Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Informer]

I tried to wrap this around my head when my friend told me.. but i think this uni is going a bit too far..

A friend of mine works at a uni in kyyunggi-do and told me that the teachers have to use their office hour as "free talking" sessions.

My friend said the contract states 15 teaching and 6 office hours per week. And anything over 15 hours is overtime paid at 20,000.

The english dept has told the teachers they have to work an additional 4 hours a week at 10,000 per "free talking" class.

Now here is the thing that confuses me.. if overtime is 20,000 then why are the teachers getting paid 10,000 per class..

Here is the respone from my friend:

The english dept said , well actually its not really overtime, we would like u to use 4 of your 6 office hours to conduct, "free talking" sessions.. apparantly they are not credit classes.. a teacher is assigned a room where the students just "walk in" for free english practice. Basically the students get points for each "free talking" session they attend.. If they get enough points at the end of the semester , the students can submit them to their english conversation teacher where they will get a small percentage added to their final mark..
This is rediculous.. If this infact is true, i think the english department is taking advantage of the teachers.

My friend told the english dept this is a bit unfair as our office ours are suppose to be used for prep work, not spending it chatt'n it up with students..

In my opinion i think its no different than a real class.. If the english dept was planning to do this , then why the hell didnt they just put it in the contract.. hmm sounds like they were trying to get extra work out of the teachers for free.. And if the english dept has told the teachers we want u to substitute 4 of your 6 office as"free talkn" sessions, then what?

Does that mean you only need to dedicate 2 office hours each week to prepare for all 15 of your teaching hours.. LOL..

What do u guys think?

[the_beaver]

I think you're right.

[Snowmeow]

I had office hours as a GA while at university, and office hours were definitely not for me spend time grading papers or other work. If fact, those office hours are there so that students can come in and get help if they need it. Fortunately for me, few students took the time to visit so I did get my work done. Same with professors - their office hours are when students are invited to visit them. Forget university already?

I'd put the onus on the students to do all the work to initiate conversations though, and most definitely not prepare anything for them. if they just want to sit there and get credit for attendance, fine!

[ajuma]

My office hours are by appointment. I tell all of my students that if they want to talk to me, call me, send an email, talk to me befor or after class...whatever! I'm always glad to help out sudents, but "office hours" are basically a waste of time!

[JeJuJitsu]

[poet13]

"Lazy bum. Office hours are for student interaction, advice, etc. Not for prep."

Yeah, ya bum! Evenings are for prep. That's also why you have weekends off.

Geeez....

[ThePoet]

I have a really bright and enthusiastic student who came to me at the beginning of the semester and made an appointment to visit me during my office hours for 30 minutes a week for the semester. Purpose: To practice her speaking for the TOEFL test. Then I find out she has done the same with all of the other English teachers she gets.

I applaud her inventiveness, dedication, and understanding of how to use the system to her advantage. I think she'll go far in life with that attitude.

While I don't agree with forced office hours to actually teach, I think that since you have to have office hours anyway, its better than just sitting in the office playing solitaire waiting for a student to show up. Granted, you have stated you use those hours to prep, and thats cool! but the office hours are actually there for the student. If I only prepped 4 - 6 hours a week, I'd be behind in the amount of material I have available to teach with.

Poet

[antoniothegreat]

i remember office hours at my uni was i was a student was time for me to go talk to the professor about the subject. not for the prof to get ready for class.

i would just use that time as prep time and if they come, then talk, odds are since it has only a minor influence on their grade they wont come anyways.

[JeJuJitsu]

[poet13]

Ah, my bad. I was equating uni office hours to something akin to my public school office hours. That is, 8:30 to 5 or some such every day. For me, that works out to 26.5 office hours a week.
Yes, I remember now what uni office hours were for.

[Pak Yu Man]

My office is to hold my books and papers. I'm in my office 3 hours a week at most. My students have my email and if they need to they can go to the main office and get my phone number (yes they give out our phone# on request). If they want to see me they can get a hold of me. Or just bug me at the end of one of my classes. 75% of my classes are on Thurs/Fri in the same room. It's not that hard to find me.

[ED209]

Teacher "what do you want?"
Student "Free talking points"
Teacher "Get out!!"

Teacher adds points to students name then goes back to sleep.

[hogwonguy1979]

I know of another univ in Seoul basiclly pulling the same thing. The teachers there are not happy about it.

it seems to be a growing trend to set up these "English Zones" but do the students use them? Not really

[oldfatfarang]

My public school has me 'taking English with the students" , for 20 minutes in lunch times, 3 days a week. That's because I don't teach the required 22 classes per week.

It's a pain. I can't go outside and I can't get a rest from the kids. I've already signalled that when my voice goes - there will be no teaching - on full pay.

[JeJuJitsu]