Korean Job Discussion Forums

[buymybook]

That's what was suggested to me when one of my lessons didn't go so well the 1st day I taught it. So, I tell them that this next week I'd be teaching the students about Halloween. I was told "we don't have Halloween here". I said, I know(DUH!), that's why I'm teaching it as part of the American "CULTURE" you suggested.

My English Coordinator also told me that if he was me, he wouldn't come(stay?) to/in S. Korea.

Let's see, what else have I been told?

[Tjames426]

How about....

All Saints Day instead?

[Bibbitybop]

[wylies99]

OP, sounds like a typical hagwon job. The foreign teacher is ALWAYS wrong.

[niandralades]

Your boss is just trying to make you feel weak so that you'll suck it up and show him you're not. My first boss told me that I was too sensitive to work in Korea when I went to him with a complaint about pay. He ended up giving me the money i asked for, and more, so I would keep my mouth shut around other teachers about it. They say a lot of things, I just try to ignore absolutely everything. Smile and nod, and take their comments in but don't be quick to change your teaching style.

[Bibbitybop]

On a related note, teach them cultural rules in Western countries. It is very helpful to them and it implies that Koreans are rude without overtly saying Koreans are rude.

No shoving. No cutting. Respect women. No spitting. No smacking gum or food. Do NOT touch a police officer. Say "please," "thank you," and "excuse me." NEVER shout at a waiter for his/her attention. Tip in America. Calling someone "fat" can get you shot in the wrong city. Etc.

[wormholes101]

I have about 20 powerpoint presentations on 'Western Culture'. They are good for about 3-6 minutes each. You can download them here if you like. The download link will be active for 30 days.

Edit: The previous file host ran out of bandwidth so I've changed the link. The link should work again now.

[BrianInSuwon]

Two years ago, I was teaching my students to use body language and facial expressions when asking a question because my students have a robotic look on there face when they ask questions.

My co-teacher said (in class, mid lesson), "Stop that, we don't ask questions like that."

[ESL Milk "Everyday]

Your main goal right now should be trying to call less attention to yourself, so that you can eventually slip under the radar and not have to deal with your Korean boss. This is not like a normal person that you can reason with-- chances are, they will never ever be able to see your point of view, or listen to what you're saying, or heaven forbid, admit that they're wrong. The only way to get through your year there is to make someone else into the 'target'. Most hagwon owners don't have the energy to make more than one person the focus of their shit.

Get yourself a bag of candy and a couple packs of stickers. Walk into class with a big smile and say 'It's candy/sticker day!', watch the faces light up, and watch as suddenly everything you are doing becomes very very interesting. Before you go in, look up some games on the Internet, and after rushing through whatever you have to do for the day, play play play!

Do that until your boss stops worrying about you, and repeat whenever you feel like the kids are bored or not into it. DO NOT start doing this all the time, no matter how good it feels to have the kids beaming at you. If they get to the point where they're actually demanding candy and start complaining when you won't buy it for them, then you're screwed... they'll complain, your boss will think badly of you, and he will start annoying you to death with his combination of incompetence, arrogance and thick-headedness.

Wow... I sound really jaded.

[DrOctagon]

[wylies99]

[yingwenlaoshi]

[yingwenlaoshi]

[DrOctagon]

Wylies, I'm not Asian. Maybe if you live in a trailer home or you live in filth..... Leaving your shoes on when you enter a house is rude.

[wylies99]