Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Gimpokid]

Ok so I work at a somewhat rural PS and things have always seemed to go fine.

Well today we had open classes where parents could come in and observe. In one class I noticed a very unusual "mom". She was dressed very nicely and was sitting with the principal and filling out a very official looking form.

This was the conversation I had with a KT after class.

Me: "So who was the woman with the principal filling out the form?"

KT: "A mother, Korean parents sometimes like to take notes in their children's classes"

Me: "Oh c'mon, who was she? Was she from the school district?"

KT: "No comment."

Me: "Ummmm...Ok. Well what do the other teachers think of me? Do they think I do a good job?"

KT: "Maybe"

Me: ???

Seroiusly, "no comment" and "maybe". Are Koreans really this hard to get input from? I get told 20 times a day that I'm handsome and have a "small face", but when it comes to anything relevant I get the brush off. Am I about to get fired or they trying to keep me from getting an inflated ego?

Thoughts?

[sojusucks]

If they tell you that you are doing a good job then you can use it against them later.

Principal: You need to do X.
You: But Ms. Y said that my teaching style is very good.

That "parent" can make life difficult or great as parents will talk.

You have to fight back if you want that job. You have to do something good but remember that "good" in Korea is mediocre elsewhere.

Bring in a small snack during the week of Christmas or something for students. But, get the teachers on your side. Bring them a small Christmas gift or bring in snacks occaisionally. Get the teachers talking about how kind and nice you are. This is more important than your teaching abilities, as your reputation will influence how Koreans think of you far more than how you teach.

Otherwise, pack your bags and look for another school. This may not be a bad idea depending upon your situation at your school.

[I'm no Picasso]

My coteachers are pretty direct when they think I'm doing something wrong/right. But then again, my school seems to be quite different from a lot of public schools, from what I've read on this board.

It's a pretty big hassle I think to get another foreign teacher, especially with the exchange rate at the moment. And they'll have to start all over with someone who knows eff all about teaching, more than likely. So I would think they would be more likely to correct if you are doing something wrong. But then, logic isn't always king.

[Draz]

Why would this make you think you're going to get fired??? It amounts to you asking for feedback and them shrugging.

[Gimpokid]

[Gimpokid]

[nobbyken]

Maybe can mean maybe not, in Korean English.

Any praise of staff at school can be taken with a pinch of salt.
Often it's genuine of course, but it's always better to say something nice rather than nothing at all.
Most may lack the fluency skills to use English subtly, so it's always the extremes you hear.

[Gimpokid]

That's the thing, it was 100% neutral. "Maybe" means nothing in this context. Maybe what? Maybe you're gettin a raise or maybe you should throw yourself off a bridge.

[wheredowego]

What was the body language of the woman and the principal? I find that you'll often see Koreans put on a serious face if they want to scare you into doing a better job. If they were smiling and relaxed I wouldn't worry about it. Remember that your Korean teachers probably blew you off because they were specifically instructed not to tell you anything.

[Gimpokid]

It was definately giggling and teeth covering....

[EuroFunk]

5,000 WON says you won't get fired.

[mogbert]

you're obviously going to get fired. you should save face and quit before they can fire you, imo.

[Jellypah]

[Teelo]

[The_Source]