Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Kaypea]

Hey,

Does your school put pictures of you on the school website without asking? I don't think it's a big deal or anything, but the head teacher of the department told my coteacher to take pics of me for the website, and now that my Korean's good enough to recognize "website" and "take pictures" in Korean, and I made a bit of a show of showing that I understood. I acted fake shocked... "what, pictures of me on the school website?" in kind of an exagerrated voice, and I meant to be playful while also inquiring about my fate... but I think the head teacher thought I was being cheeky and inappropriate.

I don't know.

If it's in Korean, am I not supposed to know about it?

[PigeonFart]

Yes my school puts pics of me on the website without asking.

I wouldn't kick up a fuss about something like that. You'll probably have more serious voilations of your private life with that school in the future, so keep your energy till then. You have to choose your battles carefully.

[Kaypea]

Yeah, I really don't mind or care. I was just a little surprised that when I pretended to be concerned, I don't know... my head teacher usually likes to joke around, but she seemed kind of po'd at me. It was right before lunch, though, so maybe she was hungry.

We take pictures of the kids ALL THE TIME without asking or anything, and they seem used to it. Now and then they kind of hide behind books or something. What I did was sort of the equivalent of that.

FWIW, I worked for some semi-shady telemarketing company about 10 years ago (in Canada)... one time, they took a picture of me, doctored it a little, and then used it in a training brochure without asking or telling me. I thought that was strange. I put up with it because I'm vain and it was a good picture.

[nathanrutledge]

My school's have all done that, and then they tell me after the fact. Of course, it's always a photo that looks terrible - I'm sick, i need a haircut, I hadn't shaved, etc.

They just mentioned that they were going to put photos up last week and ASKED for a photo, so I at least had the opportunity to turn one in that I really liked.

On a side note, I HATE it when my coworkers speak Korean around me about me. I've told them that even if it's not something I need to worry about, I want them to speak English if it's about me. I start hearing those key words and I sit up and say "WHAT?" I think it's just common courtesy that you don't talk about people right in front of them like that. Plus, come on, you're English teachers; even if it's irrelevant to me, you can still do the few sentences in English.

[Kaypea]

The funny thing about speaking about me in Korean when I'm around, is I think there's times when I'm expected to respond, and times when I'm not. Like one time at lunch, a teacher said "Wonamin uses chopsticks well" and I was supposed to respond, but I thought it was a 3rd person statment, so... don't respond.

If I'm not meant to respond, I wish they'd come up with a nickname for me that I wouldn't understand. It wouldn't be hard, just choose a nickname I'm unlikely to learn about at my weekend Korean class.

[mellow-d]

Don't worry. One time I was watching TV and I was in a commercial for my school! I remember the Mayor came one day and there were cameras but, yeah, pretty suprising to realize it was a commercial that I would later see a few more times.
Earlier this year I did an internet search for the Pentaport Rock Festival and a picture of me and my friends came up in a poster advertising the 2008 festival. I remember a random Korean came up and asked to take our picture so we said, "Sure". Didn't know we'd be put on a poster for the next year's festival!
So funny.

[mellow-d]

Here's the ad from the visitkorea website:

http://www.visitkorea.or.kr/ena/SI/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=586061

[Kaypea]

When I was a teen, I was in ads for the local Symphony.

[northway]

If I'm doing a really hands-on activity I'll actually go get my Korean teacher to take pictures, as it looks good to have photos like that for your parents to see.

[naturegirl321]

Get your own pictures taken. NIce and airbrushed. Don't worry, it's not that big of a deal