Korean Job Discussion Forums

dmbfan · Joined: 09 Mar 2006

So, I'm sitting here not doing much of anything. Three girls come in (I'd say 5th graders) to make trouble. So, I tell them to go. They walk out my classroom, and I here one of them say "Phuck you". Now, being a native speaker, and a genuine practioner of those two words (not to the students), I know what those words sound like. There is no mistake.

I went outside the room, and asked, and they did the "what? Oh, no" game. I took them to see a couple of korean teachers, hoping someone would help me out (Not teachers I work with). Nothing was done. Nobody gave an apology...nadda. They lied their asses off, and that was that.

So, when this happened....................well...................after the girls left, and I noticed that nobody was doing anything about it, I went in the teachers room and pretty much told them what I think of their country.

.....can't wait to leave.

dmbfan

Alyallen

dmbfan · Joined: 09 Mar 2006

Well, I don't about you, but saying "phuck you" is not exactly something that I let slide. Granted, there are many teachers who will take anything up the but, and call it "being flexible"...but that? No.

Richard Krainium · Joined: 12 Jan 2006

Alyallen · Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 9:13 pm Post subject:

dmbfan · Joined: 09 Mar 2006

seoulsucker · Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 9:15 pm Post subject:

Hagwon? Just curious.

I had that kind of behavior, and worse when I worked at one. Had a 3rd grader spit in my face TWICE. The first time, I wiped it, took him to the office where the teachers did the same song and dance you described.

Second time, I wiped it, kept it on my hand and slapped it on my supervisor's desk, threw the kid at him and told him to kick him out of the school or I quit.

Good on you for standing up.

This country complains about "unprofessional teachers"...well, it's a two-way street. They should treat teachers like professionals if they want us to behave as such.

Kyrei · Joined: 22 Jan 2003

Look for your petard, and then feel free to hoist yourself on it to fully and completely end your time here in Korea.

Gotta say though... that did make me laugh out loud.

dmbfan · Joined: 09 Mar 2006

Doogie · Joined: 19 Jan 2006 Location: Hwaseong City

What's done is done......you lost your temper. Don't sweat it. I've come close a few times in similar situations. There are a lot of Korean teachers that really just don't give a damn if the students disrespect the foreigner. If that happened to a Korean teacher, the kid would have his/her ass kicked big time. All in all, I've got a great relationship with my students. There have been a few times where a couple of "bad eggs" have called me some pretty bad names. As in your case, the Korean teachers I took it to basically said they don't care. If they're not prepared to back you up, there's not much you can do. Sometimes I wonder if the kids know that they'll get away with this with the foreigner.

dmbfan · Joined: 09 Mar 2006

Corporal · Joined: 25 Jan 2003

Kyrei · Joined: 22 Jan 2003

It'd have been funnier if you hadn't put in your notice yet. Have a good time wherever you end up next.

dmbfan · Joined: 09 Mar 2006

ajgeddes · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Location: Yongsan

I had a student yell sshibalsekki at me one time thinking I wouldn't understand. I followed him back to his classroom and told his homeroom teacher what he said. She lost it. She took him and his two accomplices into the teachers room, and two male teachers took turns smacking them. These were grade 6 boys. Well, they didn't pull that stuff again for the rest of the year.

I think one problem that you might have had was that it was in English. They don't know what "Phuck You!" means here because it often gets translated as "Oh my god" or "Stupid" on tv here. If you gave them the Korean translation that should help a bit but still they just don't think it is that bad.