Korean Job Discussion Forums

missfroggy · Joined: 06 Aug 2009

do you think that if the korean staff dont talk to you its a good reason to not finish the contract?

teachergirltoo · Joined: 28 Oct 2006

No. You signed your name to fulfill a work contract in a professional manner. Who cares if anyone talks to you or not, that should not affect your work performance.

kiwiinkorea · Joined: 17 Aug 2009

If that is the only issue then I would say probably not. However, if it is a symptom of bigger problems then maybe. In my opinion things would have to be pretty bad for you not to finish the contract.

Do they never talk to you or just not very often?

My Korean teachers only talk to me occasionally but that is because they are shy about using their English, plus I am horribly bad about doing small talk anyway so they struggle with their English and I struggle with what to say to get the conversation going.

Clockout · Joined: 23 Feb 2009

Do they speak English?

I am able to talk to 3 people on a staff of ~60 at my public school. Makes things pretty easy because I rarely get mixed information from anyone.

I am lucky to have another foreign teacher at my school and I can imagine it being pretty lonely without this but I wouldn't quit.

Just do your job and enjoy your quiet time to read, watch movies, etc.

missfroggy · Joined: 06 Aug 2009

Clockout · Joined: 23 Feb 2009

How long have you been there?

E_athlete · Joined: 09 Jun 2009 Location: Korea sparkling

usually when people stop communicating it's a sign they don't see any value in you anymore.

you can midnight run it if you want. Do you have another job lined up? How many months left in your contract?

Lastly are you a white girl , gyopo or ?

Clockout · Joined: 23 Feb 2009

E_athlete · Joined: 09 Jun 2009 Location: Korea sparkling

English Matt · Joined: 12 Oct 2008

Why do you need to know if it's a good reason to quit? You're not an indentured serf and people quit contracts all the time, here and back home.

If you do not enjoy working there and cannot really see yourself being able to pull through to the end of the contract; if the idea of switching to another job or just heading home seems infinitely more appealing than sticking it out then leave.

You can give any old reason.....your grandmother is really sick and you want to go back home to be with her in her final months, or you're in love with someone who is leaving Korea in a month. Whatever. The reason you give them doesn't have to be the real reason, so the real question is....

Do you want to leave?

zipper · Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2009 6:39 am Post subject:

If you do quit, you may want to consider giving them your contractual notice, and then find another job. Don't do a midnight runner unless you are being royally done over, but in your case you are not. If you feel uncomfortable, and it's not your cup of tea, then move on to something that may suit you better. Common sense, don't you think?

nfld_chingu · Joined: 29 Jun 2009

If you really want to leave then you should leave, but if I were you I would give it some thought ...
Not very many people at my school go out of their way to talk to me either, except my co-teacher ... don't take it personally. How long have you been working there?

andrewchon · Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2009 8:16 am Post subject:

Sounds like you are channeling your feelings away from the source and are pretending that the problem is boredom. Do you really want to teach?

iggyb · Joined: 29 Oct 2003

Like a couple others, I think the decision is up to what you want to do, not something you can really get quality advice on. However, I point out that there might be benefits to having them not talk to you.

I don't know what it is like in public schools, but I do know Koreans like to socialize in groups - their circles ---- and this can put a large demand on your time and freedom. At least back in the 1990s, if you were a coworker and didn't want to go hangout with everybody you've spent 8 hours a day with 5 to 6 days a week --- you went anyway --- or else end up ostracized at work as you describe you are.

And when you went out, you had to follow the lead of the senior person in the group. There was no going home early without possible social penalty.

I don't know how much that is still the case in Korean society, but it was something adult students frequently wanted to talk about in free talk periods in class.

If their not talking to you makes doing your job very difficult is one thing.

If it doesn't, then there are likely blessings that come with it as well as hardships.

And if you are new to the school, at some point, you're likely to make a couple of friends at the school and a couple will be just fine...