Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ddeubel]

I've done the test a few times and have been labeled/stamped a INFP. But like another OP said, it is only a starting point to question yourself -- not anything that might tell you about another...........

Or as I believe,

[ella]

Any other INTP expats?

[Nowhere Man]

Me.

[EFLtrainer]

[ella]

INFPs have a different communication style.

How about you, Nowhere Man? Have you found the style of indirect communication to be much of a problem? Do you have trouble trying to meta-think around it?

[Unreal]

I'm an INTP...I don't know what meta-thinking is but I had a helluva time trying to understand why my Korean friends were lying to me. They would tell me things they wanted me to hear rather than the truth, which I would find out later anyway. For example:

Early in our relationship:
Me: "Do you like to eat dog?"
Friend: "No way!"

A few months later:
Me: "Do you like dog?"
Friend: "Of course! I'm Korean!"

After I understood a little more about the differences between Korean Confucian roots (value placed on maintaining harmony) and Western Christian roots (value placed on seeking out truth) I understood better why my friends would do this. They did not want to destroy the harmony of our friendship by giving an opinion different to mine (or what they perceive as my opinion).

[Nowhere Man]

[hermes.trismegistus]

[EFLtrainer]

[ella]

[EFLtrainer]

Yup. That never happens to the rest of us!

[ella]

I'm sure it happens to lots of people. I'm particularly interested in INTPs' experiences with it.

[Hollywoodaction]

I really don't know how I would be labeled. All I know is that whatever I'm doing seems to work for me.

[Nowhere Man]

Sorry Ella,

I forgot about this thread.

I don't really think I associate my INTP-ness with my experiences as an expat.

I did ask for a context because I suspected you were referring to either work or outside life.

And I think there is a difference there, but also a relationship.

In short, I believe that I choose battles carefully.

And, I do try to choose my own battles, not necessarily the same as others.

When I first arrived, I suppose I did have a problem with indirect-ness of locals I was dealing with, but, in my experience, so was everyone.

My early hagwon days were, in general, operations in a combative workplace. On all sides.

I got past that by:

a) moving to another country (Taiwan)

b) reading about culture shock

and

c) seeing others who hadn't done A and B

That gave me a highly valuable thing:

Perspective

Hearing Taiwan expats complain about the Chinese, I was like...Pfft.

At the same time, the Chinese staff was quite similar to previous Korean staff. I knew what to expect and could handle it better.

And this prepared me well for Thailand, where I was the only full-time foreigner working with 30 or Thai teachers and staff.

Mind you, Thai culture takes what I believe you are referring to as indirectness to a whole new level.

Maintaining face is quite tricky because you shouldn't criticize anyone. This makes the classroom hard when you any corrections are taken quite strongly.

I suppose this is where I had the biggest problem with indirect communication. And where I really had to chose what points I needed to make as opposed to a variety of things I could've pressed. And that's where I did spend a lot of time "meta-thinking".

Anyway, I'm not sure this is helpful, but I think my first EFL experiences were basically crappy and, rather than consider my communication style, there were so many problems that the best thing to do was to move on and be more selective about where I was working.

And, based on what info you've given me, I think that's a key aspect:

No matter how bad the job, I was very focused on making it work.

In retrospect, I spent too much time dwelling on situations that weren't really the right fit for me.

Teaching here is quite fluid. You can move between jobs. Quitting a situation that doesn't work doesn't doom you to never being re-hired.

Learn from one experience and move on.

I've been here a long time and feel I have a good job, BUT, if it weren't working because of a work conflict, I don't think this is the ONLY job where I can be happy.

But I do choose battles. Very carefully. In fact, I find the need for fewer and fewer. And, if it is about culture, I think you can give face back where it's been lost, even if it means being fairer than fair.

Anyway, INTP, good luck!

[hermes.trismegistus]

I enjoyed Formosa, for the most part. Great night life. Laid-back culture that doesn't feel the necessity of harping over you all the time.

Unfortunately the fluency seemed rather low - even while working at a private science HS. And the pay was certainly low (but not domestically).

I'd love to experience Thailand too, but the pay there just wouldn't cut it. I'd be hard pressed to find a school that could afford me.

But I think you lucky to be able to experience such a warm environment.

I've enjoyed Thailand more than any other country in Asia.

Namaste.