Korean Job Discussion Forums

[query29]

Will employers state the specific hours I am required to be at school, or is it all in teaching hours per week?

Follow-up: Maybe I'm crazy, but hour for hour I'd rather interact with kids in a fun learning environment than doing busy work. Will I change my mind once I start teaching in Korea?

[jlb]

My contract says 6 hours of teaching a day and 1 hour of prep time. They are pretty slack on prep time however and coming in about 15 minutes before my first class is sufficient. I think it's just in there in case someone is a horrible teacher so they have some recourse.

Anyway, it's best to ask one of the foreigners at a potential school what their hours are, how much paperwork they have and whatever.

[oneofthesarahs]

My contract stated that I was to be at work during the normal operating hours (so while there are classes going on, I have to be there). At my school, there are classes from 2:30-10:30. My contract also stated that I would work no more than 30 hours a week (which breaks down into one hour = a 50 minute class period). When I started, I was teaching 26 a week, but the schedules were shuffled and now I'm only teaching 24. Still, I do get to work earlier than 2:30 sometimes, depending on how many classes I have that day/how complicated my lessons are going to be.

Most of my down time is filled with grading/prep time/me hanging out in the study room with the kids and making a general nuisance of myself.

[kingplaya4]

^^^^^

That's terrible, why should you have to be at the school when you're not teaching?

[Novernae]

[query29]

OK, lets not get off topic here.

My original question involves the amount of time employers expect you to be in school. Can I get the exact times stated in a contract?

Second question, are actual teaching hours that stressful? That is, should I make sure that teaching hours are minimized even if I must be at the school for 8-9 hours a day?

[Novernae]

[thegadfly]

I think stated, required hours will bite you in the arse -- if you are already a dedicated, conscientous teacher, you will do the necessary prep regardless of it being stated in a contract, so if your actual prep takes less time than the contractual time, you will be on the short end of it. If you are a slacker who is looking to minimize any extra time, it is much easier to do so if the time you must spend at the school is not clearly stated. In either case, I do not see getting your "prep" time (quoted, since slackers don't prepare) noted in the contract will be in your favor.

[I-am-me]

I was confused on the class hours also. My contract states my working hours are 30 per week. 1 hour = 60 min. My classes run 45 min. If they want me to come in at Noon, am I being paid to sit around several hours or just being paid for the actual class time? Non-class time vs. class time?

[query29]

What are your hours they expect you to be at school? And what hours do you actually teach?

[Novernae]

[query29]

Ok, lets say that a random job lists 3pm to 9pm as the hours and 25 teaching hours per week.

Should I just add a couple of hours on either side arbitrarily, that I must be at the school?

p.s. I intend on doing all that I can to be a good teacher, even if it involves work. I just asked to get a sense of my day to day schedule.

[alabamaman]

3 - 9 with 25 teaching hours should include contractual language that you'll prepare for classes 1 hour prior to the first class. Two preparation hours in your labor contract is excessive.

Your work hours (for example 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.)

The employee shall work 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. unless mutually agreed upon otherwise by both parties.

Preparation time

The employee shall prepare for classes for one hour prior to the first class worked from 3 p.m. until 4 p.m. unless mutually agreed upon otherwise by both parties.

Definition of a "working hour."

Working hours shall consist of classes _____ minutes in length and _____ minute preparation periods between classes to be worked by the employee.