The language school owner of the place that I do work for (I'm a part-time staff there) told me today that he was thinking of putting in another student into my existing private class.
Thing is this, the ongoing private class is catered to the needs of a university student who wants to sit for MUET (Malaysian University Entrance Test) and pursue her degree in Psychology in one of the local semi-government universities here. Due to her needs, her classes are exam driven.
The new student that the language school owner is thinking of putting into the same class is a working adult who has different needs. He is an interior designer who needs speaking skills in order to market his designs better to his clients. Not only does the owner of the school want to add him to my existing private class, he is also thinking of starting the class later in order to accommodate the new student. Presently, the class, which is on Friday, runs from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. and he wants it pushed back to 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. He wasn't happy when I said no to him. I told him that I needed to be home before Maghrib. He suggested that I should skip Maghrib prayers and to "do the later one lah" (those, by the way, were his exact words). I don't get it --- it seems that he has no respect for other people's time as well as their lives (we do have lives outside work, you know).
The new student that the language school owner is thinking of putting into the same class is a working adult who has different needs. He is an interior designer who needs speaking skills in order to market his designs better to his clients. Not only does the owner of the school want to add him to my existing private class, he is also thinking of starting the class later in order to accommodate the new student. Presently, the class, which is on Friday, runs from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. and he wants it pushed back to 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. He wasn't happy when I said no to him. I told him that I needed to be home before Maghrib. He suggested that I should skip Maghrib prayers and to "do the later one lah" (those, by the way, were his exact words). I don't get it --- it seems that he has no respect for other people's time as well as their lives (we do have lives outside work, you know).
I think employers should respect a staff's decision to turn down such late class hours. I didn't think that it was necessary for me to tell him about my existing commitments. I wish to remain professional and don't want to tell him too much about my personal life (this man is particularly nosy --- the less he knows about my personal life, the better).
I think I'm important. For him, a businessman, it is about exploiting me as a resource but for me, a professional, I want to give my students my best. Working late way into the wee hours of the night is not going to benefit me nor my students. What good would a tired teacher be? Besides, wouldn't the students be tired too at such an hour?
Language school owners should appreciate that while teaching may seem like an easy job, the real professionals among us really want to deliver our best. Working unreasonable hours simply does not benefit the clients.
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