Korean Job Discussion Forums

[BigBlackEquus]

So the principal at this camp showed up on the first day. I had never met him before, even though I did the same camp last summer. I thought he was a parent, and I simply said "Annyounghaesaeyo" politely in passing. I was in a big hurry, because the director is completely unorganized, and didn't provide me with promised materials for the first day. He (the older guy walking by me) stopped and corrected, me, "Annyounghashimnika." That's when I figured it out. No one had introduced us.

Anyway, I got the feeling that the guy runs his school (private, not public) like the military.

I learned from the camp director that they are looking to hire another foreigner next year. The current woman is leaving. This is what the director said, and it made me almost laugh and shake my head. I had to hold it in, for fear of seeming rude.

She said, "The principal is concerned about hiring another foreigner teacher, and plans to mold them on how to properly respect their boss, just like the Korean teachers must do."

Some poor foreigner is in for a tough run. The funny thing is, I was also told that this was in response to the story they heard from another nearby school where the teacher pulled a runner.

I suppose if we ride on the new forienger, and teach them "respect" for the Korean educational system and the boss, then they will love their job and not do something so horrible as pull a runner.

I'm still laughing over this. Our cultures are truly miles apart sometimes.

[Paddycakes]

When I first came to Korea I interviewed at a start-up Hogwan.

The owner was a short little ex-Colonel in the Korean army. Tank commander or something.

I had contract revisions for him, and after questioning the contract he was no longer interested in me.

Thank god though.

Short Stature plus being Korean plus Ex Army officer = Monster.

Of course, I could be wrong about him, but the odds are against it.

[bellum99]

They really feel that their self-worth is defined by how people respect them. It's funny sometimes just how serious they can take things. Korean employees often have to go to huge extremes just to keep the boss happy. They stroke their huge ego's daily .

[BigBlackEquus]

In any case, it is just a 2 week camp for me. Thankfully.

[keithinkorea]

[Gorgias]

My first director had his underling (as he spoke zero English) give us a lecture on annyeonghashimnika and how we should bow to him, not shake his hand or say "hello." After that day, I never once acknowledged him in any way. He seemed like a okay guy however, except for being a big ol' sexist pig and touching the K-teachers all the time (maybe I'm just jealous). He always paid on time too, that's really the only thing I care about.

[steroidmaximus]

when the teachers and principal start teaching their students to show proper respect to the foreign teacher, I'll reciprocate to them in full.

That said, I usually am very polite to teachers and higher ups, despite how they often perceive nothing amiss in student behaviour. My camp is only two weeks, and I spent 2 hours drilling the elementary school kids on proper speech in English and an hour on the middle school kids. No 'give me' and how to use 'can I . . .? / May I . . . .?'

I'm a tyrant.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

And I'm sure he'll be able to attract an experienced bower familiar with various greetings for varius situations with a whopping two weeks vacation.

[BigBlackEquus]

Oh, it gets better.

I was also told how they want to be very picky/careful and not just hire any foreigner. They want an MA if possible, great manners, excellent dress, and preferrably certification.

If you fit this mold, I will be happy to suggest an elementary school in central Seoul that pays you 2 million won per month plus housing. What other school could you find that not only pays so well, but also offers free tips and lectures on the finer points of Korean manners?

Oh, wait.... I better clear out my inbox before the mails start flooding in!

[babtangee]

LMAO. That's classic.

[Wrench]

[Yu_Bum_suk]