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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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jajdude
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
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 Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2005 9:53 am Post subject: |
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Ah yes I remember that.
If A then B
Not B
Therefore not A.
Those things were pretty cool. |
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Kimchieluver
Joined: 02 Mar 2005
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| Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2005 10:33 am Post subject: |
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| I didn't take philosophy 201 but I get the point. |
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ThePoet
Joined: 15 May 2004
Location: No longer in Korea - just lurking here
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| Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2005 12:19 pm Post subject: |
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| Grotto wrote: |
| If your boss is upfront with you(sending an email isnt really being upfront) |
A couple people said that an email wasn't as good as personal up-front communication. I have two points to make about this:
1. It is common business practice everywhere to write down performance evaluations or any communication regarding work related needs and assessments. If this was done in America, Canada, England, or wherever you people are from, you wouldn't say "boo" about it. I just got a written assessment at the university I work at based on our first two sessions. Not a big deal. An email is an accepted form of business communication nowadays. Even as an employee, if I want to ensure that I know, absolutely, that my boss has received information from me, I will email them the concern or suggestion. That doesn't mean I won't talk about it with them as well, if they ask, but I do want it on file as being said. That way there is no confusion or misinformation later on.
Boss: Last month you said we needed a pink ashtray.
Me: I did?
Boss: Yes, you mentioned it at the water cooler as I was passing by on my way to a meeting with a parent.
Me: I'm pretty sure I didn't say that. I think I said something about getting a colored water-cooler to make the room seem brighter...but it was just a joke.
Boss: So, what am I going to do with the pink ashtray that is coming in today?
2. The boss may not have felt confident in his speaking abilities to try to say all that was in that email. There was a lot of things in it, and for him to remember all of it, AND say it in a way that was understandable without feeling flustered about what he was saying, might have been impossible.
Just a thought.
Poet |
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Grotto
Joined: 21 Mar 2004
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| Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2005 12:36 pm Post subject: |
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This is exactly the negative attitude I was referring to. In a normal and friendly relationship, both sides help each other out. In my case, i agreed to a 15 minute weekly meeting that wasn't explicit in the contract. On the other hand, my boss gives me furniture from time to time, and is willing to give me pay advances (1st salary isn't due until the end of June!) when I ask nicely.
I think the newbie teacher who reads these forums too much would EXPECT furniture from the boss and would FREAK OUT when asked to attend a meeting that wasn't explicit in the contract. The school director, naturally, would come to realize the teacher was an a-hole and would begin to treat the teacher coldly. Voila, the self-fulfilling prophecy.
Grotto, do you get what I mean now? |
Yes I get what you mean. You have no concept of what is going on in Korea.
What you are talking about is a reciprocal arrangement. You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours type of thing. This sort of thing is a rare beast indeed here in Korea. Most bosses expect you to do anything they tell you to, believe that your are overpaid and underworked and have no concept of how to run a business successfully.
When a newbie comes to Korea they are often exposed to the honeymoon that was mentioned earlier in this thread. The boss is nice, dines you, buys you little stuff, asks if you need anything, tells you what a good teacher your are. This period usually lasts about 3 months. After there is usually a period of being ignored, usually about 3 months. For some strange reason around the 6'th month the boss usually decides that you should start doing more stuff for your money, extra classes, longer hours, more meetings, more paperwork etc.
Should a newbie expect furniture? Hell yes! When you walk into your apartment it should be furnished with at least the bare necessaties. Hell after a couple of years of the institute being open it should have some extra luxuries in it too.
Respect is alot like trust. Often freely give, once lost it is almost impossible to regain. |
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joe_doufu
Joined: 09 May 2005
Location: Elsewhere
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| Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2005 8:12 pm Post subject: |
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| Grotto wrote: |
| When a newbie comes to Korea they are often exposed to the honeymoon that was mentioned earlier in this thread. The boss is nice, dines you, buys you little stuff, asks if you need anything, tells you what a good teacher your are. This period usually lasts about 3 months. After there is usually a period of being ignored, usually about 3 months. For some strange reason around the 6'th month the boss usually decides that you should start doing more stuff for your money, extra classes, longer hours, more meetings, more paperwork etc. |
I wasn't talking about what the boss does, but what the teacher does. If you accept all the nice things, gifts, flattery, etc, but aren't willing to be helpful and flexible yourself, of course things are going to go bad. It might take 3 months for the boss to realize you're an a-hole, and 3 more months for the boss to lose all patience whatever.
I've taught English in four countries and held jobs in several industries, so don't try and tell me I don't know anything about working relationships or honeymoon periods or the ESL business. Every job I've held has been productive and profitable both for me and my employers or partners. |
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Kimchieluver
Joined: 02 Mar 2005
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| Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2005 8:44 pm Post subject: |
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| This isn't any other country this is Korea. You obviously have no clue what to expect here. Waiting for furniture maybe your first setback but wait till the honeymoon wears off and see what happens. Just because you taught in other countries doesn't mean you have the Korean experience. Koreans do things different here. I hope you don't get screwed but it sound like you alreagy have, waiting for furniture. It may seem like a small inconvenience to you but wait until you are waiting for pay and get a list of deductions. You maybe singing a different tune. I hope everything works out well for you. I just want want you to know that unexpected and dumbass things happen here on a regular basis. |
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captain kirk
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2005 9:50 pm Post subject: |
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Koreans are leery of gifts from employers and those higher up. The gifts set up an obligation.
The typical boss, in the hierarchcal system, can in extreme cases think he owns you. Feudal lord and all that. You are a foreigner, a contract worker. You aren't Korean and aren't up to their standard. The visa system locks one in with the employer, and favours/protects/listens to the employer. Like if you get into a fender bender with a Korean while driving you, as a foreigner, are at fault. Or if you get into a fight, are attacked you, the foreigner, are at fault.
You're a foreigner in a Korean world here. We all know our job is to placate. Yes, I hear you, we ought to placate with more oomph  |
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Tiny_Tibbo
Joined: 21 Apr 2005
Location: In My Skin
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| Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2005 7:04 am Post subject: |
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| don't worry buddy...I understand the concept of selfulling prophesies and I definatly think there's a good chance of it manifesting here in korea from reading these posts...... |
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