Korean Job Discussion Forums

Stalin84 · Joined: 30 Dec 2009 Location: Haebangchon, Seoul

So I was practically on vacation for the past month. I still had to come into work from 9am-5pm every day and I had camps for two hours a day, but the students stopped showing up for my camps at the end of the first week (there were only three to begin with) and I had no other obligations at the school other than signing a form at the beginning and end of the day saying that I was there. I had to have it signed by a different teacher each day and then witnessed by the Vice Principal.

Between form signing, however, I often just left school and got my own lunch or I went for a walk or I just hung out in the English lab by myself (not many other teachers).

I knew the form signing ended today so last week I asked anyone available what would happen this week. I like knowing about classes in advance and had a bad feeling that they would start in February like last year. Most of the people I asked either didn't know or they told me there definitely weren't classes until the end of February. Or they just told me not to worry.

Anyway, today I set my alarm as to allow me to wake up and be at the school for 9:00am like the camp class schedule. I thought there was no classes, that I'd just be deskwarming. I got a phone call from my boss, who I asked on Friday, who told me that there were no classes this week, that I need to come in immediately.

He then asked me why I was late and I told him I thought we were on the same schedule as before. He said no, he didn't know why I thought that and said that we do have regular classes started from today and throughout all of February.

I've been here for nearly three years... I've been trying to get them to tell me for the entire time that I want to know when I have class because I like to PREPARE. Why is it so hard to tell me what everyone else already knows? As far as I know, I was the only one kept in the dark about there being class today. People who told me there wasn't class the other week are now asking me why I was late today and acting really surprised that I didn't know there was class.

Its so god damned frustrating. If I was back home and people acted like this I'd know they were just screwing with me. Since this happens to a lot of people here, I know its not that. Just why? WHY?!

I have nothing prepared for class as I didn't know there would be class this month. I don't even have a schedule for the next few weeks. I'm really not going to miss this job when I leave Korea this month.

PS. Any other public school teachers starting their normal schedule from today? All my friends start in March except my school for some reason...

redaxe · Joined: 01 Dec 2008

I think it's a power thing. Information is power, so by keeping all the info on an after-you-needed-to-know basis, your boss can make you jump at his command. Don't like it? Then leave Korea, because this is as deeply ingrained in their culture as kimchi.

reactionary · Joined: 22 Oct 2006 Location: korreia

yeah i'm on a normal schedule today. i half thought i was gonna have a class thrown in my face (which i have not prepared for)

by the way, i still have to sign in...and my school let me leave in the early afternoon after camps. kinda hope that doesnt come back to bite me since it's against official policy and they have it in writing that i wasnt here. seriously, wtf.

honestly i just try to take things like this with a grain of salt. you can't expect feast from famine, and they probably won't ever be seeing the best worker that i can be.

Stalin84 · Joined: 30 Dec 2009 Location: Haebangchon, Seoul

VanIslander · Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 4:49 pm Post subject:

I was told by an expat in 2002 to expect that as a cultural thing and so I prepared mentally for it. I just laugh and shake my head at how often and how inefficient and silly it seems. But I don't get at all upset because I knew it was endemic of Korean society, for whatever reason.

Go with the flow, and see the humour and even exciting fun of it, the last minute notice of schedule changes, being flexible and ready to handle the flux.

It just is.

Stalin84 · Joined: 30 Dec 2009 Location: Haebangchon, Seoul

reactionary · Joined: 22 Oct 2006 Location: korreia

Stalin84 · Joined: 30 Dec 2009 Location: Haebangchon, Seoul

blackjack · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Location: anyang

The teachers at my school get their schedule by logging onto an internet calendar thingy, they probably just forget that you don't have access to it, ask your co-teacher if there is anything similar at your school

seoulsucker · Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 5:14 pm Post subject:

Yup, South Korea ranks in the top 5 countries in what sociologists call PDI or power-distance index. This type of of behavior is a classic example.

some waygug-in · Joined: 25 Jan 2003

I agree with what's been said already, I just want to add that I think Koreans tend to expect people to be able to pull instant lessons out of their nether regions on the spot.

They have this idea that a good teacher should be able to deal with whatever they throw at you, without any preparation.

A bad teacher will stew and fuss and complain about the lack of advanced warning.

It's important to "appear" like you know what you're doing, even if you don't.

I'm not saying I agree with it, it's just what I've noticed.

Hightop · Joined: 11 Jun 2003

lifeinkorea · Joined: 24 Jan 2009 Location: somewhere in China

Well, I haven't had this happen where the school got upset over it. They just realize they didn't inform me and excuse it.

If I knew about the schedule changes, then I would feel more obligated to be on time and prepared. I treat it as an ignorance is bliss type of thing.

Right now, as I am typing this, one student is trying to inform the other they are supposed to go to my co-teacher's class. She is convinced she has class with me today, Laughing

We are trying to explain to her in Korean and English that's not true.

Mr. Pink · Joined: 21 Oct 2003 Location: China

I would have snapped.

This thread brings back memories. Times when I would get last minute notice and freak out, then just say something like "I don't feel well, I'm going home for the rest of the day." and then I would leave.

I am glad I got my school to realize this drives foreigners crazy and thus they improved about 90% from the beginning of my tenure to the end. The 10% would be decrees from the principal that NO ONE would get warnings about. I loved to see Korean teachers getting as pissed as I usually did.

gay in korea · Joined: 13 Jan 2010

The South Korean economy is one of the most inefficient in the developed world. Your story is a major reason why. The level of disorganization is obscene. Attribute it to whatever you want, but it's not a good thing: k-culture, DPI etc.

When I was working at a middle school I never had class before 9:20, and most of the time it was 10:30. But there would be random days where the schedule was accelerated and I had class right at 8:30, but no one ever told me. I don't blame the culture, it's just plain incompetence. But it will require a wide-scale cultural shift to correct.