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oldfatfarang
Joined: 19 May 2005
Location: On the road to somewhere.
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 Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2010 5:07 pm Post subject: |
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Sorry to hear about this OP. My two cents. If you are still teaching, get paid daily. No pay = no teaching. No exceptions. If he's going broke, or he's going to can you - you have nothing to lose. If he won't pay you, tell him to stick his job up his fundamental. Also tell him that you're going to be staying in Korea on a tourist visa, and that you're going to be visiting his new teachers and telling them how you've been treated (and how they can expect to be treated in the future). That will shake him up.
Maybe he won't fire you. Maybe he's just softening you up ('Door in the Face' psych trick). If he get's you begging for your job, he can get you to work for any wages/conditions later on.
So you're a big guy. So what? Make fun of it. Get the kids to hang on your arms and swing them around the classroom like a merry go round. SMILE. SMILE. SMILE.  The kids probably are terrified of the huge foreigner. Again, so what? I've had Korean toddlers burst into tears when I entered a lift. Big deal. This whole nation is petrified of foreigners. It's their problem, not yours. SMILE. SMILE. SMILE. 
I'd be getting my cash - and leaving town.
I'm sorry you've drawn the short straw - no shame in it.
Good luck in a more honest country.
And to all prospective TEFL teachers coming to Korea - please, please, don't pay for your own airfare. If an employer asks for this - start running. |
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gymrat780
Joined: 16 Aug 2010
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| Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2010 6:18 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the replies people, I'm going to figure out my options. I don't think I should work today until I receive 50% of my airfare promised by contract upon arrival and my degree back.
Honestly this was an uphill battle from the start. At first he criticized me saying my voice was too deep. Then I was told that I should wear professional clothes everywhere I go so I represent his company properly, then I was told I should be helping him make money and yesterday I was told that I shouldn't bring a plastic water bottle (even though there is a water cooler there) and that I should instead purchase water from the store.
Yesterday he criticized me about the material I was supposed to be reading when he gave me no prior instructions. It was my first day and he criticized me in front of the students and 1 other teacher. I got up from my seat and my belt was crooked and it caused my fly to go down a bit. He pointed at it in front of the other students and told me to fix it, when I did he said it still wasn't right. This was in front of the 10 students in the class. |
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ippy
Joined: 25 Aug 2009
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| Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2010 6:21 pm Post subject: |
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Cant you just get on a boat to fukuoka, (with a reputable company), a notification of employment and a contract and get a new visa. This dude sounds like a nightmare. Get as much as you can, and flee.
Can someone who's probably had to do this, give him an outline. Clearly the OP has spent a lot of cash and is probably living off not so much, so the quicker he gets the deets the better.
Also, cant you speak to your recruiter as well. Some are shysters, but some will try and help you out. |
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ThingsComeAround
Joined: 07 Nov 2008
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| Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2010 6:24 pm Post subject: |
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OP-
This boss does not seem to be cool. Why would he hire you, then fire you and re-hire someone else in a month? He is losing his business. Not going to tell you about his financial problems, but read between the lines. It's all we have in this country. I disagree with the above poster but you should get some compensation/collateral should the boss give you the finger when your month is up. Start talking transfer now- let him know you are willing to work with him if he is willing to work with you. Find other foreigners in the area and talk to them. Your school hiring? During lunch time find public schools and do a walk-in. Someone is bound to know someone that needs an extra hand. Don't let the month finish by believing that he will do anything for you.
I'm also big. Not large, just tall. Koreans love tall men.
http://hanopolis.com/?articleNo=3886&Female-Misuda-Guest-Men-under-511-are-LOSERS |
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ThingsComeAround
Joined: 07 Nov 2008
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| Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2010 6:30 pm Post subject: |
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| gymrat780 wrote: |
Thanks for the replies people, I'm going to figure out my options. I don't think I should work today until I receive 50% of my airfare promised by contract upon arrival and my degree back.
Damn dude. The school never holds my degree. They'd hear about it everyday until it was returned 
Honestly this was an uphill battle from the start. At first he criticized me saying my voice was too deep. Then I was told that I should wear professional clothes everywhere I go so I represent his company properly, then I was told I should be helping him make money and yesterday I was told that I shouldn't bring a plastic water bottle (even though there is a water cooler there) and that I should instead purchase water from the store.
You actually listened to that? I would've asked for the money he owes before letting him dictate my drinking habits and clothing choice.
Yesterday he criticized me about the material I was supposed to be reading when he gave me no prior instructions. It was my first day and he criticized me in front of the students and 1 other teacher. I got up from my seat and my belt was crooked and it caused my fly to go down a bit. He pointed at it in front of the other students and told me to fix it, when I did he said it still wasn't right. This was in front of the 10 students in the class.
Right after you should have approached him privately and told him that is unacceptable. Locals like to talk big in groups, then alone they are innocent and full of excuses. No way- you let this dead beat embarrass you in front of your class? And he told you he is gonna fire you?
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I'm starting to think he wanted to hire a woman- that is the only reasonable explanation for this harsh treatment. Still, this guy needs some thrashing- stop taking his crap and start dishing it back at him! |
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gymrat780
Joined: 16 Aug 2010
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| Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2010 6:58 pm Post subject: |
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| ThingsComeAround wrote: |
| gymrat780 wrote: |
Thanks for the replies people, I'm going to figure out my options. I don't think I should work today until I receive 50% of my airfare promised by contract upon arrival and my degree back.
Damn dude. The school never holds my degree. They'd hear about it everyday until it was returned
Honestly this was an uphill battle from the start. At first he criticized me saying my voice was too deep. Then I was told that I should wear professional clothes everywhere I go so I represent his company properly, then I was told I should be helping him make money and yesterday I was told that I shouldn't bring a plastic water bottle (even though there is a water cooler there) and that I should instead purchase water from the store.
You actually listened to that? I would've asked for the money he owes before letting him dictate my drinking habits and clothing choice.
Yesterday he criticized me about the material I was supposed to be reading when he gave me no prior instructions. It was my first day and he criticized me in front of the students and 1 other teacher. I got up from my seat and my belt was crooked and it caused my fly to go down a bit. He pointed at it in front of the other students and told me to fix it, when I did he said it still wasn't right. This was in front of the 10 students in the class.
Right after you should have approached him privately and told him that is unacceptable. Locals like to talk big in groups, then alone they are innocent and full of excuses. No way- you let this dead beat embarrass you in front of your class? And he told you he is gonna fire you?
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I'm starting to think he wanted to hire a woman- that is the only reasonable explanation for this harsh treatment. Still, this guy needs some thrashing- stop taking his crap and start dishing it back at him! |
lol, he has my degree and 50% of my airfare. I fear that if I say too much I won't get that stuff. |
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oldfatfarang
Joined: 19 May 2005
Location: On the road to somewhere.
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| Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2010 6:59 pm Post subject: |
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| gymrat780 wrote: |
At first he criticized me saying my voice was too deep. Then I was told that I should wear professional clothes everywhere I go so I represent his company properly, then I was told I should be helping him make money and yesterday I was told that I shouldn't bring a plastic water bottle (even though there is a water cooler there) and that I should instead purchase water from the store.
Yesterday he criticized me about the material I was supposed to be reading when he gave me no prior instructions. It was my first day and he criticized me in front of the students and 1 other teacher. I got up from my seat and my belt was crooked and it caused my fly to go down a bit. He pointed at it in front of the other students and told me to fix it, when I did he said it still wasn't right. This was in front of the 10 students in the class. |
I figured as much. 'Denegration' is a standard Korean management practice. You will never, repeat never, hear a Korean manager use praise to motivate workers. They always criticise and find fault. That way, the employee is put in their place (junior) and the manager is put in their place (senior). That's the Confucian hierarchy system. To gain control of you, and to exploit you, Korean managers will denegrate and belittle: your appearance, your voice, your accent, your clothes, your country, your education, your degrees, your hair - anything - that will put them in a superior position and you in a junior position. I'd say this boy is absolutely petrified of your size (if you are as big as you say). If you want to test this, invade his personal (senior) space. That is, the next time he starts criticising you - just walk up really, really close and stand over him.
Good news OP. Once you know about denegration, you can stop it in it's tracks. Just give as good as you get. If he criticizes your size, ask him why he is so small (I thought all Koreans were big guys?)
"Yes, thanks for telling me my fly is down a bit. I was in such a hurry to get to class to help the kids. But why are your trousers so wrinkly? Did you fall asleep in the office?"
Pretty strong. But you get the point. Don't let yourself be put in a junior position. (I've had senior Korean teachers try to bully me and they just melted away when I publicly called them on it.)
AND GET YOUR MONEY - OR DON'T TEACH.
I've heard of new teachers that have been so shaken by denegration that they've worked regular scheduled overtime for no money - just to please their new boss and not make them angry (WTF). Stand up for yourself.
Personally, this guy has exploitation written all over him. He isn't going to be helping you transfer anywhere. I'd be getting my money - and giving him the finger on the way out.
Good luck. |
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2010 7:32 pm Post subject: |
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| ippy wrote: |
| Cant you just get on a boat to fukuoka, (with a reputable company), a notification of employment and a contract and get a new visa. This dude sounds like a nightmare. Get as much as you can, and flee. |
Japan visa runs are only available to those who have been on E-2s for 6-9 months.
And yeah, this isn't about you, which was my point about pissing him off. It makes zero sense for him to behave this way unless he's going out of business. |
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CentralCali
Joined: 17 May 2007
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| Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2010 8:28 pm Post subject: |
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Not that I think you're going to get anything at all, but the usual deal on airfare is as follows:
- Your employer flies you over here on his nickel. If you last the entire year, he pays for your flight to your home country.
- Your employer flies you over here on his nickel. If you last six months or more, but not the entire year, your employer merely does not provide you a return flight.
- Your employer flies you over here on his nickel. If you last less than six months, then you reimburse your employer for the one-way trip to Korea.
As another poster mentioned, if the employer really wants an NET, then the employer will provide the flight over. Paying for it yourself is risky.
Last edited by CentralCali on Mon Sep 13, 2010 8:30 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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engrishprease
Joined: 22 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2010 8:28 pm Post subject: |
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Let's not forget, there's always two sides to a story. We heard Gymrat's side, and from his perspective, yes the director/school seems very shady. But then again, we all have no idea what Gymrat looks like. For all we know, his regular, relaxed face might look like  .
Point is, no need to jump to conclusion. There's a reason why female teachers are preferred the world over, and not just in Korea. They're (generally, but of course there will always be exceptions) more friendly, caring, and loving than their male counterparts.
My question to the OP is this: Do you smile often? Is there a smile or a frown in your relaxed state? |
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CentralCali
Joined: 17 May 2007
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| Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2010 8:32 pm Post subject: |
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| engrishprease wrote: |
| There's a reason why female teachers are preferred the world over, and not just in Korea. |
The word you're looking for is prejudice.
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| They're (generally, but of course there will always be exceptions) more friendly, caring, and loving than their male counterparts. |
Horse apples. |
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engrishprease
Joined: 22 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2010 9:01 pm Post subject: |
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| CentralCali wrote: |
| engrishprease wrote: |
| There's a reason why female teachers are preferred the world over, and not just in Korea. |
The word you're looking for is prejudice.
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| They're (generally, but of course there will always be exceptions) more friendly, caring, and loving than their male counterparts. |
Horse apples. |
Prejudice or not, young learners need to feel safe, comfortable, and cared for in their learning environment. It's easy to fight for equality and all that PC horse apples as a teacher, but lets reverse the situation. Pretend you have a son or daughter in grade school. Would you prefer a teacher that looks like or ? If I had to choose two random strangers (one male, one female) to be my child's teacher, I'd prefer to choose the female over the male every single time. This opinion might differ of course, if the male teacher had a great reputation and/or references from other parents.
And don't forget, there's always some truth to a stereotype. |
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gymrat780
Joined: 16 Aug 2010
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| Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2010 9:43 pm Post subject: |
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I don't know many males that have a smiley relaxed face and I'm not one of them. I smile a lot when I'm talking, but no I don't have a permanent smile.
I was actually lied to by this employer about the age group. I was told I would be teaching teens and these kids were elementary kids.
Anyways, great news! First things first I quit. Right now it's a good thing, we will see how it affects me. Second I got all of my documents that I sent which are needed to get the visa, and then I got him to give me the 50% airfare reimbursement plus a little more he owes me and finally I got him to come with me to immigration tomorrow morning to help sort that out so I can be free of the contract. I also got him to drive me to Busan tomorrow so I can take the KTX train to Seoul.
Oh and to others who have said it, his business isn't doing very well. In the last 3 months he's laid off the principal, vice principal as well as several teachers and they don't have that many kids left. These are things I would have liked to know before I frickin came here. |
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2010 10:15 pm Post subject: |
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| You're extremely lucky to have gotten that much, I'd say. |
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tanklor1
Joined: 13 Jun 2006
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| Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2010 10:39 pm Post subject: |
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| gymrat780 wrote: |
I don't know many males that have a smiley relaxed face and I'm not one of them. I smile a lot when I'm talking, but no I don't have a permanent smile.
I was actually lied to by this employer about the age group. I was told I would be teaching teens and these kids were elementary kids.
Anyways, great news! First things first I quit. Right now it's a good thing, we will see how it affects me. Second I got all of my documents that I sent which are needed to get the visa, and then I got him to give me the 50% airfare reimbursement plus a little more he owes me and finally I got him to come with me to immigration tomorrow morning to help sort that out so I can be free of the contract. I also got him to drive me to Busan tomorrow so I can take the KTX train to Seoul.
Oh and to others who have said it, his business isn't doing very well. In the last 3 months he's laid off the principal, vice principal as well as several teachers and they don't have that many kids left. These are things I would have liked to know before I frickin came here. |
First gig huh? |
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