Korean Job Discussion Forums

ESL Girl · Joined: 03 Sep 2007

So I was told today that my principal expects me to go on the school field trip - which is THREE nights to the Seoul area. This is with all of the students. The main part of the excursion is an amusement park.

I really really can't go on this. I will fricken die. First of all, I would have NOT ONE decent conversation for 4 days. Whenever I go to dinner with the other teachers, I just end up in the corner and no one talks to me. Most ofg the time I can't get a straight sentence out of my co-teachers. Then to go to an amusement park puts me over the edge- I mean, I even get sick on the ferris wheel! On top of that - where will I sleep? With a room full of students - oh h@ll no!

Please, someone tell me that there is something not in my contract to make me do this. PLEASE!!!

Whistleblower · Joined: 03 Feb 2007

Overtime is voluntary, end of story. You can politely decline the request.

Bouvguy · Joined: 18 Jun 2007 Location: South Korea

Sounds like fun to me! Tell them I'll go in your place. My school is going camping and I wasn't invited! Sad

Guess I'll just have to sit home for 3 days.

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

Where are the other teachers going to be sleeping? Presumably not in a room full of kids. Do you ever get drunk with your coworkers? Perhaps that's what you're missing and the reason you just can't gel. This might be the perfect occasion to start mixing it up and having more fun with them.

Last Friday my school had a trip to an amusement park. First all the teachers enjoyed a nice lunch together, had a few beers, and then I went off with another teacher to find a quiet restaurant where we spend the whole afternoon drinking and didn't go on a single ride. Slept it off on the bus ride home and reckoned it another fabulous day of teaching EFL in Korea.

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

OiGirl · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: Hoke-y-gun

R. S. Refugee · Joined: 29 Sep 2004 Location: Shangra La, ROK

FUBAR · Joined: 21 Oct 2003 Location: The Y.C.

I made the trip from Busan to Seoul before. Didnt have to stay in the motel, but it was fun times. Got drunk with the teachers, things became alot more friendly at work.

Guess you can get out of it, but the other teachers are going to resent you for it and let you sit in the corner alone next time you have to eat together again.

yeremy

It's a myth. If you don't want to go, you don't have to go. Your principal isn't going to do anything to you, if you don't go. However, your principal will do something if you don't live up to what they want in the classroom. Put your job first and worry about being a social butterfly later, if you want. Your contract probably states what your working hours are. After those hours you are largely free of them if you wish. Korean principals are more concerned that your students like you and that you work hard preparing and teaching in the classroom.

brento1138 · Joined: 17 Nov 2004

OK, this is Korea. Be sick. Get very sick the day before... like, food poisoning. Bad squid. Bad chicken. Whatever. Say you wish you could go, but can't. You'll need a few days of recovery. They'll probably know your bullshi****ing them but it's kind of how it works here. They'll just bs a "get well soon" and be off without thinking much about it. That's your escape plan! Do it!

majolica · Joined: 03 Apr 2008

coming to the end of my first public school contract, i'm looking back and realizing that i wish i had done more with my coworkers.... i avoided every possible extracurricular activity i could, for all the reasons you mentioned. i know it sounds really annoying, and it probably will be at first but it could turn out to be a great time! you may find that your coworkers need a longer period of time to feel comfortable enough to talk to you... plus you can practise your korean. plus, you'll have mega brownie points for use in other situations.

yeremy · Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 1:19 pm Post subject: Be Yourself

Korea's public school system doesn't have a brownie point system for NET's.

majolica · Joined: 03 Apr 2008

what i ment, genius, is that when you want to negotiate extra time off (not coming in for graduation week, getting exam days off) or when you need the school to change something for your benefit, you're going to have an easier time of it if they see you as having put in some extra effort throughout the year, "assisting" with fieldtrips, and other stuff like that.

in this system, doing what you can to kiss the principal's ass can be beneficial.

mnhnhyouh · Joined: 21 Nov 2006 Location: The Middle Kingdom

I went on the school trip a couple of weeks ago. One big house for the teachers, females on the second floor, males on the first. My Korean still sucks and none of the male teachers spoke much English. There were 3 female English teachers there and their English is pretty good.

I did spend a lot of time reading, listening to music, studying Korean and sleeping. But we also went on a couple of excursions and I had a great time.

I suggest you go. You might just enjoy yourself.

h

poet13 · Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 4:26 pm Post subject:

I, as much as the next guy, like to get along with my fellow teachers, immerse myself in culture, and spend time with my students. If it was a day trip, leaving at 2am, and returning at 2 the next morning, I would say, go, have fun.

However........

I do not ever enjoy sharing a spitty shot glass with two or twenty other people.

I do not ever enjoy watching the sam gyup sal closely to see which one piece has not been handled by three other peoples spitty chopsticks.

I do not ever enjoy another man trying to pull up my t-shirt to show other people the tattoos on my back (yes, more than once).

I do not ever enjoy having another man run his fingers through my body hair because it's a novelty.

I do not ever enjoy sharing a blazing hot, zip-lock sealed room meant for four with 10 soju stinking men for a night, especially when there always seems to be one or two awake smoking.

No thank you.