Job Discussion Forums

[Sashadroogie]

Many moons ago when I was a young and innocent DOS I had a particularly gruelling day dealing with disgruntled teaching staff. While many of their issues were justified, and I privately agreed with my teaching colleagues, there was very little I could do to resolve any of the problems. Contractual questions like salary or bonuses etc. were beyond my authority. Even as I write this now, it still sounds weaselly, but that was the truth. The teachers were not impressed with what they saw as weak excuses. In fact, many of them, in utter frustration, decided to lash out at me, being as I was the only representative of the 'igher-ups who was around.

After the fifth confrontation that day, (the school was going through a 'rough patch') I was slouched, spent, at my desk with a dazed befuddled look on my face. The school caretaker came in then. He asked what was up and I know I shouldn't have, but I blurted out my total mystification as to why they all blamed me so venomously and couldn't see reason. "Pah! What did you expect? Seriously Sasha, no offence, but look at them all. They are all basically newly-graduated students themselves, or were recently. And what can they actually do? Nothing except use words! Talk talk talk. Get used to it. Your job is to give it right back at them, now get on with it. And don't let them ever disabuse you again." Then he emptied the waste-paper bin and closed the door after him, leaving me in silence.

His words, though, have stayed with me for long since. So what do others think? Are we as teachers congenitally prone to chronic argumentativeness? Is there a linguistic foundation to the poor record of staff relations in educational institutions that are supposed to teach communication skills? In short, do we language teachers argue over everything and nothing because we are language teachers?

[spiral78]

A very interesting question with which I'd like to engage.
However, the context around my current verbal fight leaves me without the energy: I've to to go draw our new manager a picture tomorrow morning that will explain clearly that they can't expect me to continue working 70+ hours weekly, when I am meant to work no more than 38.

As she's not a native speaker or a teacher, I have literally resorted to drawing pictures. Perhaps all I'm capable of after many weeks of 70+ hours.

Perhaps my loss for words will help me to achieve a more effective outcome? In any case, wish me well - I'm fighting not only for myself, but for many of my colleagues here....

[johnslat]

Dear Sashadroogie,

I suspect our being language teachers may contribute, at least in some cases, to language departments teaching communication skills. Words, after all, are often the only arrow in our quivers. And, naturally, most of us probably think we're masters of verbal assault.
Just be thankful you don't teach in an unarmed combat department.
Regards,
John

[Deicide]

[johnslat]

Dear Deicide,

Naw, we Yanks usually prefer to physically attack those we disagree with.
Same with Aussies.
It's mostly the Brits who'll try to talk you to death.

Regards,
John

P.S. Hope you agree - I'd hate to have to come over there.

[Justin Trullinger]

I blame the...Where are you from again Deicide? I'll let you know who I blame in a minute.

But seriously- aren't most workplaces sometimes conflictive? It's been so long since I've worked in anything but an educational institute...but it seems to me that there was always workplace conflict.

Maybe a few things that exacerbate it in language schools are:

Misunderstandings- Most of the places I know of here in town are owned by non-English speakers, non-teachers. If the higher ups don't know what your job entails, it's hard for them to respect or support it.


Transience. Many EFL teachers don't stick around long. From a business point of view, since they won't stick around anyway, what's the stake in keeping them more than minimally satisfied.

Money. EFL isn't marvelously paid in most places. Yet, owning a school seems to be well paid. Recipe for conflict, imo.

Culture shock. Most places I've taught, at least some of the conflict came from the fact that teachers were grumpy...which is a pretty normal reaction to being in a place where you don't get the cultural signals and norms.

I'm sure there are a lot more reasons why language schools can be conflictive places. BUT I don't agree that they're more conflictive than other places.


Best,
Jstin

[Sashadroogie]

All valid points Justin. But the situation in the OP was in my home country, so a lot of the expected sources of conflict endemic in TEFL didn't apply there. Yet the stress level was far higher than any other place where I have worked, TEFL or otherwise.

Yes, industrial psychololgy dictates that neither side will be fully satisfied with the other regarding contracts. But does this explain why teachers regularly snipe at each other too? And how verbal the conflicts are? The factory workers I knew wouldn't bother verbalising. They'd either thump someone or just get on with work.

I could be wrong, but they are my midnight musings. Anyway, perhaps unarmed combat techniques should be a staple of DOS training, eh John? A niche in the training market to be exploited there...

[Deicide]

[Glenski]

[johnslat]

Dear Deicide,

Thank you for providing that film, which supports my contention:


"Naw, we Yanks usually prefer to physically attack those we disagree with."

Regards,
John

[elamericano]

It's basically a conflict of proletarian meritocrats against Scroogey good ole boys. It's fairly typical throughout the world, especially nowadays.

[johnslat]

Dear elamericano,

meritocrats: A group of leaders or officeholders selected on the basis of individual ability or achievement.

Whatever would such people be doing working in a language school?


Regards,
John

[Deicide]

[elamericano]

You've actually quoted the definition of "meritocracy".

[Justin Trullinger]

No, "meritocracy" would be "rule by...(the aforementioned people)"


My experience is that it's a mix of the scroogey types, the well meaning imbeciles, the beauracrats, the paper pushers, the racists and the...


Oh, never mind. I'm havin a rough day.


Best,
Justin