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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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PRagic
Joined: 24 Feb 2006
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 Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2014 11:29 pm Post subject: |
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| A very wise ESL teacher once remarked, when asked how he had stuck it out for so long, "I pretend to teach and they pretend to learn. It works." This guy NEVER had ANY stress at the work place. |
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dhan89
Joined: 24 May 2012
Location: Los Angeles
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| Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2014 5:19 am Post subject: |
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OP,
you wrote this thread in hysterics... you asked for advice, and then you end up bashing some people giving you some harsh advice. I've read every single post here and no one is purposefully trying to bring you down...
You wrote this post. No one put a gun to your head to write it to reveal your cards..
Just some advice for you:
- You have a JOB. And like every job, you don't call the shots. The day you can market and establish a hagwon and try to retain 300 parents coming to your hagwon year after year... then you probably will be able to make an efficient schedule as you see fit.
- Get rid of your American holier-than-thou opinionated attitude. I'm saying this in a nice manner. I'm sure in the UK and US, being outspoken is valued. This is Korea where hierarchy is a reality and listening and obeying to elders in GENERAL is valued. They'll appreciate that and it will help you tremendously.
- Don't ever break down in public. Korea is a shame-based culture vs. Western's guilt-based culture. Meaning, Koreans can hold something against you for a long time for public mishaps a.k.a shit show. The best way to remedy that is to be aware that you totally lost it for a bit and work harder to eradicate that from their memory.
- As the previous comment reads, it's all a beautiful act. Remember that hagwon is a real business. No student = no money = no job = no us teachers. Make people happy. parents, students, etc.
These are general tips that I received from gyopo teachers here. I wish you the best of luck. |
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Stain
Joined: 08 Jan 2014
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| Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2014 5:32 am Post subject: |
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| dhan89 wrote: |
OP,
you wrote this thread in hysterics... you asked for advice, and then you end up bashing some people giving you some harsh advice. I've read every single post here and no one is purposefully trying to bring you down...
You wrote this post. No one put a gun to your head to write it to reveal your cards..
Just some advice for you:
- You have a JOB. And like every job, you don't call the shots. The day you can market and establish a hagwon and try to retain 300 parents coming to your hagwon year after year... then you probably will be able to make an efficient schedule as you see fit.
- Get rid of your American holier-than-thou opinionated attitude. I'm saying this in a nice manner. I'm sure in the UK and US, being outspoken is valued. This is Korea where hierarchy is a reality and listening and obeying to elders in GENERAL is valued. They'll appreciate that and it will help you tremendously.
- Don't ever break down in public. Korea is a shame-based culture vs. Western's guilt-based culture. Meaning, Koreans can hold something against you for a long time for public mishaps a.k.a shit show. The best way to remedy that is to be aware that you totally lost it for a bit and work harder to eradicate that from their memory.
- As the previous comment reads, it's all a beautiful act. Remember that hagwon is a real business. No student = no money = no job = no us teachers. Make people happy. parents, students, etc.
These are general tips that I received from gyopo teachers here. I wish you the best of luck. |
I agree with everything you said except the shit show. In terms of their culture, such a show is not only tolerated, it's how things get done. Maybe a foreigner is different, but I've even seen some instances where it worked. |
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Privateer
Joined: 31 Aug 2005
Location: Easy Street.
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| Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2014 6:16 am Post subject: |
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Don't listen to all the people gathering round to tell you to accept everything and that the problems are just in your head - not the people here, and not your co-workers. You're right, not them. Korean hagwons and the Korean working culture are in general psychologically unhealthy, and denying that isn't good for your mental health either.
I have no advice on how to cope. Just do what you feel is the right thing to do. |
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AsiaESLbound
Joined: 07 Jan 2010
Location: Truck Stop Missouri
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| Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2014 1:07 pm Post subject: |
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If you are fed up with Chinese style of passive aggressive mean spirited game play, then cut your losses and pull a runner. Even if your co-teacher or director reports you to immigration that you quit job by disappearing, you won't be stopped from leaving the country. The Koreans prove quite competent with dodgy game play strategy, but their games aren't fun for you will be set up for failure more times than not where it's impossible to repair what seems wrong though most of time you can keep going by focusing on doing your job. Dirty game playing is done by making a fuss out of small (invented) mistakes to hold you in contempt that you are increasingly indebted to them, but making it impossible to work it out where it can easily escalate out of control if you work for a mean spirited miserable narcissist. These small mistakes are often created by intentional misunderstandings and then intentionally making it too awkward to talk about anything that needs discussed such as a pay matter, schedule, and co-teaching lesson planning.
In my opinion, they don't need native English teachers over there, Korean teachers need to learn how to teach English since they never were comfortable with us, but had to go along with it since their master told them globalize by introducing comical Americans to their children. Things aren't liberal as they often appear on the surface... |
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Chaparrastique
Joined: 01 Jan 2014
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| Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2014 8:05 am Post subject: |
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| AsiaESLbound wrote: |
| If you are fed up with Chinese style of passive aggressive mean spirited game play, then cut your losses and pull a runner. Even if your co-teacher or director reports you to immigration that you quit job by disappearing, you won't be stopped from leaving the country. The Koreans prove quite competent with dodgy game play strategy, but their games aren't fun for you will be set up for failure more times than not where it's impossible to repair what seems wrong though most of time you can keep going by focusing on doing your job. Dirty game playing is done by making a fuss out of small (invented) mistakes to hold you in contempt that you are increasingly indebted to them, but making it impossible to work it out where it can easily escalate out of control if you work for a mean spirited miserable narcissist. These small mistakes are often created by intentional misunderstandings and then intentionally making it too awkward to talk about anything that needs discussed such as a pay matter, schedule, and co-teaching lesson planning. |
You understand the manipulations and mind games well.
To survive in korea you have to learn how not to take on board all the negativity. Don't let them trigger you into anger and frustration every day. Stand back from it.
Koreans will try and load you with stress and animosity. Many people are uncomfortable with positivity. Don't let them offload all that onto you, or you'll end up in hospital, trust me. Don't bring the stresses and strains home, don't dwell on all the machinations and provocations. Save your energy for important battles. Othertimes don't sweat the small stuff and keep focussing on the things that make you feel happy and motivated. |
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bmaw01
Joined: 13 May 2013
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| Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2014 10:07 am Post subject: |
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Did you put your clown costume on and dance in the classroom?
Koreans love that.  |
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Chaparrastique
Joined: 01 Jan 2014
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| Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2014 7:07 pm Post subject: |
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| dhan89 wrote: |
| I'm sure in the UK and US, being outspoken is valued. This is Korea where hierarchy is a reality and listening and obeying to elders in GENERAL is valued. They'll appreciate that and it will help you tremendously. |
Why should anyone obey elders if they are crooked, unfair and racist?
Why should we all just nod and be silent when things are blatantly wrong? That may be the confucian way, but its the reason this society could not even invent a wheel in over 4000 years.
Most workers want to give respect, feel motivated and do their best. its hard to do that when you are not respected, your efforts are unapreciated and you're being lied to/ manipulated/ victimised by clueless bosses.
There is way of standing up for your rights while still remaining in a the good graces of your school. Take a deep breath, put aside your emotion, and try hard to find that balance. |
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trueblue
Joined: 15 Jun 2014
Location: In between the lines
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| Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2014 8:28 pm Post subject: |
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| this society could not even invent a wheel in over 4000 years. |
..much less figure out how to use a chair. |
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bmaw01
Joined: 13 May 2013
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| Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2014 9:39 pm Post subject: |
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| Chaparrastique wrote: |
| dhan89 wrote: |
| I'm sure in the UK and US, being outspoken is valued. This is Korea where hierarchy is a reality and listening and obeying to elders in GENERAL is valued. They'll appreciate that and it will help you tremendously. |
Why should anyone obey elders if they are crooked, unfair and racist?
Why should we all just nod and be silent when things are blatantly wrong? That may be the confucian way, but its the reason this society could not even invent a wheel in over 4000 years.
Most workers want to give respect, feel motivated and do their best. its hard to do that when you are not respected, your efforts are unapreciated and you're being lied to/ manipulated/ victimised by clueless bosses.
There is way of standing up for your rights while still remaining in a the good graces of your school. Take a deep breath, put aside your emotion, and try hard to find that balance. |
Stop! You are thinking about this with your western attitude. It doesn't matter if your boss is crooked. You need to respect your elders. Especially if they are in charge. That's the way it works in Korea, and much if Asia. You don't like it? Go back home. When I taught in Korea I went with the flow. I didn't challenge my boss, because I knew the outcome would be bad. |
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EZE
Joined: 05 May 2012
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| Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2014 8:06 am Post subject: |
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| bmaw01 wrote: |
| It doesn't matter if your boss is crooked. You need to respect your elders. Especially if they are in charge. That's the way it works in Korea, and much if Asia. You don't like it? Go back home. |
This is good advice. If you work at Wonderland like I did and have a crooked boss, pull a midnight runner and visit home like I did.  |
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bmaw01
Joined: 13 May 2013
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| Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2014 10:06 am Post subject: |
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Well did you put on that clown costume that I mentioned earlier. Just put it on and make sure you can juggle. The kids love to see their foreign ESL monkey dance around like a fool.
Oh, when you're dancing around in your clown costume, and juggling tennis balls make sure you sing the circus theme song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjedLeVGcfE
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KimchiNinja
Joined: 01 May 2012
Location: Gangnam
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| Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2014 4:13 pm Post subject: |
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| Chaparrastique wrote: |
| dhan89 wrote: |
| I'm sure in the UK and US, being outspoken is valued. This is Korea where hierarchy is a reality and listening and obeying to elders in GENERAL is valued. They'll appreciate that and it will help you tremendously. |
Why should anyone obey elders if they are crooked, unfair and racist? |
Who wants a bunch of young idiots mouthing off to you, thinking they know better? That leads to chaos, Korea maintains order. |
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TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired
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| Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2014 5:49 pm Post subject: |
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| dhan89 wrote: |
I'm sure in the UK and US, being outspoken is valued. |
As long as you agree with the boss, yes. |
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EZE
Joined: 05 May 2012
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| Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2014 6:21 pm Post subject: |
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| The bottom line is employees aren't business partners. |
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