Korean Job Discussion Forums

laogaiguk · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Location: somewhere in Korea

Hey, public schools get a lot of bad rap for not telling us stuff. This is almost always deserved. The thing is, almost always, the stuff they lay on us 5 minutes before is almost always good. I just found out I only teach 6 '40' minute classes this week. I love public schools Wink

Milwaukiedave · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Location: Goseong

It isn't just public schools...hogwans as well. The communication is one way and often you have to be on the ball and ask about things that might be coming up. I'd rather be a bit inquisative and informed, then have something sprung on me at the last minute.

laogaiguk · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Location: somewhere in Korea

Same here, but I had no idea this coming, but I guess the last week of classes have no afternoon classes. They just forgot to tell me. The kids told me. I am usually pretty inquisitive though (had to become so, like you said).

Unreal · Joined: 01 Jul 2004 Location: Jeollabuk-do

I don't have a class until 10:00 on Monday morning but this morning I was told at 9:10 by my students that I was supposed to be in their class at 9:00 to teach them (we have to "make up" for a class that we will miss in two weeks. Other teachers found out last Friday.

Two weeks ago I was informed that the conversation class I agreed to teach during the summer was now a writing class and I had a week to put together 37.5 pages of documents (during the same week that I am very busy grading presentations and writing the final exam).

I try to keep up on what's happening but it's really impractical to ask my supervisor every day what's happening. Usually he finds out only a few hours or minutes before I do about something that's to happen that day.

The chain of communication in my school goes something like this:
Principal ==>Vice Principal ==>General Coordinator ==>Head of Language Department ==>Me (if I'm lucky but often I get my information by overhearing another teacher). Each of these steps is dependent upon each individual's "busyness" and how important he thinks it is. Quite often I find out throught the grape vine before my supervisor, so asking him would be pointless while going over his head could be insulting.

I have been active in finding out information at my school, but as the head honchos at my school seem to enjoy surprising people with last minute changes, it doesn't really help all that much. This lack of communication has bothered me so much that I've begun a log book of each time I suffer from these incidents . I probably won't show anyone but it's therapeutic anyway...maybe if they push me for reasons why I'm not re-signing next year I'll whip it out.

seoulsucker · Posted: Sun Jul 09, 2006 9:29 pm Post subject:

I had the same problem last year at a PHS. laogaiguk, you're right on about it being mostly good news.

The one thing I hated more than anything was the reluctance to tell teachers when vacation actually started and ended, as if I'm going to wait until the day before my trip to book and pay for airfare.

SPINOZA · Joined: 10 Jun 2005 Location: $eoul

laogaiguk · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Location: somewhere in Korea

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

UncleAlex · Joined: 04 Apr 2003

Another reason to ask oneself: 'Are public schools really worth it?' Cool

laogaiguk · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Location: somewhere in Korea

schwa · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap

Public schools in fact have an annual calendar they adhere to pretty closely. All the K-teachers have it -- ask for a copy. Problem though is this will indicate the students' vacation which is undoubtedly more generous than yours.

I sit down with my supervisor 6 or 8 weeks before the school break to sort out my vacation dates. By then they should have some inkling of when & how they propose to utilize your services.

In my experience this has always worked out smoothly. They quite reasonably anticipate my need to know. However. Even after years at the same job, its up to me to initiate that discussion.

Hotpants · Joined: 27 Jan 2006

Yeah, not just applicable to public schools. It's universal, not only across Korea, but across the whole ESL world! You have to just suck it up and play the part of several people inside one body, conjuring up lessons out of thin air upon demand, and uttering the words 'kwaen-chan-eyo' over and over with that fixed smile on your face...

okay...now I'm sounding stupid...