Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Yu_Bum_suk]

So I find out that 'officials' want to observe my fifth-block class today. I have to teach fourth block so that gives me about 30 minutes to prepare any extra bells and whistles. Screw it - I'm just going to do the regular lesson I put about 45 minutes into planning yesterday. To make things even better my co-teacher is away today. We've never once taught that class together this year anyways, so it's not like it makes any difference, although if the 'officials' complain about no co-teaching and somehow sucessfully force us to do it in the future it will be a minor pain in the ass for me and a major one for him for the rest of the year.

Surely someone had to know about this yesterday. Or do only FTs get unannounced inspections while everyone else gets weeks to rehearse dog-and-pony shows?

[I'm no Picasso]

I have heard that, in our MOE, there is apparently the new practice of one or two of the higher-ups occasionally dropping in on FTs unannounced -- as in, no one at all is informed of it ahead of time. So it's possible they didn't know.

But given.... well, everything I've experienced thus far in SK, I'm willing to bet they just didn't tell you.

[detourne_me]

If it is new practice, I heartily encourage it.
I despise the concept of the open class. A complete dog-and-pony show.

[Horangi Munshin]

Agreed. Never get used to no notice. I was forced into teaching a class but only about 15 minutes worth for a KBS TV crew. I was told at the end of lunch, the class was 5th period. Not my plan, just got the info from my co-teacher minutes before and had to wing it. My principal was smiling afterwards thankfully.

I would love for the education officials to scrap dog and pony show open classes and just drop in... on the Korean teachers too! Don't even warn them as they're walking to their classroom. That'd be fantastic!

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[bobbybigfoot]

Two years in Korea and I've yet to see anything other than last minute communication, and I will never get used to it. It makes no sense. It's bad business, bad form, bad manners. And most of the time, it's completely unnecessary.

I've also yet to hear a good explanation as to why Koreans do this. How is it that Korea can have such a robust economy, with top notch international companies, and yet consistently behave like neanderthals? Is this behavior restricted to everything English? Is it that the English Industry merely draws out the worst qualities in Koreans?

[Yu_Bum_suk]

I checked out the classroom at lunch. When I checked before school (as I always do when I want to use a class computer) the students told me the computer was fine. By lunchtime the connection from the TV to the computer wasn't working so I got the computer teacher to come up and properly connect it. I made all the students get into their proper uniforms. I waited a few minutes after the bell to see if they were on their way and then started the lesson.

They never came.

Then I hear that they'll come for my sixth block class instead. That class computer stopped working between when I checked on it this morning and later on, too. I got the students from the two classes to switch classes (they're right beside each other) into the one where the computer teacher had fixed the TV. When the social studies teacher who was supposed to be in that classroom arrived a few minutes after the start he thought we were playing an April fool's gag.

They still don't come. By this time my CT was back from his business trip and I could see him out in the corridor on his phone. Finally they arrive. My CT is able to slip in just before they get here. They being some people from Seoul, I'm told. Right when they arrive I'm switching from one activity to another. I get the next one started and they all leave. They watched at best three minutes. I have no idea why they even came - I guess just to say they did. They were at our district's English camp probably getting bullshitted ad nauseum by its director, and wanted to see a school, too, I guess. The district likely figured I'd be a safe bet as I've been here the longest.

Every school visitation in Korea seems to be a fool's errand.

[Horangi Munshin]

Man! I've lost count of the 5 minute or no shows I've had. That is really annoying!

[VanIslander]

before i came here in 2002 i heard that it is a dominant cultural trait of koreans to NOT GIVE NOTICE, to leave you in the dark until the last possible moment, and that this cultural habit - regardless of the reason for it - is an expected fact of live

and i told myself i would not get bothered by it, that i would accept it as a quirk, and indeed i have had countless moments of chuckling at this endlessly perpetuated habit, even by some very great employers i have had, and decent korean friends

everyone has to decide for themself where they draw the line in terms of cultural relativism: i personally find such an issue to be relatively minor, keeps me on my toes, and is the spice of life of living in a different culture

Germans run their trains on time, Mexicans see time as something that flows and Koreans wait forever before rushing at the last minute with half the info and three times the vigor

all is interesting!

(but close the friggin' front door in the winter to stop the drafts ahnd in the summer to stop the mosquitoes!!!! )

[DCJames]

Half the time they DO give notice, except it's IN KOREAN and we never catch it.

[I'm no Picasso]

[Leslie Cheswyck]

I'm on VI's vibe on this one here.

BUT

I do get get annoyed when there is a considerable time lag between the time THEY know about the new event and the time I am let in on it.

This is one of those rare situations when it really is better to stick your head in the sand and not ask questions.

You really don't want to know any details.

[Mr. Pink]

I got news for you guys who think this happens only in Korea (I sooooo used to think so too) It happens in the educational system of your home country too. It frustrates the hell out of teachers in your home country too. So, you have a common gripe with educators around the world!

[fusionbarnone]

How about being told that you have a demo class at some public school out of the blue. You do your routine with some POE(???) person scribbling copious notes during the class. Later, the home-room teacher reappears and thanks you for helping her pass her exam?????

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Today I missed a lesson because nobody told me 5th and 6th period had been switched for that particular class. Oh well, I'm sure the students were pleased with the free time given how busy this week is.