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highdials5
Joined: 13 Oct 2008
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 Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2009 7:50 pm Post subject: Walkover vs Troublemaker |
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Hi,
Does anybody else find it a difficult balance between being viewed as a walkover, and being viewed as a troublemaker?
I am having a difficult period at my job because I stand up for myself when I don't think something is right - it's just my character and I don't seem to be able to change it. Don't get me wrong, I am very polite and courteous in general, but I can be quite stubborn if I sense there is inequality in the air...
Specifically, we have been askd to do a demo lesson in front of all the Korean teachers this week to "help us become better teacher." I have many objections to this:
- they embarrassed me beyond belief when I first arrived by deliberately acting up and making it impossible to 'teach' them - I was fresh off the boat with no experience, and rather than help me, they made me look like an idiot in front of everyone the day before my first ever day in class.
- they have recorded some of my lessons (and the other two foreigners') so my view is that the rest of the Korean teachers can simply watch the recordings, and I will happily accept feedback.
- we have never witnessed any of the Korean's teaching...so how are they going to "become better teachers?"
I could go on but already I feel like it's becoming a rant.
The point is I feel that I'm on a collision course with my bosses this week for my stubborn refusal to do this lesson - they aren't used to people saying no to them, and while my two foreign co-workers agree with my stance and are always moaning in private, they never stand up for themselves and are reluctantly going to do the demo lesson on Friday.
So anyway, what do you think about the whole balance between being a walkover and being a troublemaker? I'm struggling to keep the right balance, and suddenly after only 3 months here I feel like I'm under threat...
Thanks for reading!  |
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sobriquet
Joined: 16 Feb 2007
Location: Nakatomi Plaza
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| Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2009 8:07 pm Post subject: |
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Yingyonglaoshi - you need to ask him about being a trouble maker
The guy who didn't get paid for more than a month - need to talk to him about being a pushover |
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Leslie Cheswyck
Joined: 31 May 2003
Location: University of Western Chile
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| Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2009 8:19 pm Post subject: |
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| 'Cause they own your visa and you don't. |
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D.D.
Joined: 29 May 2008
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| Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2009 8:25 pm Post subject: |
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I stick up for myself and don't take much crap but I would not refuse to teach a demo class.
Most of us end up teaching demo classes. They are no big deal. Quit projecting your insecurities onto others. |
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ChinaBoy
Joined: 17 Feb 2007
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| Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2009 8:36 pm Post subject: |
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| Do the demo class - but make it so that the Koreans become WORSE teachers |
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kprrok
Joined: 06 Apr 2004
Location: KC
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| Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2009 8:50 pm Post subject: |
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| Do the demo class, and if the KTs are giving you trouble, throw them out of class like you would any other troublemaker. |
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chevro1et
Joined: 01 Feb 2007
Location: Busan, ROK
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| Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2009 10:45 pm Post subject: |
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| kprrok wrote: |
| Do the demo class, and if the KTs are giving you trouble, throw them out of class like you would any other troublemaker. |
+1. I like your attitude. |
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sojusucks
Joined: 31 May 2008
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| Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 2:54 am Post subject: Re: Walkover vs Troublemaker |
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| highdials5 wrote: |
Hi,
Does anybody else find it a difficult balance between being viewed as a walkover, and being viewed as a troublemaker?
I am having a difficult period at my job because I stand up for myself when I don't think something is right - it's just my character and I don't seem to be able to change it. Don't get me wrong, I am very polite and courteous in general, but I can be quite stubborn if I sense there is inequality in the air...
Specifically, we have been askd to do a demo lesson in front of all the Korean teachers this week to "help us become better teacher." I have many objections to this:
- they embarrassed me beyond belief when I first arrived by deliberately acting up and making it impossible to 'teach' them - I was fresh off the boat with no experience, and rather than help me, they made me look like an idiot in front of everyone the day before my first ever day in class.
- they have recorded some of my lessons (and the other two foreigners') so my view is that the rest of the Korean teachers can simply watch the recordings, and I will happily accept feedback.
- we have never witnessed any of the Korean's teaching...so how are they going to "become better teachers?"
I could go on but already I feel like it's becoming a rant.
The point is I feel that I'm on a collision course with my bosses this week for my stubborn refusal to do this lesson - they aren't used to people saying no to them, and while my two foreign co-workers agree with my stance and are always moaning in private, they never stand up for themselves and are reluctantly going to do the demo lesson on Friday.
So anyway, what do you think about the whole balance between being a walkover and being a troublemaker? I'm struggling to keep the right balance, and suddenly after only 3 months here I feel like I'm under threat...
Thanks for reading! |
The balance actually isn't difficult. If you do everything that your school wants, they you are a patsy and the school will love you and take advantage of you.
If you stand up for yourself then the school will hate you but you won't be taken advantage of.
Which would you prefer?
There are some descent schools are aren't on one end or the other but they are not that easy to find. |
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highdials5
Joined: 13 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 4:02 am Post subject: Re: Walkover vs Troublemaker |
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| sojusucks wrote: |
| highdials5 wrote: |
Hi,
Does anybody else find it a difficult balance between being viewed as a walkover, and being viewed as a troublemaker?
I am having a difficult period at my job because I stand up for myself when I don't think something is right - it's just my character and I don't seem to be able to change it. Don't get me wrong, I am very polite and courteous in general, but I can be quite stubborn if I sense there is inequality in the air...
Specifically, we have been askd to do a demo lesson in front of all the Korean teachers this week to "help us become better teacher." I have many objections to this:
- they embarrassed me beyond belief when I first arrived by deliberately acting up and making it impossible to 'teach' them - I was fresh off the boat with no experience, and rather than help me, they made me look like an idiot in front of everyone the day before my first ever day in class.
- they have recorded some of my lessons (and the other two foreigners') so my view is that the rest of the Korean teachers can simply watch the recordings, and I will happily accept feedback.
- we have never witnessed any of the Korean's teaching...so how are they going to "become better teachers?"
I could go on but already I feel like it's becoming a rant.
The point is I feel that I'm on a collision course with my bosses this week for my stubborn refusal to do this lesson - they aren't used to people saying no to them, and while my two foreign co-workers agree with my stance and are always moaning in private, they never stand up for themselves and are reluctantly going to do the demo lesson on Friday.
So anyway, what do you think about the whole balance between being a walkover and being a troublemaker? I'm struggling to keep the right balance, and suddenly after only 3 months here I feel like I'm under threat...
Thanks for reading! |
The balance actually isn't difficult. If you do everything that your school wants, they you are a patsy and the school will love you and take advantage of you.
If you stand up for yourself then the school will hate you but you won't be taken advantage of.
Which would you prefer?
There are some descent schools are aren't on one end or the other but they are not that easy to find. |
Yeah I agree. The issue is whether I want to step over the line, as I really don't want to get fired. I know that Korea has a shortage of teachers, but I work at a large chain and I'm sure that they could easily replace me. I had a meeting with one of my head teachers earlier, and she lavished praise on me...and so I've had to get down off my high horse. I don't agree with it but I guess you sometimes have to swallow your pride if you want to stay in a job............. |
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