Korean Job Discussion Forums

[smoggy]

The head teacher wrote the first months lesson plans for me to teach 1 chapter every session - and I did so. The next month I wrote the plans and she checked them over and said nothing. I talked to the Korean teachers and they said yes that was correct. Now the class finished the book faster than she had expected. She asked me why? I showed her the lesson plans and she had no answer.

The Korean teachers think that I'm a great teacher, and the head teacher really wanted me. I told her that I felt that I was being punished for no reason. I left, and a couple of minutes later, she tried to clear the air. She said that we have to have a good relationship as I will be here another 10 months (as long as she doesn't blame me for her mistakes etc). This Saving Face Routine is a joke. I happen to know that her contract finishes before mine & she is newly married and they will go to Eng.

Don't blame me, & stop trying to save face. Has anyone had this type of experience? I'm beginning not to like ECC - and yes I have taught in public school for 7 years in the states as a sub. (I worked everyday) and have taught in China as well. I have taught private Chinese & Japanese students Eng. as well for 17 years.

[Teddycakes21]

[withnail]

Love and sympathy, OP. The face saving thing is such crap but you'll have to get used to it....

[definitely maybe]

Typical song and dance. New teachers are forced to submit lesson plans that are rarely glanced at by their superiors. When something unexpected happens, which is inevitable, they scratch their heads for a second then point to you. Whether or not it's your fault is not important. They're looking for an easy way out of responsibility.

You're going to need to pick your battles and cover your own ass, because there are going to be plenty of ridiculous situations where no one will give you the benefit of the doubt. This problem is not unique to ECC, and it will most certainly happen again. My advice is to ask a ton of questions about scheduling and syllabi. More often than not, you're not going to get any information unless you actively pursue it.

By the way, ECCs usually have sets of premade monthly syllabi on hand for every book. Ask one of the foreign teachers who has been around a bit longer on Monday.

[Teddycakes21]

[smoggy]

Fortunately I am not at wits end, but I do know that she doesn't like confrontation. I don't think that she knows how to deal with that. In fact, when I told her that I felt that I was being punished, it caught her off guard, and she asks me why I felt that & then told me that she wasn't punishing me. Then she told me that we have to work together for the next 10 months. I guess that I put some fear into her. Apparently this branch has had some runners.