Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Bucheonguy]

Here's my problem. I like teaching my students--that's about the only thing keeping me here--and I think Korea's a pretty good place to live, but I can't stand my school. THey litereally harass me about everything. They accused me of being an alcoholic when I took my first sick day after six months (they sent teachers to my house too.) They also told me that i'm a pervert who's trying to corrupt their children. They also had a meeting where they told me I was trying to sexually harass my female coworkers. That one floors me because I never did anything at all to do that. I never touched them, talked to them or even looked at them! THey tell me I'm not dedicated to the students or sincere in my attempts to teach them. Just trust me that I am very much the opposite. They also took away the cell phone they gave me mid way through the year after a recent meeting where they told me I'm a terrible teacher. THey also told me I've been here for 7 months, why am I not acting like a Korean, what ever that means and they also try to prevent me from doing things like going to the doctor when I absolutely have to go.

I've tried everything to get along with them and it just seems to make things worse. The worst of it is, if I try to tell my boss this stuff, she just instantly takes the other teachers side and tells me it's all my fault and that if it were up to her, I'd never work in Korea again. They're also threatening not to write me a release letter after my contract is up and to block me from working in another public school. It's absolutely terrible. Actually, I think the trouble started when the principal accused me of trying to turn the students into Americans, even though I'm Canadian. Also, I was told that Western culture is just sex and violence whatever that means.

I work for GEPIK, what the hell can I do? I don't want to leave Korea, I want to get another job which they all ready said they won't give me a reference for. So how can I stay here next year without going to a Hagwon? Can anyone help me deal with the bullying thing, because that's what they're doing to me. I'm sorry about how poorly written this is. I just have a lot of negative experiences that I don't know how to fully communicate with you. So please, just give me some advice. I just want to get to another school for next year ASAP. I'll even sign another year long contract tomorrow if it means I get out of this horrible place.

Thanks for the advice.

[polonius]

Sorry to hear that you are having trouble, but, you do not need a release letter if you finish your contract, nor a reference letter. You would benefit from a letter of confirmation of employment, as this will get you to a higher pay tier. I am not certain on this, but, perhaps the regional office can supply you with this. Someone else who works for GEPIK will chime in here.

I would just keep my head down, stay below the radar and finish out the year. Don't worry about getting another job, there are tons out there.

Come to think of it, if you don't finish the contract, I believe it is in the school's best interest to give you a release letter as they are your sponsor, and will want to end the sponsorship. I know hagwons will threaten you about this, but I have heard of people simply going to immigration, and saying that they were fired, or quit and received an exit notice. They were then free to get another job.

[Bucheonguy]

I was also wondering, if I quit right now, can they prevent me from getting another visa? Can I get black listed?

[ttompatz]

[Hobophobic]

[DrOctagon]

I'm having a hard time believing all of this. Maybe they're trying to get you to quit becaue they don't like you. Maybe you smell bad or something, or don't look good enough to work in their school.

[waynehead]

This is a PUBLIC school? Sounds like the normal hagwon dance.

[EzeWong]

I find this incredibly hard to believe.

I mean there's apparent reason for them to do this to you.

Why I can only conjecture several reasons:

1) The obvious, you're bending the truth or ignorant of your wrongdoings. I have good faith you aren't. And in some ways I do belive you are innocent.

2) The teachers have an ulterior motive. It's possible they are trying to oust you for some other purpose. Maybe they collect some money if you leave, or who knows?

3) You're ugly. As morally wrong and stupid as this is, with Korea the huge emphasis on looks makes you look ugly translate into everyone hates you. Now I'm not being biased towards Korea here as everyone around the world does it, but it's important.

4) You're absolutely incompetent and are blissfully unaware. I know people like this. I would like to call them innocent or naive but that would be lying.

5) Bias: It's possible their previous foreign teacher was all of these unimaginably horrid things, and that they are projecting the same predjudices towards you. It could VERY likely, because a foreign teacher in school represents ALL foreign teachers. As illogical as it is, it's very common human pattern thinking. If I had a spanish teacher that leered and called all the female students "mama cita", people might project those same values onto you.

6) They are getting revenge. You may have done something to them so bad, that they are out to get you. Worst case senario really... you would have basically made enemies out of everyone, and it sounds this may be the case. If you tried to make up with the teachers and "it actually made it worse" than it would look like you know you did something bad, and you want to make it up...

7) Head strong. It's possible you are too headstrong to adopt to their ways (this could be seen as good lol). Maybe your teaching style is to play games and the K-Teachers percieve you as a horrible teacher... which would just go downhill from there. For example, they believe drilling is the best way, but you keep playing games.

Reputation, kind of related to revenge and appearnce. Maybe you go out at night to a bar with the expats and headed to a "hair salon" and one of the teachers saw you coming out. You'd be tarnished...

9) Social ineptitude. If you are socially inept. This could be the reason. Even I have some difficulties being close with some of the K-Teachers here. The cultural and language barrier is a hard hurdle sometimes.

10) They have no soul. Least valid of the reasons I think they are doing this to you. I definately believe there is a reason they are doing this to you, but if you don't know what it is.... then I think the problem is you...

11) You did something to the students... Maybe you got on one of the female students bad side or said something at the slip of the tongue. Even if you accidentally touched a student the wrong way they may have told a teacher that you're a perv.


As terrible as it sounds, I honestly beleive it's something you did to bring this upon yourself... Although, it may not be a good reason for them to do this to you.

I would find out the reasons. For example, that meeting with you K-teachers about you heckling them? WTF is that about? Obviously they had a reason for that meeting. Find out man...

To be sympathetic here, I have a similar situation as a manager of a resturant, being looked down upon because I was "too friendly". Of all the BS, I thougt I was being a good person but everyone percieved it as submissive and weak. I learned my lesson, what I percieve and what others perceive are starkly different. You have to be socially astute enough to detect it.

You can get out of this I'm sure.
I would get a REAL talk with your principal. Lay things out on the table. Don't be a victim or angry dude though. Just be logical + sincere; ask them "hey principal, omgwtfbbq, what has all this been about? "

[ernie]

i agree with this ^ advice. be sincere and ask for SPECIFIC examples of when your behaviour was inappropriate. tell them, 'i can't change unless i know what i was doing wrong'. i find this puts an end to the BS pretty quick.

[ardis]

Ezewong: Wow, that was thorough! And a lot of good points were made. I also don't want to point fingers at the OP and say that he's blind or exaggerating, but I definitely knew one guy working for SMOE who was hated by his co-teachers and even other teachers in the district. He taught for one year at a school then left the country. He was flat out infamous even at my school because of how rude they said he was. When they all went out to eat, he refused to sit on the floor because he said it was a savage concept or something...and he would demand Western food even if all the other teachers were eating Korean, constantly pointed out, "Why don't Koreans do this? Americans do it and it's so much better"...never lesson planned, showed up late constantly, dressed like a hobo, etc. He came back recently to Korea and tried to contact his former co-teacher so they could hang out and talk. She was far from thrilled...and yet he just assumed that he was bff with everyone in the office. There's an idiot.

[expat2001]

[Otherside]

[Michelle]

Hi There,

They sound like they have complained about everything in the world and what is the point of having english tuition at the school if that is the attitude?

I disagree that it might have been something you did, at least intentionally did. Likely something that was misinterpreted early on and has escalated due to gossip.

Or could be that they had an english teacher, someone who they could not deal with easily before you.

Is there anyone higher up at Gepik who could help?

Good luck,


Michelle

[yingwenlaoshi]

[bundangbabo]

Get in touch with Dain Bae - If you can't mate - PM me your name and your school and I will email Dain Bae on your behalf.

I have no reason to doubt you - high grade bullying in the workplace is rampant in this country and you need a big hammer to crack this nut - especially if they are threatening with blacklisting you (look up JukeJohn posts) without good reason.