Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mehmeh]

Does anyone else have to go to this? Just got word today that all native teachers at my school were required to go. It looks like it's being put on by KAFLA (whatever that is) and it's an annual event for hagwon workers.

Can anyone who has gone shed some light on what this is about?

[potin14p]

ugh. we have to go too. and on the hand-out we got from school, they put "attendance will be taken at the end of the conference" in big bold writing.
what a pain. they're not going to tell us anything we dont already know. I resent have to giving up a precious Saturday for this crap. are we getting paid? hell no.
my hand-out says the reason is "to improve understanding btw teachers and the institutes they work for".

[yingwenlaoshi]

Why do you have to go? You have a contract. You won't be fired. Screw 'em.

[crazy_arcade]

ahh the typical "why should I have to do anything extra" attitude.

good luck in life guys.

[yingwenlaoshi]

[chasingdreams]

Yeah...got told about it today too. My boss said we have to go or he will get fined. There is not a chance in hell that I am giving up a Saturday and quite frankly I couldn't care less if they do get fined.

[yingwenlaoshi]

[Smee]

Last week my coteacher showed me a flyer for a conference for public school teachers next weekend (November 10-11, I think). It was marked "EPIK," but I guess all foreign teachers are supposed to go. I'm not sure if it's in the same vein as the meeting Yu_Bum_Suk talked about last week, or if it's related at all to what you're talking about, but it looks like they set up conferences for each province and want teachers and coteachers to stay at a hotel and attend workshops for two days. I'm not going, and nobody has pushed the issue. Anyone else hear about this?

[yingwenlaoshi]

[justin moffatt]

Maybe this is an ingenious attempt, to get all foreign teachers together in one place to finally gas us all. . . . But wait, too calculated for Korean officials to figure out.

[Bouvguy]

I was told it was a conference for teachers and I was asked if I wanted to go. I'm kind of out in the sticks, so a weekend in Seoul sounds good to me. The school is paying for everything and I'll ask for overtime pay after the fact. That's how they seem to do things, after the fact. Like you are invited to eat in the cafeteria everyday and then tell you after the first month that you have to pay for lunch for the past month. Anyway, I'll ditch the co-teacher as soon as meetings are over and go play in Seoul! Who wants to get together and where?

[NeonRain]

Apparently it is compulsory. It's is probably written into your contract somewhere and they mention something about it being written into labor law/ board of education rules (section 19 and 20, according to this registration proof thingy I have).

Registered online for it today, my boss hinted that attendance acts as a kind of "gold star" on your immigration record for future signings. But she did not say anything explicitly. I am kind of obliged to go, ie she'll know if I'm not there. Our school is in the area of Seoul Immigration and she seems to be a mover and shaker in the business, so she tells me she'll be doing one of the presentations and will be there.

I understand how people are getting upset about it. I finish up this contract in 3 weeks, and now I will be told about how to live and work and teach in Korea? It sucks but the way I see it, there's no point in getting stressed about something like this. I like working in Korea and I plan on coming back next year. If I have to jump through a few more hoops to get back in, then so be it. The system needs to tighten it's measures to sort out the problems.

Anyway, I got full details this evening.
12 Nov 2007 (Saturday) 9 until 1
Hyundai Department Store in Mok-dong (full details and map and so forth is on the KAFLA website (www.kafla.co.kr if I remember correctly)
Involves a presentation on teaching stuff, immigration stuff, sightseeing and so on tips for newer teachers and then a "Cultural performance", part of which is a performance of the Traditional Mask Dance, the other part I'm not sure about the details.

Should be interesting on at least one level. Getting to see the organisation skills of the Seoul Education Board in action will probably be a big treat.

[Atavistic]

[NeonRain]

Gold star was in inverted comma in an attempt at humor. In more serious terms, my employer hinted that attendance at this seminar would reflect on my record at immigration, and would be a helpful factor in obtaining subsequent E-2 visa's, in light of the pending increase in the number of documents and checks needed to obtain on such visa.

Gold star was just so much shorter to type after a long week ^^ apologies.

[Atavistic]