posted
So I just got an email from my boss, who is leaving in 3 months to go back to the states, to "talk shop" and hear my thoughts on how the school is doing. About 6 weeks ago the school director (his boss) approached me about assuming his job, director of studies, following his departure in June. This week the current DOS sent and email out announcing that this month's staff meeting would cover various "important changes" for the school. So I'm thinking he's sizing me up for his job- it's unlikely they would want me for director and then fire me...
As much as I enjoy the concept of being valued and trusted, first I hate these significant business meetings where things will be decided, and second the job is something I think I would like to do, but which I know could have the potential to take over my life unless I was very disciplined about it. Some DOSes in this city refuse, full stop, to work outside of their business hours because the work starts to consume their home lives. I work for one guy who will only answer his phone tuesday through thursday, noon to 5. Otherwise he would have no life.
That's about what this job would be, if it is offered to me. 15-18 hours of a week of office work, schedules, sales, and teacher training. I have already been advised by a friend of mine who is a teacher that I should not take it if it is offered. She thinks it will ruin my life. I don't know...
Posts: 9912 | Registered: Nov 2005
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posted
Denying may also endanger your current employment, some folks dont like being told no. But I have found the middle road to much more preferable, why make more money when you wont have the time to enjoy it?
Posts: 2302 | Registered: Aug 2008
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posted
Yeah, as someone working 40 hours a week paid, and 20+ hours unpaid on my own start up, I fail to see how 28 hours of work a week == a work absorbed life.
Want to see absorbed life? This is a work absorbed life. I do not recommend it, but it may add some perspective when considering this job.
Posts: 3295 | Registered: Jun 2004
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posted
10 hours teaching is NOT 10 hours of work. It's more like 20-30. (Prep time, grading time, meeting with students and/or parents time, etc.)
That said, it sounds like a decent job, if you can leave the administrative stuff at work. I used to have a similar job, and I liked the balance of teaching and administrative; the question is whether that's something you would enjoy.
Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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quote:Originally posted by Alcon: Yeah, as someone working 40 hours a week paid, and 20+ hours unpaid on my own start up, I fail to see how 28 hours of work a week == a work absorbed life.
I have 20-24 hours a week of teaching at the moment. I leave my flat at 7:30 and get home between 6pm and 9pm. Aside from the gap time during the day, each class requires prep, transport, invoicing, there are meetings with clients and administrators, and other things to attend to. I work a full week I assure you.
Rivka, I would say the benefit of teacher's hours is that much of that time is your own. I happen to be one who likes to prep quickly and get done with it- and I teach a range of clients who don't usually either require or appreciate overly structured or directed lessons- this being partly a function of my teaching style- I stick with clients who appreciate what I do. And since I've been doing it for a while, preparing a lesson on any given topic is a lot easier for me now than it was when I started. In the corporate teaching world, unlike the class teaching business, over-preparation is often a worse problem for teachers than under-prepping, since many schools hire foreign teachers specifically because they want them to follow a communicative learning approach, where the teacher responds more to what a student says, rather than directing the lesson toward a desired goal. Basically it's the difference between beginning with a variety of possible outcomes, and beginning with a single desired outcome- and I happen to be much better at moderating a lesson given a number of possible areas of interest. Those are also easier to prepare and often more enjoyable for students as well, but it's an area of teaching best done by native speakers, teaching somewhat advanced students. Thus these days most of my clients are corporate executives, sales managers, diplomats and marketing people, but I also do test prep, and teach 6 hours of high school a week, which can be a lot of fun.
quote:10 hours teaching is NOT 10 hours of work. It's more like 20-30. (Prep time, grading time, meeting with students and/or parents time, etc.)
Ahh, I'm well aware that 10 hours teaching != 10 hours of work. Misread that, as 10 hours of work. In that case it sounds like you can still take on this job and not completely lose your life. But it would be a lot of work.
Posts: 3295 | Registered: Jun 2004
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quote:Originally posted by Alcon: Ahh, I'm well aware that 10 hours teaching != 10 hours of work. Misread that, as 10 hours of work.
Ok. I thought you had indicated as much previously, so I was confused.
Orin, I hadn't realized you were not teaching exclusively high school. That makes a major difference, of course.
Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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posted
Yeah, I had a full time job at a Skola last year that I hated to death, and left at the end of my probation period. Now I just do 6 hours of high school, and 2 hours of skola that I'm gonna drop like a bad habit at the end of the semester.
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posted
I think I had realized that you changed schools, but not that you had changed types of schools.
Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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posted
I sort of didn't- I went back to the job I had had before, plus working for a few new companies. I'm also much better at it now than I was before, so I don't obsess about it anymore.
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posted
I used to be an ESL teacher and study full time, I still think the new job won't ruin your life Posts: 5700 | Registered: Feb 2002
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What are you doing over there, Ori? I sorta remember some conversation about it a while ago, but to be honest I forget.
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