]

[Son Deureo!]

Once again, I was deskwarming at a hogwon. It was a brand new hogwon. Deskwarming started from day one, before anyone had the chance to complain about it. My boss was a jerk. It's pretty obvious he was a jerk before I met him. I blame him for being a jerk.

I've made a point of observing public school happenings from a safe distance. Regardless of who's to blame for deskwarming, whining NETs or overreactive bureaucrats, I want no part of it. I'm a teacher, not a security guard.

[Steelrails]

[Deranged Ranger]

[Deranged Ranger]

[Deranged Ranger]