Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Gollum]

Those of us working on Kyonngi contracts have heard that they plan to check randomly to see when teachers are working or not.

Last week, during our camp, Kyonngi called (the same day, as usual) and said they were coming in to see the teachers immediately. As usual, our advisor frantically prepared some documents they needed.

Then they never showed up.

Apparently they've done this to us before, and it looks as if Kyonngi will use a system of calling schools to say they're coming, then only show up sometimes, as a way to keep tabs on the schools to make sure teachers come to work on days when there's nothing to do.

My advisor, who is Korean, made it abundantly clear that he "hates" this Kyonngi official. In fact, he called him, "...a crazy man."

I have, on several occassions in the past, been informed that "Kyonngi is coming" that same day. They show up about 70% of the time, and often barge into my classroom to snoop for a few moments and then leave. I have yet to figure out what they gain from doing this. They seem to pay little or no attention to what I'm actually teaching.

It was only a problem one day, when we were having an end-of-semester "movie day," which is sort of a school tradition. I felt really stupid that those officials came in only to see me showing a movie to my students. Apparently they were informed, but I still felt dumb. Really, I don't mind at all that they check, but some more notice would be nice.

[Grotto]

kyeonggi

The whole school system in Korea is effed in the head. They dont tell Korean teachers if they have a job until the first day of Spring vacation for the next semester(for new teachers)

The secrecy and dont tell anyone sytem is crap. Kyeonggi spends more time trying to catch people goofing off than they do thinking of ways to improve the system.

Yup its a vacation day but you MUST be in the school for your 40 hours a week! Why? Ummm because!!!

Will they give you any information about next semesters classes so yo can prep up something ahead of time? Hell no! That would give too much power to the teachers!

Stupid beaurocratic bullcrap

[Plume D'ella Plumeria]

At my school, they don't plan to tell the teachers what grade they'll be teaching until Friday the 25th. The first day of class is Wednesday, the 2nd. The 1st is a holiday. Not much prep time, especially for the newer teachers who may lack experience teaching a particular grade. I am told the reason for this is that there are certain grades that are unpopular to teach (first and sixth, for example) and the late notice is to prevent teachers from complaining.

Am I missing something here? Prevent them from complaining?? It seems to me that it just might make them complain a bit later than they would have otherwise and possibly throw together hastily constucted shoddy lesson plans. But what do I know?

In my case, I've been told I will be teaching 4th grade this year; something I did not do last year. I have been begging for the last two weeks for the 4th grade textbook. It has yet to appear. No one around here seems to be able to come up with it. Knowing how things around here in good old Gyeonggi-GEPIK land work (or don't), the textbook will show up on Wednesday morning, just in time for class. Anticipating this, I went ahead and made my own lesson plan. It seems that you always have to stay one step ahead of these Gyeonggi folks because we all know where their heads are...

[cellphone]

I can't really even understand this. Why would they want to come to schools to make sure a teacher(s) there all the time? Are they concerned that some teachers aren't working a full load? Don't see the correlation. Unless it means some people are jealous of the 2.0 mil but working 'few hours.' Another concoction of the millionaire foreigners?

[Derrek]

This is the answer.... When it comes to many things, Koreans pre-plan almost NOTHING.

There are no steps to planning. They literally get a "wild hair" idea and then comes some day when they just do it. I'm convinced it's a part of the culture, and we should just learn to live with it.

Likewise, classes and text books seem to be ordered at the last possible minute. Such is the situation with our textbooks this year. But it has to be done, and I am certain it will be done.

On the flip-side, there are some ways we benefit from this culture. I can call the cable or computer guy, and he's there very quickly. No waiting 3 days and then being told to expect the guy to come sometime between 9am and 7pm. In Korea, they're quick and more exact (much of the time).

Also, the food delivery speed here is incredible.

[Real Reality]

You go to a government building (or bank). You arrive a few minutes before lunch. Many workers are exiting. One of them says (in Korean), "Come back after lunch."

Has this ever happened to you in Korea?

It is almost like work cannot be done between 11:45 AM and 1:30 PM.