Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Milwaukiedave]

Hi All,

I'm being asked to give the teachers at my school English lessons as a group four days a week from October-December.

Some background: My contract is for 22 hours a week. I teach 23 hours a week (one hour of OT) if all of my classes are held.

I have talked to the woman that is coordinating this class. My concern is that if some of my regular classes are canceled, then I don't get paid extra for these classes.

For instance, this week all of the 5th graders are going on a field trip on Friday. Therefore, I have 19 classes instead of 23. If I was teaching the teachers as well I'd have 23 instead of 27 (meaning one hour of OT versus five hours).

She told me that because the school doesn't have the money to pay for the classes the teachers are paying for it. I asked that I be paid seperately for the classes from my contract hours.

Am I being reasonable?

[Novernae]

It sounds like you are being reasonable, considering the teachers are paying for it themselves. It's a special class, probably outside your agreed upon age group (?) which would require some pretty heafty prep. The school is bringing in money for this separately regardless of whether it falls under your contract hours, some of which should simply automatically be earmarked as teacher salary.

Anyway, just my thoughts.

Though at the same time, depending on the amount of prep required and the general goodness of your school (ie, sounds like there are often weeks below your contract hours due to cancelation and maybe there are other advantages) I would maybe not be so strict about it. I'm in a situation with my school right now where I've got a pretty hectic schedule but because of some middle school breaks later in the month I won't be being paid overtime for my extra work. However, the school is good enough to me in other ways, so I'm not making a stink about it.

[wylies99]

BE CAREFUL- IS THIS LEGAL?



Oh, and the other teachers must REALLY respect your abilities to actually pay for classes taught by you.My experiences with Korean teachers has been the opposite- most don't want to be bothered with learning even one new English word, and some are nasty and hostile to any kind of learning "exchange" (Korean for English). I guess you are in a better situation.

[Milwaukiedave]

Wyiles..I'll certainly take your comments into consideration.

One of my concerns is that the teachers will be too busy with other duties to put much effort into the classes. The Korean teachers (especially home room teachers) have so much more work. Especially toward the end of the term when they are doing student evaluations.

[ajgeddes]

Just teach the class. In a high percentage of public school positions, you are expected to teach the teachers. At my school, they didn't pay for it. I taught it and if that week I had classes off, then I didn't get my OT. Chances are, they just want a period where they can actually use English and have conversation, not exactly ball-busting work.

[ajgeddes]

Also, at my old school it was cancelled half the time. They don't put much work into it, will answer their phones while you are talking and come late.

[Milwaukiedave]

Well thanks for the advice. In the end, they are going to pay me seperately from my salary.