Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sojourner1]

I was prepared for 15 students, but got almost 30. This left me totally unprepared yesterday morning by not having enough copies of my materials made up on hand. 14 walked in at the very last minute and I felt a bit overwhelmed as I realized something was amiss at that moment. The camp director and interns attitude were cold as ice during the 1st hour as I prepared doing my setup 1 hour before the 1st class. I tried to warm them up on a cold morning, but they were unthawable. This made my stomach sink with a frog in my throat. Of course, you get the same thing almost every time you 1st meet Koreans, becuase you got to get to know them, before they open up.

I was told last week in our meeting that I would have 15 and also given a schedule that now means nothing. When he said I didn't prepare for 29, because I forgot what he said, I lost it and blew a gasket. I dam well know what they specifically told me, laid out on paper, and reiterated several times with me during last weeks meeting. When I threw a fit by showing a bit of anger to the camp director in a direct assertive manner, I asked him several times to my point loud and clear, "Why did't you tell me? It wouldn't be a problem if you told me by last Friday as you have my phone number and email, then I'd been ready. I really put a lot of effort into preparing and now you bungled your English camp. I'm about to walk out on you as I'm very insulted and angry as you didn't do this to the teacher who taught for you last week, because I was here for 1 day and seen how he had the 13 students he was told about ahead of time."

I raised my voice to make my point clear. The Koreans are never going to know how to work internationally unless they're told how to do business. I also always expected more input from the Koreans to better understand what they want and how to better work with them, but they seem to hide what they know and feel insecure about speaking with the foreigners they invited who voluntarily came to Korea. Now him and our 2 college interns who are going to be teachers clearly better understand how to work with westerners in that they could and very well should put out the info they know on their plans and job specifics.

Why does Korea not communicate and tell us what they know? Language barrier is not the full answer although basic honest communication is a challenge at times. Since we volunteered to go, it's obvious we're open minded and seeking all the relevant info we can get in order to do the right things and have a good working cultural exchange relationship. I'm not having a the cultural exchange experience I always so wanted in life, because they don't want to tell me anything such as things I should know like job specifics. Being that I'm less than happy in Korea, I am leaving this year. It's really too bad I don't enjoy the school food and Korean culture, because Koreans are actually pretty nice people when it comes down to it as I haven't seen anyone very mean and destructive in any way, shape, or form; just annoying. It's a good job as it pays, puts you up, and even feeds you at times as well as giving you lots of time off, but I guess I need to go do something else in life. Still yet to find my calling.

He did run to a school for the copies I needed and we got started a half hour late. They apologized and the class is going very well for me.

[agoodmouse]

[sobriquet]

you and fromtheuk are very similar.

[antoniothegreat]

i cant explain why they do it. but if it bothers you that much, leave class and go do your copies, starting late, and take that time out of class time (so you are getting paid for it) when you leave, tell them that you were told there would be 13 students and you must now change your plans since you were given bad info.

this will make you feel better, and make them look like retards, as well as kind of punish them for their idiocy. make sure you tell the students why you had to start late, that way they cant blame you

[sojourner1]

[D.D.]

I find usually half the kids turn up the first day but they bring a friend so it all evens out. The numbers taper off as the camp goes on. The more I get them to talk the less they show up.

[sojourner1]

[espoir]

That sounds like my winter camp that was supposed to start on monday. except instead of double the students showing up, 100% didn't show up. Yea nothing like standing around with a few hundred pages of completed lessons that I worked my ass off for, only to find out that the school just put random kids into my winter camp who were already signed up for other winter camps and didn't bother telling the students that. So on day 3 they finally tell me camp is cancelled, gotta love organisation!!

[Rusty Shackleford]

[mistermasan]

they doubled your class size. did they double your pay?


me? i know my camp starts next monday. where? how many? what level? golden questions all...

[D.D.]

No students sounds awesome. Last year I had two camps back to back so when half the students dropped out I just put them all in the morning camp and went home early.

But no students is even better.

[Korussian]

[sojourner1]

[Ramen]

Me think one of the FTs failed to show for the camp for some reason so they ended up doubling up your class. You should've definitely asked for more doe.

[cruisemonkey]