Korean Job Discussion Forums

[tintinus.]

Just had two classes that went really badly. The kids didn't listen to me at all and just chucked things all over the floor. The bosses have decided to 'watch me like a hawk' as if I were a criminal. And I haven't done anything to really deserve it. They seem to want to run me into the ground, making the lessons extra long at the end. And having all the children basically be really rude to me. They are winding me up quite a lot even though I am really tired. Like the head teacher is now actually trying to stop me from remembering what the children said so she doesn't get into trouble. They seem a little aggressive and said they would make trouble for me back home.

[Troglodyte]

Are they paying pension, taxes, health insurance? If not, report them for that and then report them to the labor board for being treated badly. The labor board won't help you on that but at least you get to file something on the boss before you're fired. I may help you if you request a visa transfer after you're fired.

By the way, you ARE going to be fired.

[YTMND]

It looks like money issues, they don't want to discipline the students.

[Zackback]

This is called what it means to "teach" in South Korea.

[soomin]

[nero]

OP without trying to sound condescending I wonder if teaching is your thing?

I have been reading your posts. Some people are just not teachers. I am not saying I am by any means great at teaching...but to be fired from 2 jobs (and potentially a third) does make me wonder. This doesn't make you a bad person or a failure it just means that maybe your need a job that utilizes your strengths.

[Emark]

[soomin]

[NYC_Gal 2.0]

I agree with Schwa. The OP has posted several horror stories in a matter of weeks. If he/she is not just a great troll, he/she is in the wrong field.

Some of us are here to teach, and are qualified. Our bosses know it, and treat us with respect. Network if you can and you'll find something nice.

EDIT: Weird that mine seems to have posted before Schwa's. I read his then posted.

[schwa]

OP is either fake (my suspicion) or unsuited to teaching.

Harsh? Has yet to post a coherent message. Taken at his word, nothing but self-invited troubles.

[luckylady]

my bet is the OP is a teenage troll living in an alternate universe

[AsiaESLbound]

No, OP isn't a troll. Probably just isolated, inexperienced with kids, and not fitting in well due to a lack of support. I believe teaching in Korea is often much more stressful than most other countries paying less who offer a more relaxed fun environment like many of us try to create in Korean classrooms. Korea has an initiative to shoot high in the world so the stress level is very high there with all the pressures to perform and put on an image instead of just being themselves. There's a reason why pay and benefits are on par with having a real job and why it is a real job rather than a more volunteer type of situation in less developed countries paying a stipend. I had to let most of the noise pass me by, because it would be too much to attempt to control it all. I did find myself burning out on the lack of professional support, boredom, and loneliness in a public school while feeling unwelcome outside the school in the town. I expect a hagwon could be a whole lot more stress, but more rewarding if you work smart instead of hard.

[sml7285]

[andrewchon]

Well? OP are you fired yet?

[alistaircandlin]

OP - don't let it get you down too much. Every teacher has some kind of problems managing behaviour when they start out. It is also something you need to consider throughout your teaching career.

Maybe look into some behaviour management strategies, and try to startwith a clean slate with your classes. You might need to enlist the help of Korean-speaking staff to do this, but it's important that the students know what the boundaries are, and what the consequences are of crossing them.

If - as you post suggests - the Korean-speaking staff are not willing to help you do this, and expect you to do nothing when students behave badly, then personally I'd make it clear to them that you are not willing to work under those conditions. Of course, you might phrase this nicely, but I'd make it clear that you expect support in behaviour management.

Teachers do have to manage behaviour - it's part of the job - but there's no reason you should be expected to put up with it with no support from the management. If they are willing to back you up, then stick it out and work out how to improve things. If they are unwilling to do this, you might think about looking elsewhere for work.