Korean Job Discussion Forums

Grotto · Joined: 21 Mar 2004

Well my school has several thousand dollars left in the English budget that they have been told to spend by the end of August.
SOOOoooooo
They have asked me to help them spend it. Very Happy

They want me to go to LittleJohns to help pick out books and materials for the English program. No problem right? Problem!....my co-teacher insists that we go on Saturday...my day off(she wanted Sunday but the store is closed Sundays).

Now all this week the school lets out at NOON, there are no classes after 1:00 everyone is done. My reasoning is lets go now...leave at 1:30, go to the store pick out and buy the stuff we want and be happy. That way I am not wasting one of my days off and more importantly I am not sitting around the school for 5 hours doing SFA! Its not like there is any teaching going on this week anyway. All week I am showing videos to all the classes, Pirates of the Carribean, Star Wars(a New Hope), Harry Potter etc....

So my rant is: Why the hell cant we go during the week? My co-teacher claims to be busy but I have caught her napping(head on desk out cold) twice this last week.

AND:

Why the hell wasnt this money put to use 10 months ago??? Hell I literally had to beg to get pencil crayons and scissors for my classroom. Now they want to buy bookshelves, books and games galore.

Heavy sigh of confused contempt!

Qinella · Joined: 25 Feb 2005 Location: the crib

Dude.. you get off work at 12 every day and you're getting paid to watch videos all week. What's the complaint again? Laughing

I've voluntarily made trips to the bookstore on Saturdays and spent my own money. Show a little commitment! Cool

Badmojo · Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2005 8:49 pm Post subject:

Aren't you the guy playing video games all day at work or watching movies while the image of the hagwon monkey dances in your head?

You get zero sympathy from me. You're PO'd that you have to do this on your "day off". Everyday you're at work is like a day off pal. Pirates of the Caribbean? Star Wars? Your finger must hurt all day from pressing "Play".

And you complain also about getting books. OHHHHH Mad

I had to go bookless for two months trying to teach one class how to read cause my boss was dragging his feet getting the phonics book I needed. That was no easy task my friend, but they still learned. Finally got the phonics book now- don't need it!

Grotto, relax, and remember where you are and where you could be.

Rant over.

Grotto · Joined: 21 Mar 2004

deessell · Joined: 08 Jun 2005

Grotto · Joined: 21 Mar 2004

Quinella I finish showing videos at noon...I still have to sit around until 5 Sad

hellofaniceguy · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: On your computer screen!

I'm with the OP on this...not that my opinion is worth a damm...still...it does not matter if he/she watches video's all day or sleeps all day or has an easy schedule...that is the schools problem and fault for not setting a better professional teaching schedule... not the teachers.
Why go to the book store on Saturday! It's his day off! if the KT wants to make brownie points and kiss butt...that's her problem.
The school management does not give a rats ass if you go to the book store on the weekend!
I'd tell the KT..."no...it's my day off! we have plenty of time during the week during working hours to go. This is job related so we go on company time. Not on my day off!"
I did not come to korea to make brownie points and I did not come to korea to have headaches...I could just as well stay in my home country and have B.S. and headaches!

Badmojo · Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2005 9:46 pm Post subject:

Derrek · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

Order some English magazines.

If they are teen students, then order internationally via credit card:

www.twistmagazine.com

also try www.mmm-mag.com (I think that 2nd address is right.

Those are teen magazines, and are VERY interesting to my students. I have to keep them locked up, or they steal them. Full of great stories about TV/Movie stars, simple but often-used western slang, and even posters of stars in the middle.

Really excellent. They cost $25 for 10 issues, sent monthly. Keep in mind it takes 6 to 8 weeks to get the first issue, though.

I have a subscription to both for my students.

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

Solution: go by yourself during the afternoon with a note pad and pen. Make a list. Hand it over. Say, "Sorry, but I'll be busy for the next several weekends."

Homer · Guest

Jesus Grotto,

Just go to the bookstore on the saturday. You are over reacting here my friend.

As far as budget organization and your school, you are right they should have done something earlier but..have you ever had to work in a system that allows a yearly budget?

Well, in such a system, things like this happen all the time and usually every year! Most government departments back home operate this way when they reach the end of the fiscal year and have budgetary left overs, they order their supervisors to spend the surplus so as to ensure a similar budget the next year.

In this case, you get to improve your schools materials so thats a positive. Roll with it Grotto.

deessell · Joined: 08 Jun 2005

You are all missing the point.

He is sitting around doing nothing in the afternoons. Why can't they go in the afternoon? Why should he have to go in his time?

the_beaver · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

Having been a sitter arounder I can say with authority that it sucks ass.

Billy Pilgrim · Joined: 08 Sep 2004

Back to the original question as to why the KT wants to go on a weekend, the answer maybe very simple: a lot of Koreans simply have nothing better to do on the weekend.

I swear to God the number of times I've asked a student or co-worker what they did on the weekend, and they reply "Just slept" or "Watched TV" is astounding.

Grotto · Joined: 21 Mar 2004

Deesseell wrote: