|
Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
peppermint
Joined: 13 May 2003
Location: traversing the minefields of caddishness.
|
 Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2004 6:33 pm Post subject: |
 |
|
| I never asked my teachers to do anything of the sort, and have gone so far as to bake cookies for them to try to win them over , yet I still have to phone and specifically ask them to even show up to my classes. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
pecan
Joined: 01 Jul 2004
|
| Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2004 6:57 pm Post subject: Reminds me |
|
|
Words from the past:
| #$%@!& wrote: |
Personally, I like to bake, and during my first year of EPIK, I would bake several apple pies for the principal and the Korean staff on random occasions. They really appreciated the thought, though not everyone cared much for the pies.
Do you think my actions affected my situation?
Of course they did, but why would some selfish sod in another province expect to be treated the same?
Our behaviors are reflective of our personality and determine much of the quality of our experiences in life.
One only has to look around and within to understand.
I never missed a single day of work, whether I was sick or not. I volunteered my time to the school and came to after school events that I was not required to attend. When I was asked to do something extra, I said "Yes!" I never said things like "That's not in my contract!" or "How much are you going to pay me?"
One would typically not say those things to an employer at home, so why is it that people say those types of things in Korea?
When I truly needed something that was important to me, they would grant it without hesitation, because I did not complain, nor burden my employer with regular requests. I was not a headache to my principal, but a blessing in a foreign disguise.
When I get all of my school breaks free and others get stuck having to teach during their school breaks, they come and complain on Dave's about how unfair EPIK is!
Wake up! I earned those days with my conduct and performance. Why should you be entitled to the same?
Perhaps the next time your supervisor asks you for help, you will think twice before you respond.
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
peppermint
Joined: 13 May 2003
Location: traversing the minefields of caddishness.
|
| Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2004 7:16 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I've behaved in much the same way as you, but I've yet to recieve the bare minium in terms of co operation from the Korean"co workers".
I come in 45 minutes early every day, do prep at home as well. I've volunteered to help coach a group of students in the English speaking contest, nd am planning on taking them for ice cream after. (The students had to tell me about the contest because the teachers would never think of it). I've donated English videos with Korean subs to the school library and my mother is shipping over a bunch of kids books which I asked her to buy as well.
The only things I've asked for are is for my co teachers to attend class for discipline purposes (they're required to be there by law anyway), and a replacement for a television that is necessary since the curriculum relies heavily on CD-ROMS. Once in a very rare while I ask ethem to explain something in the teachers guide, which is written mostly in Korean.
You get treated well, sounds like you've earned it and that's great, but don't asssume that everyone who isn't as lucky deserves their treatment too.
Last edited by peppermint on Mon Oct 11, 2004 7:34 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
manlyboy
Joined: 01 Aug 2004
Location: Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
|
| Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2004 7:25 pm Post subject: Re: Reminds me |
|
|
| pecan wrote: |
Words from the past:
| #$%@!& wrote: |
Personally, I like to bake, and during my first year of EPIK, I would bake several apple pies for the principal and the Korean staff on random occasions. They really appreciated the thought, though not everyone cared much for the pies.
Do you think my actions affected my situation?
Of course they did, but why would some selfish sod in another province expect to be treated the same?
Our behaviors are reflective of our personality and determine much of the quality of our experiences in life.
One only has to look around and within to understand.
I never missed a single day of work, whether I was sick or not. I volunteered my time to the school and came to after school events that I was not required to attend. When I was asked to do something extra, I said "Yes!" I never said things like "That's not in my contract!" or "How much are you going to pay me?"
One would typically not say those things to an employer at home, so why is it that people say those types of things in Korea?
When I truly needed something that was important to me, they would grant it without hesitation, because I did not complain, nor burden my employer with regular requests. I was not a headache to my principal, but a blessing in a foreign disguise.
When I get all of my school breaks free and others get stuck having to teach during their school breaks, they come and complain on Dave's about how unfair EPIK is!
Wake up! I earned those days with my conduct and performance. Why should you be entitled to the same?
Perhaps the next time your supervisor asks you for help, you will think twice before you respond.
|
|
It was only a matter of time until Pecan got in on the action! 
I like that quote. Don't necessarily agree with the giving-up-your-after-hours-free-time-without-hesitation line though. Occasionally, yes, but some of us have important things in our lives besides our schools that need our attention. Quality time with family, or attend a school function to get in good with the boss. That's not a choice at all. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
turtlepi1
Joined: 15 Jun 2004
Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE
|
| Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2004 7:28 pm Post subject: Re: What? |
|
|
| pecan wrote: |
Turtle,
Let me get this straight, your girlfriend expected the school to help her get a personal cell phone and an internet connection in her apartment?
Is she incapable of doing that for herself?
Sorry, but I fail to see how that is the school's responsibility.
That kind of attitude could be why some of the Korean staff resent the foreigners coming into their schools.
Is independence a difficult thing for some of you?
Nut |
Well I'm glad that you see the need to jump on that as "not being ABLE to do it herself" but if you either knew anything about the GEPIK program or bothered to ask you would know that (at least in our case and anyone placed by Work-n-Play) there was a "plan" to get cell-phones under the Korean plan not the foreigner plan. We were specifically told NOT to do it ourselves. Then delay delay delay. A little frustrating but I wasn't complaining about it, just pointing out that it ended up being a bit of a cluster-*beep*...
So lighten up. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
pecan
Joined: 01 Jul 2004
|
| Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2004 7:42 pm Post subject: My apology |
|
|
Turtle,
Sorry for the attitude, I can be a bet of a "nut" at times.
Dealing with bureaucracy anywhere can be frustrating, but the delay was a direct benefit for your girlfriend. The plan she is now on will save her a lot of money over the year.
Some things are worth the wait.
Nut |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Grotto
Joined: 21 Mar 2004
|
| Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2004 8:00 pm Post subject: arrghh |
|
|
It is very frustrating to have to deal with this last minute crap that always seems to be popping up. Today was a typical example:
I am on my way to teach a class when two Korean teachers tell me that class is cancelled as there is a presentation of just say no to drugs being broadcast throughout the school. So I go to my class to work on some paperwork, when the teacher who's class I am supposed to be teaching knocks and tells me that I am late  Okay no problem I get my stuff and go to her class and teach the lesson. Just another example of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing.
I have said before that I do not mind putting in extra time to plan something or go to a schoo function after hours. But! When someone tells me that I must do this it gets my hackles up! I find that unless you stick to your contract in this country they just keep demanding more and more and more. You have to put your foot down somewhere and being tough early on seems to be the best course. You can always ease up later. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Zyzyfer
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Location: who, what, where, when, why, how?
|
| Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2004 8:07 pm Post subject: Re: GEPIK |
|
|
| Demophobe wrote: |
| Zyzyfer wrote: |
Weren't you bragging about how great the job was not too long ago? Definitely sorry to hear things going to *beep*, but unfortunately the 2 Horsemen of the Public School Apocalypse (adventureman and me) were right. |
Pretty small sampling to delare victory...
Let me balance the sides. My job is great.
1:1 |
There's a little bit of history behind that message.
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=25826&start=0
Like I said, I'm sorry the job is flunking out, but the insane amount of hiring that has been done for public schools reeks of that "typical Korean" last-minute syndrome. Takes a lot of patience to weed through the BS... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
adventureman
Joined: 18 Feb 2003
|
| Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2004 11:37 pm Post subject: |
|
|
..
Last edited by adventureman on Sat Oct 08, 2005 1:06 am; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Demophobe
Joined: 17 May 2004
|
| Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 12:27 am Post subject: |
|
|
For my part, not having a co-teacher is a blessing.
Just wondering, what kind of support do you feel you need from them? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Zyzyfer
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Location: who, what, where, when, why, how?
|
| Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 1:18 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Demophobe wrote: |
For my part, not having a co-teacher is a blessing.
Just wondering, what kind of support do you feel you need from them? |
For starters, a goal. Some point that the school would like their students to achieve. That was my major issue when I worked for a public school last year; they had no set goal in mind for me.
Secondly, realistic expectations based on the program that they are offering their students. If I meet each class once a week, the results will be far less impressive than if I meet them several times a week.
Finally, a realistic program. Throwing me into classes nonchalantly with a textbook that I'm not supposed to directly use and no curriculum at all isn't going to help me be effective. Even the most basic of curriculums/textbook is all I need to run with the ball.
My public school gig really wrecked my self-confidence as a teacher for these two reasons. My current school thinks I'm fine, and I know that I can walk into any given classroom and a) rule the roost, and b) effectively teach something. This is largely due to the fact that the three reasons mentioned above are all met here. Sure, it's not the perfect school otherwise, but at least I feel useful at the end of the day. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
peppermint
Joined: 13 May 2003
Location: traversing the minefields of caddishness.
|
| Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 2:28 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Demophobe wrote: |
For my part, not having a co-teacher is a blessing.
Just wondering, what kind of support do you feel you need from them? |
Aside from what Zyzyfer already mentioned, I think we went over this before, and established that there's a pretty big difference in our Korean language skills.
In the classroom itself when teaching upper grades, my limited Korean might not be too much of an issue, but I teach elementary school in a poorish area, and lots of my kids are seeing stuff like "I like apples" for the first time with me. For the most part, I'm fine with it, but when a child is sick or doesn't understand right away, the communication barrier becomes a big issue.
My teacher's guides are written in Korean, and from what I gather, the directions are rather unclear even for Korean native speakers too. Some of the classroom activities are too complicated for students unless explained in their native tongue, and it would be years of study before I could reach that level
Perhaps if they want a teacher who can fly solo they need someone who's bilingual but they hired me without asking a single question about my Korean language ability, as a co teacher. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Demophobe
Joined: 17 May 2004
|
| Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 12:54 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Those are all good things to want. I thought our goal was to get hrough to the end of the book in a set period of time. The semesters are divided up so that each grade from 3 to 6 will end up on the last unit by the end of the semester. In December, we should arrive at the end of our books, as per the schedule. Isn't this a goal? To teach X lessons in X time period?
The expectations are very low indeed. Our student's grades (at least in elementary school) are not even real grades...they don't count for anything aside from their own weight. The only expectation is that the students will have some knowledge of what's in the books come the end of the year, and they will be finished the book's material. Fairly realistic, given the time spent with them is minimal.....as is the information they need to know.
There is a set cirricullum at all public schools, at least for the morning classes. The afternoons are similar to hagwon classes in structure. It's very clear what the goals are for each unit, where you need to go and when you need to get there.
Really, this structure/schedule/cirricullum is so carefully planned out and foolproof. Just follow the teaching plan in the teacher's book. Even if you don't speak Korean, it's clear what you must do. Finding your own way to incorporate the textbook, CD and planned activities (which can easily be changed if you don't like/can't understand/don't have the resources to do the ones specified in the book) is our job. We do want to be teachers, right?
So, the goal is clear for each class...it's right in the teacher's book. That is what you must teach for that day. How you do it is also laid out, with some room for flexibility in the game/activity section. I use my own games and create others if I don't like the ones in the book. Easy.
I find this system too structured....I am having trouble staying on target due to camping days and sports days, etc... . It's very clear, easy to follow and highly structured.
Really, just my 2 cents. I really can't see the problem with the material. The co-teachers are not part of my post. I am just talking about the materials. I am in an elementary school, and while the cirricullum is lacking in content, we don't have much time and it gives the students a smattering of English as prep for their middle-school years, when English becomes a subject for which they actually get grades that matter.
Does anyone go to the GEPIK site to use the English lesson plans that many a kind Korean had provided for us? There is almost a full year posted there for each grade and all in English.
Now, I am only talking about elementary school here. It's goal is clear, cirricullum is easy to follow and structure is laid out. What else could you want? All we have to do is follow it. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Grotto
Joined: 21 Mar 2004
|
| Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 2:15 pm Post subject: plans |
|
|
The regular classes I have no problem with. The lesson plans are dull boring and easy to follow.
It is the 4 special overtime classes that I am having trouble with. Planning out lessons is no problem...but being asked to provide year plans in three days is unrealistic.
I teach teachers and I want a fair bit of flexibility there. To plan out a year of plans for them is kind of stupid if you ask me.
I enjoy this job except for the demands of paperwork being presented now now now! A little warning and some guidelines would go a long way to get my stress level down. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Demophobe
Joined: 17 May 2004
|
| Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 3:43 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I hear you Grotto....
I was asked for the year plan, but was told to have it done on my own time. Quite a difference from your being told to do it in 3 days. Very unrealistic. I guess just throw something together then forget about it. If it doesn't jive in the end and they take you to task on it, you can just tell the truth, and that is there was no way to do such a solid, definite plan in 3 days.
Stay cool, mate!! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
