Korean Job Discussion Forums

[pecan]

Relax and take a deep breath.

If you are already yelling at strangers in the street, you might want to consider adjusting your attitude.

If you had brought enough currency with you or the means to get Korean currency prior to releasing your passport, you could have saved yourself some hassle (you can't blame your employer for that one).

Things will break, and how you decide to handle them reflects on you and your character. You can easily go to a bal-lay-bang to get your clothes washed and dried until your boss gets you a new machine (blaming your employer for the situation will not get your clothes clean).

Opening a bank account costs one thousand KRW!

Let me get this straight, you are upset about seventy-five cents?

You may not understand why your employer needed to open an account at that particular bank, but I am not clear why it would upset you. Typically, you open an account where your employer has an account. You are free to open accounts wherever you like, but if you want to get paid, you need to have the account where your employer banks.

Is that really difficult to understand?

If your employer asks you to teach something, you teach it. It is not complicated. If you go against your employer, because you think the material is crap, you are only going to end up hurting yourself. Use your imagination next time, and prepare a bit more, so you do not have to resort to playing games on your first day (that is bad news). Moreover, you might want to reconsider your practice of prejudging your students (it's uncool).

Why you want your hand held is beyond me, but to each their own.

Just know that your laundry, the cleaning of your apartment, safely walking across the street, etc. are all things that you are responsible to take care of (like your classroom). Blaming your boss might make you feel better now, but in the end, if you do not recognize what is your responsibility, you are going to be extremely unhappy here.

The next time you have some difficulty, remain calm (no point in losing your cool and looking like a fool, like you did in front of those ladies). Everything will workout in the end. Getting upset only makes you look weak.

Ask yourself what you can do to fix any problem you have and do it yourself. Only concern your employer as a last resort.

Be gracious,

Nut

[I_Am_Wrong]

yeah, I'm being strict as hell. Unfortunately the teacher before me didn't know the concept of being strict and would just buy them off with chips and snacks (even if they were being terrible). I see nothing wrong with positive reinforcement...but not for negative behavior!!!

[captain kirk]

Pecan's right, it only costs 1,000 won to open a bank account. So what's the problem. Sounds like a pile-up freak out.
If the kids are raccous the director might have something to do with it. Might. For eg. the kind of director who gives the parents and the kids everything they want. Which makes the teacher a kind of fall guy. Or inconsequential waiter. It's possible.
I worked at a school to replace a foreign teacher because her problem was she taught the blackboard. For various reasons she didn't have 'tough love' with the students, and it ended up that she stood with her back to them most of the time 'teaching the blackboard'. I watched her on the 'room cam', monitoring the 'teacher-to-go' murmering 'hmm, hmm, I can see your probelm' while the director complained about her.
So I had to round 'em up and rope 'em up which was NOT easy. There were certain impudent, core reps who wanted to keep the good times rolling and there were a few scenes, and repeats. The damn little suckers refused to let go of their refuge, their hagwon sovereign nation of yahoo.
When you have them in line, lighten up. Like after a few months.
With the middle school the previous teacher let them use their cells in class. The middle school's variety of maintaining a sovereign state of yahoo was complete disdain. For me, as with my predecessor. One referred to her as 'pathetic'.
Good luck with the bits of eraser pitching imps, round 'em up and rope 'em up.

[casey's moon]

Pecan, I know you're playing devil's advocate, but Iamwrong is not being unreasonable here. If you've never been screwed around by a bad director in Korea, then that's great -- but that doesn't mean that no one else has. I'm usually on the side of the so-called "apologists" but that doesn't mean that there are no legitimate complaints here.

I'm married to a Korean and plan to stay in Korea for quite some time -- I may even end up buried in this country -- but I do and always get upset when someone almost kills me when I'm crossing the street and I have the right of way. Fortunately, overtime I've learned to be more careful... if I didn't I probably would have been buried in this country already!

There are excellent directors and there are also directors like this guy's boss. Pretending they don't exist won't make Korea a better place, will it?

[Son Deureo!]

Sorry, but Pecan has a point here.

The OP is complaining that he can't do his laundry or clean his own apartment. While he may have had an agreement with his boss to get his airfare reimbursed, the fact that the OP came over here in such a bad financial condition that he can't afford a laundromat or a sponge and some cleanser, is the OP's fault, not his boss'. If he can't afford this until payday, he should be prepared to do without, or ask a friend for a loaner. Maybe even ask his boss for an advance (but I'd see that as an absolute last resort). Come over here to teach with absolutely no cash at your peril.

So far as the class from hell, yeah it sucks, but someone has to teach it, right? Usually, the new guy gets least wanted assignments. That's true in any job.

So far as the bank issue goes, it's unfortunate that his boss didn't pick the bank that was best for the OP's banking needs, but it isn't exactly difficult to set up a new bank account here.

In general, the less reliant you can make yourself on your boss, the better off you'll be.

[I_Am_Wrong]

do not make judgments about my financial situation. I arrived in Korea on a Saturday and after dealing with immigration, finding my way around the airport, and then meeting my recruiter, I happened to forget to change my Canadian money into won. My fault... On Monday I had to give up my passport in order to get my arc card before I started work and, thus, wasn't able to go to a bank. After work I went straight to the bank to change money but was told it was impossible without either my passport or arc, much to my dismay! My director did advance me some money and I did buy a broom but other than that I needed the rest of that to simply be able to eat nutritiously for the last two weeks. Finally, I was told that I would have access to my checking account from Korea through ATM's but I have been unable to find this so far.

As far as the lesson goes, I did teach the lesson completely and I incorporated vocab from the lesson into the game. You have no right to question my creativity, my complaint is based upon the complete lack of creativity in the curriculum and my director's confusion of my infusion of creativity.

Finally, my apartment is clean. Perhaps not pefectly organized but...that is how I like to live in MY pesonal space. Yes there is a pile of dirty clothes...sorry everyone I asked about a laundromat said they didn't have them here.

I have no apoligies for any road monkey who almost kills me.

edit:: I got a new washing machine today and my clean laundry is now basking in the glorious sunshine!!

I was told the bank account would cost 20,000 won so I will have to bring this up with the director. So apparently I can wire money from any bank? I don't need an account. That's good news, but it makes me very confused about what he was talking about.

thanks for the advice Pecan. I'm generally very calm and pretty relaxed but ten to overreact sometimes perhaps. It was my director's little comment that pissed me off...guess I should've just ignored it.

[pecan]

[casey's moon]

[Zyzyfer]

[saw6436]

Have worked at my Hagwon for six straight years. Usual hagwon chaos with new students, classes, etc. The one thing I have not had to put up with is a bad director. The guy i work for may not pay his fair share of taxes but he has ALWAYS gone the extra mile as far as I am concerned.
My first day in Korea my director says we need to re-negotiate my contract. We sit down and I am waiting for the shaft to come. First thing he says is that the contract is the recruiting agencies and not his contract. He says the overtime pay is too low and bumps it up W5,000 per hour. He says 30 hours per week is too much teaching (he also teaches) and dropped the hours to 25 (I am currently teaching 27). Also says that the health insurance from the government is not so good and arranges new health insurance with a private company, all at his expence.
In the six years I have been here we have modified our contract about 7 times. I may have to give in in some areas but he compensates me in other areas. These last 10 months I have not even had a contract and I TRUST him completely.
My initial dwelling was pretty primative but he paid all the utilities and did what he could to make it a more pleasent place. He knows if you treat your employees well they will treat you well (usually). In the six years I have worked for my school I have only refused my boss one request. He has asked me to teach certain classes or places that I didn't want to but he has always compensated me well for my efforts and he constantly praises my teaching and interaction with my students. In my experience being willing to compromise and do what is good for the business is a key in having a good relationship with your hagwon director. I got real lucky when I hooked-up with this school. He and I don't hang out together and pal around but we have a good working relationship with eachother.
Thats my good director story. Have numerous incidents to show why I trust him and his wife. To many to list here and now. PM me if you are interested.
To end, I am leaving my school at the end of October. I hate to leave but I have to move to Daejeon (my wife got a new job there). I am praying my new school is as good as this one.

[Son Deureo!]

[Grotto]

[pecan]

Casey's Moon,

You claim to have basic reading skills, and then ask

[Grotto]

Apparently you do!

Just because they want to open an account at a certain bank because it is convenient for them does not mean you should. It is up to the employee where there account is not the employer.

Nuff said

[pecan]

I hate to say this, as I am sure you have heard it enough in your lifetime, but you are wrong!

For example, if you work for a university, a government post, etc., they bank at a particular institution, and they require you to open an account there to be paid. It is not the exception, but the norm.

Again, if you want to talk about the exceptions...go right ahead, but it does not change the truth.

Nut