Korean Job Discussion Forums

[johnny_larue]

So, I tried to reapply to my school in Incheon for the coming year, and I found out that my school gave me a bad rating.

This comes as somewhat of a shock to me because my co-teacher and the other teachers kept telling me how happy they were with me. How does this even happen?

I have worked hard and bent over backwards bytrying to do extras. For instance I was teaching without a co-teacher for five months, I did many extra tasks like make movies for the school's video anouncements and even took time after school to represent the school in a play where the rehearsals spanned over two months.

Also, I was never late and I made pretty good lesson plans too.

How do these things even occur? I know that my vice-principal is a bit of a *beep*, but I did my best to kowtow to him.

Anyway, this has been a bad day for me.

[OculisOrbis]

Sorry you wasted your time doing all those extras. A good lesson for others showing that 'the extras' dont necessarily mean anything when it comes review time. Do what you have to do, kiss some ass, but dont waste your time and effort thinking you'll be rewarded for all your hard work at the end.

I hope you are able to find something better next time.

[Savant]

[The Gipkik]

I think the problem may have been in the kowtowing and extra duties. These are taken for granted by many schools as the right way to behave for Korean teachers. Maybe standing your ground and making logical and reasonable demands is the way to go, a kind of sticking to your ethical and moral principles as a teacher no matter what the school thinks, but still act completely professional. Ultimately, to behave this way is to not expect to get rehired and/or not care if you do. At least at one level. This kind of courage is the best way to approach jobs where ever you go, while you subtly insinuate how indispensable you are to the organization, of course. I think it's all about passion.

[D.D.]

Koreans don't respect people that are easy to trick and push around . ie : extras . They might like you but they won't respect you and come new contract time it might be see you later time.

[hochhasd]

[chris_J2]

I empathise with the OP. Been there done that. Fortunately, my 1st contract coteacher in GEPIK, gave me a good reference. My 2nd EPIK coteacher didn't like my accent, (even though Americans kept saying they'd forgotten I was Australian), & constantly corrected me when I was trying to teach. I ended up yelling at her, & she held a grudge. A smarter move on my part, would have been to say, 'you may be right, but let's talk about it, after class!'

Eg, she would say 'squirrel' is 'squarrel', 'paw' is 'poh' as in 'bother, not identical to 'poor'. And "the text will be appeared on the screen", not 'displayed' or 'shown', as I would have said. And a written note that "the school's Principle says you must leave school at 4:30 pm sharp!" (I'd stay back until 5:30 doing lesson plans / email etc). Never mind that I was watching American cartoons & sitcoms, 20 years before she was even born & I'm a native speaker! She majored in linguistics, & thought (wrongly) that she knew better than a native speaker.

Anyway, try getting a Korean friend or your recruiter to speak to the Principal. If he won't budge, try the Ministry of Labor Board. Your real problem now is not renewal, but that any new potential employer ringing your current school Principal, will get a bad verbal report on you.

[Xuanzang]

Never bend yourself over for them. Going the extra mile here just shows them that they can push and push. It can only end badly. I sympathize with you though. That`s why I never give my school more than the bare minimum required of me. Learn to say "no" often and repeatedly. It might make you seem like a big ***** but better your own ***** than someone else`s *****.

[mzeno]

[chris_J2]

Try contacting the Regional POE, too, before the Principal does. Once Koreans make up their mind, they won't reverse a decision, or they lose face. Right or wrong, that's the way things work here.

[zipper]

Schools and recruiters that give preference solely to what an elementary co-teacher says are really pathetic and sad; especially if a NST had done a really great job with connecting and teaching the children. You are not the only one that has gotten screwed like this.

I decided not to renew my contact a couple of months ago, and the mood of the school turned cold against me, too. I am a very active teacher who is always trying to create new activities and games to make the children interested with ESL. But the co-teacher prefers to sit and teach the entire classes using 80% Korean much to my dismay and protest.

I already knew what to expect. She would probably give me a bad reference if I tried to transfer to another school within the same province, and recruiters can�t facilitate an EPIK transfer within the same provincial board of education (I worked under the Gyeongsangnam-do board of education). I didn�t want to compete anymore with the rat race here, so I circumvented it and decided to go to China and teach at a University-I found a good deal.

I have never had a problem when I taught at a couple of Korean high schools under the EPIK contract; because the co-teachers majored in English and that they gave me complete autonomy. They gave me nice references, and I use them to this day. Recruiters and schools ought to take a closer look at candidates� resumes for skills and experiences rather than giving premium to what a vindictive and ignorant elementary co-teacher says.

[iggyb]

Without more guess work on your part presented here, I can't touch this one. Everything would be too much speculation...

[Bog Roll]

The same thing happened to me and the annoying thing is that this bad reference will stop you getting employed anytime soon. Korvia, worknplay and the rest of them loved my credentials and were keen to set me up with a school of my choice and then they would contact my co-teacher for a reference and I wouldn't hear from them again.

Another thing that will drive you up the wall (if you let it) is if you ask any of these recruiters or schools about the reference - they won't tell you! So you can't defend yourself against the libellous shitshower your reputation has took off some vindictive old sow of a co-teacher.

I have had to sit out this year in China and it has been pretty good up till now but if you want to stay in Korea - especially with the numbers turning up to work anywhere in the bando - its going to be tough. I am sorry to hear about it though because it's not right.

[Savant]

[littlephoenix]