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sarbonn
Joined: 14 Oct 2008
Location: Michigan
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 Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 11:35 pm Post subject: At work: What annoys you, and what pleases you? |
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I was thinking about this today because I started to get really annoyed when yet another one of my classes was canceled and given to one of the brand new Korean teachers. I teach a debate class, and it was taken away and a science class was put in its place. Actually, it means more free time in the office, but what does bother me about this is that it always happens without me ever knowing about it until AFTER it happens. I went to teach my first class today, and I realized the new teacher was already in the room teaching. No one bothered to tell me the schedule had changed. Spoke to the new head teacher (we get a new one every few weeks because they keep quitting, and I don't often blame them), and she thought I already knew about it. I guess osmosis is the communication channel here, but I asked her in the future to let me know when there's a schedule change, realizing she probably won't.
What pleases me? I like the kids. A lot. I'm finding myself getting better and better with them every day. I really never thought that would happen.
What about you? |
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John_ESL_White
Joined: 12 Nov 2008
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| Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 3:49 am Post subject: Re: At work: What annoys you, and what pleases you? |
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| sarbonn wrote: |
I was thinking about this today because I started to get really annoyed when yet another one of my classes was canceled and given to one of the brand new Korean teachers. I teach a debate class, and it was taken away and a science class was put in its place. Actually, it means more free time in the office, but what does bother me about this is that it always happens without me ever knowing about it until AFTER it happens. I went to teach my first class today, and I realized the new teacher was already in the room teaching. No one bothered to tell me the schedule had changed. Spoke to the new head teacher (we get a new one every few weeks because they keep quitting, and I don't often blame them), and she thought I already knew about it. I guess osmosis is the communication channel here, but I asked her in the future to let me know when there's a schedule change, realizing she probably won't.
What pleases me? I like the kids. A lot. I'm finding myself getting better and better with them every day. I really never thought that would happen.
What about you? |
I worked with a guy my first year here. he used to get soooo angry when he had a class canceled or given to another teacher. I did not understand it then and I do not understand it now.
Some other teacher: "hey, sorry, but I am doing your work for this hour; go have a gimbop or go drop a duece".
Me: "A WE SO ME!!!!"
The guy I used to work with: "why do they cancel at the last freakin minute and no one tells me? It's my class! I want to teach it.... " blah, blah, infiniti....
ease up. |
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ChinaBoy
Joined: 17 Feb 2007
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| Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 4:08 am Post subject: |
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| Strangely, I get angry when class ISN'T canceled. |
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weatherman
Joined: 14 Jan 2003
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 5:59 am Post subject: Re: At work: What annoys you, and what pleases you? |
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| sarbonn wrote: |
| I guess osmosis is the communication channel here, |
I like that. Really I do. |
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I'm no Picasso
Joined: 28 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 7:22 am Post subject: Re: At work: What annoys you, and what pleases you? |
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| sarbonn wrote: |
I was thinking about this today because I started to get really annoyed when yet another one of my classes was canceled and given to one of the brand new Korean teachers. I teach a debate class, and it was taken away and a science class was put in its place. Actually, it means more free time in the office, but what does bother me about this is that it always happens without me ever knowing about it until AFTER it happens. I went to teach my first class today, and I realized the new teacher was already in the room teaching. No one bothered to tell me the schedule had changed. Spoke to the new head teacher (we get a new one every few weeks because they keep quitting, and I don't often blame them), and she thought I already knew about it. I guess osmosis is the communication channel here, but I asked her in the future to let me know when there's a schedule change, realizing she probably won't.
What pleases me? I like the kids. A lot. I'm finding myself getting better and better with them every day. I really never thought that would happen.
What about you? |
Same same.
And, for the other poster, it's the liking of the kids that makes canceled classes such a bummer. A day with five classes is a breeze. A day with two classes is an exercise in patience -- time just doesn't move fast enough without my little devils raising hell and saying classic things.
Plus it's just flat out disrespectful. And a symptom of a bigger problem, which is no one cares enough to tell us anything. I'm getting better and better at this wandering around trying to understand what the hell is going on via context clues thing as the days file on, but it's really annoying to have prepared a lesson plan, made copies, etc. etc. and then just have the whole thing blown off. And not only is it blown off, but no one even bothers to tell you.
But yeah, the boys. I honestly think I'd be close to miserable here in the ROK without them. I have better conversations in class than I do at lunch with the other teachers.... |
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antoniothegreat
Joined: 28 Aug 2005
Location: Yangpyeong
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| Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 8:14 am Post subject: |
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i like it when my classes get cancelled to, but it's all about respect. do they respect you enough to care that you are told before or not give a pooh and you will find out somehow. i always made it a point to tell them i wasnt happy (not rudely, but a simple "uh-huh. and why wasnt i told?" that usually ends with a blank look of apology.
also, in korean culture it is a bit of an insult to take someone else's class. it is like saying "you are a bad teacher."
back to the point. i hate it when they treat me badly for being a foreigner (like when the security guard spoke to me in banmal)
and i am happy when they respect me like they would a korean teacher. or, when the cuties say something like "thank you teacher." or "i will miss you." maybe they mean it, maybe they dont, but it makes me happy. |
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John_ESL_White
Joined: 12 Nov 2008
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| Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 8:21 am Post subject: |
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WOW.
A bunch of teachers who are complaining when their load gets lightened.
WOW.
I understand you feel 'left out of a loop' or whatever, but, come on!.
WOW.
one born every minute.. |
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cruisemonkey
Joined: 04 Jul 2005
Location: Hopefully, the same place as my luggage.
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| Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 9:35 am Post subject: |
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I actually enjoy being paid not to work.  I think the OP is odd.  |
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Draz
Joined: 27 Jun 2007
Location: Land of Morning Clam
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| Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 12:35 pm Post subject: |
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| I think they do it because they don't want to bother trying to come up with something else for you to do in all your spare time. That's why I like it too. |
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IAMAROBOT
Joined: 16 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 4:47 pm Post subject: |
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| having to use the same bathroom as the students. gross. |
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Tjames426
Joined: 06 Aug 2006
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| Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 5:22 pm Post subject: |
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Yeah, I hate using the same bathroom as the kids.
I make sure I use it when no students are there.
I lock the door and use the bathroom.
I never touch the door handle or faucet with my raw fingers.
I make sure, I generously use sanitizing hand wipes after every bathroom usage. |
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Xuanzang
Joined: 10 Apr 2007
Location: Sadang
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| Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 5:39 pm Post subject: |
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| The smells and unsanitary condition of the hallways from student cleaners who use cold, dirty water. |
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I'm no Picasso
Joined: 28 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 5:58 pm Post subject: |
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| antoniothegreat wrote: |
i like it when my classes get cancelled to, but it's all about respect. do they respect you enough to care that you are told before or not give a pooh and you will find out somehow. i always made it a point to tell them i wasnt happy (not rudely, but a simple "uh-huh. and why wasnt i told?" that usually ends with a blank look of apology.
also, in korean culture it is a bit of an insult to take someone else's class. it is like saying "you are a bad teacher."
back to the point. i hate it when they treat me badly for being a foreigner (like when the security guard spoke to me in banmal)
and i am happy when they respect me like they would a korean teacher. or, when the cuties say something like "thank you teacher." or "i will miss you." maybe they mean it, maybe they dont, but it makes me happy. |
Yeah, it wouldn't be such a thing if it weren't for the fact that we're constantly not being informed of anything. At first, I tried to assume it was a language thing -- maybe there are memos going around in Korean that I can't read? I don't know. But it's just more fuel on the what-the-f*ck-is-going-on fire.
Lately, however, they've been sure to send students to my room to tell me every time a class is canceled at the beginning of the period. Which I appreciate more than they can know.
And ditto the kids. My favorite was my Thanksgiving exercise, where more than a few boys in every class finished with, "I am thankful for my Liz Teacher." I used the opportunity to teach them the phrase "suck up", but I was secretly pleased to my very core. |
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Korussian
Joined: 15 Sep 2007
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| Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2009 2:45 am Post subject: |
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| John_ESL_White wrote: |
WOW.
A bunch of teachers who are complaining when their load gets lightened.
WOW.
I understand you feel 'left out of a loop' or whatever, but, come on!.
WOW.
one born every minute.. |
I'm always happy when they lighten my load by canceling classes, but I make sure it's understood that in our culture it's disrespectful not to give advance notice of any schedule changes when advance notice is plainly available. |
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joshuahirtle27
Joined: 23 Mar 2008
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| Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2009 2:57 am Post subject: |
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In response to the actual topic:
I hate not having the proper teachers manuals for classes and being given no clear direction on what to do for special classes other than DO IT.
I hate being a good teacher one week and the worst teacher they've ever had for the whole time I've been here the next week.
I hate being over-ruled by Korean teachers when disciplining kids that aren't behaving in my class.
I love the kids and how far they seem to have come in the past ten months.
I love that I get paid on time each month (but I really don't like being paid only once a month). |
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