Desk Warming

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One of the recent changes for teachers in the Jeolla Provinces is the practice of 'desk warming'. From what I have heard, this has been going on in the other provinces for a long time. Basically, your contract will have stated working hours (typically 9 AM - 5 PM). However, there are several weeks during the year when the school is closed. When the school is closed, teachers are required to come sit at their desk during their working hours.

Like many policies in Korea, desk warming really boils down to your specific school and your principal's opinion. If he thinks it's OK for you to stay at home then you may have a week or more of downtime in your flat. However, I have heard stories of teachers sitting at their desk for eight hours even when none of the Korean teachers and staff are in the building (presumably one Korean comes to unlock and lock the doors). The good news is that you will have a computer at your desk and access to the internet, but not even Facebook can fill eight hours a day.

The big school closure periods are January, February, and August. Bigger schools in bigger towns will tend to close less. Also, in the bigger towns they are more likely to fill the empty weeks in the schedule with English camps. From what I gather, the English camps are voluntary so some families send their kids and some don't. Most teachers enjoy the English camps as a change of pace from the normal teaching routine.