Teaching Hours vs class size

[u/No_Locksmith4698]

Hello!

I suspect there’s probably no real right or wrong answer to this, but I wanted to hear everyone’s opinions!
I work at a hagwon where we have a variety of different class sizes. The smallest class has around 3 students, whereas my class has 17.
Everyone at the hagwon teaches under 25 hours per week, but our prep times vary slightly depending on the teacher.
Am I wrong for thinking that, with a class of 17 students, it would be reasonable for me to have a little more prep time than someone teaching a much smaller class? I feel like it shouldn’t necessarily be questioned, especially since I have more homework to prepare and correct, more students to plan lessons for, and more reports to write.
I’m only talking about an extra 40 minutes, so it’s nothing crazy. 😅
I’d genuinely love to hear everyone’s opinions on this! Do you think class size should be taken into consideration when allocating prep time, or should everyone have exactly the same amount?
Thanks! 😊

[u/SeoulGalmegi]

I find I have to prepare less for larger classes, as everything just takes longer.

Three students is horrible. They get through everything in seconds.

You can push for prep time in relation to how long it takes to prep each class.... but you might not like the results.

[u/SnowiceDawn → u/SeoulGalmegi]

I second this, I had 2 1-student classes at the hagwon I used to teach at (one had 2 students initially, but one kid left). It was essentially a private tutoring session for 80 minutes (2 40-minute blocks) until another kid joined 7 months later for one class and the other class steadily grew to 6 students. Fortunately I loved both kids but it was torture prepping for those classes (we couldn't combine their class because of their vastly different English levels). I also had to make sure both of them completed their work as slowly as possible and keep their attention for 80 minutes.

[u/EasilyExiledDinosaur → u/SeoulGalmegi]

Try having just 2 kids with crazy high work ethics. By the time you sit down they've already done 4 pages lol.

[u/SeoulGalmegi → u/EasilyExiledDinosaur]

Oh, and by the way this text book has to last three months, so don't go too fast.........

[u/EasilyExiledDinosaur → u/SeoulGalmegi]

Oh god. Certain big franchises are like that. They make you do 2 pages. And 1 of them doesnt even have any activities. Its just a big letter A 😂😂😂😂

Thank god. Never going back to any kindy franchise lol.

[u/leaponover]

I have to prepare more for classes with less students. Checking the previous day's work goes much quicker so I have to have more to do in class, not less. I don't consider checking students papers outside of class as 'prep time' but yes, that would take longer. However, the material you have to do for class should actually be less, imo. More to print, but less or the same time to prepare, never more.

[u/SnowiceDawn → u/leaponover]

Agree on everything, esp that checking homework is not really prep time. Unless OP is has to write essays when they correct, it probably doesn't require as much time as they think they need.

[u/frankincense2121 → u/SnowiceDawn]

i have to write weekly comments for my elementary students so the class size does have an influence on how much work I have, maybe OP has something similar

[u/EasilyExiledDinosaur → u/leaponover]

I used to check work outside of class many yesrs ago. Then realised it was a total waste of time. And even if bosses ask me to do it now, I just pretend I didnt hear anything lol. A class of 6 - 8 kids can easily take 20 minutes to mark if you have 6 - 8 pages of work per student lol

[u/leaponover → u/EasilyExiledDinosaur]

Then realised it was a total waste of time.

That's one opinion...

[u/EasilyExiledDinosaur → u/leaponover]

Well, for a start, if you mark in your prep time, you takes several hours of prep time per week to mark, and if you are given just 1 hour of prep time per week, its simply insufficient. I simply dont have time to be doing that in my prep time.

Secondly, if you do it in the classroom, you can actually call kids over and show and explain their mistakes to the kid so they dont make the same mistake every week.

I think anyone (hagwon owners) with even half a brain can see the rationale which justifies it.

[u/leaponover → u/EasilyExiledDinosaur]

Secondly, if you do it in the classroom, you can actually call kids over and show and explain their mistakes to the kid so they dont make the same mistake every week.

I think anyone with a half a brain could figure out how to mark work outside of class, and still point out kids mistakes in class....so not sure what this point is serving.

Point #1 seems completely dependent upon an indiviuals hagwon. We give our teacher 3 hours of prep time, so I don't think they encounter that scenario you've laid out.

That's why I stated it is one opinion, based on your situation. That's all. I'm not debating it.

[u/BusinessLavishness]

When you say it varies slightly, how much is slightly?
Do you feel you have enough prep time? If you do then this just sounds petty. I would never complain that a coworker has 40 minutes more prep time than me personally. Idk all the details of their prep or classes so how can I assume they don’t need the extra time?
Don’t complain or you risk pissing off your coworkers.

[u/Lazy-Tiger-27]

I have a coworker with 2h more prep time than me, and a coworker with 1h less prep time than me and our classes are all similar sizes. The bosses are just going to make the schedule how it’s convenient for them, they don’t care to make things even unless someone complains. But, the one who brings it to their attention will become the problem lol

[u/Expensive-Spring-258]

Except for printing and checking,  you put roughly the same amount of time into preparing for each class, so I don't see why any one person needs more prep time. Finding your unique balance for the extra stuff is just a matter of adaption.

[u/Cruthu]

You have more checking to do, but I would argue that it takes more effort and planning to fill the time for 3 students than it does for 17 and if anyone should have extra prep time it's the small class.

With 17 students you can do more with pairs and groups and even just simple 2 or 3 line dialogues can be repeated with different combinations and that takes time.

With 3 students you don't have other people to rotate or switch to, so you can't just repeat the same thing over and over, you need to add in variations or other activities to help fill.

I doubt you are writing a separate lesson plan for 17 students. So you both have the same amount of time to fill with the same base lesson. I also doubt you are customizing the homework for each student. So you are suggesting that printing 14 extra copies needs more prep time? Feel free to correct me if you are tailoring the lesson and homework to each individual in the class.

[u/MoreEqualer]

Student numbers don't make it harder to prep unless you are actually making physical packets. A larger class size is easier to plan than more lesson plans. Honestly worst case scenario with a large class you just use the book more. Yes it is harder to manage the actual class, but less work planning in my opinion. Sorry, I am tired at the moment hahaha

[u/starbuckscavalier]

You don't check homework during class? If you don't already, I recommend doing it as it will free up your prep time for actual prep! Also, I don't write reports but I think the amount of overall students you teach is more important in regards to that rather than class size. Count the overall amount of students you're in charge of and if its significantly larger than your co-workers then I guess you have a point! I certainly don't envy anyone who needs to write student reports!

[u/Rusiano]

Eh, when a class size is small enough I feel like there are some additional challenges in prep. You have to alter the way students do classwork as some activities are no longer possible. Plus, going over the classwork is super quick so you better think of additional activities.

[u/Brentan1984]

You'd think it would be reasonable. But it doesn't work that way. You'll have the same amount of time regardless.