Camps

GMOE Policy on English Camps

Our employer's maximum requirement is 15 days of English camp per contract year. These days can be allocated however your schools deem appropriate, e.g. 9 days in the summer for your main school; 6 days in the winter for your visiting school. Camps cannot be taught on weekends or public holidays.

Please note that camp schedules depend on each school's needs. One GET might not have to run a camp, while another GET will have to do a full 15 days. Generally speaking, your schools' curricula and programs supersede your personal vacation plans. In order to avoid scheduling conflicts that might cause you to lose vacation days, it's advised that you be proactive about planning camps with your co-teachers as early as possible. Emphasize that these days, finding flights back home are very difficult and many of us lose at least an entire day due to traveling.

Planning for Camp

Camp is a time for you to be creative with your materials and to connect with students in a way that you may not be able to during the regular school year. You should have a good deal of freedom with regards to planning the activities, as long as they fall within certain predetermined guidelines. One day of camp generally consists of four 40-50 minute class periods in the morning. This allows students to come to camp and attend their afternoon hagwons. Some exceptions can be made as long as you account for budgets, existing materials, feeding the students, and the possibility that your Korean colleagues and attendees might not want to commit to long hours or complicated activities. Also, keep in mind that you will need to take full ownership of designing your camps, so if you have an ambitious plan like filmmaking or a field trip, then you should prepare a very clear, detailed proposal including pedagogical justifications to ensure you don't give your co-teachers extra work.

Scheduling When To Have Camp

If you have two or three schools, as most of our teachers do, your schools will decide between themselves which vacation session they would like to have their camp. This depends on the school schedule so it is advisable to discuss this with your co-teachers in advance. Please be aware that camp dates are subject to change.

The uncertainty regarding the exact dates of the camps can make vacation planning difficult. The best thing to do is to look at the school calendar and talk to your co-teacher to make him/her aware of your preliminary vacation plans and to gauge whether your desired plan is feasible. Please do so politely. Do not book any flights until your camp schedule and vacation dates have been officially approved in writing (unless you’re willing to risk having to reschedule them).

 
Camp Materials

When planning your camp, the best thing to do is to look at materials from camps that other teachers have done in the past and to have some flexible materials already prepared. Prepare some fun and interesting things that will help your students feel more natural and comfortable with their English speaking abilities. Camp classes usually have a theme like storytelling, role play, sports, music, around the world, etc. Please see this useful guide of things to consider when planning your camp. You should discuss your ideas with your co-teacher, but please be aware that planning camp classes is the native teacher's responsibility.

Check with your co-teacher what your camp budget is so that you can plan accordingly. You will need to compile a list of materials you will need for the camp that your co-teacher will assist in buying or borrowing from other teachers. If you have money left over, consider buying tools and materials that can be used during the regular semester.

Some of the best times you can have teaching will be at these camps! It might be stressful planning, but will be worth it when you see the result.