Korean Job Discussion Forums

[yingwenlaoshi]

You're boss, owner, or Korean head try to use tactis. Ever notice this. Not everyone, but the ones who do are so obvious.

One is "I have something to tell you." This one is used by Korean teachers who receive phone calls from the parents. Their your superior in a way because you "have to do what they tell you" kind of. They make less money than you, so the whole thing's a joke. Kind of like a coach of professional sports team.

This, however, could be a language barrier thing. But I think not.

I just say, "Oh no!" sarcastically (sometimes). 100% of the time there's nothing bad, it seems, because I look them straight int they eye and say "What."

Something like that.

[captain kirk]

The silent treatment. If you get into a dispute with a superior and it gets heated the result is they won't greet, talk to you, smile when you're around for about two or three days. Nor will anyone they're in cahoots with. If this was Haiti, as an added bonus, they'd whip out a wax effigy of yours truly and stick sewing needles in its/my eyes. AGHHHH

[it's full of stars]

Needles...hmmm.

[Kimchieluver]

First thing before classes have even begun, like at 8:20 in the morning: "Aigo!! I am so busy today!" this translates directly into "You are teaching alone today"

[captain kirk]

'You don't respect Korean culture'. If you piss off a superior/superiors this will be leveled against you. It'll come out of nowhere. The boss thinks that, in Korea, subordinates must bow down and conform to his will. If you don't worship the boss, and dare to disagree with him/her, you 'don't respect Korean culture'. In Korean culture there is strictly defined hierarchicial positioning so, in that sense, the boss is right. Right blarmy^^.

[moosehead]

"but you're in KOREA and we do......."

is my favorite

[mnhnhyouh]

[yingwenlaoshi]

But I don't give a fk. That's the best aproach.

[ernie]

but you're in KOREA and we do......."

the go-to excuse for avoiding any explanations, responsibility, or accountability! i wish MY country had one of these!

[Fishead soup]

"Please try to understand our situation" is a real red flag. They either want to violate the contract or take away something they promised you.

[bassexpander]

Frankly, I don't understand why people put up with it. There are some battles you can't win, but in many cases, I win.

Yes... in Korea, I win.

How? I just say, "no."

When they repeat that I must do it, I just say, "no" and I'm firm about it.

For example, my university wrote us a 9 hour day with no lunch or dinner break in between, and I said, "No way."

The response was, "You have to... the schedule has been set by the main office, and it cannot change."

I responded, "That's not my concern. I won't be teaching that schedule."

They then came back with, "Please understand our situation. It cannot be changed. There are no rooms for classes available. You must work this schedule!"

I responded, "You can schedule whatever you want, but I won't show up without a lunch and dinner break."

Magically, the schedule changed -- that which could not be done under any circumstances was changed within minutes.

Grow some backbone, but don't explode in anger, and your stay here will be much more enjoyable. Don't forget that there are a lot of other jobs out there, and they need us more than we need them.

[crusher_of_heads]

[Fishead soup]

[ED209]

I like "The other Korean teachers do x,y,z! You must do x,y,z!"
"You are not Korean! You must come in and sit at your desk all vacation!"

"In Korea family is very important"
"Here's 5 days vacation, go home to your family"

[Kimchieluver]