RANTING/VENTING MEGATHREAD 3.0

I take it you guys don't work at public schools.

If you did, the yearly calendar would have been mapped out long ago.

I had one school a few years ago that made crazy changes to the school calendar, but that was unusual.

I feel your pain, as the cost between booking now or later is no small sum.

Come on Pecan, you know that camps are never written into the yearly calendar.  The calendar just shows a month/five weeks off for January; nothing more than that.

I think your school is the exception not the rule Pecan. This is one of the top complaints people have about camps.

I've worked at 7 schools now and none of them plan the exact camp dates at the start of the year. They usually wait until they have to, usually around a month or so.

I can piggy back onto this that, every time I have asked about camps early in the year, the answer is always, "we don't know yet." Usually I'm able to give them my preferred vacation dates and they happily work around that, when scheduling the camps. But they have never been on the calendar and never planned more than 2 months in advance.

Yeah, my current schools never seem to "know" about camp dates until right around a month before. But I can usually tell them when I want to take my vacation and they'll work with me on that.

I have friends who work or have worked for schools that have tried to keep them in the dark for as long as possible, though, sometimes because the schools didn't/don't have their shit together, but sometimes because someone higher-up decided the NET needed to be fucked with as much as possible. Because hierarchy.

This year they've altered the EPIK contracts to explicitly state: "If any requested vacation period interferes with the smooth operation of the programming of the school or institute, the Employer and the Employee shall negotiate an alternative vacation date(s) so that the requested vacation period does not interfere with the school schedule."

This must have come about because of so many EPIK teachers digging their heels in and refusing to allow their schools to break up their vacation dates (something that is completely avoidable in most cases as long as the schools create camp schedules that actually make sense with the rest of the school year). Seriously, proper management and scheduling is the solution here. Rather than creating addendums in contracts to imply that schools are allowed to be flaky, they really need to require schools to create practical camp schedules well in advance in order to avoid this kind of problem in the first place. NETs taking their vacations doesn't interrupt the "smooth operation" of a school. Piss-poor planning and a lack of consideration does.

Luckily, it's still easy enough to argue around. There's a lot that can be said about what does and does not interrupt a school's "smooth operation" at a negotiating table.

What a nightmare. Imagine getting busted by the Vice Squad. Holy shit.

https://www.reddit.com/r/indonesia/comments/7bphkg/weird_question_what_is_the_lawculture_around/

So, I was working at a hagwon a couple of months ago. It seemed decent, I had some issues, but overall manageable. I was thinking it a low risk and considered returning in the future.

I catch wind of something from a well connected friend over there. Seems like the director has been badmouthing a teachers when they finished their contract, and I was no exception. Saying that I left early, bought first class plane tickets, wasn't 'respectful' enough and other random BS. Pretty confused and annoyed right now.

So, I was working at a hagwon a couple of months ago. It seemed decent, I had some issues, but overall manageable. I was thinking it a low risk and considered returning in the future.

I catch wind of something from a well connected friend over there. Seems like the director has been badmouthing a teachers when they finished their contract, and I was no exception. Saying that I left early, bought first class plane tickets, wasn't 'respectful' enough and other random BS. Pretty confused and annoyed right now.

If you can prove he said those things, the Korean defamation laws are on your side.  Those comments would harm your chances for employment by damage of character.  You could sue him for enough to think twice about opening his pie hole to bad mouth another teacher.

I remember back in grade school, a coupe of teachers would pull this trick.

They'd tell us that before each assignment/test we should look it over carefully before beginning and always read the instructions first. The class would promise to do so and then the teacher would give us some really long homework on the first day. Everyone would be so pissed and grumble about it, but the trick was that the very last question said that we didn't have to do the homework. It was just a test to see if we'd follow the instructions.

I want to do something like this to my 6th grade students. They are so loud and never listen to anything I say. I want to teach them there are consequences for not listening, as of right now my CT doesn't seem to care that they are so unruly. I'm not going to do anything like that because I'm sure it wouldn't go over well, but I sure wish these kids had to face consequences sometimes.

In big review games / quiz type games i've started to base questions off the answers of other teams. So I can ask "Please write X teams answer" or "In Korean, can you translate what Xteam said?". This has them listening a bit at least.

I remember back in grade school, a coupe of teachers would pull this trick.

They'd tell us that before each assignment/test we should look it over carefully before beginning and always read the instructions first. The class would promise to do so and then the teacher would give us some really long homework on the first day. Everyone would be so pissed and grumble about it, but the trick was that the very last question said that we didn't have to do the homework. It was just a test to see if we'd follow the instructions.

I want to do something like this to my 6th grade students. They are so loud and never listen to anything I say. I want to teach them there are consequences for not listening, as of right now my CT doesn't seem to care that they are so unruly. I'm not going to do anything like that because I'm sure it wouldn't go over well, but I sure wish these kids had to face consequences sometimes.

In big review games / quiz type games i've started to base questions off the answers of other teams. So I can ask "Please write X teams answer" or "In Korean, can you translate what Xteam said?". This has them listening a bit at least.

I did a truncated version with one of my middle school classes once.  Don't remember what the end result was but they all had a good chuckle once the test/trick was explained afterward. 

I remember back in grade school, a coupe of teachers would pull this trick.

They'd tell us that before each assignment/test we should look it over carefully before beginning and always read the instructions first. The class would promise to do so and then the teacher would give us some really long homework on the first day. Everyone would be so pissed and grumble about it, but the trick was that the very last question said that we didn't have to do the homework. It was just a test to see if we'd follow the instructions.

I want to do something like this to my 6th grade students. They are so loud and never listen to anything I say. I want to teach them there are consequences for not listening, as of right now my CT doesn't seem to care that they are so unruly. I'm not going to do anything like that because I'm sure it wouldn't go over well, but I sure wish these kids had to face consequences sometimes.

In big review games / quiz type games i've started to base questions off the answers of other teams. So I can ask "Please write X teams answer" or "In Korean, can you translate what Xteam said?". This has them listening a bit at least.

Oh nice strategy, I'm going use this. Thank you!

I was almost hit by a car two times on my walk from the bus stop to my school this morning. It's only a ten minute walk, too.

Each time I had the right of way and was within the boundaries of the zebra crossing, and each time I was lucky I was paying more attention to my surroundings than the drivers who just blast through intersections without making sure there aren't any humans occupying the space they're trying to drive through.

Seriously, what are the requirements for getting a driver's license here?

  "Do you have at least one opposable thumb?"
  "Probably?"
  "Here's your license."
   *Runs over six people*


I half wish I had been hit by a car, though, because all of my students seem to have eaten extra large bowls of Won't Shut The Hell Up for breakfast this morning. Even my usually quiet 1st grade middle school girls wouldn't stop flapping their gums.

In addition to the talking, I get to deal with my 3rd grade middle schoolers not being prepared. Well, being even more unprepared than usual. I can usually assume a few of them will come to class without their textbook or a writing utensil, but now that they've taken finals and have mentally checked out, it's become closer to 50% of the students in every class not bothering to bring their book or a pen. My coteachers' reaction is pretty much "oh well, whaddaya gonna do, amirite lol," so that's fun.

I'd really like the thank the genius who decided to have finals in October when the school year ends in February. Surely there is no other time that would make more sense.


Ugh. Okay. I'm done.

I, among a couple other teachers from my province, where invited to submit videos of our class and potentially win a prize, it was completely optional.
I've got a lot on my plate right now and frankly wasn't in the mood to tapdance for the damn MOE. My CT pleaded and eventually I gave in.

The reason for my hesitation was that I knew I'd be stuck with doing ALL of the work since my CT loves playing the "Oh, I'm so bad with computers" excuse every damn time! Now was no different.
I finished the entire lesson, including an original video, I created and edited in 2 days. I asked her for 4 damn sentences, as I was creating her and my bucket list for the video. It took her 4 days to Kakao the sentences to me.

We finished the lesson and it went ok-ish.

Now, she asks for my "help" to edit the recording as the lesson is 40min and we have to condense it into a 10min video.
Jokingly, but serious, I told her no since I prepared all the work, led 80% of the lesson and the potential prize money would be split 50-50. I told her to do it herself. She agreed. I just walked past her class and she's getting on of the homeroom teachers to edit it for her.

For God's sake, I had no clue how to use the iMovie app until last week when I first I used it, but since I'm not a complete retard or pathetic, I figured it out and made a simple, but professional video with a soundtrack.

This week is speaking test week. Spent a whole period last week going through the questions with a fine-toothed comb, and GIVING THEM ALL THE ANSWERS.

Today:

  Teacher test is hard?

  Did you study?

  No ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

  Then it might be difficult

   Teacher nooooooooooooo 

And I'll feel zero remorse giving you a big fat 7 out of 10 (the lowest score I can give  ) if you don't study for a test that you've been given all the answers to.

#sorrynotsorry

This week is speaking test week. Spent a whole period last week going through the questions with a fine-toothed comb, and GIVING THEM ALL THE ANSWERS.

Today:

  Teacher test is hard?

  Did you study?

  No ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

  Then it might be difficult

   Teacher nooooooooooooo 

And I'll feel zero remorse giving you a big fat 7 out of 10 (the lowest score I can give  ) if you don't study for a test that you've been given all the answers to.

#sorrynotsorry

+1

   I get the exact same thing. Kids spend 2 classes with the KETs going over the question sheet, and I still get blank look from a fair number. Luckily, I lobbied long and hard to reduce the minimum grade from 60% to 40% and finally succeeded last year. It's so satisfying giving failing grades to kids who truly deserve it. (I suspect that their homeroom teachers might meddle with the grade spreadsheets after I send them over, but so long as I don't know, I don't care.)

My middle school has speaking tests this week, too.  Students get the study guide with all the answers, yet there are still some who fail.  Some refuse to answer questions and mutely shake their head.  Others leave out words or say the answer to a different question.  Even my coT's get frustrated with them.

This week is speaking test week. Spent a whole period last week going through the questions with a fine-toothed comb, and GIVING THEM ALL THE ANSWERS.

Today:

  Teacher test is hard?

  Did you study?

  No ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

  Then it might be difficult

   Teacher nooooooooooooo 

And I'll feel zero remorse giving you a big fat 7 out of 10 (the lowest score I can give  ) if you don't study for a test that you've been given all the answers to.

#sorrynotsorry

+1

   I get the exact same thing. Kids spend 2 classes with the KETs going over the question sheet, and I still get blank look from a fair number. Luckily, I lobbied long and hard to reduce the minimum grade from 60% to 40% and finally succeeded last year. It's so satisfying giving failing grades to kids who truly deserve it. (I suspect that their homeroom teachers might meddle with the grade spreadsheets after I send them over, but so long as I don't know, I don't care.)

HAHA. I got mine reduced down to 4, too. Evidently in the kind of rule book, the lowest is actually 4 that is allowed to be given. Anyway, nicely done.

Speaking tests...jesus, tell me about it.

Like you guys, I also give the students all the questions along with example answers for each, weeks before the test.  They go through them with the KET too to make sure they understand.

I used to ask the questions in a random order.  Nope, too difficult because they'd end up giving me an answer for a completely different question (they'd obviously just memorised the answers in the order they appear on the sheet).

Ok, fair enough, from now on I'll ask the questions in the order they appear on the sheet...

Student enters and sits down (wearing a coat so I can't see his name badge).
"Hi, what's your name?"
"My favourite subject at school is..."
"No, sorry, what's your name?"
"...Um...My favourite subject at school is"

Ok kill me now.

+1

   I get the exact same thing. Kids spend 2 classes with the KETs going over the question sheet, and I still get blank look from a fair number. Luckily, I lobbied long and hard to reduce the minimum grade from 60% to 40% and finally succeeded last year. It's so satisfying giving failing grades to kids who truly deserve it. (I suspect that their homeroom teachers might meddle with the grade spreadsheets after I send them over, but so long as I don't know, I don't care.)

I'm with you, if you meddle with my grading, fine, just don't tell me about it. Please let me enjoy the tiny amount of power I think I have.

And thank goodness that usually the teachers leave alone for the actual speaking test itself. But one busybody CT always wants to do the tests with me to "help". He logs the grades while I administer the questions. OK. But last semester I saw him writing in some students' grade before they had even answered the questions. Once I caught on to him though I would "innocently" call him out on it by voicing my opinion of the grade right in front of the student. Hopefully that at least pushed the grade altering out from under my very nose and into the teachers' office wher it belongs. 

Jeezus what a farce this all is at times 

Talked to the boss about next year (whether I was staying or not). Asked for a raise. Boss came back and asked if there was any wiggle room in the amount? If the raise can't be given, what will I do? Leave? Yup. Because I was promised a raise two years in a row and then didn't get one. That amount is the culmination of what I should have been already getting. Honestly, I'm on the fence about staying anyway, but I wanted to give them the chance to do the right thing. At least I had "the conversation", now I can ask for references, that's always a huge pain.

Second semester 6th graders. Coteachers who can't answer simple questions and insist on interrupting my punishments for massively unruly students when they (the coteacher) haven't even been in the classroom except for the last five minutes of class.

Just generally annoyed with Korea and school and students today.

I hate the nasty, greasy, oily mess of shredded mystery meat they serve us every single week. How can it be so oily and dry at the same?

I think you've discovered a new paradox.

FU NH.  So I mistakenly thought (should have remembered that this is Korea after all) that it would be a simple thing to get a bank statement showing my account balance (I have to prove I have adequate funds to the school I want to apply to).  The school wants an original statement and the local bank can only provide me with a copy that the school won't accept.  Because apparently only my original bank back on an ISLAND can produce an original copy.  Dafuq???

They're mailing the original to me but it may not arrive in time by the deadline (which, honestly, is my own issue because I decided to dive in and apply for the upcoming semester instead of waiting for the spring one).  On the bright side, I found a go around by opening up a new account at a different bank and transferring the necessary funds so I could then request an original bank statement from the new bank. 

Geezus