Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Shell_e]

Hi all,

I'm only a newbie, Korea 5 weeks, teaching in a Hagwon 4 weeks. My problem is when i started there was me, 2 other Korean teachers and my director, who also teaches. After 4 weeks there's now only myself and the director. If the position had been advertised like this I wouldn't have taken it as its just to small. I work in the country so the more teachers the better. I also have a wee issue with the director as I'm sure lots of people do. On Fri i sat in the tea room with her and the other teacher and for 10 solid minutes she spoke Korean even though i was sitting right next to her and she and the other teacher can speak fantastic English. This happens regulary, I've stopped having lunch with them because of it.

She's also tried to get me to pay for 2 apartment bills which are for a billing period before I even arrived, she was living in the apartment before me.

I'm going to speak to her tomorrow as I believe she needs a teacher with a lot more experience, she's now asking me to teach reading, writing and grammar and I think I've mistakenly chosen the wrong type of school for myself.

Does anyone ever have amical separations from their director and school? I already sense a little tension between us after i explained i was finding it extremely hard not having any text books and the issue of the first bill. I'm sure the 2nd bill isn't going to go down very well.

Any thoughts on the best way for me to handle this?

[bacasper]

[Shell_e]

Oh for sure, I agree with that. I just meant now there's only the 2 of us I have a lot more responsibility and have to pick up the subjects the other teachers were teaching.

My classes always seem to change as do the students in the class. Last week she combined her class with mine so she had a free class and my class size doubled. This was done at the start of class. She makes a lot of adhoc changes like this, including which books to use etc. And its something I feel a teacher with a lot more experience would be able to handle, whereas I spend a lot of time preparing etc and adhoc changes are hard for me to adapt to.

[jellobean]

I'd be the situation won't get any better.... The changing students probably have to do with changing enrollment... Unless she isn't keeping to the letter of the contract, you may have trouble getting out amicably (and if not amicably then you won't get a letter of release).... You are definitely NOT responsible for the bills before you got there... If she tries to deduct that from your salary its not legal... Also, given the problems you are having, I would insist on pay stubs... Make sure that your health insurance and pension are being paid and that you are not being over taxed... You should also insist on tax receipts in Korean that you can take to the tax office... As for the class size, unless it is in your contract there is nothing you can do...

In the end, you may have problems or she may be trying to see how much she can take advantage of you... If its the later, she may back off if you take a stand.... Have you explained to her that you do not feel qualified for your new duties? Although you feel the job would be better for someone with more experience, she wouldn't find an experienced teacher willing to take that kind of job...

[PeterDragon]

"Does anyone ever have amical separations from their director and school?"

My advice would be to lay out your objections honestly and reasonably, then inform the Hagwon director that you, for those reasons, you intend to quit. The bad news is that many Hagwon directors take such an action as a deeply personal insult, and get very vindictive. The good news is, as long as you quit "by the book" (this may involve paying your employer back for airfare if you paid your way here, and giving proper notice, if proper notice is required in your contract), there's nothing the Hagwon owner can really do to stop you from leaving and getting another job. If the director refuses to give you a letter of release, call the labor board to appeal or find a recruiter willing to advocate for you and get you into a new job. (I can recommend a few good ones; PM me if necessary.) The other good news is, many, many other Hagwons will hire you even if your director gets petty and refuse to give you a good reference.

And who knows? Maybe a miracle will occur and a frank discussion with your boss will cause her to compromise on enough things that you can stay.

[CasperTheFriendlyGhost]

You should probably just tough it out. Unless she's watchng over your shoulder, you can probably teach whatever material you feel apropriate. Eventually, you get get firm about what books you want to teach. The school has a lot invested in you, so she'll want to kep you, especially being the only teacher. You're bound to have powerr struggles; learn to pick your battles. Paying for her bills is definitely one you should take up. Save the classroom issues for later.

[Shell_e]

Thanks everyone,

I prompty gave her the gas bill this morning and said it was hers. She took it and i don't think she'll try that again.

I also spoke to her about the school, about only being the 2 of us etc and that I wouldn't have the job if it was advertised like that. I also explained that being new to teaching meant it was hard for me to handle constant changes in the schedule etc. And to be fair she was pretty cool about it She made an effort at lunch and offered me some noodles and she said she'd take me out on the weekend. She apologised for the other teachers leaving and she said she'd try her best to make sure I was ok.

All in all it went well. I'm glad i let her know how i feel etc. Now I'll just see how it goes. I really don't see myself staying the whole year, well not unless she hires more teachers. But at least I've cleared the air.

Thanks

[ontheway]

How many students are at your school?

With two teachers gone, it sounds like financial trouble. You are her new foreign teacher and she expects you to draw the customers (students). If you are a good teacher, you will draw students. If not, your school will die and you'll get a separation and a chance to look for a new job.

[Corky]

You don't teach with textbooks?

[Shell_e]

For my 1st week i had no text books and even after nearly 6 weeks I'm still having issues with them.

My schedule changed again this week and the text books listed for the kids isn't correct. I usually find out in the class that they don't have the books. This happened yesterday and there's not even a spare teachers copy for me?? For another class she had written the wrong text book, so the prep i had done was useless.

It's going to happen again today. Another classic is that i'm asked to teach 'reading', no text books provided, no explanation. My director asked me to ask the students how the last foreign teacher taught them. Luckily 2 of my girls are pretty good and after about 10 minutes I was able to figure out what to do.

I'll talk to her again and see what happens.

[xCustomx]

Sounds like a typical hagwon. I think you should try to get used to the schedule changes, kids dropping out, new kids coming in without any notice, etc..
My old boss was very standoff-ish and if I expressed even a little bit of frustration with how things were being run she got all pissed off. There were numerous occasions where she wouldn't talk to any of the employees because of something someone said to her (she is VERY fragile emotionally, yet loves to criticize everyone and everything around her).
Be careful with how you approach your boss or you could be stuck in a living hell for the next 10 months.