Korean Job Discussion Forums

CustomX · Joined: 25 Aug 2004 Location: Seoul

my contract clearly says 30 hours in it, plus 2.5 hours of prep. now i have to write report cards for my students, on my own time, usually at home which takes at least 7 hours. combine that with the tests that i have to make, again on my own time, which takes about 4-5 hours every month. there is no possible way to grade the tests in the alloted prep time, which is only 30 minutes a day, so sometimes i am working about 13 hours a month extra which is not paid. would you demand overtime pay for these hours? everything else about the job is great, except for this situation

fidel · Joined: 07 Feb 2003 Location: North Shore NZ

Personally I wouldn't.
Those things you mention are part of the responsibilities and duties of being a teacher.

RachaelRoo · Joined: 15 Jul 2005 Location: Anywhere but Ulsan!

I wouldn't say anything. If you're making good money and you're basically happy, then just put the extra time in because it's really not worth getting a reputation as a complainer over that. Report cards are only a once in a while thing anyways. Seven hours though? How many students do you have? I just did mine in about 2 hours.

the eye · Joined: 29 Jan 2004

are you required 2.5 hours of prep per DAY or per WEEK???

if it's 2.5 hours per week, you are getting off easy... classes require more prep in my opinion.

if it's per DAY, you can't possibly need all of it to design lessons.
therefore, the time you don't use for lesson plans, could be used for these 'extras'

this is really nothing to complain about.
i have to give and mark tests, write reports, and give daily progress reports for the more advanced students on the schools website every 2 days. big deal.

deessell · Joined: 08 Jun 2005

Qinella · Joined: 25 Feb 2005 Location: the crib

Welcome to being a teacher.

Email your high school teachers from back home and ask them how many times they were up past midnight grading papers and reading reports.

just because · Joined: 01 Aug 2003 Location: Changwon - 4964

I would say you might have to suck it up.......

3 hours a week extra isn't that much if you are liking your situation, I don't know anyone who gets paid for any prep so i would count yourself lucky

joe_doufu · Joined: 09 May 2005 Location: Elsewhere

Make sure the school knows the time you're putting in. If and when some kind of problem/debate/negotiation happens between you and the school, bring it up as a reminder that they know you're doing more than is in your contract, to help your cause in the negotiation.

Homer · Guest

CustomX · Joined: 25 Aug 2004 Location: Seoul

This has actually been going on for a few months now, but I recently got a lot more students. These report cards arent just a few sentences for each student. We are talking a minimum of about 40 sentence for each kid every month. I dread the end and beginning of each month because I'm making the exams, grading them and then doing the report cards. I wouldn't mind so much if the work is spread out, but this is all in about a 1 week period so im burnt out after I finally finish the last report cards. I guess I'll just deal with it =(

JeJuJitsu · Joined: 11 Sep 2005 Location: McDonald's

Personally, after the first month of being here and witnessing the blatant/natural cheating that goes on, I gladly volunteered to construct FOUR differnt exams for each class, (I teach 150 students). I did this simply wanting to know how much English the kids REALLY know--not how much their neighbor knows...exams are best graded when they are not a group project. Sickens me really, cheating is so freaking "automatic" here, the "learning" is very similar in total knowledge absorbtion as teaching crack baby/ inner city youth back in the States.

jlb · Joined: 18 Sep 2003

Grotto · Joined: 21 Mar 2004

Dan The Chainsawman · Joined: 05 May 2005

Hey i write about 160 report cards a month. That means once a month I do all my prep work a week early, then spend report card week writing report cards. Half of the time I spend that week doing a full hour of prep time before classes instead of 30 minutes. No biggie for me, this month my time is going to drop more as I pretype about 10 report cards print those biotchs up and copy enough for the other 170 kids.

Look appearances must be kept. Learn to manipulate the system to maintain appearances and you will cut your work load by half. If you get caught just look suitablely guilty, and toddle off to find another way.

ontheway · Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2005 8:51 am Post subject:

It sounds like the big problem is the report cards. I would explain to the wonjangnim and redisign them to be simpler. Most parents want to see them, but many can't read or understand your 40 sentences.