Korean Job Discussion Forums

matthews_world · Joined: 15 Feb 2003

This is my first semester teaching college students and I'd say that I happy to be away from my former ankle biters.

I teach in a hagwon located on a college campus and I'm psyched that the new semester has begun.

The program is only a year or so old here but it seems we've got more studens this year, 90% of which are female! Wink

This is the life. I'd take this job over a true college job anyday.

Very Happy

SarcasmKills · Joined: 07 Apr 2003 Location: Seoul

IconsFanatic · Joined: 19 Jan 2003

Thank god the vacation is over. Too many middle-school, high-school, and uni kiddies taking up space in my gym when they're out of school.

-Don't go to a gym if you're not there to exercise.

-Don't occupy a machine if you're not going to use it.

-Get the h*ll off the machine when you're finished using it. They're no such thing as "super sets".... it's just being a greedy arsehole, and assuming your time is more important than everyone else's. If you need time to relax and breathe, you can do that while I'm using the machine. Dumb arses.

-When you're done using free-weights, put them the h*ll back. Same as above. I see guys use a weight for 20 seconds, and rest it beside them while they watch TV for 20 minutes, use it for another 20 seconds, watch a half-hour of TV... whoops, do I still have this weight off the rack? @#$%!!!!!!!!!!!!

There are no manners in this country.

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

TECO · Joined: 20 Jan 2003

Taiwanese are the same. Never put their weights back.

Japanese are the most considerate of the 3 definitely

matthews_world · Joined: 15 Feb 2003

Okay, where did this thread take a wrong turn. Rolling Eyes

Corporal · Joined: 25 Jan 2003

On the contrary, it's improving. We've moved from you drooling over your students, Rolling Eyes

, to, well, I didn't really notice, but pretty much anything's better than that.

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

weatherman · Joined: 14 Jan 2003 Location: Korea

I am happy too the semester has started. Have some good classes this semester also.

Alvin Stardust · Joined: 12 Nov 2003

On both topics...

1) You gotta' laugh at those Korean bods who rush out and buy the latest spandex/exercise uniforms/weight gloves, etc and just stand around without a clue as how to exercise (It's my new hobby" Yeah, right). Or even worse... the dudes work out before coming to the gym, so they can just pose around the place or hog the machines while reading a magazine. Classic stuff.

2) Too many paid vacations for me. Can't wait to see the new faces for this semester/term. The dumb stares... "What, I actually have to give opinions & discuss things during higher level conversation classes?" Might be some new eye-candy to make the classes more enjoyable. I've yet to meet/teach any motivated or autonomous learners, who actually attend to improve their language skills. It often seems like they join the class to make social connections & language learning is an afterthought.

That's why I enjoy the very young learners. Younger the better. They seem to become de-motivated after the age of about 10 (Korean years). Must be all the crap they've had to go through at their own schools & at various hogwons. Ah well, got that of my chest... feeling better now!

Real Reality · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul

matthews_world,

When is your sabbatical? Do you receive office funds?

Foreign professors number only a handful compared to the legions of Korean professors at foreign universities, but they do most of the heavy lifting in terms of course loads, devoting themselves almost exclusively to teaching. Nevertheless, foreign professors tend to be treated as hired hands, without academic standing, and lacking the possibility of career advancement or tenure. They must submit to yearly contracts (compensated at a rate only 60 percent of their Korean peers) while walled off from the permanent Korean faculty who benefit from travel, research funding, sabbaticals, etc. Moreover, when hundreds of Korean scholars enjoy such perks at American and other foreign universities, something is obviously amiss.
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200206/14/200206142349223599900090109011.html

Derrek · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

Real Reality · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul

Some people can be satisfied with living in an oversized walk-in closet, right? Some people do not seem to care about curfew or other rules for their oversized walk-in closet. Some international guests have the added bonus of poorly maintained closets. And, how about the mold and cracks in the wall. "This is the life," says the mold in the wall.