Korean Job Discussion Forums

[stevieg4ever]

New co teacher refuses to respect me or acknowledge me and has said so because I am not a �professional teacher in my country�. I have very little input into her parrot style English lessons. I basically just stand there and wait for the dialogues to come on at which point I ask some questions to the class. That is about it. She is very unresponsive and uncomfortable with me (which invariably makes me uncomfortable as well). She is difficult to talk to and to approach.

I�m not sure whether to tell the local education office or the regional one. I know the local office will be annoyed if I go the regional office first but we have to speak in Korean because they don�t speak English very well in the local education office. Not knowing whose side they will take is also hard, generally they are nice and listen to me, they make me kimchi but if there is a genuine problem they are slow to respond or try and say �it isn�t a problem� in their own funny way.

They know my situation is difficult. I don�t know what to do but I really want to finish the year (ends in August, teaching will end in July I think, will change schools obviously) as many other things are good e.g. apartment, life outside of school, friends, traveling, weekends, money etc

Any advice would be much appreciated.

[Temporary]

Do you have a PSP or Nintendo DS?

Better yet voice recorder. She wants to play a game then play it. Shut your brain off and do what she says. Just don't do her any favours.
When she asks I don't respect people that don't respect me.

[Saxiif]

She's making your job really easy, right? No prep work etc.? Just roll with it and take the money and save your effort for other co-teachers.

[Fishead soup]

[KYC]

[Draz]

[poet13]

I would say, go out of your way to be extra nice and professional with the other teachers, the principal and vice principal. Occasionally bring your those two small gifts....pair of pineapples, good chocolate, something like that. Ignore, but not be rude to, the co-teacher. Everyone will eventually wonder what her problem is.
Just remember, Head games are fun!

[spirit2110]

The part about the co-teacher not respecting you blows and is totally uncalled for. But, as far as everything else you described goes I say, "You lucky lucky guy." She wants you to parrot, parrot. No work - easy. Do your dialogs with little to no communication with your co-teacher in or outside of class and move on with your day.

Sounds like heaven to me. For the most part, I have decent co-teachers. But, then there are the one or two that think English class is code for "break time" and they leave me thus abolishing the whole "co-teacher" ideal. So, I say "screw it." You don't have to teach, neither do I. If the class starts to act up and there is no co-teacher to discipline I walk out. It is not like I can get in trouble for it, the co-teacher left and refused to fulfill his co-teaching abilities. I would not be the only one at fault. I am not going to do their job for them and you shouldn't have to either. Use their fucked up behavior to your advantage.

[LostinKSpace]

Similar issues with one of my co-teachers. He really hates the fact that I am here, he told me off this morning because my students were speaking too much in class, and the noise was too much for other teachers. I asked if it would be ok if we whispered our conversations instead, he seemed to like that idea...

He then proceeded to tell me that I wasn't special and that I was a guest in his country. To which I replied that I had never said I was special, (infact I have never taken the short bus ,(wish I'd said that)). All this because I was asked to give some ideas on how we could conduct our classes and they conflicted with his own.

Funny thing is I new from the moment that I was introduced that we would have 'issues', am just trying to keep a low profile and put my nice smiley face on, now where is my monkey costume

[CentralCali]

"Oh, I'm not a professional teacher in the United States? How interesting. Here's another interesting fact: neither are you."

Try that with her and see what the reaction is.

[marlow]

[poet13]

Considering that "harmony" is held in high regard, especially among higher management, I think you should encourage your co-teacher to voice her concerns to the vice-principal. See where that gets her.
The joke will be on her though the first time you have a conversation with a student that she doesnt understand.

Your situation of just being a parrot does not sound good at all. I couldn't do it. I came here to teach. I think a great part of the reason why the students demonstrate so much respect to me is that I get the same from the other teachers. They treat me as just another teacher. I don't have ALL of the same responsibilities, but I have some. I don't have a homeroom, but not all do. I take my turn directing the lunch line, invigilating exams, sheperding students on school trips, running clubs and activities, mentoring problem students, paying my dues to the monthly teachers activity fund, etc.

[crusher_of_heads]

If the coteacher leaves the class, then that is precisely when you teach? And if you're a hardcase like me, teach with her in there-treat her like the child she truly is!

[stevieg4ever]

Thanks for the replies. Regarding the contract renewal I thought that was done by the regional office, im sure it doesnt have anything to do with the school (remember ill be switching schools at the end)? She is making my work load real easy I must say but the environment isn't pleasant at all.

Just had another 4 lessons. They were much better then last thursday (that was our first day teaching together this term, today the second). But if I have any constructive debate with her about anything she turns aggressive very quickly with all the 'I dont need a foreigner', 'you are not a professional teacher', 'this is Korea' stuff.

[spirit2110]