Korean Job Discussion Forums

[shawner88]

1. You ask your Korean co-workers (female) a question and they just smile or giggle a little and then don't answer you.

I have a pretty decent relationship with them, so it's not like they don't like me or are overly shy. And I know they can understand my basic questions.


2. You are the last to know anything. If your schedule changes, you find out 5 minutes before the class. For example all the students arechanged around this week but nobody ever told me. I keep walking into classes full of mixed up students from other classes.

I should point out I love my school all in all and my job is really easy compared to most people's and these things happenedmore frequently at previous schools. I just wondered if these things happen to you.

[Rand Al Thor]

[Corporal]

Have to admit although I was kind of on his side in that thread, he asked for that comment with this post.

[just because]

Having a hard time lately Shawner.

[matthews_world]

Sounds like the kindy/hagwon I was at for my first job. Schedule changed every month or was failed to be told stuff.

[shawner88]

[rapier]

Some schools are better than others, but I've come to notice they all have the same chronic workpractice deficiencies- its just a korean thing. We all have the same work problems pretty much....

[Blue Flower]

Mine is exactly the same, I get told about 2 weeks in advance that my schedule is changing, ie they've already got it planned, but i don't actually get the schedule until the day I start teaching it. Pisses me off. But thats about the only issue i have with my hagwon, so i can deal with it.

[crazylemongirl]

ha I win. I've had 8 timetables in 2 weeks. The last change I got told about half through a class (a test too!)the schedule had changed and I'm not supposed to be teaching.

This is after I checked to see if I was teaching the class in question.

[rapier]

CLG- and then they turn it around and make it look like its your fault,- you should have known....

[crazylemongirl]

[Eazy_E]

These posts all sound pretty much the same as the problems I have at my hagwon. Shuffling the classes like a deck of cards, telling me things at the last minute or not at all, poor communication overall. The people I work with are great, it's just the lack of importance placed on organization. Seems pretty typical to Koreans, or at least the hagwon industry.

The thing that frustrates me the most is the meddling from parents: again, something that isn't likely to change anytime soon. This week the hagwon director decided not to use a workbook for a certain course because the parents don't think the kids need writing practice. When the parents can actually select the teaching materials for the school I think that's going a little too far, even if they're Korean parents.

[Mr. Pink]

In Korea - finding out stuff last minute is the norm. At my school it isn't just the foreign teachers, it is everyone who finds out last minute.

The reason is if the principle doesn't stamp whatever form it is that gives permission, we don't do set thing, and they don't tell us until that form is stamped.

[Squid]

Thanks Mr. Pink, clear as mud.

Squid

[Horangi Munshin]

My first job trained me to not be annoyed by schedule changes. Once I had three schedule changes in one day. It seemed that almost everyday there would be at least one small change. I would start half an hour earlier or finish one hour later.

It doesn't bother me these days, unless they start bitching at me.

Has anyone asked for two weeks when the vacation timetable will start? I did, of course I was told nothing.

Eight o'clock on Monday morning my supervisor rang me and told me I had to be at work at 8:30. Yeah right! I got there at ten after a nice big breakfast, long shower etc and subway ride. Gees!