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 Wednesday November 07 2007

Question for those teaching at a University

Kevin, of The Big Hominid Asks questions of university teachers. I have reposted his entire post here and will respond later. Right now you would not believe how busy I am. And on top of that there is this article in the Korea Herald that is deserving of commentary, but I probably won’t have time to get to that either.

a question for you university English teachers

No need to identify your university in your answer, but I’m currently mulling over the following questions, which require replies from people working at many different Korean universities:

1. How does your university calculate the number of hours you are required to work, and does that calculation vary? What does “work” consist of? Teaching and… what other duties? Is the method of calculation spelled out in precise language in your contract?

2. How does your university calculate overtime pay? Is the method of calculation spelled out in precise language in your contract?

3. If, in a given semester, it is determined that you have not worked the required minimum number of hours, what is done about this? How are you informed of this “undertime”? was the possibility of “undertime” spelled out in your contract?

4. Do you feel your university’s methods of calculation are straightforward, up-front, trustworthy, consistent, etc.? If the answer is not a definite “yes,” then do you feel that the problem(s) you’re experiencing may be the result of malice, disorganization/incompetence, or both?

5. If you have breaks between terms (say, a one-week break between summer and fall terms), are these breaks considered vacation (and noted as such in your contract), or are you “on call” during this time? If you are considered on call, are you paid for being on call, or are you obliged to “make up” that break because you weren’t teaching?

I look forward to many and varied replies. If a particular question doesn’t seem relevant to you, please note its irrelevance. If you have something more to add, something not covered by the above questions, please feel free to unload.

I decided to post these questions here rather than over at Dave’s ESL Cafe because I’m convinced that, collectively speaking, DESLC has no sense of perspective. The bitterness, the hatred, the more-than-occasional racism were a turn-off for me on the rare occasions I ventured into those forums. Better to post my questions here and elicit level-headed responses of a generally higher quality.

Oh, yes: PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT THIS POST. I’d like a large library of answers from people all over the peninsula.



Sean. inscribed these words of wisdom on Wednesday Nov 7, 2007 at 08:18 PM
Readers_Questions |
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JMac wrote 35 words  on  Thursday Nov 8, 2007  at  09:23 AM Korea (South)

Tried to comment over there, but think my comment got eaten. I know he moderates, so hope it turns up.

If it doesn’t I’ll probably post here so he can at leat read it.

-JMac

Picture of JMac

JMac wrote 9 words  on  Thursday Nov 8, 2007  at  09:24 AM Korea (South)

As for the Herald article—thank GOD for my F-5!!

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Kevin Kim wrote 10 words  on  Thursday Nov 8, 2007  at  08:14 PM Korea (South)

Thanks for spreading the word.

JMac, your comment’s up.


Kevin

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