Korean Job Discussion Forums

[gsxr750r]

9 hours a day (even though it's just two days out of the week) is really ridiculous. The Korean professors agree. One of them told me that when he taught at Cal State, there was a rule: No professor was to teach more than 5 hours per day.

The killer is that I get one hour off for lunch, and one off between 3 and 4. Then I go another 5 hours until about 10:30pm.

I really feel like I am no longer effective by the time I reach late afternoon.

I hardly teach anything on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday (a few hours each day). They can't spread it out, because of the availability of classrooms and scheduling/etc. They really need to hire more foreigners here.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

I hope you're at least making decent OT. I have to teach five middle school lessons on Mondays and Tuesdays and I know what if feels like by the time 4.30 rolls around. I couldn't image carrying on til 10.30 (then again, I think five hours of MS would take about the same energy as nine hours of uni).

[gsxr750r]

Yeah, they are not being unfair about pay. I get extra for both OT and classes in the evening. It's just soooo much two days out of the week. Mind you, last semester wasn't so bad. I taught just one 9 hour day on Thursday, but they spread it out between 9am and 10:30pm. Then I taught six on Friday, to make my base 15 hours. Now 9 hours X 2 days, and it's more compacted between 10am and 10:30pm.

I used to have Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday off, so I loved it. Now they've got me coming in an hour or two on those days instead, and I'm teaching both Thursday and Friday for 9 hours (same times).

In April, I start teaching the early morning English program classes (another 3 hours). I'll be up to 24 hours. I'm actually happy to get those hours, because they are Monday and Wednesday at 30,000 per hour. Wish I could get a few more at that rate.

[tyleranthony]

9 hours two days a week? killing you?

when i think of work killing somebody i think of lawyers who just passed the bar exam working 19 hours a day sleeping in their offices...or doctors doing residences at hospitals pulling 24 hour+ shifts.

not to say that it isn't difficult...i have no doubt its tough... but 9 hours a day is not that bad mate, not matter what you're doing. especially if you're getting breaks, and you're only doing it 2 days/week. things could be worse.

[gsxr750r]

How many hours do you teach a day, "mate?"

Standing up and teaching 9 hours a day is not easy.

Gee.. it sounds so easy to you, though... maybe we should all teach 24 hours a day?

[kimchi_pizza]

That's right! I did a two month stretch of 2:30 - 10:30 of straight teaching from 6 yr olds - 55 yr olds. It is umbelievably hard! Different target languages and English fluency means changing up your teaching style and rhythm. You have to almost be in a different mental state for each class let alone actually having to prepare materials for those lessons.

Then finally when it's all done you can't just go home and crash. I need a good 2 hours to wind down and get some sleep, but I wouldn't call it "rest".

I was so sick after those 2 months, that I recently stopped teaching overtime and I'm actually trying to get some rest.

[tyleranthony]

[hogwonguy1979]

[polonius]

Thing is, he didn't sign up to work in a sweat shop. While others in the world do have it worse, you can't throw that into the discussion. And no one benefits from having a teacher that can barely stand or talk anymore. 9 hours of teaching is ridiculous.

[laogaiguk]

[Gamecock]

I'm sorry, I have to go with tyleranthony on this one before he backed off his original statements...Yes, 9 hours of teaching is a long stretch and not easy. I've done it too (5 days a week, for intensive months back in the hogwan days). But according to your statements, if my math is correct, you teach 3 more hours the rest of the week and you are being compensated well for your labors! You used to teach ONLY on Thursdays and Fridays??? Now you have to drag yourself out of bed (briefly) those 3 other weekdays... Yeah, boo hoo. You are suffering.

Are those actually 9 hours of teaching, or is it 9 forty-five minute classes? There is a BIG difference.

Do you have a doctorate? Then maybe I could understand the legitimacy of your complaints.

Under these absurd conditions I think you should quit immediately.

[laogaiguk]

[dmbfan]

[pkang0202]

Reminds me of college days when I thought it was brilliant to schedule 18 credits on just Tuesday and Thursday.

Worst semester of my life. I feel you man. The gym analogy is correct. Stuff isn't so bad when its evenly loaded throughout the week.

[jodemas2]