Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Derrek]

I'm buried, being followed everywhere, and it's driving me nuts.

My Korean coworkers hound me constantly during my breaktime and lunch time: Please correct this! What does this mean? How do you explain this? I was standing in lunch today when a Korean coworker ran up, freaking out, because the students were up in arms about his test, which had some incorrect answers. Of course, I had to follow him, put off lunch, and help him out of the situation. I just wanted to sit and eat!

Students grab me immediately after their class is over: Teacher, please correct my conversation paper for YYYYY class! They said to ask you for help.

The student newspaper teacher sees me sitting at my desk and literally pounces on me: Here, please correct these five articles for the newspaper.

I also teach two writing classes, and have to correct all of those papers too.

It's gotten to the point that I literally hide in my own building. I blew up at the newspaper teacher today, and said, "You know what... this is my break time, and I plan to use it to correct papers for my writing class. If the administration hadn't increased my classes by 2 more hours per week, I might have more time to correct these articles for you."

ARGHHHGHHGH!!!!

[pollyplummer]

Derrek, the same thing happens to me all the time. It makes you feel like some kind of instant grammar dictionary. I have teachers who come to my office only to hound me with grammar questions for 15 minutes and never come by just to say 'hi' and 'how are you doing?' Try this... it seems to work okay. The next time someone approaches you who usually only uses you for this purpose, ask, "Why do you always come here for grammar help and never bother to ask me how I am or treat me like a person? Is it because I'm not Korean?" I'm starting to feel that here at my school... from students and teachers both- foreigners aren't exactly people. They are to them a means to an end, that end being correct grammar. I have to correct like 30 articles for the school's newspaper also. One teacher was wanting me to correct all of the journals that she assigns her class. I told her no because I have to create the entire curriculum for my classes from scratch. There's no text book. I dont have time to do everyone else's work, too. Tell them that they should not assign homework to the students that they are not able to themselves correct Gosh, I really dont have the best advice. All I can say is I hear ya, it happens to me, too.

[crazylemongirl]

I'm big believer in pay it forward so I have no problem with doing this. But the thing that annoys me is that everything is so last minute. If I'm going to help you it would be good if you gave me time to do so.

[pollyplummer]

I certainly dont mind helping, especially the teachers who are friendly and treat me like a person. What bothers me are those who never say hi to me or ask me how I am or interact with me other than to use me as a grammar dictionary. That's what wears on me the most.

[JacktheCat]

Just do what the Koreans do.

Accept it and tell them you'll correct it when you have time. When they come back later asking where it is, tell them you didn't have time to finish it yet. Repeat till they get the idea. Cruel maybe, but when in Korea, do as the Koreans do. Note: I never help my students with school homework from other teachers, out of school special assignments and those speech contests yes, but not in school stuff; my students know this.

[denverdeath]

Derrek, why not set a few specific times that you can offer help to whomever? Make a sign-up sheet or make it on a first come, first served basis. Maybe three times a week, for 30 minutes or an hour or whatever you can spare within your regular work hours. Make the times and days a bit staggered so no one can complain that they are too busy at a specific time. Explain the concept to them and let them know that that's the best way to try to keep everyone happy and see what happens. It's better than you losing it and ripping someone's head off, right? Maybe you already tried it, and maybe it'll be complete chaos. A lot of them do need/expect instant gratification when they give you something with no notice. It might be worth a try though. However, JacktheCat's approach is pretty sweet.

[JongnoGuru]

I used to get countless "little" requests to do stuff from people at the company I was with. It was just now & then at first, so I didn't really mind. Then it became almost daily and cut into what little fool-around, _down_ time I had.

It didn't seem to matter to anyone that I was already quite busy with my own work, either. They'd just whine and say "sorry" more when asking (coercing) me to do whatever it was they wanted, that's all. There was someone else who could have done it and I know for a fact had the time to, as well. But I came to realise that that was part of the strategy. You don't bring your requests for favours to the laggard, who's probably too lazy or undisciplined to get it done. No, you seek out the productive, up-to-his-neck-in-work dynamo in the office and shackle him (or her) with it. Really effective. And despicable.

JacktheCat's approach is great and probably the easiest way to go about things. However, if something more devious suits your tastes and if your situation permits it (that is, the requests are clearly and unarguably outside your scope of responsibility), you might consider what I did.

I made up and printed out a small stack of "Non-Regular Work Request Forms" and put them in my drawer. If it was a judgment call, I'd probably do the work, but when it was clearly not my responsibility, out came the form, on which they had to write their name, date, time, description of work, length, etc. I always made sure to put on my best, dumbest, cheesiest smile when I handed out those forms.

Them: But... this will just take a minute. Can't you just do it like before? ("I want you to just do this for me, RIGHT NOW, and then pretend that I never foisted it on you".)

The Guru: Sorry, but rules are rules. I didn't make the rules. It's the management's decision. (<-- big fat lie) Gotta follow them rules! Where, oh where would we be without rules!

Them: But just this once. Please, can't you just do it???

The Guru: Well, I can do it, but I've been asked to keep a list of people who refuse to fill out a Non-Regular Work Request Form.

Them: Oh god.... (*long pause*)... Good bye.