Korean Job Discussion Forums

Wishmaster · Joined: 06 Feb 2003

I'm definitely with the Lemon on this one. Korea hires these kind of jokers and it shouldn't be too surprising when they get here and are complete morons. They have a BA and are presumably white...therefore, they are qualified. They'll probably bolt mid-contract. Until Koreans pay for the appropriate teachers, they will continue to attract those that merely want to screw off in class and slack off at much as possible. No surprise.

Milwaukiedave · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Location: Goseong

Cheonmunka · Joined: 04 Jun 2004

Why not suggest to the supervisor that you'll let the new teachers take part of the class so you can see their skills. Your supervisor may go for this as you will have a better chance to observe their abilities. Then discuss your findings afterwards.
I have had several new teachers come into school and after once being asked to check on a teacher's ability took it on later as a common-place role. "Hey, I'm here to observe you, and you can observe me, too." It makes them think... In (two) cases where a "teacher" was found really wanting, the supervisor suggested that this wasn't the job for her/him.

Sometimes, of course, the school's income doesn't allow for letting workers go, but at least you can demand control of your classroom and control those new "teachers", too by making it a point of observing them and letting them know before-hand that expectation.

Grotto · Joined: 21 Mar 2004

Wow I didnt think this was all that serious of a topic.

Lets me play devils advocate for a second.

You travel 1/2 way around the world. You arrive at your 'crappy' apartment(not always but they are smaller than many people are used to) You are told to arrive in the hogwan to 'observe classes the next day. You are tired(jet lag) and after sitting in a class listening to something aimed at EFL students you find yourself bored to tears. If you have already been in Korea before you really dont want to waste your time sitting in a class.

I mean no slight to the OP but did you try to involve them in the lesson? Explain why you were doing what you were doing? Ask them for any input?

As for talking loudly I have found that for a while my hearing is not what it was after flying. Even taking the KTX train here in Korea I had preassure in the ears. I did not even notice I was speaking loudly until my friend told me that I didnt have to yell Embarassed

tommynomad · Joined: 24 Jul 2004 Location: on the move

I agree with Gollum, it would have been more effective to involve the two of them.

Ditto on the post-flight hearing problem. Mine can last for days.

But if some piece of shit ever laughed at a kid for a wrong answer in my classroom, I'd do everything I could to see he didn't get the job. Lots of people here aren't teachers (either on paper or at heart) and still get the job done respectfully. This guy's just an troud'cul (french equiv. of a word that sounds like pass-bowl).

turtlepi1 · Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE

Corporal · Joined: 25 Jan 2003

itaewonguy · Joined: 25 Mar 2003

well you know.. they too want to make friends.. so those two new teachers probably didnt know each other.. so they wanted to make a friendship.. so I guess they acting like highschool kids in detention..
sit in the back and yack..of course not respecting you made you upset..
and you not wanting to jump on them on their first day and making you out like the A hole. so you keep it cool.. becuase 1 year can be a long time to start a war with someone who really had no idea what he was doing. if it was me.. and they were cool.. I would have just joined in on the chat! showed them how to teach, what we do here etc.. and also talk about their apartment! etc.. hahahaha
better to make friends than enemies.. especially with NOOBS! they dont know the politics and dramas yet!

Daechidong Waygookin · Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2005 4:08 pm Post subject:

mishlert · Joined: 13 Mar 2003 Location: On the 3rd rock from the sun

Long flight? Wanting to know each other? Who cares. If your new boss tells you to observe a class, you do it and you keep quiet unless the teacher involves you. Basically, be polite by observing the class for about 20 minutes and then ask the teacher questions after the class ends.
Also, if you want to make friends with the other newbie, wait till you are not in someone else's class to do it.

Zenpickle · Joined: 06 Jan 2004 Location: Anyang -- Bisan

Heh, I was jet-lagged when I had to observe classes. And the teacher I was sent to observe all day fell asleep in each class to distance himself from his hangover.

I ended up teaching the classes that I was to observe.

jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

They sound like idiots to me.

You are trying to do your job, trying to help kids learn something in this bloody hard foreign language (for them), and these guys are too dumb to realize that?

Insensitive is the most considerate word for them.
=========================================

Will Korea's standards on which foreigners get hired improve? To me that sounds unlikely. Seems like there are always jobs and hagwons struggling to get anyone (with a white face) they can.

Plus there are jobs/chains many who have been here any length of time know to avoid. The employers may need to hire people from overseas, who presumably don't know what they're getting into.

jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

Grotto · Joined: 21 Mar 2004

As for laughing at a wrong answer, dont you have to take into account what the answer was.

Some of my students have come up with some hilarious answers to basic questions. Sometimes you cant help but laugh.

There is a big difference between pointing your finger and laughing at someone and blurting out a guffaw at something genuinely funny. IMHO