RANTING/VENTING MEGATHREAD 3.0

Why do they even call it camp? It's not camp, no one is sleeping anywhere, and for the most part I'm sure the schools and parents don't really want the kids to have fun.

They really should just call them Summer school, or Winter school.

So I survived week 1 of summer camp...but then there's next week. T____T 

That's how I feel right now... except my first week isn't over yet... I still have the afternoon class for two hours.

me too 

me four

So I survived week 1 of summer camp...but then there's next week. T____T 

That's how I feel right now... except my first week isn't over yet... I still have the afternoon class for two hours.

me too 

me four

.......... I have another week of camp and then a week of advanced camp.

Heat index of 38 and a UV Index of 9 here today,  helppppp. Melting

So I survived week 1 of summer camp...but then there's next week. T____T 

That's how I feel right now... except my first week isn't over yet... I still have the afternoon class for two hours.

me too 

me four

.......... I have another week of camp and then a week of advanced camp.

WTF is advanced camp?

So I survived week 1 of summer camp...but then there's next week. T____T 

That's how I feel right now... except my first week isn't over yet... I still have the afternoon class for two hours.

me too 

me four

.......... I have another week of camp and then a week of advanced camp.

WTF is advanced camp?

WTF is right. It's where all of the advanced (but not really, because anyone was allowed to sign up if they were willing to "work hard") 5th and 6th graders have a week of camp, basically. I don't know why it's called advanced camp. I'm supposed to lead discussions with them but they barely know how to introduce themselves.... so.... I don't know.

If I'm being honest, I think it's my school's desperate attempt at justifying deskwarming. They should still let me go home in the afternoons though. I'm teaching more than anyone I know and I also have fewer privileges. I feel like EPIK screwed me over.

So I survived week 1 of summer camp...but then there's next week. T____T 

That's how I feel right now... except my first week isn't over yet... I still have the afternoon class for two hours.

me too 

me four

.......... I have another week of camp and then a week of advanced camp.

WTF is advanced camp?

WTF is right. It's where all of the advanced (but not really, because anyone was allowed to sign up if they were willing to "work hard") 5th and 6th graders have a week of camp, basically. I don't know why it's called advanced camp. I'm supposed to lead discussions with them but they barely know how to introduce themselves.... so.... I don't know.

If I'm being honest, I think it's my school's desperate attempt at justifying deskwarming. They should still let me go home in the afternoons though. I'm teaching more than anyone I know and I also have fewer privileges. I feel like EPIK screwed me over.

To be honest, it just feels like it gets worse as the years go on. Camps and desk warming were non-mandatory years back, but then made mandatory. Then they stopped paying over time for camp (except the Korean teachers still get paid over time). Then they cut out the renewal bonus recently. Funny part is that they made the application requirements stricter. Office of Education just gives 0 shits, and the fact desk warming is still mandatory despite no benefit just shows they're bitter lol

So I survived week 1 of summer camp...but then there's next week. T____T 

That's how I feel right now... except my first week isn't over yet... I still have the afternoon class for two hours.

me too 

me four

.......... I have another week of camp and then a week of advanced camp.

WTF is advanced camp?

WTF is right. It's where all of the advanced (but not really, because anyone was allowed to sign up if they were willing to "work hard") 5th and 6th graders have a week of camp, basically. I don't know why it's called advanced camp. I'm supposed to lead discussions with them but they barely know how to introduce themselves.... so.... I don't know.

If I'm being honest, I think it's my school's desperate attempt at justifying deskwarming. They should still let me go home in the afternoons though. I'm teaching more than anyone I know and I also have fewer privileges. I feel like EPIK screwed me over.

To be honest, it just feels like it gets worse as the years go on. Camps and desk warming were non-mandatory years back, but then made mandatory. Then they stopped paying over time for camp (except the Korean teachers still get paid over time). Then they cut out the renewal bonus recently. Funny part is that they made the application requirements stricter. Office of Education just gives 0 shits, and the fact desk warming is still mandatory despite no benefit just shows they're bitter lol

I actually asked my co-teacher about going home after lunch because there is literally.... nothing.... to.... do. And *horrible* construction at my school. And she told me I couldn't because the DMOE sent out a "memo" about us staying until 4:30.

I JUST WANNA GO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Why do they even call it camp? It's not camp, no one is sleeping anywhere, and for the most part I'm sure the schools and parents don't really want the kids to have fun.

They really should just call them Summer school, or Winter school.

Apparently, once upon a time, well before I started, there were actual camps. The camping element then got cut but the name stuck in Korean because words don't have meanings.

Oh yeah, rant: Phone battery, Korean customs, grr...

To be honest, it just feels like it gets worse as the years go on. Camps and desk warming were non-mandatory years back, but then made mandatory. Then they stopped paying over time for camp (except the Korean teachers still get paid over time). Then they cut out the renewal bonus recently. Funny part is that they made the application requirements stricter. Office of Education just gives 0 shits, and the fact desk warming is still mandatory despite no benefit just shows they're bitter lol

They're riding on the coattails of their old reputation.  It'll only last so long.

Kids didn't understand a simple part of my game because my coteacher that is here to supervise was in a different room the whole time.  They actually said "We need Korean teacher".  No kidding.

Well here goes, week 2 of summer camp.

Kids didn't understand a simple part of my game because my coteacher that is here to supervise was in a different room the whole time.  They actually said "We need Korean teacher".  No kidding.

There aren't even any Korean teachers currently at my school and I've been teaching 1st grade for the very first time without a coteacher. It has been such a struggle. I feel like they've taught me more Korean than I have taught them English 

One of my second grader's parents is in the room right now with a toddler. I don't know what to do..... ignore them?? The kids are just coloring and watching Inside Out. I feel like I should be teaching or something. She's just hovering around her child watching her color.

Week 2 of camp. Advanced Grade 3's and 4's done for the day. CT translated EVERY god damn thing I said and also explained everything in the longest detail in Korean. I would say a  two word sentence "cut here" (show them), then she spends what seems like an eternity explaining "cut here" in Korean. I had to tell her to stop. Just stop. It is English camp. I think they understand "cut" and "glue". That is all they had to know today. Why are you translating and explaining everything in Korean over and over.

**** sakes.

And also, common sense. There is none. None. Yes it is instant super glue, I have explained this. Why would you hold your finger to the glue. It is to be used to put two surfaces together..... *so much shock and horror at finger glued to paper, more freaking out as the glue heats up (I stifled a giggle, but it appeared as a smug wtf across my face)..... why didn't you just use the paper glue, or the craft glue, or the glue stick... my god there are 4 other types of glue in the classroom, you choose the super glue.

I tried to make slime over the weekend to see if it would work in camp, and it worked really well  for me, but the shop didn't have enough of the glue that I used, so I just got the bottles next to it figuring they would be basically the same thing. Tried it in class today and it failed miserably. Serves me right for not testing the other glue I suppose.
Also only 4 of 10 3rd graders showed up. Why did their parents sign them up if they weren't even going to come? Those spots could have gone to the students that wanted to be here.

What do you do when a co-teacher accuses you of things that aren't true?

She'll say that I said "XYZ" when I NEVER said them...

Annoying is starting to become an understatement. I understand that I need to adopt to other's idiosyncrasies but this behavior is borderline disrespectful....

LaChaca I think a lot of Korean coteachers have mental issues that cause them to accuse people of really odd and strange things. I'm not sure why it seems so common here.

There just seems to be a very lose grip on reality here by people who are able to convince them self that their own lies are true.

What do you do when a co-teacher accuses you of things that aren't true?

She'll say that I said "XYZ" when I NEVER said them...

Annoying is starting to become an understatement. I understand that I need to adopt to other's idiosyncrasies but this behavior is borderline disrespectful....

It depends what they are saying. If its just water off a ducks back let it slide. It also depends on the individual. If they are well respected it will be worse then if everyone else knows they are cray cray.

If it ever becomes an issue bring in a third party and explain  that ths individual is misunderstanding what you said. That should be sufficiently embarrassing to make them never mention you again.