Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Zulethe]

Ok, so after reading the same posts over, and over and over....

Here is some advice for some of you who are having problems working and living in Korea.

Public schools...co-teacher problem?..Don't co-teach. Tell all of the Korean teachers to take a break because they work too hard. If they even get close to my classroom, I politely escort them to the door.

They will love the time off, you will be perceived as a professional teacher who can handle the classroom on your own. They won't be able to give their useless feedback on your classes because they are not there.

Ah, you say...but I don't speak Korean. This is the best part. During my lessons, I bring my korean English dictionary and while they are learning English, I'm learning Korean.

Ah, but they won't listen or behave. Then put in a movie. Never show anger, never yell over them. Sit down, read the paper or do what ever. It took my last class 3 weeks of this and now the students have realized how boring it is to have to sit there doing nothing so they came up to me and apologized and now I have to teach again...Darn!

Every now and then, invite the Korean teacher to the begining of class to do something fun. For example, last week we sung for the first 20 minutes of class and I did a stunning rendition of Frank Sanatra's My Way.
First, this keeps the Korean teachers still slightly involved in the class, and it shows that your classes are going well.

I'm not saying this is going to be easy. But you will eventually learn to effectively teach alone. Or, at the very least, peacefully co-exist as was my plan for the above class. I don't care how roudy the kids are. Unless someone is suffering from a bodily injury, do not complain to your fellow teachers about how tough the class is.

You are not important. Most Koreans don't want you here. So become invisible. Don't talk unless spoken to. Don't complain. Don't call in sick. Don't talk about your culture or Korean culture. Just play the game. Put on the mask. Become a ghost.

If you've already created a negative work environment, you are doomed. Their is no reconciliation. So don't waste your time trying. If they hate you now they are going to hate you tomorrow. In the west it's difficult. Here it's impossible. Do a runnner, follow this threads advise and then start over.

Never ever critizise anything about Korea. Never ever tell them you "don't want" to attend a social function. Say you have another, "promise."

Koreans bump into you and cut in front of you not because they are rude. It's just that you don't exist. If you are not in their social network, there is no form of societal politeness because you have no social order with them. Hell, learn to enjoy this. I love cutting in front of people now!

Show respect for the elders no matter how much you may despise him or her.

Don't give them anything to talk about. Never discuss you personal life, weekend plans or anything with you. I know this is difficult but any information you give to them no matter have innocuous it may seem may come back to haunt you.

For some of you this will be very difficult, trust me I've learned this the hard way. When I first came to Korea, I wanted to have great relationships with my co-teachers but trust me, it's not worth it. Play the game at work and find a different social network away from school.

I'm currently taking my own medicine and my work life could not be any better.

[aka Dave]

I teach at a Uni, so I don't know about the co-teaching stuff, but I find this generally excellent advice. Keep a low profile, always be positive about Korea. This means more autonomy and less headache.

One thing: you should appear to be working hard. Now, I happen to actually work hard, but *even* if I weren't I'd *appear* to be working hard (which isn't so hard to do, just be inventive!) There is a possible downside to this. If you actually work hard, they tend to shove more work in your direction (a friend of mine's a lawyer, and this is common in law firms). So take care with that.

And whenever they ask you about Korea, even if you have to say something negative (after all, we're only human), I always preface it with "I absolutely love living in Korea, but..."

[D.D.]

No matter what you do they will find fault. I agree don't tell them anything and blend in like a ghost.

If you buy them stuff or don't buy them stuff they will still find fault.

They are Koreans and all things non korean must be bad.

[asylum seeker]

In another thread someone (I don't remember who, unfortunately) gave some excellent advice- when a co-teacher or boss comes to you with 'feedback', complaints etc, just SNIP it.
Smile, Nod, Ignore and Proceed. This will tend to make both party's happy. Argue with them and you'll end up being the hated, freaky 외국인 like fromtheuk.

[fromtheuk]

The SNIP approach may work in some cases. But if your co-teacher is norman bates, they will keep repeating themselves. To ignore that will make things even worse.

[icnelly]

[nomad-ish]

[cruisemonkey]

[Yu_Bum_suk]

I really don't buy this kind of approach. There's a fine line between appeasement and standing up for yourself. There are some classes that can be better taught with more involvement of a CT and some that can be better taught with less (or no) involvment of one. If you have the general support of your school it should be possible to do a lot more than what the OP suggests.

[branchsnapper]

I pretty much do what Zulethe says, but I have to say that some people take other approaches and seem to have a better time! This is kind of a coping mechanism for those who have rather given up on the human qualities of our hosts.

[detourne_me]

[branchsnapper]

Well I don't follow it to the letter, for example, a couple of weeks ago I did blurt out a fair bit of semi-personal stuff to a co-worker, to make nice western style converstion, although my wife despises me doing so. And then I asked him "And what did you do at the weekend Mr.Moon"

Oh, I slept.

[BreakfastInBed]

The OP's advice is right on the money. My style is nearly identical and it has worked beautifully. I make life easier for my coworkers, they make life easier for me.

[branchsnapper]

I don't read the newspaper in class, by the way. I just use Korean as much as possible.

There's a lot in this.

http://iktu.blogspot.com/2008/02/konglish-is-future-of-korea.html

[bundangbabo]

The co-teachers are my insurance (also it is against the Korean law to teach a class on your own in PS - and you can bet your life a K teacher with a greievance would make out you forced them out of the class against their own free will) - these kids can lie through their teeth with the best of them and I'm not going to be a sitting duck for any daft kid with an attitude problem. Who cares how useless the co-teacher is? - if they are there they are witness to everything that goes on. If they aren't then life gets complicated.

I'm not paid enough to take classes on my own - I get paid a co-teachers salary if I'm not mistaken - pay me the money what my colleagues get and then I will take the classes on my own - if you have useless co-teachers - get them on their own, tell them to stop being so effing useless and tell them to help you - which they are paid to do.