Korean Job Discussion Forums

[MollyBloom]

As many of you know, I have bene having horrible problems with my co-teacher. Yesterday the dung hit the fan, and she freaked out because I asked her to make a Christmas card as an example, as I did, in the class where we were teaching Christmas cards. She yelled at me in front of the class, and again in the beginning of my 3rd period class. She then proceeded to ignore me for the last two classes and just stood in the back of the class.

I went to my handler, who went to the Principal. The 4 of us had a meeting, and the outcome from the Principal was that I "was a foreigner that did not understand Korean culture." Great. For the first time since 2006, I really understood how foreigners can have it bad here.

I am really disappointed that my Principal did not stick up for me, as I heard it from my handler that she, herself, does not like my co-teacher because she is rude to other teachers. Apparently, she can be rude and insulting to me and get away with it.

My contract runs out in September of 2009, and my co-teacher is only a subsitute that will be here until February. That was my 5th time going to my handler about this, and the second time the Principal spoke to her. Even though she leaves soon, I feel that my Principal is not backing me in general, so this makes me weary of staying.

I'm looking for info on asking SMOE to transfer me to a different school in March. Also, is there anything I can do to get a LOR from SMOE? I thought someone posted that if you get fired, SMOE will give you a LOR Is this true? Also, will SMOE be able to find a position for me in March if I ask?

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Whether it's actually 'Korean culture' or not depends on one thing: your ages. What's the gap?

I'd have a hard time not quitting over something like that. I've heard from several SMOE teachers that SMOE refused to give them LORs if they resigned. All the same they have to give you one if they want to fire you.

If a temp teacher who was younger than me tried that shit in class it would be me screaming down her neck in front of the students, but then I have a very loud voice and, while usually easy-going, I can be very agressive if I have to be. As it is I've worked with five contract teachers and they've always been very polite to me, and I to them, to the extent that I can tolerate incompotence.

[T-J]

Just to clarify what led up to the freak out. You asked her to make a card in front of the class, or in a private conversation? She had no prior knowledge of the activity, or this was an agreed upon lesson?

[ChinaBoy]

Why don't you yell at her and get her to leave early? Seems better than you leaving early.

You'll get the "Korean culture" speech anywhere you go.

[Bucheonguy]

Don't feel too bad. I'm working with about 4 people like your coteacher. They've been the must ignorant, rude insulting people I've ever met and when it finally got so bad that I couldn't stand it anymore, the principal of the school pulled me in and told me to shut up and respect them. "You're in Korea, why are you not acting Korean? This is Korean culture. You must respect us." That's what I was told too.

They're just dicks don't worry about it. After enough lectures like this I decided to introduce them to North American culture. I just started telling them to go f**k themselves when they started with the BS. Now, because they've made my life miserable, I show up, slack off, do the minimal amount of work to keep my job and go home. I suggest the same. It really burns them up and it feels great to suck all their money dry and know they can't do anything to get you back. That's our only revenge.

[Ramen]

[MollyBloom]

T-J: She knew we were making x-mas cards for the lesson. I made one as an example and she didn't like it, so she made me put it away because I said for x-mas I wanted "money". She said this was inappropriate for Korean culture (even though the kids said when asked that they wanted money for a present). This was in front of the class. The kids started making the cards. I asked her quietly and privately if she could make a card as an example, and she freaked out.

Chinaboy: I had hoped that the multiple times I told the principal she has been rude and disrespectful to me would have made her leave early or have gotten her fired.

There's only about 3 weeks left (the rest of this week, 3 days of next week, and the 2 weeks in Feb), and I have tried to be professional about this, but there is only so much disrespect I can deal with. Sigh.

[Binch Lover]

[BS.Dos.]

I think you just need to stand tall, press on regardless and just ignore the fact that she's even in the classroom with you. Don't rely on her for anything. If she wants to interject during the lesson, just let her say what she wants before politely continuing once she's finished. Obviously, I would suggest that you resist the temptation to have a dig back at her as anymore little flashpoints will only further aggrevate the situation between you both. It's pretty clear that you no longer have each others respect and given how much time she has left, it'd be pointless trying to make amends. Just run the clock down and 'buddy' up with the other CT allies you have. She sounds resentful, maybe even prejudice. The sooner she's out of your hair the better.

[Bibbitybop]

Molly, ask your coteacher what Koreans get for gifts at weddings. MONEY!

Explain the reason foreigners are here is to teach English (because Koreans can't teach proper English or else we wouldn't be here) AND to teach how to USE English. Like it or not, this includes learning about Western practices and culture.

A good example of the is when kids learn "Puck you." If they don't learn about the culture or when to use the word "fuck," they are going to lose jobs, get hurt or even killed in Western countries later in life.



I really, really agree with most of Bucheonguy's suggestions. Slack off. Ignore her. Freak out on her. Explain that you are reciprocating "Korean culture" and using her behavior as a model to integrate into Korean society.

But I don't agree with Bucheonguy's suggestion to use vulgarity toward the co-teacher for the simple reason that it is in the either the contract or the NSET handbooks as a terminable offense.

[JJJ]

Jeez, I just finished 3 Christmas classes this morning and only 1 student wrote "sellphone" and the rest said "money" or "many money". What a silly, trivial, little thing to cry about. I hear ya Molly.

I would send SMOE a letter right away requesting a transfer and then give that letter to your principal. Get the ball rolling on that...today. The worst they can say is "No". At least your school principal will see your greivences on paper and maybe come talk to you about it, beg you to stay and then you start negoiating for a few days off during exams or something. Good luck.

[MollyBloom]

Unfortunately, she's my only real co-teacher. I have homeroom teachers in the room during my supp. classes, and they are more helpful than she could ever be! Also, I get along so well with them, and every other teacher in the school. I tried to make this point, that my co-teacher is the only person that doesn't get along with me.

Today, I just ignored her in classes like suggested and she just stood against the wall and did nothing. Onc in a while she would grace the kids with her presence and talk to them, in Korean, of course. I just try to avoid her at all times.

[MollyBloom]

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[ED209]

If she's gone in February just wait it out. I see your concerns about the principal but they always stick up for the KT. It's almost the vacation, you won't see much of her between now and the new semester.