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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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Draz
Joined: 27 Jun 2007
Location: Land of Morning Clam
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 Posted: Sun May 17, 2009 2:52 pm Post subject: |
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| michaelambling wrote: |
| travelingfool wrote: |
| 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. |
Agreed--you're too nice, OP, and you've become a bit of a door mat as a result.
To people recommending a uni job: I had similar problems at a university in Korea, so this isn't limited to hagwons. |
With a PhD, he will be able to get a much much better job than you had. |
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Guerciotti
Joined: 16 Feb 2009
Location: about 6,371.57 miles from Busan
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| Posted: Sun May 17, 2009 3:58 pm Post subject: |
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| D.D. wrote: |
| 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. |
What province? Care to elaborate, please? |
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D.D.
Joined: 29 May 2008
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| Posted: Sun May 17, 2009 5:54 pm Post subject: |
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| Why does it matter what province this is in? |
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Guerciotti
Joined: 16 Feb 2009
Location: about 6,371.57 miles from Busan
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| Posted: Sun May 17, 2009 6:21 pm Post subject: |
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| D.D. wrote: |
| Why does it matter what province this is in? |
I'm applying in Gyeongsangnam, and just wondered if that was the province you were in, and, if so, what were the issues. |
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some waygug-in
Joined: 25 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Sun May 17, 2009 6:38 pm Post subject: |
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Korean management style is based on a military model. It's all they know (for the most part) and they don't know the meaning of reciprocity.
They will consider you a "bad" teacher merely for asking questions or for not saying yes to every stupid directive they give you.
Different people have different ways of dealing with this, in some cases the best approach is to say yes and then do what you want, in other cases the best approach is to walk away. You are the best judge as to what to do in your situation.
Good luck. |
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Guerciotti
Joined: 16 Feb 2009
Location: about 6,371.57 miles from Busan
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| Posted: Sun May 17, 2009 7:53 pm Post subject: |
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| some waygug-in wrote: |
Korean management style is based on a military model. It's all they know (for the most part) and they don't know the meaning of reciprocity.
They will consider you a "bad" teacher merely for asking questions or for not saying yes to every stupid directive they give you.
Different people have different ways of dealing with this, in some cases the best approach is to say yes and then do what you want, in other cases the best approach is to walk away. You are the best judge as to what to do in your situation.
Good luck. |
thanks for the insight. As it happens, I just completed the interview. It was, in my humble opinion, a disaster for me. "Why did you wait so long to go to college after high school?"
I was in the Army and then was a bellman/concierge before I went to college. I went to college, like most people, to learn and get a better job."
etc etc etc ...
And, I'm 47. I think I'm just too old. I think that is the main problem. She even said "we have alot of recent college graduates applying." Then hire them. I understand. I get it.
I await the result, but I'm guessing they're not interested. And then I wonder, if they hire me (my God, the horror!) how bad is it? I dunno.
Fortunately, I just got a pretty good job here, so I have options. They hired me temp last week, now I'm FT. So I go back to the other plan: work while studying for certification tests (math and physics and such, and English cuz I'm so darn good at it) and work towards teaching here.
Therefor it appears I shall remain about 6,371.57 miles from Busan. I figured I could work in south rural Korea and take a bus to Busan now and then. But, Rocky Point isn't that far away from here.
rant over ... |
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michaelambling
Joined: 31 Dec 2008
Location: Paradise
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| Posted: Sun May 17, 2009 8:36 pm Post subject: |
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| Draz wrote: |
| michaelambling wrote: |
| travelingfool wrote: |
| 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. |
Agreed--you're too nice, OP, and you've become a bit of a door mat as a result.
To people recommending a uni job: I had similar problems at a university in Korea, so this isn't limited to hagwons. |
With a PhD, he will be able to get a much much better job than you had. |
I have a PhD, too. |
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D.D.
Joined: 29 May 2008
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| Posted: Sun May 17, 2009 9:56 pm Post subject: |
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| Guerciotti wrote: |
| some waygug-in wrote: |
Korean management style is based on a military model. It's all they know (for the most part) and they don't know the meaning of reciprocity.
They will consider you a "bad" teacher merely for asking questions or for not saying yes to every stupid directive they give you.
Different people have different ways of dealing with this, in some cases the best approach is to say yes and then do what you want, in other cases the best approach is to walk away. You are the best judge as to what to do in your situation.
Good luck. |
thanks for the insight. As it happens, I just completed the interview. It was, in my humble opinion, a disaster for me. "Why did you wait so long to go to college after high school?"
I was in the Army and then was a bellman/concierge before I went to college. I went to college, like most people, to learn and get a better job."
etc etc etc ...
And, I'm 47. I think I'm just too old. I think that is the main problem. She even said "we have alot of recent college graduates applying." Then hire them. I understand. I get it.
I await the result, but I'm guessing they're not interested. And then I wonder, if they hire me (my God, the horror!) how bad is it? I dunno.
Fortunately, I just got a pretty good job here, so I have options. They hired me temp last week, now I'm FT. So I go back to the other plan: work while studying for certification tests (math and physics and such, and English cuz I'm so darn good at it) and work towards teaching here.
Therefor it appears I shall remain about 6,371.57 miles from Busan. I figured I could work in south rural Korea and take a bus to Busan now and then. But, Rocky Point isn't that far away from here.
rant over ... |
Some people like it but I find rural gyeongsangnamdo boring and backward. The management style is exactly the type that he mentions above. People that fit in here are westerners that like drinking and don't expect much out of their jobs. They are happy to get a paycheck and party. I am not like that as I care a lot about my work and like to feel I am making a small difference. I drink a bit but I don't like friends that base their friendships around alcohol so making friends out here was tough.
They just are getting their first wave of teachers out here in the rural areas and it will be a while before they learn to asssimilate us.
Some problems are many schools are tough to get to and the office of education expects Korean teachers to drive us. Korean teachers hate driving westerners to school. I am not sure why but they absolutly hate to drive us. The other alternative is you end up taking long bus rides and paying for taxis. I spend about 9000 a day on transport.
Few teachers speak English out here so it can be boring on days with few classes.
They also tend to discount language speaking as being important. The high divorce rate and attitudes of the students from thsese families is blamed on the west. Two teachers think that the divorce rate is going up because more westerners have moved into town lately?
Thick skin and like to drink soju, with a happy go lucky personality, intereted in learning Korean might be good attributes out here. |
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jkelly80
Joined: 13 Jun 2007
Location: you boys like mexico?
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| Posted: Sun May 17, 2009 11:00 pm Post subject: |
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| My co teacher last year was from Gyeonsang nam do and she said it's the most conservative part of Korea. Maybe a change of venue would do you good. |
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Guerciotti
Joined: 16 Feb 2009
Location: about 6,371.57 miles from Busan
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| Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 11:23 am Post subject: |
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| jkelly80 wrote: |
| My co teacher last year was from Gyeonsang nam do and she said it's the most conservative part of Korea. Maybe a change of venue would do you good. |
D.D. & Jkelly, thanks for the insight. Here's the irony; they said they want me. LOL.
D.D., I don't like to drink, and I care about my job, even when I was a janitor (long boring "needed-the-money" story). I am happy go lucky. But I'm a gym rat, and I would miss weightlifting. But that's not critical.
I'm leaning towards going. I'm sort of an adventurer, though I've never ventured much past the U.S.
But my prior manager has not replied to my emails requesting a recommendation. We got along great, but she really doesn't want me to go anywhere. LOL. I need to email her and find her phone number.
So again, I'm surprised, especially after that interview. But this job here requires work in different shifts, and I'm delirious right now. I worked all night, so tired, and then I came home and only slept 3 hours. I'm beat, but I can't sleep. I've never woken up after only 3 hour's sleep (who would?).
Jkelly, I was in the Army, so I can do that thing. But the main thing I liked in the Army was PT and shooting up as much ordinance as humanly possible and available when I had the opportunity. I don't think they have a 50cal available in Gyeongsangnam-do. I left the Army mainly cuz I was bored ... hmmm
Say, do they have internet out there in the sticks? 
Now my recruiter wants me to Fedex or DHL the following:
< Requirement documents after passing a phone interview with a supervisor >
1. resume.
2. A copy of your passport photo page.
3. A copy of your bachelor degree
4. An application form
5. 2 passport photos
6. 2 sealed of University Transcripts (must not opened)
=> 1 should be sent to us/Atop & the teacher should hold 1
7. - Criminal record (It should be notarized Apostille)
8. 2 sealed reference letters with contact information from a past professor or previous or current employer. The letters need to be signed and need to be in a sealed envelope with the person's signature over the seal to show that is has not been opened.
I'm not crazy about mailing my FBI report, it's a bit of a pain to get ... but I must send it somewhere sometime.
Should I send all that to a recruiter in Korea??
I really need to start telling jokes if I'm going to write this much ...
G |
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bassexpander
Joined: 13 Sep 2007
Location: Someplace you'd rather be.
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| Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 1:52 pm Post subject: |
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| D.D. wrote: |
Some problems are many schools are tough to get to and the office of education expects Korean teachers to drive us. Korean teachers hate driving westerners to school. I am not sure why but they absolutly hate to drive us. The other alternative is you end up taking long bus rides and paying for taxis. I spend about 9000 a day on transport.
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Would you like having to get up earlier and drive the waygook to class (for probably no extra compensation)? Gosh, I'd hate it too. What's worse, the person driving you probably resents the fact that you're there in the first place.
I can sympathize with you, but just looking at it from their angle. |
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some waygug-in
Joined: 25 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 3:49 pm Post subject: |
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| Guerciotti wrote: |
| jkelly80 wrote: |
| My co teacher last year was from Gyeonsang nam do and she said it's the most conservative part of Korea. Maybe a change of venue would do you good. |
D.D. & Jkelly, thanks for the insight. Here's the irony; they said they want me. LOL.
D.D., I don't like to drink, and I care about my job, even when I was a janitor (long boring "needed-the-money" story). I am happy go lucky. But I'm a gym rat, and I would miss weightlifting. But that's not critical.
I'm leaning towards going. I'm sort of an adventurer, though I've never ventured much past the U.S.
But my prior manager has not replied to my emails requesting a recommendation. We got along great, but she really doesn't want me to go anywhere. LOL. I need to email her and find her phone number.
So again, I'm surprised, especially after that interview. But this job here requires work in different shifts, and I'm delirious right now. I worked all night, so tired, and then I came home and only slept 3 hours. I'm beat, but I can't sleep. I've never woken up after only 3 hour's sleep (who would?).
Jkelly, I was in the Army, so I can do that thing. But the main thing I liked in the Army was PT and shooting up as much ordinance as humanly possible and available when I had the opportunity. I don't think they have a 50cal available in Gyeongsangnam-do. I left the Army mainly cuz I was bored ... hmmm
Say, do they have internet out there in the sticks?
Now my recruiter wants me to Fedex or DHL the following:
< Requirement documents after passing a phone interview with a supervisor >
1. resume.
2. A copy of your passport photo page.
3. A copy of your bachelor degree
4. An application form
5. 2 passport photos
6. 2 sealed of University Transcripts (must not opened)
=> 1 should be sent to us/Atop & the teacher should hold 1
7. - Criminal record (It should be notarized Apostille)
8. 2 sealed reference letters with contact information from a past professor or previous or current employer. The letters need to be signed and need to be in a sealed envelope with the person's signature over the seal to show that is has not been opened.
I'm not crazy about mailing my FBI report, it's a bit of a pain to get ... but I must send it somewhere sometime.
Should I send all that to a recruiter in Korea??
I really need to start telling jokes if I'm going to write this much ...
G |
You'll be fine. As far as I know, the only things that need to be sealed are your University transcripts and maybe your CBC. (mine wasn't - no problem, but I've been here a while)
It is a pain to get through all the hoops, but it's doable. Don't worry too much about the drinking comments. There are other things you can do with your time, but it's up to YOU to make those things happen. The reason so many fall into the drinking trap is that it seems like the only thing going at times. Sometimes your school may want you to drink with them at dinners and such, but you don't "have to". Remember that you still have a choice. |
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SimonPark
Joined: 18 May 2009
Location: Saving Korea from Bad Teachers
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| Posted: Thu May 21, 2009 10:45 pm Post subject: |
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| madoka wrote: |
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." |
Let's make a list of the posters who get it. We should maybe do a list in the general forum. I'll do that when I get time.
SimonPark
Sarbonn
madoka
koreandefense
samd
just another day |
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The Gipkik
Joined: 30 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Thu May 21, 2009 11:07 pm Post subject: |
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Getting back to the topic here, at least the title, I think it's instructive to just ignore people who give directives, nonnegotiable body language, and what you will. My principal told me the other week to teach the teachers on Fridays starting in a week. I already have a busy day on
Fridays, so I said, "I'm sorry, I won't do it on Fridays, but, I'll teach one class on Friday and the other class on a Wednesday or Thursday, if you like. I have a light schedule on Wednesdays."
She ended up moving both teach the teachers classes to Wednesday, my very easy day. This is what I was aiming for, but I gave her some leeway, indicating I wasn't totally inflexible, but I also wasn't willing to just go along with her. I've had a considerable number of bosses who just tell and not ask. Just ignore this kind of crap and go with what you'd like to do. Just say no in a nice way, but leave the door open a crack. The only way I totally accept commands is with a gun to my head. |
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earthquakez
Joined: 10 Nov 2010
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| Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2011 1:28 am Post subject: |
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[quote="SimonPark"]
| madoka wrote: |
Let's make a list of the posters who get it. We should maybe do a list in the general forum. I'll do that when I get time.
SimonPark
Sarbonn
madoka
koreandefense
samd
just another day |
Yes, do make a list of posters, some of whom belong to the hate speech forum Korean Sentry, run by a Korean misfit living in Australia who lately is obsessed with the filthy foreigners and their Korean spouses. Do check it out - it's right up there with the worst of Eastern European racist groups and they're bad.
Check out the hateful rants against international marriages among other things like threatening to bomb people and homphobic rants about Chinese "faggots". Keep up your association Simon Park - the racist, violence and hate preaching nuts on Korean Sentry have come to the notice of various authorities and putting the server in the US won't help them. |
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