I tell you, becoming DOS has convinced me that this profession is simply well and truly fucked in the 21st century.
I don't know that I had any illusions that I could vastly change things at our school; but I thought maybe I could change SOMETHING, especially the split shifts. But no, about the only way you can completely block the schedule of all your teachers is to employ no more than about three.
Otherwise, students study in the morning before work, and after work. And company classes want to study in the morning, and maybe in the afternoon around lunchtime.
So that's pretty much when the teachers have to work.
One less-mentioned aspect of split shifts that really sucks is the financial one -- you have to pay for the bus four times a day, unless you want to hang around the school doing nothing all day. Some schools pay for a bus pass for their teachers for that very reason, but ours doesn't.)
So of course, that's why no sane person would do this kind of English teaching for long. Starting at 9:00am and finishing at 9:30? Did we do this job to get out of the rat race? The same hours as some corporate flunky, but 1/10th the pay.
6 comments:
Splits are part of the biz. Not much can be done as you correctly pointed out. I've been hearing for years teachers bitching about them. While they're bitching I make the most of them. I have actually come to like them in a way. During my down time I go to the Gym, study Russian and do privates. That's where it's at, the privates. Rich guys make their own schedules, they aren't made for them, so I just fit them in between my regular classes. I've built up such a stable of rich guys that in May I worked only 2 weeks and socked away $800. In June I've been able to save $1500. I don't do Weekends so still have a life. In fact, I can actually leave my regular gig and do it full time for the same money, but won't for various reasons, but that's another topic. Point is while my colleagues bitch and moan and cry poor, I'm pulling in the score. I'd take splits, teaching hot babes animal sounds and the "th" over a cubical job or pouring laite's at Starbucks any day.
....cont. from above.
P.S. I don't live in that hell hole of a city they call Moscow.....
To the first poster.
How the fuck do you find time to go out and drink during the week? Maybe its good for some looking to save cash. Some are looking to work while they travel
From first poster,
Easily, I'd get plenty of rest to party in between my split shifts if I needed. Been in this part of the world for 9 years so I've been there, done that as far as the partying. However, this is TEFL and splits are part of the biz, no escaping it, the point was that I make the most it. You can't have your cake and eat it too. If you're out just looking to party and drink, go for it. TEFL full of people like that and it's still easy to pick up classes along the way and travel, but don't expect lie ins, recovering from hangovers till 2pm or blowing off classes with employers and students turning a blind eye. If so you're better off staying in Iowa, save some cash(if you can) party, but do it right. Don't expect students who pay good money to tolerate it and bankroll your beer and travel binge. Don't forget they're learning English so they can get ahead and put food on the table for their families, etc. not to finance some lost soul's year abroad.
Yeah, but it IS possible to work non-split shift -- generally at smaller schools in non-major cities. One of the reasons I've stayed here in Vodkaberg so long is that for the first four or five years, when we only had four teachers, I almost always worked 4:30 to 9:30 M thru F. And I was a "split-shift apologist" too, until that time, but the difference in my mood, my energy level, and even my enjoyment of teaching was TREMENDOUS when I didn't have to split the day into segments with a lot of bus travel, rushed meals, and naps.
So screw all that "it's a part of the business / oh it gets me out of the house / oh, you can nap or see a movie during the day" bullshit! FUCK SPLIT SHIFTS!!
From first post...
Yeah, I do agree with you, it would be nice to have a stable schedule. You could say FUCK SPLIT SHIFTS all you want, but even though you're now a DOS, part of Management, you're still pretty much powerless to change anything. Besides do you like hearing your teachers bitch and moan to you about it, especially being a DOS they actually might think you have the power to change it, but you can't. Now that must really suck. That's one of the main reasons I don't want to become a DOS, it seems like a more disillusioning experience than a TEFLer's first few months in a classroom. I do admire the steps you took to become a DOS and I hope you're better off now than when you were just teaching. Also, some good stuff on your next post about getting a real Expat job, well said. Keep it up, I enjoy your site and read it often...
Post a Comment