Korean Job Discussion Forums

[seoulhiker]

I and several other foreigners at my institute must go to a mandatory seminar on Saturday, December 3, from 9 am to 1 pm. Does anybody else have to do this? Does anybody know what the topic(s) is/are?

Thanks.

[Grotto]

It is not mandatory. There is no reason for you to go.

They hold it every year and it is simply a tremendous waste of your time and money.

Do what I did....for the last three years I told whichever school that I was working for that if they truly wanted me to go...I would...as long as they paid travel expenses and overtime for my time spent traveling to, observing and returning from the said meeting.

Havent had to go once.

Everyone that I know who actually got suckered into going vehemently proclaimed it the stupidest thing they have ever seen.

Your choice.

[seoulhiker]

Grotto,

Thanks for the info.

My company told me that it was mandatory, though. Do you know of a website link showing that it isn't?

Thanks.

[BigBlackEquus]

In my years of teaching here, I have never had to go to a mandatory meeting like that.

[Grotto]

Seoulhiker
Is attending the meeting in your contract? Can they show you any evidence that it is mandatory? Are they going to pay you to go?

The answers are no, no and yet no again.

There is no website saying that it isnt mandatory but there is also no website saying it is mandatory.

Just tell them you arent going. You have plans. You have reservations to go to Busan/Gangnueng/Taebaek/whatever.

Learn to say no and stick to it.

[Demonicat]

I wonder what they'll be "teaching" that day, and (big if) if it will be in English, as the "mandatory education seminar" sheet was in Korean. Seems a little to North Korean for me, "All foriegners must report for reducation"

[paperbag princess]

we have the pamphlet for the one last year in our house somewhere because it actually says "those who can't, teach." on it.

[Milwaukiedave]

My school told me about it as well, but I think I'm going to skip it, I'll forget at the last minute or something. Oophs...now it's premeditated forgetfulness. LOL

It sounds like a bunch of bull to me as well.

[riley]

paperbag princess said:

[seoulhiker]

[Panic Button]

I went to one the other week and it were rude.

Got the morning off work, and it was quality entertainment as it was so badly done...

The only bit I didn't like was when one of the speakers went off on a massive tangent about how we all had to go to church. She actually finished by saying "You should go to church.......... You MUST!!!!!!"

[PEIGUY]

I went to it last year and it was a complete waste of time. The Foreign speaker was kind of interesting but certainly not worth giving up a Saturday morning to go see him. My new hogwon told me about it this year.. but just gave us the website and said if you want "more training you can go" apparently they improved it this year! anyways i'm not heading to it.. just a complete bore.. better off in bed than going to that!

[uberscheisse]

the last one featured some dingding from immigration warning that if we were THRASHING ABOUT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD then it would get back to our school somehow.

what a load of horse shit. i have to go again. the strategy is to go, sign in and bug out early.

[nasbert]

My hagwon is making us go again this year. I went last year and it was a complete waste of time. The Academic director told me it was "mandatory for all teachers" but I dont think she knows all the facts. PEIguy, could you post the website link your director told you about so I could find out for myself. Cheers.

[Buff]

The teachers at my school had to go last year and it was a boring waste of time. They give you these slips of paper to hand in at the beginning and end to ensure that you stay for the whole thing. I just brought coffee and hid my iPod under my coat so just the earphones were showing and tuned out for most of it. Except when people started laughing at the speaker.