Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sarbonn]

Some may know about some of the drama that's been going on in my life here, but I'm about to jump ship due to a number of reasons (lack of being paid is probably the most important one). Anyway, I had a pretty good little gig here where I taught and then went home after I taught. The kids like me, I like the kids, and the material is pretty much my field so I don't really have anyone standing over me second guessing me because I'm actually an expert at the subject and most of them are learning from me. So, it's been a pretty good little thing. Aside from not being paid, that is.

Anyway, so the boss sold the business to someone new who is pretty much interested in doing the same kind of business (but has a better business acumen than the previous boss...the old boss had a bad habit of alienating parents and causing them to just not want to deal with him anymore, plus his inability to pay teachers caused really good teachers to just quit, leaving students stranded and more parents pulling out of the school).

Well, I've pretty much made it known that due to the fact that pay has been so far behind that I'm most likely pulling out myself. I don't think they actually believe me because the new manager had this conversation with me yesterday where she wants me to start teaching kiddie English classes in addition to the plethora of classes I teach in my subject (that have never actually lost students). Plus, she feels that I need to be present during the entire operating hours of the school, rather than just when I teach as it was in the past. Every time I kept saying, "You know, this is just going to result in me leaving, right?" she just kept saying, "well, that's how we want to run things now." So I just shook my head in frustration and started thinking about how fast I can book a ticket back to the states.

I think what really hit me during the conversation is that I had this feeling I haven't felt since dealing with a grade school teacher back when I was in grade school. You know that feeling when you get the idea that you're being talked to like you're a six year old? I even said, you know, I have a Ph.d. You can talk to me like an adult." And she just continued as she was doing. It only took a few moments to realize this was a series of directives, not a conversation. And she would keep ending each directive with: "Is that okay?" It was kind of surreal, actually.

So, it probably doesn't come as too much of a surprise that I've decided to just leave. People here have probably heard my comments about how pay has been ridiculous here, and the former boss still owes me a lot of money (of which he promised to pay me yesterday, which of course he did not again).

What sparked this post is the thought that there are people out there who are incapable of actual communication but they are the ones put in the positions that require them to be the moderators of communication in an institution. This isn't a "Koreans are this way or that way" because I'm sure you run across this same sort of thing wherever you go. Unfortunately, I ran into it here, and it looks like that might be the reason I finally have to say good bye to the interesting country of Korea.

[Demophobe]

Thanks for the read and the tips. Have a good flight.

[cruisemonkey]

[venus envy]

Have you considered a gig somewhere else? You sound qualified, perhaps you could work at a uni?

[ChinaBoy]

Not sure why you would even have a meeting with the boss. "PAY ME or I'm not talking to you"

[madoka]

Ignore the haters Sarbonn. They're miserable losers with no other options in their lives.

You were one of the good ones here; someone who was mature, reflective, insightful and generally "got it." Although I didn't always agree with things you said, I always respected your opinions. You will be missed and good luck with your next adventure.

[Kikomom]

[cdninkorea]

You really have a PhD? I may be naive, but there must be positions where you'd get paid on time and not talked to like a child, like at a university. Am I wrong?

[Ya-ta Boy]

[bassexpander]

Labor board?

[sarbonn]

[sarbonn]

[travelingfool]

Why you would sit there and listen to her drivel while not having been paid or owed any money is beyond me. I wouldn't teach another minute until you are brought up to date as far as your pay is concerned. They understand ultimatums and threats. No pay, no teacher. Simple.

[D.D.]

I have the same kind of conversations with the epic director for our province. I told him last time we talked I expected he would have some management skills and problem solving abilties. That was my last resort to insult him as nothing else I said was actually listened to over 18 months. He doesn't care if teachers choose to leave. That was a surprise for me to find that out. They don't want to acknowledge that problems exist and so many teachers have left because the working conditions are shocking.

[michaelambling]