Korean Job Discussion Forums

[denverdeath]

[ifa79]

Wow, It seems that a lot of other teacher got to sing too!

I got drafted into a teacher rock band during my first week on the job to sing two songs during the festival. We practiced in a studeo a couple nights and I sang in front of a thousand students and teachers the next week. It was awesome. I sang "Come on Feel the Noize" and had lots of fun even though I can't sing well.
Then last week my school hosted a Golden Bell tournament for all the high schools in the province and I had to ask a few English questions to be on TV. To my surprise, the host asked me to sing while I was on the stage
So I belted off some traditional jigs from my childhood. Luckily it was on Skylife so no one could see it...

Anyway, just sing something and have fun even if you suck. You've heard the Noraebangs- Koreans love bad singing.

[Rteacher]

I sang at my high school's festival - but I wasn't asked to by any administrators or teachers: When I heard a pretty fair sounding hard rock band rehearsing and setting-up, I started jamming with them using my slide-whistle (which can reach about the same decibel level as an amplified guitar...) Somehow, I impressed the leader of the band, who asked if I could play slide-whistle at some recording sessions.

I soon found out that the band leader (the drummer) was a recent alumnus of the school who had already achieved some early career success as a musician, including appearances on Korean MTV. The band was a special project for the festival using a few current students, and the head music teacher was also involved.

Anyway, they were rehearsing some classic stuff like Metallica's "Enter the Sandman" ... When they started playing the very familar opening chords of another classic song, I exclaimed "Smoke On the Water"! (Deep Purple). The drummer stopped and asked, "Can you sing it?" I said, "Sure!" So I ran up five flights of stairs to my office computer and downloaded the lyrics. They asked me to sing it as their opening number. Next thing I remember I was belting out, "Smoke on the water...and fire in the sky!" - gesturing towards the yellow clouds ... The students and teachers really seemed entertained by my surprise (and frankly electrifying) performance, and even the principal gave a "thumbs up" and called me a "great singer" ...

[muggie2dammit]

[Hater Depot]

[poof]

This thread is a funny one.

In all my teaching jobs, I've been asked amongst various other 'stupid' things to:

a sing
b dance
c dress up as santa claus
d lead parents day on my very first day on the job
e catch kids vomit while on a picnic day bus
f dress up as harry potter
g dress up as a lego character
h pretend i was a firefighter on an outing to the local firestation

+ endless more crap

Saying plain 'no' does unfortunately ruffle more feathers than it's often worth. I'm game for playing dumb, too, just as one of posters previously suggested. I even faked a fainting spell on one occasion to get out of something. In my opinion, it's all about making a fool of foreigners. When the situation arises whereby you absolutely cannot get out of it, I revel in doing the job horrifically badly (unless I can actually do it well, in which case I don't mind doing the task.)
For one singing task, my most recent guest appearance in front of the entire Parent/Teacher Association, I put a pretty convincing act of doing a terrible version of the Korean national anthem - although I probably couldn't sing it very well if I tried more earnestly in any case. I held the sheet music in front of me, and emphasized every goddam Korean syllable to painstaking degree that it sounded like I was on a high or something. I tried so hard to keep a straight face throughout. When finished, the audience hesitated to applaud. Then, after someone whispered something, a tentative ovation was given. No one in the school has ever broached the subject of my night under the bright lights. I'm hoping that I've done enough to deter the school from ever asking me to sing ever again.

[zappadelta]

Poof, you are funny

[jacl]

If you sing in public, you could technically be breaking the law. Tell him that.

I sing, play the geetah and harmonica in class, but there's just no way I would let anyone force me.

Sing monkey, sing.

[mogikilla]

it may be nobler to face the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune than to be coerced into singing when you hate it. i really don't buy the whole "leader of the group thinks it's fun so we all must do it, even though we hate it" bit. i've heard of it too many times from my adult students, especially regarding drinking (half of them can't drink or have doctors' orders not to but are forced to by their 'friends' and profs/clients/bosses anyway).

my company's president made us attend a worship service (what's the presby equivalent of 'Mass'?) at the anniversary party. When we saw it listed in the program, we made tracks for the 'restroom', then hid at the hotel bar until we thought it would most likely be over. my own family can't make me go to church; some religious c.e.o.'s not likely to be more successful in her attempt. though she's pretty effective at making all non-teaching staff attend monthy worship meetings at 7am on saturdays (i hear they take attendance).

[jacl]

These bosses get off on the "power".