GRA Korea- volunteering with korean students in Singapore and Malaysia -review

Workload
Weekly speeches need to be assigned checked and practiced. A play needs to be assigned and practiced. hw assigned and graded, daily journals checked, and regular classroom duties fall to the teacher. Activities are fully planned, written and practiced by you with some general guidance. Participation in full or whole day ( ie extending past the normal working hours) field trips are necessary as well, where you are often responsible for the students and their field trip assignments. Regular working schedule 9-12 and 1-4 Monday to Friday. Saturdays are Half days or full days.

Working environment.
Can include chaotic and last minute changes. Meetings can be last minute and initially go upwards of thirty minutes, lessening as the camp progresses. Activities can be added and changed at any time, including as you are doing them. Extra work is required of you without the necessary preparation time, ie recording yourself for one minute for the parents to see you, or short speeches or explanations in front of the entire camp.

Management
You are managed directly by a western staff member but subject overall to korean standards. As a volunteer, you are expected to work harder and establish close relationships with the children than a regular teacher.

Materials
One textbook provided for three hours lessons, 5 days a week. Remaining 3 hours a day set aside for activities, planned by you with some general guidance.

Accommodation
Suite in Malaysia, shared room with other volunteer with large common area. Buffet style and quality food. Dorm in Singapore, shared room. One or two choices for meals in dining hall. Poor quality.

Bottom line
Western manager went above and beyond duties, worked hard for us. Still subject to Korean standards and practices at the end of the day. Reimbursement includes room and board, total 800 sing dollars spending money and up to 600 sing dollars flight reimbursement. All benefits I received in full, although I did not feel respected as a teacher and often felt as I was being talked down to.