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Songtan33
Joined: 04 Jun 2007
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 Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 4:50 am Post subject: Advice for Noobs on Public school positions |
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There was a noob that posted some concerns about what materials would be needed for an isolated public school and it brought back some memories that I just couldn't hold back. So before taking on any public school position and getting all excited about finally being able to get into a classroom and give it your best, think about this first.
I am sorry to disappoint you, but if you think you are going to feel like a real teacher teaching in a real middle/highschool think again.
First of all you are going to feel isolated and not very welcome by Korean teachers after about a month. At the beginning everyone will be very nice to you but afterwards you're going to feel like a burden and you will be left all by yourself asking yourself "what in the world did I get myself into"?
The kids are going to make fun of you and treat you like you're a clown. They are going to make comments about you in Korean, and often will look back to see if the Korean teacher heard them or is looking. Korean kids don't have much respect for foreign teachers in general. The older they get the more nasty they become. That's why you'll see a few Korean teachers walking around with sticks and giving them the old. "If you can't eat your meat you can't have any pudding" on their hands and butts. Ofcourse you won't be allowed to practice this type of discipline because Korea is for Koreans only and you are not supposed to be taken seriously anyway.
I worked at a public school in an isolated town. I know exactly where you are heading. Most Korean schools are all the same. The only difference pretty much is location.
Don't expect to make any "real friends" with your co-workers. They kind of resent getting paid less and having to stand in the back of your class waiting for your instruction.
(but they will never say a word about it to you) They know it's their job and they don't want to get fired.
That's Korea Gov policy..that's Korea for ya!
ps: Korean school lunches can get pretty nasty..make sure you have a big mac stashed away somewhere.
Oh and one more thing...often one teacher may try and get close to you to find out what's on your mind. They will even try and help you in some ways so be careful, because once they see they aren't getting any props from the school for "helping the new foreign teacher" they are going to drop you on your ass, and you will be left thinking whatever happened to Mrs. Lee Song who used to take me shopping and drive me home after work.
Most Korean teachers are snitches, it's part of their culture. They talk alot about others, don't give them any personal information about you and don't open up to them or you're doomed.
No serverance, no flight home and a boss that will probably pay you late. The reason for this is because most Korean bosses will prey on your weaknesses. The more they know they can get away with..with you the more they will do so and try to pocket what's yours. Korean bosses are most motivated by greed, that's why they drink like animals and have sex with just about every prostitute they can get their hands on. Most bosses are also running businesses on the side which I won't get into. Use your street sense and don't let anyone f@@k you. |
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butlerian
Joined: 04 Sep 2006
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 4:55 am Post subject: |
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| To anyone reading this thread: ignore what's been written above. Do your research, prepare well as a teacher, and you are likely to have a good experience teaching in Korea. No-where is perfect, and nothing in life is guaranteed, but research is key in finding a good public school job in Korea because - I know - they certainly do exist. |
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Songtan33
Joined: 04 Jun 2007
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| Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 5:14 am Post subject: |
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I'm sure your recruiter will be 100% honest about your new public school teaching job, and when you land you will be welcomed with open arms by your co-teachers, colleagues and all your new kids that have to sit through 45 minutes of english everyday, with someone old enough to be their sibling.
Good luck! |
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tigerbluekitty
Joined: 19 Apr 2007
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| Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 5:23 am Post subject: |
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| What OP said does have some truth to it. He's just warning and giving advice to the naive newbies that'll be coming here. Nothing wrong with that in my opinion, unless you want these newbies to be exploited which in turn will make conditions and pay worse for the rest of us foreign teachers. |
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butlerian
Joined: 04 Sep 2006
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 5:26 am Post subject: |
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| tigerbluekitty wrote: |
| What OP said does have some truth to it. He's just warning and giving advice to the naive newbies that'll be coming here. Nothing wrong with that in my opinion, unless you want these newbies to be exploited which in turn will make conditions and pay worse for the rest of us foreign teachers. |
There is enough negativity on this forum as it is, and frankly the situation isn't generally anywhere near as bad as people like Songtan suggest. He just wants to vent his anger related to his bad experience. |
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tigerbluekitty
Joined: 19 Apr 2007
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| Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 5:42 am Post subject: |
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| butlerian wrote: |
There is enough negativity on this forum as it is, and frankly the situation isn't generally anywhere near as bad as people like Songtan suggest. He just wants to vent his anger related to his bad experience. |
Many have bad experiences that are in many ways like what Songtan described. Being positive is overrated, at least in Korea it is. We really oughta do something about our situation if we want to get better treatment here.
No action, no change. So let's take action and actually change something for once. These standstills make me restless. I don't wanna wait 20 years for Korea to change. |
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butlerian
Joined: 04 Sep 2006
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 5:44 am Post subject: |
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| tigerbluekitty wrote: |
| butlerian wrote: |
There is enough negativity on this forum as it is, and frankly the situation isn't generally anywhere near as bad as people like Songtan suggest. He just wants to vent his anger related to his bad experience. |
Many have bad experiences that are in many ways like what Songtan described. Being positive is overrated, at least in Korea it is. We really oughta do something about our situation if we want to get better treatment here.
No action, no change. So let's take action and actually change something for once. These standstills make me restless. I don't wanna wait 20 years for Korea to change. |
People like Songtan will only cause more anti-foreigner resentment among Koreans. Problems need to be addressed in a more appropriate way. Attacking everyone is not the solution. |
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Dome Vans
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| Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 5:53 am Post subject: |
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Songtan please, you're not really giving any advice you're just outlining what happened to yourself, and everybody is different
| Quote: |
| First of all you are going to feel isolated and not very welcome by Korean teachers after about a month. At the beginning everyone will be very nice to you but afterwards you're going to feel like a burden and you will be left all by yourself asking yourself "what in the world did I get myself into"? |
Personal opinion and paranoia here, bad combo.
| Quote: |
| The kids are going to make fun of you and treat you like you're a clown. They are going to make comments about you in Korean, and often will look back to see if the Korean teacher heard them or is looking. Korean kids don't have much respect for foreign teachers in general. The older they get the more nasty they become. |
Classroom control!!!! This OP on the other thread had done a CELTA course for adults which are probably a lot more difficult to control and a lot more demanding. A lot of personal paranoia here again. Not very open minded.
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| Don't expect to make any "real friends" with your co-workers. They kind of resent getting paid less and having to stand in the back of your class waiting for your instruction. |
Haha!
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| They will even try and help you in some ways so be careful, because once they see they aren't getting any props from the school for "helping the new foreign teacher" they are going to drop you on your ass, and you will be left thinking whatever happened to Mrs. Lee Song who used to take me shopping and drive me home after work. |
This is comedy, rare opinion here, will not happen to any other person who acts in a positive way to Koreans.
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| The more they know they can get away with..with you the more they will do so and try to pocket what's yours. Korean bosses are most motivated by greed, that's why they drink like animals and have sex with just about every prostitute they can get their hands on. |
Very anti Korean slur here, racist I think. Grow up Songtan and get some help for those voices, yeh! |
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tigerbluekitty
Joined: 19 Apr 2007
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| Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 5:56 am Post subject: |
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| butlerian wrote: |
| People like Songtan will only cause more anti-foreigner resentment among Koreans. Problems need to be addressed in a more appropriate way. Attacking everyone is not the solution. |
How when many Koreans are greedy and out for their own benefit? They even exploit their own kind. I'm really curious, how do you think we should go about solving these problems? |
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butlerian
Joined: 04 Sep 2006
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 5:58 am Post subject: |
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| tigerbluekitty wrote: |
| butlerian wrote: |
| People like Songtan will only cause more anti-foreigner resentment among Koreans. Problems need to be addressed in a more appropriate way. Attacking everyone is not the solution. |
How when many Koreans are greedy and out for their own benefit? They even exploit their own kind. I'm really curious, how do you think we should go about solving these problems? |
What are you talking about? America with its ultra-capitalist system and "everyone for himself" policies is far more greedy and looking out for their own benefit. Of course, it's human nature to a certain extent to want to protect yourself, but I find Koreans much more accommodating, friendly and co-operative than Americans, in general. |
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tigerbluekitty
Joined: 19 Apr 2007
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| Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 6:04 am Post subject: |
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| butlerian wrote: |
| What are you talking about? America with its ultra-capitalist system and "everyone for himself" policies is far more greedy and looking out for their own benefit. |
You forgot about welfare, social security and unemployment benefits.
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| Of course, it's human nature to a certain extent to want to protect yourself, but I find Koreans much more accommodating, friendly and co-operative than Americans, in general. |
That may be just your experience. The rest of us aren't so lucky. |
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Dome Vans
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 6:07 am Post subject: |
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| How when many Koreans are greedy and out for their own benefit? They even exploit their own kind. I'm really curious, how do you think we should go about solving these problems? |
Koreans are one of the most humble nationalities there is. Have you ever been out to a restaurant with Koreans, they jumping up to be able to pay first. I think you'll find the tight wads a lot closer to home, not Korea.
As for exploiting their own kind, western culture is famous for doing this, Korean might do it but not anywhere near the scale of western countries. The americans and 'selling their moms to make a dollar'
Trying to solve this complete lack of ethics and morals is more of a global problem. |
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Songtan33
Joined: 04 Jun 2007
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| Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 6:07 am Post subject: |
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| butlerian wrote: |
| tigerbluekitty wrote: |
| butlerian wrote: |
| People like Songtan will only cause more anti-foreigner resentment among Koreans. Problems need to be addressed in a more appropriate way. Attacking everyone is not the solution. |
How when many Koreans are greedy and out for their own benefit? They even exploit their own kind. I'm really curious, how do you think we should go about solving these problems? |
What are you talking about? America with its ultra-capitalist system and "everyone for himself" policies is far more greedy and looking out for their own benefit. Of course, it's human nature to a certain extent to want to protect yourself, but I find Koreans much more accommodating, friendly and co-operative than Americans, in general. |
Now we're getting to the nitty gritty. Anti-American aren't we? I am Canadian and I am proud of my American neighbours for protecting the world from animals like terrorists. I will always love Americans so no matter what you say it doesn't matter to me. Koreans have their own way of doing things and it's just proves this fact based on what's happening not even an hour's plane ride away.
I came to Korea twice!!
I think I gave the Country a fair chance. I have done well at all other teaching jobs but never had faced anything like this. It is my obligation as a Tefler to warn noobs about the facts that will protect them from encountering the same nightmares as I have. If you can't respect that, then go off into your own little corner and be happy. Just because you lucked out doesn't give you the right to tell other teachers (that haven't had the same luck as you) not to warn others about the realities in Korea, and the bosses that employ these people. I see Korea has got to you, but it's ok I feel sorry for someone like you that has lost their Western heritage and has become a slave to the dollar. |
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butlerian
Joined: 04 Sep 2006
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 6:07 am Post subject: |
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| tigerbluekitty wrote: |
| butlerian wrote: |
| What are you talking about? America with its ultra-capitalist system and "everyone for himself" policies is far more greedy and looking out for their own benefit. |
You forgot about welfare, social security and unemployment benefits.
| Quote: |
| Of course, it's human nature to a certain extent to want to protect yourself, but I find Koreans much more accommodating, friendly and co-operative than Americans, in general. |
That may be just your experience. The rest of us aren't so lucky. |
Korea is much less in need of such benefits because families here are much better connected and have a greater understanding of the need to take care of each other. As a result, homelessness etc is much lower here than it is in the States.
I accept that my experience of Koreans is not uniform, but from my experiences and those of people living in my town and others that I've met too, it seems that our own attitude and personality can have a huge affect on how others relate to us and vice-versa. Is that at all surprising? |
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Songtan33
Joined: 04 Jun 2007
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| Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 6:13 am Post subject: |
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| butlerian wrote: |
| tigerbluekitty wrote: |
| butlerian wrote: |
| What are you talking about? America with its ultra-capitalist system and "everyone for himself" policies is far more greedy and looking out for their own benefit. |
You forgot about welfare, social security and unemployment benefits.
| Quote: |
| Of course, it's human nature to a certain extent to want to protect yourself, but I find Koreans much more accommodating, friendly and co-operative than Americans, in general. |
That may be just your experience. The rest of us aren't so lucky. |
Korea is much less in need of such benefits because families here are much better connected and have a greater understanding of the need to take care of each other. As a result, homelessness etc is much lower here than it is in the States.
I accept that my experience of Koreans is not uniform, but from my experiences and those of people living in my town and others that I've met too, it seems that our own attitude and personality can have a huge affect on how others relate to us and vice-versa. Is that at all surprising? |
You are a lost cause...and for someone who complains about generalising you are doing that right now. This is my last post to you because you don't have my respect but i'll answer this last post in hopes to knock some sense into you.
If you think there are no homeless people in Korea then you know nothing about this Country. I've seen homeless beggars all over the city. All you have to do is walk into any subway and take a look around.
Also if you think getting drunk and puking all over the street, spitting, swearing, and backstabbing your neighbours is a nice way to live then by all means you are in the right place. You are not fluent in Korean you do not know anything about Korean society or how Koreans talk or treat eachother. All you are is a poor man with a degree that has no family ties and nothing to live for except a paycheck every month.
That's what I think of you..garbage. |
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