Korean Job Discussion Forums

xCustomx · Joined: 06 Jan 2006

Here's an update to this post: http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?p=1236165&highlight=#1236165

I've been telling my CT that I don't want to do the camp and that I'm not obligated to do so since I never signed the contract that the school gave me. My CT then told the principal and he reluctantly gave permission to not teach at the camp. However, the city office is now saying that I have to teach since it's in my contract. I keep telling them no I don't since I never signed the camp contract. On Friday I told them that I'm not teaching 70 hours a week, spending the night , etc..., even if they're paying 2.0million. I"ve insisted that even if the city makes me go, that I'm just gonna show up at my middle school and not the camp....My CT ended up crying on the phone becuase some guy from the district office was yelling at her, even though she told him that the principal said I don't have to teach at the camp.....This is becoming a real pain in the ass
I told them that if they are forcing me to teach at the camp then I'm only obligated to teach 20 hours a week since it's in my contract. They don't have an answer for that yet, so I guess I'll find out next week if they are still going to try and force me to teach.

If you were me, would you just go to the camp or stick to my guns and refuse to go since I never signed off on anything?

spliff · Joined: 19 Jan 2004 Location: Khon Kaen, Thailand

I'll do it, when is it?

icicle · Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Location: Gyeonggi do Korea

Based on what you have said I don't know what to suggest ... It looks to me like the way it has ended up playing out ... Has meant that a lot of people have ended up losing face which in Korean culture is not a good thing ... and does put you in a very difficult situation ... The best suggestion I can think of ... which unfortunately is not possible ... is to go back in time a few days and handle it differently ... "I won't do it ... and you can't make me" is probably not an ideal way to approach a situation like this ...

Icicle

icnelly · Joined: 25 Jan 2006 Location: Bucheon

Man, sorry to hear this... I think it's good your in a spot where you can still question yourself though.

I mean: you're kicking up some waves, but if not then what? Let it be acceptable for the BOE to make your CT cry to get what they want. Especially since the terms were not above board or transparent.

Good luck.

The_Conservative · Joined: 15 Mar 2007

Just don't show...or if you do, just lean back in your chair put your feet up on the desk and give the students crossword puzzles for the duration of the camp.

Usually I advocate doing a good job, but this is B.S.

xCustomx · Joined: 06 Jan 2006

I agreed to interview for the position, but mostly to get information regarding the camp, such as working hours, ages, material that I'm expected to teach, etc...

After interviewing I told the camp director that I wanted the job, but then he said I had to attend training 3 days earlier than what was previously mentioned. Then I told them I can't go to training, so they were debating whether or not it was still ok for me to teach since I couldn't prepare any material prior to the camp. Before they reached their decision I notified them that I wanted to cancel my plans and not teach at their camp, that I would prefer to just teach at my school during the summer break.

My CT has said that this is not the "Korean way" of doing things, and usually the Korean teachers have to do whatever the government says. I told her that I'm not Korean, and just because I gave a verbal agreement does not make anything official, especially when I can't even attend the training, nor did I sign any official contract to teach at the camp. When I told my CT that I never signed the contract, she was surprised. I said, "how can they make me teach the camp if I never offically agreed to anything? why did they even bother to send the contract if they have already decided that I have to teach the camp?" The government office still thinks that since I agreed to interview for the position and was offered the job that I'm obligated to teach Rolling Eyes

I obviously can't go back and change things, and it seems like the principle wasn't very happy with my decision, but I'm not gonna be someone's biatch and teach 70 hours a week for 2 weeks, at a camp that I don't even want to attend. I told my CT, "why would an employer want to hire someone who doesn't want to work for them?"

The CT and the principal have probably lost face, but again, I'm not gonna lay down and just do the camp because the government wants me to. It would be very easy to just agree to teach, but I'm tired of people trying to take advantage of me, so it's about time I stand up for myself and say no. I still don't feel like I did anything wrong. I guess I'll just have to wait and see how things play out this week.

hellofaniceguy · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: On your computer screen!

[quote="The CT and the principal have probably lost face, but again, I'm not gonna lay down and just do the camp because the government wants me to. It would be very easy to just agree to teach, but I'm tired of people trying to take advantage of me, so it's about time I stand up for myself and say no. I still don't feel like I did anything wrong. I guess I'll just have to wait and see how things play out this week.[/quote]

It's NOT the government to blame....people always blame the government.....it's the boneheads who work for the government and call the shots. Obviously you have a real bonehead in your school district and I hope you stand your ground.....that is, if you are in the rights.
Just because it's monkey see monkey do in korea does not make it right....the "korean way" is monkey see monkey do."

mrsquirrel · Joined: 13 Dec 2006

icnelly · Joined: 25 Jan 2006 Location: Bucheon

spliff · Joined: 19 Jan 2004 Location: Khon Kaen, Thailand

Seems to me it's a question of your word... Cool

kprrok · Joined: 06 Apr 2004 Location: KC

spliff · Joined: 19 Jan 2004 Location: Khon Kaen, Thailand

If he's satisfied w/ the "new terms" than why did he decline?

kprrok · Joined: 06 Apr 2004 Location: KC

spliff · Joined: 19 Jan 2004 Location: Khon Kaen, Thailand

No *beep*...I was busting your azz...Anyway, I can't do it either as I'll be on vacation aug3 - aug 26..... Very Happy

But, I wouldn't mind...two weeks for a 46' HDTV.... Cool

mrsquirrel · Joined: 13 Dec 2006

He is up against the fluid contract mentality though.

It's a difficult one.

From my usual cynical viewpoint he has agreed to do the camp. The OP is experienced here and knows that things change here and should be expecting that to happen. Therefore he should be keeping to his word.

At the same time he has a contract which states that it should be no more than 20 hours per week and then it will be overtime.

It's too late for sorting out the losing face. That has happened and will never be forgotten. He now has to look for a way to limit the knock on effects at his school, particularly if he is staying on there for any length of time.