Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sojourner1]

I have been very confused and frustrated about this not being told about anything until the last minute. I have gotten to the point where I bluntly demand more time such as for preparing an evaluation. They will expect something within a few hours, but yet I have to teach classes back to back in those few hours, not having office time.

How could you not be told that your vice-director is quitting after she worked there for 5 years until she is walking out the door of a Friday afternoon for the very last time? There wasn't even a good bye meeting like we had for Korean teachers leaving to further their teacher education in Seoul. Crazy. This particular incident concerns me as she was the back bone of the school in dealing with parents, marketing, and management which makes me believe something is badly wrong. Oh well, as long as I get my money and get out of there ASAP, nothing more to worry about in hagwon land.


Folks, how do you digest this not being told until the last minute stuff? Usually if you are in a small organization where their are only 1 to 3 levels to the chief and owners, you know everything going on in a business and are a direct decision maker. I don't expect to make business decisions, but I feel I deserve to know about everything and in a timely manner and be able to make make suggestions. I get the gist that if the school were closing, I wouldn't know it until after the last friggin class taught. I get the gist that if I were being fired, I wouldn't know it until after my last scheduled class. There really is too much risk in coming over here to work in a hagwon as it's too far from home to be dealing with deciept, lies, and mis communications. Language barrier is not the problem as everyone speaks English well in my hagwon.

[dogshed]

Just make sure you have a couple million in your account in case you have
to suddenly move or fly home.

Things happen.

[Young FRANKenstein]

[The Perfect Cup of Coffee]

[bassexpander]

It's just Korea. Either get used to it, or you'll stress yourself. Been here years, and I still hate it.

[cdninkorea]

This happens all the time- I never get told anything until the last minute either. When they want me to do something, like stay an hour later that day to do something, I always refuse and say they should have told me yesterday.

[normalcyispasse]

It always, ALWAYS pisses me off. I've flat-out refused to do things because of this before.

. . .and they wonder why there's hostility. . .

[ajuma]

Being told about something 1 week in advance...now THAT'S peculiar!!

[Milwaukiedave]

rrr...damn internet connection! I lost my post.

Anyway, I'll paraphrase my lost post. I agree with bass that you have to let it go to a certain extent or it will drive you bonkers. You should figure out what you can live with in terms of last minute requests and stick with it, but at the same time you have to be fairly reasonable about it.

Koreans don't plan ahead and are very disorganized by nature.

On the evals, my advice is get a copy (hard copy or the file) of the forms ahead of time and ask when they are due. Then work on them before they are due (maybe even get them done a few days ahead. This safes face on you getting angry and makes you look efficent.

I hope that helps....

(crosses fingers it works this time)

[cruisemonkey]

There are two 'secrets' to not being driven insane:

1. Plan ahead for the endemic and culturally ingrained lack of planning, i.e. have 'backups' (handouts) for every possible manifestation of Confuscian idiocy it is impossible to predict.

2. Have the balls to say "No."... but don't listen to me - I'm insane.

3. FU... I can't count either.

4. Grammar point - 'FU' contains a vowel but it's not a word.

5. If you don't like my post, FU.

[Pak Yu Man]

Here is an easy trick for evaluations. Photocopy the last ones you did. When they want you to do them at the last min, just write the exact same thing you did last time.

[jaderedux2]

At first this drove me crazy but now I pick my battles. Depends on what it is to be honest. Miss Jade no 2nd period class...okie dokie no problemo. Miss Jade big dinner after school you must come. Oh darn have dentist appt. sure wish you told me earlier.

The first year it drove me nuts. Now since my classes are planned well in advance. I have a number of board games. Uno games and unending supply of movies. If they throw a curve at me like they did this week I show a movie.

They told me we need your test questions this morning. Miss Jade: When I left before chusok I asked when are they due I was told Friday the 28th. I asked several times. Since all of my students have covered the necessary material except the third years I told them I was showing a movie to everyone else so they could have their questions. No one batted an eye. I gave them the choice. I originally had planned a jeopardy game but they changed their time line I changed my plan. Students watched some a part of a movie and I made test questions.

Actually they are very good about giving me a heads up on most things as I have explained it is a cultural difference and that some foreigners plan out their days and such and last minute changes and whims are viewed as rude or at least inconsiderate. That foreigners sometimes do not like to socialize after work. They consider that an intrusion on their private time. (this is a tough concept for some Koreans) They used to ask me all the time, "but Miss Jade aren't you lonely?". No I am just fine I need some alone time. (they find extremely strange in general)

Now they just accept my strange behavior and try very hard to let me know things in advance. They think I am strange but work with it. I try not to get to pi$$y about changes. But I do know how to say no and now and again you have to or it will drive you crazy.

Jade the ranter

[mspencer1983]

[atomic42]

It's annoying as heck but the smile and nod followed by a "thanks but I have plans" seems to work best.

[pest2]