Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jay-shi]

[shifty]

Well, I had a classwrecker who had repeatedly left her book at home. In a fit of pique, fuelled by a long history with her, I insisted she go home and fetch it. (she lives a close walking distance)

At a subsequent class I was explaining jealousy versus envy. I asked the class whether their mothers get upset when dad ogles the talent.

Next thing I'm hauled over the coals, after her irate father phones in, despite me carefully explaining the obviously, vengeful intent .

So the director owner wants the teacher to observe so many niceties, despite teach being "put through it" by the students. And from the owner himself, nonstop lying , the whoppers having no cultural backdrop as far as I see. The winter vacation in my contract I'm not getting, cus somehow he doesn't understand it. Wants me to refain from calling by first name, though.

My advice to teachers falling victim to "misunderstandings" in the shutup crazy league is to refuse any kind of reprimand. To back it up, try and be as well-liked by the sudents as possible and irreplaceable.

Just be yrself, whether that be too close to students or whatever.

[captain kirk]

Yes, you're right, soma is from Brave New World.
Yes, be yourself, then you have someone to back you up, yourself. Plus your behaviour is solid, consistent. It takes the K-teachers a while to get used to someone being themselves, but it's worth the trip. Pander and they'll be around wanting more pandering. You'll hate yourself for it. Get some kind of double life/fake thing going on, like being a waiter. I figure you're the captain of class, it's your method, and stick to it. Genuine, genuine, genuine.

[ulsanchris]

[shifty]

ulsanchris

Yes, at the time I knew it was boarderline and in retrospect I can see it was over the top.

But my point was and maybe not very clear, that we are roughly handled by both students and bosses by our own lights, yet we are expected to always maintain exemplary standards.

Moreover, I've been told that my mission is motivation and that the K-teachere will do the English. Thinking on one's feet will naturally engender the occasional error. Juxtaposed with the hoops that I run they're not anything really.

[captain kirk]

Yeah, the foreigner gets 'blamed'. Outside of the loop no Korean will lose face, and I can see why they'd put the blame there, with the foreign teacher. Chalk it up to 'he's different', so part of it is understood as a cultural misunderstanding. Boffo can be blamed, awkward foreigner, oh well.
But if you have good management they stop the complaints/blame thing because they understand the above. They aren't relayed. I was talking with my ex-boss last night and she said middle school tends to complain. At that age they realize they can assert themselves with cunning, part of their coming of age into adult power. Spin doctor (used as a verb).
Something the foreign teacher has to struggle with before putting it to rest after understanding the game. Yes, the board's tilted. But there are freedoms in other ways.
Anyone else learned here to loathe depression? Even the vaguest hint of gray in one's thinking? I was out with the ex boss last night and we were in a restaurant, then a coffee shop, and she remarked at both places how empty they were due to the Korean economy. I said 'you're smart, you can put yourself in a job where it's busy. Do yo like to be depressed?'.
Sounded chirpy to me before, 'positive thinking', unrealistic, like. But I've taken on, IMO, an impressive ability to shrug off asap any mopey, depressed thinking. Like cleaning mental house. Certainly NO-ONE, no Korean, is going to help me if I'm low in self-esteem. Not the kids, management, neighbourhood folk. Not complaining, it's sink or swim here re; mood. I used to think moping was cool, like Victorians toured old ruins and read poetry. There's something in Korean culture called Han, I think. A kind of resignation. Maybe that's what she was exhibiting, besides her bossom.

[eamo]