Korean Job Discussion Forums

[MollyBloom]

...so the 2nd graders could take a urine test.

Not to mention, I had a visitor, a woman from Taiwan, who has been observing my classes for a few weeks. Apparently the Taiwanese gov't sent her over here to observe how Korea's English program is, as they are trying to implement some sort of co-teaching into their ESL education. I told her NOT to model their ideas on her experience here.

Anyways....She was horrified and threw her hands up in the air. She couldn't believe they stopped my class for that. "Don't they take your classes seriously here?" she asked.

I asked the nurse if we could wait until after class, but it was "very important" that they do it now. She explained to the kids how to pee on the strip, then off they went.

[detourne_me]

classic.

[Fishead soup]

I'm surprised they didn't test the foreign teacher for drugs I heard they're all stoners.

[Horangi Munshin]

One of my classes was interrupted too, but not for urine. Once again (I've lost count) they wanted to take pictures of me with the kids. I can't be bothered asking for what. Maybe an advert for after school classes. They always choose the day I'm dressed more casual than usual. I hope my bright yellow shirt stuffed up the flash.

Of course I don't ham it up, I just keep teaching and moving so the guy with the camera has a hard time

[TheUrbanMyth]

[ChinaBoy]

I love it when classes are canceled/delayed for any reason. I'm sure the kids do too. Anything out of the ordinary on a school day is awesome.

[MollyBloom]

I know I'm taking over my own thread, but someone mentioned drugs and I have a story to tell relating to that.

Yesterday my fiance and I were at Kims Club in Jamwon. Up comes some ajummas saying they have some magazines for foreigners and asks if we want them. Having prepared and dealt with many for strangers comeing uo to us before, I let my fiance take the lead. He says we are leaving soon, and we have been here for many years, so we don't need any magazine. One ajumma says we should REALLY TAKE THEM because they are about helping foreigners with drugs and overcoming temptation of drugs, etc. and the like. We realize they are some form of Christians (I thought they were the Jehovas Wit., but I couldn't see if "Watchtower" was on the booklet) and my fiance gets angry and asks why is she giving them to only foreigners? Why not give them to Koreans? She doesn't say anything, nor does she have a retort. As she tried to push the books toward us my fiance made it quite clear she should stop talking to us. The women finally walked away and our check-out line was quiet.

[MollyBloom]

[Horangi Munshin]

[ChinaBoy]

I would think the magazines weren't offered to Koreans because they were in English...

[oldtactics]

Monday I missed two classes so that all 1100 girls at my school could get their skirt length measured.

[PaperTiger]

Dude, I am still waiting for the day that my classes will be interrupted for something as important as urine. Our school has six English classes a week but most of the other teachers view them as time that can be borrowed for any purpose, no matter how insignificant. The latest and greatest: they had to change into their Scouts uniform for the scout meeting they have at 3:30 (our class is at 1:30, right after lunch).

[michaelambling]

I must be missing something--why were 2nd graders forced to take a urine test?

[Ramen]

[mmstyle]

When I was teaching elementary had a similar thing happen. Our schedules were interrupted for a urine test for my 2nd grade students.

I have no idea what they were testing for, though. Never got a straight answer on that one. In fairness, I think plenty of Korean teachers had their classes disrupted, too.