Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Epik_Teacher]

I guess I need to vent. This is the 4th contract at this little podunk school for EPIK. The first 3 years were OK, but my co-teacher (who was great) was moved to another school. Now I have 2 co-teachers, both of whom are pretty worthless. One guy is going to retire soon, he won't breathe extra unless they pay him extra or give him comp time. The other is a 1 year contract new grad who failed her certification exam, so she's stuck.

It gets worse by the day here. Neither teacher assists me at all, one walks around, frequently goes into the hall or looks out the window. The other sits down and reads a paper. I've talked to them, but they suddenly lose their ability to understand English when I do. Most of the time they totally ignore me, even when I say "hello" or ask a question. On top of which, they haven't even bothered to give me a computer, but expect me to make PowerPoint presentations.

Now things are disappearing from my desk, Not big things, mind you. I came in Monday, all the coffee change was missing from the top drawer. I come in today and all my pens are missing from my desk. And as usual, there's a schedule change that I was told nothing about. I go up to class and stand for 10 minutes wondering what the hell is going on. My co-teacher finally comes up and informs me that the schedule has been changed.

It's not any one big thing, but LOTS of little things; dumb, rude rural students. Teachers who don't acknowledge my existence, petty thefts, etc... I'm pretty sure this is my last year in EPIK!!!! Thank GHOD vacation is coming soon! I need to get out of Korea for a while and decompress! AAAUUUGGGHHH!!!!!!!!!

[Ramen]

Why don't you play the game along with them by not understanding what they're asking you to do, schedule changes, etc., etc.,...

Or say "ok" to everything, but when it comes time for you to do something, not do it. If they ask why, just say "I don't understand."

[confucian]

[vaticanhotline]

Since you've been there for more than three years, couldn't you speak to someone in the school that you get along well with about the problems that you're having? I know that it won't change anything, but at least it'd make you feel a little less like a doormat.

[Fishead soup]

You need to break the ice with these people. Do any of them drink soju?
Arrange to go out and have dinner. Try to pay for them "fight the bill". You'd be surprised how much more helpful they are to you when they see you as a real person.
Whenever I get a new Co-teacher I always have a meeting prior to teaching. In Korea this is essiential. You also need to tell them exactly what they should be doing. Most Co-teachers are good at translating. Get them to explain how to play games or discipline so your classes go smoother.

If however you do all these things and they still don't co-operate arrange to transfer.

[Ramen]

[Epik_Teacher]

I really did need to vent this morning, I was REALLY pissed. Usually, I can ignore most of the BS. Actually, no one here talks to me at all for the most part. They just ignore me, I even eat lunch alone. I swear, I could disappear for most of the day and no one would notice, anyway. Most of the time I don't mind, but it's been one of those weeks so far.

I guess it's just chug along the next couple weeks, go on vacation, go to Japan and get ready for the fall. And probably not re-sign with EPIK next year....................

[jonpurdy]

[Seoulio]

You need to handle this how my wife handled it.

She had a deadbeat teacher as well. One day she prepped for a 20 minute class. She did a quick concept did a little game with it.

Then she sat down and said to the Korean teacher, "your turn"

The teacher looked up from the computer and did a double take

"Um, what?" she said.

My wife said "your turn, we are partner teachers and its your turn"

My wife refused to budge, sat down for 20 minutes. The K teacher tried to run a video and my wife turned it off.

The teacher later tried to play hardball with her, so My wife asked the VP and a couple other teachers to come watch the class next day as a surprise.

she was a biotch outside of class after this of course, but in the actual class where you are supposed to do your job, she got the message.

[NYC_Gal]

[furtakk]

[eljuero]

I had a parallel situation minus the thieving and cold shoulder routine.

I was working with an older head female teacher who's mission it was to complain about the lessons and say it was confusing etc.. Eventually we did a survey of all of the co-teachers who confirmed what I knew - everyone was pretty happy with the lessons except this head teacher and one of her robot minions.

The bottom line is I deal directly with her rather than let her do end runs w/ others and when there's a complaint I tell her I'd like to know what her solution is to address the problem. Initially she laughed it off.....pretty disrespectfully I would say. Now I just laugh back and that's the end of it. I've got support from above - the games aren't always different just because it's Korea and I'm not sure the full *ss kiss is always a necessity.

[PatrickGHBusan]

I understand you are frustraded OP but refering to your students as dumb, rude rural students is not exactly making you look like the mature party here....

[Morticae]

[Troglodyte]