Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ibeattheborg]

It's contract renewal time! And I'm feeling a little worn out. If I renew, the boss will let me go home for two weeks towards the end of the contract, all at my own expense(!). My gut is twinging with uncertainty. Even though the teaching hours per week are only 22.5 hours (20x45minute classes plus 20x22minute classes) I feel wound up on occassions. Making classes more interesting or engaging is usually something to do at home and my motivation to do this is dwindling. I would like to spend another year here so I am seeking wisdom from all you teachers out there.

[YTMND]

The guideline I use is 25 classes. More pay beyond that.

The school doesn't have to pay for you to go to home and come back. That's partly why they would be rehiring you.

You can always look for another school.

[soomin]

22.5 hours is great! A lot of places are 30+ x.x;;;

If you want to stay with your current school, make sure to get a raise. You can always remind them that if you stay, they don't have to pay for your airplane tickets, visa, or a recruiter (which I was told is 1,000,000won)...

If you like where you are, stay... but it seems you might not like teaching? Or... maybe just making materials. Going to a chain hagwon would take away the stress of making lesson plans and such

[Perceptioncheck]

Actually, 22.5 hours is quite a lot if they're actual hours and not "teaching hours". The bottom line is that you're teaching 40 classes a week. That's a lot. If you're spending your free time working, I think it's time to look for a new job.

There's a world of difference between teaching 30 classes a week and teaching 30 hours a week.

[isitts]

[ssuprnova]

Ditch them and move on. When I re-signed last year the boss sent me home for two weeks on his dime, paid vacation. That and a 10% raise.

[ibeattheborg]

Thanks for the replies. I had a 'moment' this morning and decided to move on. I'll go home, take a break and come back later. The division of 22 teaching hours into 40 classes is what got to me, it's headless chicken syndrome! But I feel so much better today. It is a chain school with its own books which are sometimes strange and boring for me and the kids. There are a lot of kids that I will miss and a few that I won't. Oh well, that's hagwon life I guess.

[Troglodyte]

A class is a class. Whether it's 60 minutes or 40 minutes, it still takes the same amount of prep time. Perhaps a 20 minute class would require less, but definitely not 50% less.

I wouldn't have even signed up for that the fist time around. With the next school, make sure that it says in the contract that you teach a certain number of CLASSES, not hours. It should also state that a class can be no longer than 60 minutes (ideally no more than 50 minutes) and that anything less is still considered a full class. i.e. no half classes. There should also be 10 minutes between classes.

As well, in case you aren't in the know, there should be a maximum amount of time set between the start of work and the finish. That time is also indivisible. In general, no more than 8 hours from when you're required to be in the building until when you're allowed to leave. No split shifts. Within that time, you should (legally) be permitted break time.

[luckylady]