Korean Job Discussion Forums

[PatrickBateman]

Okay, let me preface this by saying that I'm never late to work and I'm always trying to please my Hagwon/people in charge.

Recently, we started a new semester and I was told that I was going to have to teach new classes. A week before the semester starts, there is nothing done to train myself, or my co-workers pertaining to the new classes. Two days before the weekend, we are told that we are supposed to model teach(we had not even received the books by then) the new classes. Unable to do so because of preparation/marking for the current classes, nobody model teaches. Not to mention there was basically a mandatory lunch they told us 30 minutes in advance about on the Friday we were supposed to model teach.

Monday rolls around and not only am I preparing to teach a class I've never even observed, but I'm also going to be observed during my lesson. The lesson runs its course, I feel like I did it to the best of my ability without having any previous training and when it's over I receive no feedback.

Later that evening I get a text saying I need to call one of my head instructors. I call and she tells me that a student was not happy with the structure of my class and she quit. Now we all know that they're about the business first and the education second, I get a pretty demeaning lecture from the head teacher. I bite my tongue and say my bits and pieces when I can. Today rolls around and I feel a bit better about the class, ready to give it another go. Much to my delight I find out I'm not teaching it today, but instead, I'm observing it being taught(in Korean) by a head instructor. I have no problems with this and I actually find it beneficial.

Most recently, I witnessed a head instructor printing out a sheet with my name on it that looks exactly like a 'write-up' sheet. I feel I have done nothing wrong in the situation, and I haven't been given the write-up yet, but do you think I should speak my mind?


Mind you, the two classes that I had been observed in, I received no feedback at all. To make matters even worse, in the second class I was observed in, she was falling asleep during the class. The question I'm asking is, should I speak my mind and take the warning? If you get three write-ups, you get terminated. Should I talk to someone higher than the person issuing me the write-up in hopes to get it removed?

Thoughts?


In summation(I'm getting written-up for not knowing how to teach a class I was not trained to teach)

[yawarakaijin]

Quite honestly I wouldn't work for any institution that had such rules in place. A student complains about the structure of a class earning you a reprimand? Three reprimands and you are fired? Are you serious?

I do have a question though. She complained about you personally or the content of the new class? It sounded to me like she was upset with a new format. Hardly your fault unless you designed the new curriculum. As for being expected to teach a new type of class without ever having observed it or been given formal training I would have to call out the head teacher on that one.

I have seen fully liscensed educators completely bomb classes without having been given adequate prep time. At my old language school in Vancouver almost every teacher dreaded teaching the toeic or toefl classes and often came back with horror stories on how a class went, and these were professional esl teachers! If anyone should be getting a letter or reprimand it should be your head teacher. Seems like he or she is writing you up in order to shift the blame for their short comings.

[Straphanger]

Aren't you new at the hakwon?

When the foreign teacher turns over, a lot of students drop, a lot of students get picked up. Any owner who doesn't know that has permanent brain damage.

[PatrickBateman]

[PatrickBateman]

[Straphanger]

[some waygug-in]

Ask for some specifics about the complaint.

What exactly did she not like, was it the book (if you use a book)?

Was it your approach?

Was it your attitude?

What was it?

Or is she just pulling things out of her nether regions because she decided she wants a more "handsome" teacher?

Chances are it's the latter, but if the school is going to take every little snivel that some transient student makes as though it were a serious complaint, then you probably should start looking for a new job.

[PatrickBateman]

Update:

I was written up and had to sign a warning about my 'poor performance'. She recognized that I wasn't given the tools to do a good job, but that was it.

Now I'm being asked/told basically that I should move to a new campus, new apartment and new surroundings. She kept trying to sell it to me like I was on a used car lot.

Sad thing is, I'm actually thinking about doing it. I don't want to have to live under a microscope here thinking about being criticized every time some student is upset.

Thoughts?

[some waygug-in]

It might be a step upwards, who knows?

But I'd still be looking for a new job because if they are owned and run by the same people, they probably are going to have the same attitude.

[yawarakaijin]

This is what I would do. First, as head teacher, I imagine this woman has certain responsibilities at the school doesn't she?

I would make her earn the head teacher moniker. Drop in on her two or three times a day to ask for suggestions on how to make your class a little better. Pester her for better materials. Do research online into new teaching techniques and educational material and ask her to procure it for the school. Suggest that she run educational workshops or that the school pony up the dough for the various workshops held throughout the country throughout the year. Do everything in a professional and courteous manner but make her work:)

If she is going to critique your abilities then she needs to be up to speed in regards to her own wouldn't you agree? If I were you I would seriously try to obtain a list of all her responsibilities and then start holding her to them. I have no doubt whatsoever that this would ROYALLY piss her off to no end:)

And what really can she say to that? Oh my, that goddamned teacher is really trying to hard to improve!? LOL

[The Gipkik]

I would also ask her if you could observe other classes she teaches, or that other teachers teach, and make detailed notes of the class, both positive and negative. This is ammo.

This 3 month probation thing works both ways, remember. If you are not happy there, and it sounds like you are having second thoughts, you also have a right to say asta la vista baby.

[PatrickBateman]

Kudos to her, she's been really civil. She wasn't the one that observed me, but during my meeting she mentioned that the 'complaint' got back to the head office and they were concerned. Most importantly, I don't want to be scrutinized here and have expectations given to me that aren't even achievable. The students here are great, they're really smart and I have no idea what the other campus offers. I don't think I will be teaching the same level of students, so I don't know.

If I did move, what would that do with my contract? My contract is pretty specific and I don't know if a move would alter it.

I really enjoy my co-workers here, but coming to work stressed and worrying about being observed and unfairly critiqued isn't worth it to me. I think the fact that I signed the warning knowing that I had done nothing wrong is the part that really bugs me.

[Straphanger]

[Straphanger]

[Dodgy Al]

Typical hogwan crap. They obviously don't want you there. Move on, and find something better.