Site Search:
 
Speak Korean Now!
Teach English Abroad and Get Paid to see the World!
Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

Replacing a runner in a public school?
Goto page 1, 2  Next
 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Job-related Discussion Forum
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Sincinnatislink



Joined: 30 Jan 2007
Location: Top secret.

PostPosted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 7:02 pm    Post subject: Replacing a runner in a public school? Reply with quote

Hi forum,
I'm speaking with a worknplay recruiter at the moment, and she is offering me a job that was vacated by a runner.

Just how terrible a sign is it that someone ran from this job? Can public school jobs be that bad?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message AIM Address Yahoo Messenger
xingyiman



Joined: 12 Jan 2006

PostPosted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 7:08 pm    Post subject: Re: Replacing a runner in a public school? Reply with quote

Sincinnatislink wrote:
Hi forum,
I'm speaking with a worknplay recruiter at the moment, and she is offering me a job that was vacated by a runner.

Just how terrible a sign is it that someone ran from this job? Can public school jobs be that bad?


In most cases in Korea it's a sign that a hogwon has pi$$ed the teacher off in some way. Top reasons for running
1. Not paying
2. Excessive work load
3 Conflicts with the boss
4. Numerous other breaches of contract

Of course I've known some real knobs, like te gal who did a runner because the boss refused to give her the day of her birthday off, but if I were you I would find another school.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Otherside



Joined: 06 Sep 2007

PostPosted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 7:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It all depends on why the person ran.

If it's for the reasons that xingyiman mentions or something similar then stay away, but there are often reasons completly unrelated to the school (or even korea). I know of a couple that came over to Korea together, a few months in they broke up and she was back home within a week.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
D.D.



Joined: 29 May 2008

PostPosted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 7:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

They will project a lot on you for the stuff they want to do to him.

They will not trust you and will be defensive.

Maybe if you are good with people you can heal the riff or they might be a pack of freaks waiting to lynch you.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
xingyiman



Joined: 12 Jan 2006

PostPosted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 7:48 pm    Post subject: Re: Replacing a runner in a public school? Reply with quote

xingyiman wrote:
Sincinnatislink wrote:
Hi forum,
I'm speaking with a worknplay recruiter at the moment, and she is offering me a job that was vacated by a runner.

Just how terrible a sign is it that someone ran from this job? Can public school jobs be that bad?


In most cases in Korea it's a sign that a hogwon has pi$$ed the teacher off in some way. Top reasons for running
1. Not paying
2. Excessive work load
3 Conflicts with the boss
4. Numerous other breaches of contract

Of course I've known some real knobs, like the gal who did a runner because the boss refused to give her the day of her birthday off, but if I were you I would find another school.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Fishead soup



Joined: 24 Jun 2007
Location: Korea

PostPosted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 7:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

RUN KATE RUN
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
nomad-ish



Joined: 08 Oct 2007
Location: On the bottom of the food chain

PostPosted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 8:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

i wouldn't do it. i think the poster that mentioned the staff transferring feelings about the other FT onto you is pretty accurate. i'm constantly being compared to the FTs i'm replacing (both who finished their contracts by the way), not necessarily negative things, but annoying all the same.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Sincinnatislink



Joined: 30 Jan 2007
Location: Top secret.

PostPosted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 8:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It's a PUBLIC school, not a hagwon.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message AIM Address Yahoo Messenger
ttompatz



Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea

PostPosted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 8:09 pm    Post subject: Re: Replacing a runner in a public school? Reply with quote

Sincinnatislink wrote:
It's a PUBLIC school, not a hagwon.


Some tyrannical co-teachers can appear to be that bad - especially for a newbie.

BUT

The issues pay, benefits and conflicts with your co-teacher do have a resolution mechanism in the public system that does NOT exist for those in a hakwon.

Another thing to remember in a PS is that the co-teacher (good or bad) may be moved along (for any number of reasons) before your contract is finished. That great co-teacher may be reassigned to a different school and you get the bat-from-hell as her replacement and vice versa, that tyrannosaurus may retire out and you get a really great replacement. Things can also change significantly with a change in the Principal or VP as well.

In a hakwon, the lying boss is not going anywhere except the beaches of Pattaya (with your money).

.


Last edited by ttompatz on Tue Oct 28, 2008 8:10 pm; edited 2 times in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Chamchiman



Joined: 24 Apr 2006
Location: Digging the Grave

PostPosted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 8:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

PM sent.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
xCustomx



Joined: 06 Jan 2006

PostPosted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 8:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sincinnatislink wrote:
It's a PUBLIC school, not a hagwon.


Whether it's a public school or not, the advice given above is all the same. Personally, I wouldn't want to replace a runner at either place because the negative feelings that teachers have towards the runner may be placed towards me.

Speak with the co-teacher of the school though and find out what they expect you to do at the school. I have met some strange people that have taught at public schools and hagwons, so it may not be the schools fault that the teacher quit.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
ESL Milk "Everyday



Joined: 12 Sep 2007

PostPosted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 8:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I don't think it's necessarily a horrible situation. Sometimes people just leave because they're lonely, not fitting in, or just think they can do better.

There won't necessarily be hard feelings... believe it or not, a lot of people in this world can tell the difference between separate human beings, even in Korea.

And it's probably better than replacing a really popular, obsessively hardworking teacher-- if you do that, then you're always going to be hearing about what they did and what you should be doing, because they're used to that standard.

Sometimes if you replace a bad teacher, as long as you're halfway competent and get along with everyone, you are seen as a kind of savior, and you'll be treated like gold...

I'm just saying.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
EzeWong



Joined: 26 Mar 2008
Location: Seoul

PostPosted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 9:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Many people have different reasons for running school or not related. You won't know until you ask. I would be upfront about it and say "Hey guy, he left the school, under what reasons did he leave."

Who knows, it could be the PERFECT public school but he/she could have had a close family member die or hack Korea in general. Maybe they just didn't get along with co-teachers. But just because they didn't doesn't mean that you won't.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
jellobean



Joined: 14 Mar 2006

PostPosted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 9:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

If you are replacing someone who ran within the last month, there is a very good possibility that it had to do with the exchange rate rather than anything that happened at the school. If they signed in July expecting to get about $2000 US and were suddenly getting $1300 US, that could be a reason to take off.

There is probably no way to find out, but perhaps you could try to get the email of the teacher that ran.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Rae



Joined: 10 Oct 2007

PostPosted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 10:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Don't do it. Some public schools are like hogwons Shocked Things like getting paid on time, not getting nickle-and-dimed, and just plain not getting cheated isn't always the case for public schools! Perhaps it's not common but it happens. My school in particular is really good when it comes to money matters and I would love it if they handled all my pay - but they don't. My provincial office handles the pay my school can't manage to forward to me directly. My provincial office is like a damn hogwon.

Instead of being grateful to you for taking the position, they might instead be more strict and micromanage. It's Korea afterall ... it's not realistic to expect the positive Sad
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Job-related Discussion Forum All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Goto page 1, 2  Next
Page 1 of 2

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling.
Contact Dave's ESL Cafe
Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved.

Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group

TEFL International Supports Dave's ESL Cafe
TEFL Courses, TESOL Course, English Teaching Jobs - TEFL International