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driftingfocus
Joined: 08 Feb 2007
Location: Boston, MA
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 Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 3:43 am Post subject: Help! Need advice! |
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So, I need some help/advice on what to do about my supervisor. I talked a little bit about it in my post about sickday craziness here: http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?p=1680833
I've been working at this school for two and a half weeks, and while some things seem good, my supervisor makes things incredibly frustrating. I know other foreigners who work through the same Office of Education who don't have her as their supervisor who are having a fine, even enjoyable, time.
For one thing, my recruiter, while they did tell me I would be working for more than one school, did not tell me I would be working for SEVEN. The way it was implied was 2-3, which would have been okay. The recruiter came highly recommended to me, so I didn't question it. That was probably my first mistake. When I got here, I was told I would have a regular schedule for the schools, on a 1,3 and 2,4 basis. While not my ideal, so long as it was the same each week, I could work with that. I'm a patient person. However, virtually every day, my schedule changes. Either a co-teacher is sick, or the school is cancelled, or something. So, most mornings I end up going somewhere different than what is on my schedule, which is frustrating. Once a week I could deal with it, but it's literally almost every day. For an example, here's one of my mornings last week, as posted in my blog:
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| Today I was supposed to go to X Middle School. Having never been there before, they wanted me to take a taxi. Not my favourite thing, but whatever. They wanted me to arrive at the Office of Education at 8:45, so I could take a taxi from there. I get there, and my supervisor does her "sit down" gesture, and sits on the phone for 5 minutes without saying a word to me. She has a pause in her phone calls and I ask "When do I take the taxi?". She shakes her said and says "No taxi.", so I assume that she means she is having one of the teachers drive me. Another 10 minutes of phone chattering later and she says that I am going to teach at Y Middle School today because the English teacher at X is sick. Going to Y involves a 45 minute bus ride and a 30 minute ferry. I ask her if this means I am now not teaching my workshop in the afternoon. She nods. I ask her when the bus is, when I see her write down two times on a sheet of paper. She shushes me, and talks on the phone more. 5 minutes later, she pauses, and I again ask "Is this when the bus leaves?". She shakes her head and says "No, today you now go to Z Middle School.". I ask if I am now teaching the workshop again, and she says yes, though she has changed the time. I finally leave, half an hour from when I first arrived, and walk to Z Middle School. |
It gets truly absurd sometimes.
The other thing is that she keeps wanting me to get to the schools around 8-8:15. My contract says I'm to be at the schools from 9-5. Now, if I were leaving at 4, that would be fine, but I'm not. Sooome days she lets me go at 4:30, but that's generally at the earliest. In order to insure when I'm leaving, she makes me come to the OofE, where she works, every day after I get back from teaching at the schools, so she knows what time I finish each day. I have talked to one of the other foreign teacher's supervisors, who dislikes this woman and who is a good sup, and she says that the woman claims that she "lets me go early". Bullshit. Not early enough to make up for that time. I don't need the prep time, either - I came to Korea with 48 lesson plans, and the most that needs to be done to each is to shift it for the age group, plus, 90% of the time I'm just teaching from the provided textbook anyway. The problem is that she claims that that is the latest the buses can get me there. I think this is a lie, because they're the commuter buses for the island, and so I would think that they would run more than once an hour. And, if it is in fact not a lie, then she needs to let me go early. I have tried to explain this to her, and have pointed out the area in my contract where it says 9-5, but she just seems confused and keeps saying "8 to 5". I don't know if she genuinely doesn't understand, or if she's playing her game of "let's get the waygook to acquiesce by pretending to not understand".
She also has had me sign roughly 5 copies of my contract now. I brought several copies with me, even though I was only told I would need two - one for them, one for me. I have always kept one of my own, but for some reason, they keep asking for me to sign new contracts, and I have no idea what's up with that. Should I be worried, or is this just likely disorganization?
For what it's worth, she's very inexperienced in working with foreigners, and I think that's part of the problem. She fired the person before me for basically a misunderstanding, and she got in deep shit with the provincial director for doing so, so the other foreigners here say that I'd have to do something majorly bad to get fired, or she'd lose her job as well. The other Korean teachers don't really like her either, as she's kind of "the bitchy one" in an office of mostly friendly people. She has had to fight tooth and nail to get to her position, and so we all think that part of her behavior is due to the fact that she probably feels that she has to be stern in order to prove herself. One of the other teachers has also advised me to keep careful track of my hours, as due to all the shifts in schedule, she's probably having me work more than my contracted 22hrs, without giving me overtime.
I have to tough it out at least a few more weeks, because I get paid on the 25th, and don't have much of my "get settled in" money left. Not really enough to go somewhere else to find a job, much less make a visa run (though I do have my diploma, transcripts, and apostilled copies of my background check with me that I brought just in case). I do like the area - it's rural and pretty, and my pay is pretty good (2.2 at a public school, though overtime is rare), and since there's not much to do, pretty much my only expenditures are groceries, which is fine by me. Plus, the other foreigners here are nice and low-key like me, and the other Korean teachers are generally pretty awesome as well. If I can figure out a way to work with this woman, it would be best, but I have no idea where to begin. I have contacted the director of foreign teachers for the province, and she thinks my supervisor is being ridiculous as well, but she hasn't been very helpful with what I can do about it.
There are other things as well (like that they pretty much tell me what town the school is in and then leave me alone to figure out the bus system), but this is long enough for now.
So, ideas? Advice?
Last edited by driftingfocus on Tue Jun 10, 2008 4:00 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Draz
Joined: 27 Jun 2007
Location: Land of Morning Clam
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| Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 3:58 am Post subject: |
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You don't have the cash to run so... you know two can play the "what are you saying I do not understand" game. Right??
And you have been carefully reading all those different contracts they had you sign... right?? |
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Hanson
Joined: 20 Oct 2004
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| Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 3:58 am Post subject: |
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You have to ask yourself if you're willing to put up with her nonsense for a year. If you're gonna stand up to her, you might as well do it soon. Wait until payday, so you have at least that much for expenses, and then have a sit-down with her and a witness you trust. Be tactful, don't get angry, but tell her that things have to change or you will walk (with notice). Be compromising, suggest ways that will make her look good, but will allow you to avoid this nonsense.
Personally, I would never have let her talk me into teaching from home - that truly is one of the most "out there" things I've heard, and I've been here 8 years. With that in mind, I'd be looking for another rural job. |
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driftingfocus
Joined: 08 Feb 2007
Location: Boston, MA
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| Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 4:23 am Post subject: |
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| Draz wrote: |
You don't have the cash to run so... you know two can play the "what are you saying I do not understand" game. Right??
And you have been carefully reading all those different contracts they had you sign... right?? |
Yep, I've been reading them. They're exact duplicates, which makes it all the more confusing.
And yeah, I've been playing that game right back. |
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driftingfocus
Joined: 08 Feb 2007
Location: Boston, MA
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| Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 4:32 am Post subject: |
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| Hanson wrote: |
You have to ask yourself if you're willing to put up with her nonsense for a year. If you're gonna stand up to her, you might as well do it soon. Wait until payday, so you have at least that much for expenses, and then have a sit-down with her and a witness you trust. Be tactful, don't get angry, but tell her that things have to change or you will walk (with notice). Be compromising, suggest ways that will make her look good, but will allow you to avoid this nonsense.
Personally, I would never have let her talk me into teaching from home - that truly is one of the most "out there" things I've heard, and I've been here 8 years. With that in mind, I'd be looking for another rural job. |
The thing with her is that I don't know how to read her. When I do get firm, she gets this tone that is somewhere between incredulity and not understanding me, and I'm not sure which side it's actually leaning towards. Sometimes talking to her is like talking to a brick wall. There's not much I can seem to do, when she puts her mind to something. As I have said, she pretends to not understand me, and will say things like "they come to your apartment." and when I say "NO." she just repeats herself, and will do whatever it was anyway. The same thing goes for when she says things like "You take bus to X school today." and I say "I don't know where the school is." and she just gives me a blank look. If I repeat myself, or even use a translator like google, she still gives me essentially the same response. Most of the time I end up just throwing my hands in the air and saying "fine." but that's not what I'd prefer to be doing. The bus thing has backfired on her once before, as I went to take the bus and got on the wrong one, and so missed half a day of work. She didn't seem to want to help me though, so that was sorta her fault.
Is there a way to firmly but politely explain this to the provincial director who is trying to help? |
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captain kirk
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 4:38 am Post subject: |
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You mentioned an island. That sounds cool.
I think you have an advantage in her being wary of going over the top since she got into deep shit for firing the last waegook over a 'misunderstanding'.
Her mannerisms in the blog excerpt are disrespectful to you. Like you are to be told and not heard. I think this woman is a danger to herself. As you've desribed she's on thin ice on a number of fronts because of her stilettoishness.
You being low-key have a lot of allies, including Korean teachers who confide that your supervisor is more thrash than brains. In only 2.5 weeks there that's impressive!
I personally wouldn't mind going any which way each morning. I did that in Tawain as a sub in case a teacher got sick (read, usually, hungover). Had a motorbike and raced to whatever elem school to fill in for them. The variety was great. So I'd like that aspect to your job. Though you gotta travel light. Have you considered getting a motorbike instead of public transit. Very refreshing start to the day!
Likely your supervisor is playing hardball from the start to show you who's boss. You and your allies can see thru this and the supervisor looks odd. She's on probation as well. Looking good!
She sounds old. Is she over forty? I had a supervisor (and I think you mean 'minder' or Kcoteacher?) like that last year. She also hadn't any experience with foriegners. She had the mannerisms you describe. I think she expects you to act like a Korean would. And when you don't she feels enraged. She freezes with derision and distaste for you.
And probably curses and mutters. But my Kcoteacher had allies, more than I did. Nevertheless she sunk like a stone. I think you have logistical difficulties with seven schools going and you need good communication/relationship with this supervisor. A lot of patience for each other and optimism. Things will go wrong in your commutes.
I think your supervisor has anxiety that she can't get over her distaste for working with foreigners. You may be a replay of the 'misunderstanding' that caused her to fire your predecessor. Her Korean stiffness wouldn't flex then and she wants you to bend to save her pride. She only seems to know the 'talk to' approach and not 'talk with'. Strictly hierarchical.
Trepanning? ('trepanning'; a primitive form of surgery in which a hole in the skull is made to release evil spirits). |
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driftingfocus
Joined: 08 Feb 2007
Location: Boston, MA
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| Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 5:01 am Post subject: |
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| captain kirk wrote: |
| You mentioned an island. That sounds cool. |
Yeah, it's very pretty here. I'm in Jeollanamdo, and the only two places I really care to work are this province and Gangwondo. I like nature, and I like peace and quiet. These are the two best provinces for that, I think. The added bonus of liking the countryside is that it also pays better.
| captain kirk wrote: |
| I think you have an advantage in her being wary of going over the top since she got into deep shit for firing the last waegook over a 'misunderstanding'. |
Yeah. It is certainly an advantage. I'm not going to say anything like "If you fire me, you're going to be in bigger trouble than me.", but I do think that I can use that knowledge as leverage to a degree.
| captain kirk wrote: |
| Her mannerisms in the blog excerpt are disrespectful to you. Like you are to be told and not heard. I think this woman is a danger to herself. As you've desribed she's on thin ice on a number of fronts because of her stilettoishness. |
Yes. She does often make me feel like a child, or like I'm the lowest rung, when I know that is not the case. One of the co-teachers does it too, but it only bothers me because mrs. bitchy keeps asking me if I'm assigning homework, and I have to explain that the other teacher doesn't really let me do anything. And yeah, she's totally a danger to herself, because in her attempts to ensure her position, she's actually undermining it.
| captain kirk wrote: |
| You being low-key have a lot of allies, including Korean teachers who confide that your supervisor is more thrash than brains. In only 2.5 weeks there that's impressive! |
I'm generally a very friendly, amenable person, and that tends to go a long way with Koreans, I find.
| captain kirk wrote: |
| I personally wouldn't mind going any which way each morning. I did that in Tawain as a sub in case a teacher got sick (read, usually, hungover). Had a motorbike and raced to whatever elem school to fill in for them. The variety was great. So I'd like that aspect to your job. Though you gotta travel light. Have you considered getting a motorbike instead of public transit. Very refreshing start to the day! |
I wouldn't mind it either, if it wasn't that I am always told one thing and then told to do another. I am strongly considering a motorbike, if I do stay here, especially since I plan on getting a bike when I get back to the states. How much do they usually run?
| captain kirk wrote: |
| Likely your supervisor is playing hardball from the start to show you who's boss. You and your allies can see thru this and the supervisor looks odd. She's on probation as well. Looking good! |
Thanks! |
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driftingfocus
Joined: 08 Feb 2007
Location: Boston, MA
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| Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 5:12 am Post subject: |
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| captain kirk wrote: |
| She sounds old. Is she over forty? I had a supervisor (and I think you mean 'minder' or Kcoteacher?) like that last year. She also hadn't any experience with foriegners. She had the mannerisms you describe. I think she expects you to act like a Korean would. And when you don't she feels enraged. She freezes with derision and distaste for you. |
She's in her 40s, yeah. No, it's not my co-teacher (I have different ones at each school, but my main one who is my minder is awesome and sweet), it's my supervisor, who is my boss.
| captain kirk wrote: |
| And probably curses and mutters. But my Kcoteacher had allies, more than I did. Nevertheless she sunk like a stone. I think you have logistical difficulties with seven schools going and you need good communication/relationship with this supervisor. A lot of patience for each other and optimism. Things will go wrong in your commutes. |
Things already have gone wrong in my commutes. One day she wanted me to go to a school I had never seen before, and I mispronounced the name and got on the wrong bus, and missed half a day of work. I messed up, but it was really more her fault than mine, and I think it made her look like a bad boss. And yeah, nobody at the other schools, other than the co-teachers, speaks English, so I have to go through her for communication with all of them. It makes things difficult when I can barely communicate with *her*.
| captain kirk wrote: |
| I think your supervisor has anxiety that she can't get over her distaste for working with foreigners. You may be a replay of the 'misunderstanding' that caused her to fire your predecessor. Her Korean stiffness wouldn't flex then and she wants you to bend to save her pride. She only seems to know the 'talk to' approach and not 'talk with'. Strictly hierarchical. |
The old teacher was fired because the old supervisor, whom she had spent a year and a half with, didn't make her write down where she was going while she was on vacation, and gave her more leeway on the dates, since the schools were out anyway and there aren't really English camps here. When time came to take vacation again, with the new supervisor, she didn't write down where she was going because she never had before, though I believe she checked with the dates first, or some such. However, the new supervisor didn't like this, and fired her. Yep, over that. Ridiculous.
| captain kirk wrote: |
| Trepanning? ('trepanning'; a primitive form of surgery in which a hole in the skull is made to release evil spirits). |
What about trepanning? I'm confused. |
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KYC
Joined: 11 May 2006
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| Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 5:16 am Post subject: |
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I really wonder how some ppl can take all the crap that's thrown at them.
I am a very patient and understanding person. I have taken more crap at my ps than I should have. However, it has never been to such extremes. Learn to say no & refuse. Remember, they need you more than you need them.
Public school positions are very easy to obtain...especially if you're already in Korea. |
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driftingfocus
Joined: 08 Feb 2007
Location: Boston, MA
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| Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 5:19 am Post subject: |
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| KYC wrote: |
I really wonder how some ppl can take all the crap that's thrown at them.
I am a very patient and understanding person. I have taken more crap at my ps than I should have. However, it has never been to such extremes. Learn to say no & refuse. Remember, they need you more than you need them.
Public school positions are very easy to obtain...especially if you're already in Korea. |
Yeah, but what do you do when your boss pretends to not understand you when you refuse? Just walk out? |
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KYC
Joined: 11 May 2006
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| Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 5:22 am Post subject: |
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| driftingfocus wrote: |
| KYC wrote: |
I really wonder how some ppl can take all the crap that's thrown at them.
I am a very patient and understanding person. I have taken more crap at my ps than I should have. However, it has never been to such extremes. Learn to say no & refuse. Remember, they need you more than you need them.
Public school positions are very easy to obtain...especially if you're already in Korea. |
Yeah, but what do you do when your boss pretends to not understand you when you refuse? Just walk out? |
If things were that frustrating/extreme, yes. Say no. End of story.
I'm in a rural area too. I was asked to take X bus to school on my 3rd day in Korea. Well, I got on the right bus but on the opposite side. Didn't have a phone. Didn't know any Korean. Was lost for 3 hours. A bit shaken and the school apologized profusely and it never happened again. |
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driftingfocus
Joined: 08 Feb 2007
Location: Boston, MA
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| Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 5:26 am Post subject: |
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| KYC wrote: |
| driftingfocus wrote: |
| KYC wrote: |
I really wonder how some ppl can take all the crap that's thrown at them.
I am a very patient and understanding person. I have taken more crap at my ps than I should have. However, it has never been to such extremes. Learn to say no & refuse. Remember, they need you more than you need them.
Public school positions are very easy to obtain...especially if you're already in Korea. |
Yeah, but what do you do when your boss pretends to not understand you when you refuse? Just walk out? |
If things were that frustrating/extreme, yes. Say no. End of story.
I'm in a rural area too. I was asked to take X bus to school on my 3rd day in Korea. Well, I got on the right bus but on the opposite side. Didn't have a phone. Didn't know any Korean. Was lost for 3 hours. A bit shaken and the school apologized profusely and it never happened again. |
Their response to me taking the wrong bus was to tell me to take a taxi to the schools in the future. Yeah, sure, if they wanna pay for it! |
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captain kirk
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 5:33 am Post subject: |
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| driftingfocus wrote: |
| captain kirk wrote: |
| Trepanning? ('trepanning'; a primitive form of surgery in which a hole in the skull is made to release evil spirits). |
What about trepanning? I'm confused. |
Well, in the old days, if some member of the tribe was acting weird they believed they were possessed by evil spirits. They'd then chisel or drill a hole in their skull to release the evil spirits. Of course this would be without consulting the patient I suppose, who'd have to endure the chiselling. Not saying this would work on your supervisor especially because these are modern times and there are laws against such things.
In the country, there are some of the 'old guard', the traditional conservatives who are very patriotic. Big fish in still ponds off the beaten track. They think they are your boss/superior (in spades) AND a superior BEcause they are Korean. They haven't met many foreigners. All they have to go on are unchallenged suppositions of Korean superiority. In this supervisor is manifest a whole one horse town of petty negativity towards you, the stranger. Because you, in your ignorance, don't know how to literaly and figuratively bow.
Howdy stranger!
My last Kcoteacher was like that. She was like a dinosaur in its last death throes. RAAAAAgggggghhhhhh! |
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Hanson
Joined: 20 Oct 2004
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| Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 5:38 am Post subject: |
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| Is there anyone at your school(s) you trust enough to sit in and translate for you? A third party will stop her "I-don't-understand" routine. |
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driftingfocus
Joined: 08 Feb 2007
Location: Boston, MA
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| Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 5:40 am Post subject: |
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| captain kirk wrote: |
| driftingfocus wrote: |
| captain kirk wrote: |
| Trepanning? ('trepanning'; a primitive form of surgery in which a hole in the skull is made to release evil spirits). |
What about trepanning? I'm confused. |
Well, in the old days, if some member of the tribe was acting weird they believed they were possessed by evil spirits. They'd then chisel or drill a hole in their skull to release the evil spirits. Of course this would be without consulting the patient I suppose, who'd have to endure the chiselling. Not saying this would work on your supervisor especially because these are modern times and there are laws against such things.
In the country, there are some of the 'old guard', the traditional conservatives who are very patriotic. Big fish in still ponds off the beaten track. They think they are your boss/superior (in spades) AND a superior BEcause they are Korean. They haven't met many foreigners. All they have to go on are unchallenged suppositions of Korean superiority. In this supervisor is manifest a whole one horse town of petty negativity towards you, the stranger. Because you, in your ignorance, don't know how to literaly and figuratively bow.
Howdy stranger!
My last Kcoteacher was like that. She was like a dinosaur in its last death throes. RAAAAAgggggghhhhhh! |
Yeah, I do bow, actually, both literally and figuratively, but maybe, in fact, that's part of the problem. Maybe I've been being too submissive. |
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