How many hours teaching per week is too much? - Page 2 - ESL Teaching

exported_kiwi · Tue 13-Mar-07, 03:11 PM

Hehehehehe, yeah mate, I was at work, in the office and just killing time! We might be required to do 25 teaching hours/week but this rarely happens. Usually it's around 20 and sometimes even less. I just clock in and then cruise through it which is kinda bad actually. I feel I'm getting lazy here which doesn't bode too well later when I finish this contract and hopefully, head back out into the provinces.... less money but more satisfaction! Sometimes I take some students to the local park here and play ping pong with them and then count that as teaching hours as well, same with shopping etc...all my students are adult so it's ok to do this!

Office hours are a bummer but what the hell, only 8 mths to go and I can leave soooo, no biggie there and really, I'm earning well now so it's cool....keeps the shopaholic missus happy!

Few more cents worth, peace y'all!

Mikepass · Wed 14-Mar-07, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gfell

Schools know that we come from a typical 40 hour work week back in our own countries, so I suspect this is why they force you to be at the school for 40 hours.

G'day

I work for a government run elementary school in Korea. I only teach about 20 hours pw, but have to be at the school for 40 hours. I'm just seen as any other teacher and work the same hours as them. I use the extra time for lesson planning or learning the local language. It's not much of a hassle, but it does get in the way of possible tutoring.

Cheers

Dan Lewis · Thu 15-Mar-07, 01:32 AM

I think it depends on what kind of classes you teach and what additional responsibilities you have, but generally over 30 is too much. IMHO.

wofseyjb · Mon 19-Mar-07, 11:20 PM

I think that 25 is a good amount of hours per week. I would rather teach less and be able to have more preparation time.

In Korea, the average teaching hour amount is 30 per week. This does not include prep time. I believe that quality is better than quantity. Teaching can be more of a business atmosphere than a learning one.

kdavid · Tue 03-Jul-07, 11:23 AM

20 - 24 seems to be about average. I'm currently working 22 hours a week (contact hours) with 2 hours of office work a week working on random projects that I choose myself to help improve the schools systems / lesson plans / etc.

englishaffairs · Wed 04-Jul-07, 05:14 AM

Sounds like Kiwi's workin at WEB? Not a bad work environment, but dreaded those office hours they got, used to do the morning shift which is even longer. Anyway, I say around 20 is decent for a contract, but for sure under 30. 5 times 5 is pretty standard at a lot of schools, just make sure your getting paid fair for it. I like to negotiate hourly myself. My last contract was 4 days a week, 3 classes a day with a 10 min. break between, 40 minutes per class, 100 rmb each class plus taxi money. 2:30 till 4:50 Monday thru Thursday which left loooaaads of free time.

exported_kiwi · Wed 04-Jul-07, 11:08 AM

nah mate, wasn't at WEB, but a similar place. I've since left because of their cultural insensitivity and am now forming my own school in partnership with a great Chinese friend here. I'm also beginning a corporate coaching enterprise in partnership with my fiancee which begins tonight. I'll be looking for teachers soon if the response is anything to go by! I figure that because I'll be here for the foreseeable future, I need to work for myself. Also, with real estate prices the way they are, I'll never be able to afford the home my missus wants by being on a salary!

kdavid · Wed 04-Jul-07, 12:02 PM

It's important for anyone looking at a contract to note the difference between "contact hours" and actual real hours. My first job in Prague, for example, contracted us at "24 hours" a week, but these were "contact hours" and 1 hour actually equaled 45 mins. We taught "two hour blocks" which were really 90 mins. In this case, "24" hours isn't a lot of teaching time, because it's really less than 20 actual hours per week.

Just some food for thought for future teachers.

leozeh · Sun 08-Jul-07, 08:36 AM

I can believe some of you really taught more than 30 hours per week?
That's insane.
This semester I was teaching around 25 - 28 hours per week and had no social life at all.
Just preparing lesson plans, correcting exams and doing more lesson plans!
I don't want this anymore, especially now because i'm going to get married soon, and I'm sure my 'trouble' would be really mad at me!!

View Poll Results: How many hours do you teach a week?
Less than 10 hours	4	9.09%
10 to 20 hours	11	25.00%
20 to 30 hours	16	36.36%
30+ hours	13	29.55%
Voters: 44. You may not vote on this poll

Tue 13-Mar-07, 03:11 PM	#11 (permalink)
exported_kiwi Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Nationality: Kiwi who's been exported! Occupation: Beer taster, hehehehehe! Location: Posts: 238	Re: How many hours teaching per week is too much? Hehehehehe, yeah mate, I was at work, in the office and just killing time! We might be required to do 25 teaching hours/week but this rarely happens. Usually it's around 20 and sometimes even less. I just clock in and then cruise through it which is kinda bad actually. I feel I'm getting lazy here which doesn't bode too well later when I finish this contract and hopefully, head back out into the provinces.... less money but more satisfaction! Sometimes I take some students to the local park here and play ping pong with them and then count that as teaching hours as well, same with shopping etc...all my students are adult so it's ok to do this! Office hours are a bummer but what the hell, only 8 mths to go and I can leave soooo, no biggie there and really, I'm earning well now so it's cool....keeps the shopaholic missus happy! Few more cents worth, peace y'all! __________________ Think only of those things that can be done!

Thu 15-Mar-07, 01:32 AM	#13 (permalink)
Dan Lewis Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Occupation: Principal Location: Posts: 8	Re: How many hours teaching per week is too much? I think it depends on what kind of classes you teach and what additional responsibilities you have, but generally over 30 is too much. IMHO.

Tue 03-Jul-07, 11:23 AM	#15 (permalink)
kdavid Guru Join Date: Jul 2007 Occupation: Teach, Study, Get Paid - Will-Excel In-China TESOL Diploma Program Location: Posts: 69	Re: How many hours teaching per week is too much? 20 - 24 seems to be about average. I'm currently working 22 hours a week (contact hours) with 2 hours of office work a week working on random projects that I choose myself to help improve the schools systems / lesson plans / etc. __________________ Teach, Study, Get Paid Will-Excel In-China TESOL Course www.willexceltesol.com

Wed 04-Jul-07, 05:14 AM	#16 (permalink)
englishaffairs ESL Rookie Join Date: May 2007 Nationality: American Occupation: EnglishAffairs Location: Posts: 19	Re: How many hours teaching per week is too much? Sounds like Kiwi's workin at WEB? Not a bad work environment, but dreaded those office hours they got, used to do the morning shift which is even longer. Anyway, I say around 20 is decent for a contract, but for sure under 30. 5 times 5 is pretty standard at a lot of schools, just make sure your getting paid fair for it. I like to negotiate hourly myself. My last contract was 4 days a week, 3 classes a day with a 10 min. break between, 40 minutes per class, 100 rmb each class plus taxi money. 2:30 till 4:50 Monday thru Thursday which left loooaaads of free time. __________________ Online Community of Shenyang China\| EnglishAffairs

Mon 19-Mar-07, 11:20 PM	#14 (permalink)
wofseyjb Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Occupation: teacher Location: Posts: 4	I think that 25 is a good amount of hours per week. I would rather teach less and be able to have more preparation time. In Korea, the average teaching hour amount is 30 per week. This does not include prep time. I believe that quality is better than quantity. Teaching can be more of a business atmosphere than a learning one.

Wed 04-Jul-07, 11:08 AM	#17 (permalink)
exported_kiwi Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Nationality: Kiwi who's been exported! Occupation: Beer taster, hehehehehe! Location: Posts: 238	Re: How many hours teaching per week is too much? nah mate, wasn't at WEB, but a similar place. I've since left because of their cultural insensitivity and am now forming my own school in partnership with a great Chinese friend here. I'm also beginning a corporate coaching enterprise in partnership with my fiancee which begins tonight. I'll be looking for teachers soon if the response is anything to go by! I figure that because I'll be here for the foreseeable future, I need to work for myself. Also, with real estate prices the way they are, I'll never be able to afford the home my missus wants by being on a salary! __________________ Think only of those things that can be done!

Wed 04-Jul-07, 12:02 PM	#18 (permalink)
kdavid Guru Join Date: Jul 2007 Occupation: Teach, Study, Get Paid - Will-Excel In-China TESOL Diploma Program Location: Posts: 69	Re: How many hours teaching per week is too much? It's important for anyone looking at a contract to note the difference between "contact hours" and actual real hours. My first job in Prague, for example, contracted us at "24 hours" a week, but these were "contact hours" and 1 hour actually equaled 45 mins. We taught "two hour blocks" which were really 90 mins. In this case, "24" hours isn't a lot of teaching time, because it's really less than 20 actual hours per week. Just some food for thought for future teachers. __________________ Teach, Study, Get Paid Will-Excel In-China TESOL Course www.willexceltesol.com

Sun 08-Jul-07, 08:36 AM	#19 (permalink)
leozeh ESL Rookie Join Date: Aug 2006 Nationality: Brazilian / Canadian Occupation: ESL/EFL Teacher Location: Posts: 23	Re: How many hours teaching per week is too much? I can believe some of you really taught more than 30 hours per week? That's insane. This semester I was teaching around 25 - 28 hours per week and had no social life at all. Just preparing lesson plans, correcting exams and doing more lesson plans! I don't want this anymore, especially now because i'm going to get married soon, and I'm sure my 'trouble' would be really mad at me!!

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Jobs and TESL/TEFL	Teach English China	Teach English Japan	Teach English Korea	Teach English Taiwan	Jobs in China	Jobs in Korea
Jobs in Taiwan	Jobs in Japan	Jobs Worldwide	TESL,TEFL Courses	Online TEFL Certification	Farm Stay	Educational Ringtones

ESL for Teachers		Teacher Training