| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
ryleeys
Joined: 22 Dec 2003
Location: Columbia, MD
|
 Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2004 4:39 am Post subject: |
 |
|
Hmm... I'm the only foreign teacher at my school... my apartment isn't a slum, but it's right between my hagwan and the elementary school, so I have little children knocking on my door all the time (and trying to come in which makes me really uncomfortable)... I kind of have a curriculum, but was given absolutely no idea of what was expected of me and way too much material to possibly teach it all in the time allowed...
But I also know that no matter what job I ever have, there's always gonna be some little thing that drives me crazy. And I've gotta learn to deal with it sometimes. I'm at the 2 month mark and I don't know if it's culture shock or not, but I am experiencing a tremendous loneliness.
If your boss isn't violating your contract, I think you owe it to him to follow through. If he is violating it, then do what you want.
But for me anyway, this year in Korea could be the only time I ever get to truly live another culture and that comes with alot of good and bad. I'm not gonna pass on the good to get rid of the bad. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
crazylemongirl
Joined: 23 Mar 2003
Location: almost there...
|
| Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2004 4:47 am Post subject: |
|
|
| UnJef wrote: |
I don't like that I'm the only native English speaker at my school, and that there's absolutely no curriculum, and that my apartment is relatively crappy, blah blah blah...
|
Being the only native speaker is really hard. More so if your a newbie, because you really need people as a sounding board (that was the intial reason I joined dave's). For simple things like where do I pay this? to gleaning teaching tips.
Do the teachers at your school speak much english? I felt really isolated at my school because most of the teachers didn't speak english very well and I couldn't speak any korean when I first arrived. It's got better now, as I have bizzare conversations in 50/50 english korean.
Just as a suggestion come along to our next gathering (details are in the general topic forum), esp. if your feeling isolated.
clg |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Juggertha
Joined: 27 May 2003
Location: Anyang, Korea
|
| Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2004 5:08 am Post subject: |
|
|
I htink these guys have the combination... look for the good where its close. And try to hook up with some of the ppl on here when they get together.
This can be a lonely place if ya let it... odd with soo many ppl eh? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired
|
| Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2004 5:25 am Post subject: |
|
|
| crazylemongirl wrote: |
| UnJef wrote: |
I don't like that I'm the only native English speaker at my school, and that there's absolutely no curriculum, and that my apartment is relatively crappy, blah blah blah...
|
Being the only native speaker is really hard. .
clg |
I found it to be a extremely rewarding experience. In terms of learning Korean and making Korean friends it can't be matched. Nor do you have to listen to somebody complaining everyday about how much s/he hates Korea.
I agree with most people on this thread. It may just be culture shock. At least stick it out for six months and see how you feel then. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
riverboy
Joined: 03 Jun 2003
Location: Incheon
|
| Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2004 5:33 am Post subject: |
|
|
Unjef,
It sounds like a retty rough spot. I think that the Key to Korea is essentially learing to roll with the punches. In teaching, the biggest thing is cirriculum, I know I had a lot of cirriculum at my previous job, but it sucked and I had to learn to improvise. Be your own boss in class.
As for the other things, they are very legitimate concerns. I think you are making a good choice in choosing to stay at least six months. Even though Dominc feels you should screw the employer, I don't think you should act before someone else may act. Keep your pride and dignity man.
Whee do you live? There may be places to go where you meet foriegners to get over the lonliness.
That's about all I have to say |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
dominic
Joined: 10 Mar 2003
Location: Seoul
|
| Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2004 11:03 pm Post subject: |
|
|
yeah, listen to Dominic.. he's obviously a genious.
IMO do the best you can. Be honest.. and try to negotiate a fair deal that both are happy with
think and sarcastic good for you. I say these things for a reaosn becasue korea has screwed me one time too many. Koreans nogotiate? that's a laugh. KOREANS DONT NEGOTIATE DUMBASS |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Gord
Joined: 25 Feb 2003
|
| Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2004 1:24 am Post subject: |
|
|
| dominic wrote: |
yeah, listen to Dominic.. he's obviously a genious.
IMO do the best you can. Be honest.. and try to negotiate a fair deal that both are happy with
think and sarcastic good for you. I say these things for a reaosn becasue korea has screwed me one time too many. |
 
| Quote: |
| Koreans nogotiate? that's a laugh. KOREANS DONT NEGOTIATE DUMBASS |
What's it like to be a racist? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
wylde
Joined: 14 Apr 2003
|
| Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2004 2:11 am Post subject: |
|
|
| TheUrbanMyth wrote: |
| crazylemongirl wrote: |
| UnJef wrote: |
I don't like that I'm the only native English speaker at my school, and that there's absolutely no curriculum, and that my apartment is relatively crappy, blah blah blah...
|
Being the only native speaker is really hard. .
clg |
I found it to be a extremely rewarding experience. In terms of learning Korean and making Korean friends it can't be matched. Nor do you have to listen to somebody complaining everyday about how much s/he hates Korea.
I agree with most people on this thread. It may just be culture shock. At least stick it out for six months and see how you feel then. |
for sure! this is the best way to experience korea and it's ups and downs.. i have always taught solo - i love it that way!
but.. if your boss is ok, that is 1/2 the battle won..
did you expect to come to korea and have everybody talking english?
when i first came it was only gunna be for 3 months.. my tourist visa was going to expire and i was gunna renew it when somebody offered me a job... i didn't think i would stay, just come and visit my chicks country and go home again.. but damn! i am having fun.. we all get our share of sh*tty jobs, especially the first 1.. it does get better... do what the majority of intelligent people are saying.. stick it out and make some friends (they don't have to be foreign) my only foreign friend i met 6 months after being here and he is still my only foreign friend, he is 20 years older than me but we have a ball together.. the rest of the guys we go out with are always only korean.. chill mate, take up drinking, buy a computer and use the net at home to chat to others, visit a norebang and get a chick to come and sing with you... things certainly get better as you go along.. anyway, i don't see myself going home in the near future, thinking about it now... home is boring compared to this..
good luck on whatever you choose!
look at the time.. it's nearly rum o'clock |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
mack the knife
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: standing right behind you...
|
| Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2004 3:55 am Post subject: |
|
|
You should try to stick it out until you've had at least ONE paid vacation!  Then split. However, it is your RESPONSIBILITY to pay back the airfare, especially if you quit at/around/before the halfway mark.
| Quote: |
| What's it like to be a racist? |
He's not a racist, just ethnocentric, judging from his remark. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Juggertha
Joined: 27 May 2003
Location: Anyang, Korea
|
| Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2004 4:55 am Post subject: |
|
|
| dominic wrote: |
think and sarcastic good for you. I say these things for a reaosn becasue korea has screwed me one time too many. Koreans nogotiate? that's a laugh. KOREANS DONT NEGOTIATE DUMBASS |
your funny.
/apologies to the original poster for having to put up with this. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
crazylemongirl
Joined: 23 Mar 2003
Location: almost there...
|
| Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2004 5:21 am Post subject: |
|
|
| TheUrbanMyth wrote: |
I found it to be a extremely rewarding experience. In terms of learning Korean and making Korean friends it can't be matched. Nor do you have to listen to somebody complaining everyday about how much s/he hates Korea.
|
I think for your average newbie, fresh out of university never lived overseas before it's a bit more difficult. If your in a bad hagwon it makes things worse. Misery loves company and that.
But if your working with a freaky waygook then maybe your better of on your own.
I as I have a mixture 5 months of working bymyself, 7 months of working with others. I agree that I learnt far more about korea by working as the only english speaker than when I was with waygooks.
clg |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
