Korean Job Discussion Forums

[query29]

I have been here teaching at a hogwan for 3 months. I am a new teacher, so I know I can greatly improve. I try my best, but I am getting some very negative reactions from the Kteachers at my school. This afternoon one of them was straight yelling at me before/during one of my classes. Even though I double checked her instructions, it turned out she wanted the exact opposite of what I did (thinking I was doing what she asked). I mean this woman was screaming at me.

Plus all the k teachers treat me as if I am a complete moron (believe it or not I am not). Dealing with the new country and the new job is hard enough for me, but this? I just don't know if it's worth it.

I know one reason they treat me poorly is because I deviated from the textbook. But for many of the classes, the students learn 6 to eight short sentences a week. I'm talking short, "I see a cat. I see a bird." etc. They want me to just drill them into the kids heads for three hours a week. At the end of the first class, the kids had the sentences down. The rest of the week they would just tune out or act up. I started making creative activities to help them learn. Not hangman type games, but thing to get the kids to have fun while learning. Sure there was some trial and error, but I am trying. Now the kids in my classes are great. They're enthusiastic and a joy to teach, but the co-workers are killing me.

Sorry for thye long post, but does anyone have any advice or encouragement for me (reality checks are even okay)? I don't think I can just ignore this for the rest of the year. Thanks!

[ChuckECheese]

Why do you take the BS?

If they're screaming at you, scream right back. Call in sick and not show up. screw'em.

Show some balls.

If they don't bend over, pack your bags and go back home or go to China or Japan.

Koreans will treat you bad only if you let them. Be tough and help yourself.

[Rapacious Mr. Batstove]

Full credit on taking the creative approach. I can assure, that you are doing the kids a world of good. What you are coming up against with the co-teachers is resistance against your 'crazy' flexible western teaching methods, where they just can't fathom anything beyond the rote learned repetitious style they learned and were trained to teach.

Now.....I'm assuming that if your co-worker was yelling at you during class, they are in fact a co-teacher and are present with you in the classroom. The first thing you need to address is respect - from your co-teacher. You need to make it very clear that you will not tolerate her raising her voice to you in front of students in the classroom. This is just plain disrespectful and unprofessional.

As for your creative teaching methods, brilliant! But as for the resistance from co-workers, try a diplomatic approach first. Sit down and explain to them how your activities are relevant and how they facilitate the compulsory material. You could even involve the co-teacher in using these methods somehow.

There are lots of ways to approach situations live these. Some more information on your part would be useful too.

What is the stance of your director?
Specifically what is the co-teacher's gripe with your methods?
What activities are you trying out?

Cheers

[merkurix]

Have a private meeting with the director and the KTs that are driving you nuts. Attack them in a most dignified way but keep your cool at all times (i.e.in your politest voice: "I don't understand why you always have to yell and scream at me for no good reason, this is really unprofessional . . . . are you on your period 24 hours a day seven days a week? Bonus points if she loses face in front of your director, she will quit soon).

You need to stand up for yourself. In this country if you let people walk all over you, they will. Give a little, shove a little.

[hubba bubba]

This is all good advice. let me re-emphasive about not loosing your cool, at first, with coworkers. They deserve it. They are being utterly, completely disrespectful and rude in a way that would be unfathomable to act towards a fellow korean coworker. They have made you "lose face" in front of your students. Unacceptable in this coulture. However, at first, flying off the handle will only make things worse for you in the long run. Something about confucious.

However, you MUST stand up for yourself. If you do it politley once, and they continue, take off the gloves. Hold a meeting with your director (I would only do it with the director), and threaten to quit...and mean it. But, still, don't act too crazy about it. You are more valuable to your director than the korean teachers are...probably. does the director even know this is happening? If not, he might rip them a new one. You are an investment and a profit engine. They are disposable, mostly....

Handle the $hit on Monday with your coworkers. If it happens again, go to the boss.

[query29]

So to clarify...

The k teacher was yelling at me in the teachers room before class and into the first 5 minutes. All the k teachers are women (I am male) and the ones I have the issues with have been there for years. I'm not trying to be sexist, but I can't help but feel there is a gender issue at play as well as a difference in personality types and teaching methods. They can be very catty and there are rumors that they have gotten other teachers fired in the past. I heard through the gossip mill that they didn't like my teaching style at first and now don't like me all together. I don't really care at all whether they like me or not, but it is making work a lot more difficult.

The driector is a former banker who is running a hogwan for the first time. I told him about the situation and that I would not stand for it. I said that if I am doing a bad job then give me a letter of release and I'll find another job. He said it was probably just a gap in communication, and if we spoke more things would improve. In other words, he did nothing.

For a newbie, I feel like I am performing well above average. The kids I teach are more involved, I hardly ever have to yell at them (which everyone else here does constantly), and I think their skills are improving rapidly. Part of the original problem was that the teachers complained that the kids were hard to control after my classes. I say it's because they are going from a stimulating environment to a restructive and boring one.

The activiteis are varied, but usually involve some kind of competition.

For the real beginners, a listening/speaking game I made up on the fly. You get one point for repeating the sentence even if you need help. Two points for repeating it on your own, and three points if you repeat the sentence very well. Also, a gesture game where the kids get to make up their own gestures for vocabulary words and verbs (they love it and it is hilarious).

For the older kids, writing games with a point system. A verb tic-tac-toe where the kids have to make original sentences using the correct form of verbs to get credit.

I will try anything to get them excited about learning (ie. I'm not just playing hangman).

Thanks again for your time and advice!

[Rapacious Mr. Batstove]

I've been the only male in a small hagwon before too but I can't say I had the problems with co-teachers you're having.

It sounds like you're doing an awesome job.

It sounds like your co-workers are just old tired hacks with nothing better to do than biiach on the new teacher.

My advice...smile, nod, walk away, keep doing what you're doing; your job the best you can, go home at the end of the day knowing you made the kids happy and they learned from you, collect your pay check and never let a sour Korean wench get you down.

[PhD]

My advice is FORGET DIPLOMACY. USE dead silence. When she starts to yell, just give her complete utter silence. When she finishes yelling, look at her and ask, "Are you through?"

Then go on with your lesson. If she starts again, look at her and firmly say, I HEARD YOU, and then go back to teaching. Keep it up till she runs down or runs out of the room.

In short, you are showing her that she is a fly on the wall and not worth a response.

Then after class, go and tell her if she ever does that again, ALL HELL will break lose. then turn and walk away, leaving it to her imagination what you mean by "all hell".

NEVER listen to her again. Tell her that her disrespectful treatment of you has made her point of view worthless.

[merkurix]

[moosehead]

congratulations! you've just discovered that being a good teacher is not necessarily what is welcomed by all koreans - that is - if you are any good they pick up on it pretty quickly - and if that's not what they counted on - well - they plan to make your life miserable.

chances are maybe one of them or their cronies was teaching E before and considering your treatment, not very well. chances are also they are terribly intimidated and ashamed now that a native speaker is there talking E in front of the students and the students now know what real E sounds like.

you're going to have difficulty there but the director is correct in letting things go for now - he needs his k teachers and he needs you too - he's hoping you can stand your ground and teach without being too bothered by them - which by the way - what's this about teaching what they are telling you? sure they might have some guidelines, but this is YOUR classroom, you need to take control of it - and let them know so, ok?

have a talk w/the director about this - he probably doesn't want to get too involved but at the same time he needs to know your plans and teaching methods - if you disagree w/what the curriculum is, do your own - evaluate the students' needs and go for it - chances are he'll back you up.

the k teachers are trying to hold on to what power they have and until you say otherwise, they'll dictate every aspect of your classroom.

stand firm, stand your ground and look out for your students. don't fight in front of them, tho, that's not cool at all.

good luck and give us an update ok?

moosehead

[Cerriowen]

It has been my experience that Koreans will treat you as good or as bad as you demand to be treated. Teachers here are really valuable. Expecially Kindie teachers.

Tell them that it's COMPLETELY unacceptable, and if they plan on changing, you will turn in your 30 days notice. That's all you have to do to leave a hakwon.

Then find a school that won't treat you like crap.

[merkurix]

When she spazzes (sic?) in front of your students, watch her English and wite down a sentence she says. SOmeone who can't keep their composure is bound to make a mistake. If her English is not impeccably perfect you can enjoy a teachable and comedic moment at her expense. Have the students correct the sentence you write on the board in front of her while ignoring all of her remarks. Finish this mini-lesson wink at her, and leave.

[bobbybigfoot]

Yikes, having to deal with screaming teachers is unnecessary and brutal...

I teach at Avalon, and there has been no screaming, no rude anything. In fact being creative with the lessons is strongly encouraged. The general framework is set out, but after that, it's up to each teacher to colour the lessons.

Unfortunately, you have chosen a poor school. Use diplomacy to work things out, but if that is not the case, complete 6 months then ask for a letter of release and find another school that will treat you better...

Good luck OP.