Korean Job Discussion Forums

[entity]

I was just informed by another instructor here that there have been complaints about me made during the summer in-service teacher training course that I taught (they usually don�t talk to department heads to say good things, do they?). A few student-teachers said that I interrupted them when they spoke, and another said that I didn�t seem prepared. The latter is not true because I thoroughly prepare for each of my classes. The former is probably true, and if I did it over the summer, I�m probably doing it now for my regular classes in the fall now. I�m going to work on that.

Last semester, I got very good evaluations, despite having had the reputation of being �scary�, which might had been the reason 30% of my initial students dropped. But, also, I saved the department�s face by presenting a paper when they didn�t have anyone from the department, other than me, presenting a paper. It went over superbly, and the paper will be published in a peer-reviewed journal here.

It was said that during my interview last year that all the faculty present like me. I have no reason to believe that now it�s otherwise; I�m friendly, smile, and generous with my time when faculty need my help.

But what worries me is that the two other native-instructors that were here before had, as I believe, mysteriously left after their contract. They both said they intend to go back home, but now one of them, now in another department, seem to be staying here to teach for another year. The department hired them last year despite not having master�s degrees (I, and the other instructor now, have the degree). I don�t think they were supposed to have hired instructors without the degree, so that�s fishy.

Now, with another research project I have in mind, I might have given the impression that, perhaps, I�m too interested in research when my position is exclusively teaching. I was advised not to publish this semester in order not to give the wrong impression.

I've only been teaching EFL for a year. These complaints that have been made because I'm I still pretty much a novice.

As we know, we have no job security. That�s what worries me, plus the complaints - however relatively few or many - about my performance. Call me paranoid � but do I have reason to be?

[cruisemonkey]

You're justifiably paranoid because everyone's out to 'get you'.

[halfmanhalfbiscuit]

Told not to publish and to be more kids-glovesy?

Hmm, well, as a student teacher I'd never have felt entitled to make such silly complaints.

How exactly did you fit into student teacher training anyways? Usually student teachers are happy just to pass, not bitch and moan like someone who failed their driving test. Could it be they were failed and they're passing it on to you?

[entity]

[halfmanhalfbiscuit]

Yes, they do like to complain because they feel can. Anything from "my chair is too short" to "your classes are socratic".

wtf factor: high.

[DAC]

In my experience it's important to listen to complaints, but only really pay attention to ones that repeat themselves (in different classes). That way you can filter out the once-onlies from the real issues.