| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
merrypr4nkster
Joined: 03 Jun 2009
|
 Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 4:05 pm Post subject: FIRED BEFORE EVEN GETTING TO KOREA |
 |
|
| I interviewed and accepted a job with a public middle school south of Seoul and was ready to start on Sept 1. They sent me the contract and I bought my plane ticket. Today I was told via email that I was un-hired based on the fact that the previous teacher was 'mentally handicapped' and 'had problems in Korea because she was black'. They 'wanted someone who was easygoing and didn't think I would be easy to work with'. The only first hand contact I've had with the school was the phone interview after which they wanted to hire me and sent a contract. The only request I made through my recruiter was to have the email address of a previous teacher. What's the deal with all this??? |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Ramen
Joined: 15 Apr 2008
|
| Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 4:10 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Did you tell them that you are black and mentally unstable? I'm sure you didn't.
Nothing surprises me about Korea.  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
afsjesse
Joined: 23 Sep 2007
Location: Kickin' it in 'Kato town.
|
| Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 4:12 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Smells a little trollish but i'll bite. I'd contact the recruiter and request to talk to the school directly. Explain what that you're easy going and "not" mentally handicapped. If nothing else change the arrival date and find a hagwon gig. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
merrypr4nkster
Joined: 03 Jun 2009
|
| Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 4:20 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Trollish?...Me? never.
Do I really want to talk/work for this school if they're being this sketchy this soon? Not really... Is this kind of treatment what I can expect from Korea? I mean thinking all Americans/Black People/Foreign teachers/ Whatever are all the same? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
jinju necklace
Joined: 15 Jun 2009
|
| Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 4:20 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Did both you and the school sign the contract, and have you obtained a valid work visa? If that's the case then you would have legal recourse. It might take several months but you might be able to get reimbursed for the ticket. In the meantime you should find another job.
Are you black? Is that why they're not going to hire you? If so, I would write letters to various Korean media outlets detailing what happened and name the school in question. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
afsjesse
Joined: 23 Sep 2007
Location: Kickin' it in 'Kato town.
|
| Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 4:29 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| merrypr4nkster wrote: |
Trollish?...Me? never.
I mean thinking all Americans/Black People/Foreign teachers/ Whatever are all the same? |
This is Western thinking. You're in the Far East now, welcome to Confucian-ville where there is an unfair caste system against anyone different. A lot of Koreans are very open these days but there's still a lot that treat you as if you're not the same. So take it all with a big grain of salt. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
merrypr4nkster
Joined: 03 Jun 2009
|
| Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 4:29 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| I am a mentally balanced (at least I think so) white male, have no legal problems and a great resume and degree. Like I said, my only contact with them was the interview and requesting a previous teachers email. I have some other interviews but this was a curve ball I was not expecting. Should I be worried about other schools? If they had problems with the previous teacher I think it's pretty unprofessional to think the next one would be any different just because they're both 'foreign'. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
E_athlete
Joined: 09 Jun 2009
Location: Korea sparkling
|
| Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 4:30 pm Post subject: |
|
|
go to the media outlet? Arent you setting yourself up to be counter-sued?
This is definitely something to sue over. If you win you should be about to get 12 months of pay without work. The only question is...who do you go to for these things and how much will it cost? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Hanson
Joined: 20 Oct 2004
|
| Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 4:35 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| merrypr4nkster wrote: |
| I am a mentally balanced (at least I think so) white male, have no legal problems and a great resume and degree. Like I said, my only contact with them was the interview and requesting a previous teachers email. I have some other interviews but this was a curve ball I was not expecting. Should I be worried about other schools? If they had problems with the previous teacher I think it's pretty unprofessional to think the next one would be any different just because they're both 'foreign'. |
It's like when your kids say something really cute!!! Dude, this place is a long way from Kansas. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Ramen
Joined: 15 Apr 2008
|
| Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 4:36 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| merrypr4nkster wrote: |
| I am a mentally balanced (at least I think so) white male, have no legal problems and a great resume and degree. Like I said, my only contact with them was the interview and requesting a previous teachers email. I have some other interviews but this was a curve ball I was not expecting. Should I be worried about other schools? If they had problems with the previous teacher I think it's pretty unprofessional to think the next one would be any different just because they're both 'foreign'. |
Requesting previous FT's email scared them for sure. I'm sure they treated the former FT like a bad monkey that he's not. They may actually have saved you from a year of agony. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
merrypr4nkster
Joined: 03 Jun 2009
|
| Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 4:37 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| I definitely am open minded and looking forward to experiencing a different culture! But does 'Confucian-ville' really treat people like shit by just ignoring and taking back offers? I'm pretty surprised, I was expecting to be treated like a 'foreigner' but are you really saying that I have no legal rights? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
merrypr4nkster
Joined: 03 Jun 2009
|
| Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 4:40 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Should I not ask for previous teachers emails?
I know it's going to be a long way from Kansas... Just getting more and more surprised at how far. They obviously didn't write about any of this in the guide book, so please tell me what other kinds of 'differences' I can expect!
Last edited by merrypr4nkster on Wed Jun 24, 2009 6:13 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
afsjesse
Joined: 23 Sep 2007
Location: Kickin' it in 'Kato town.
|
| Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 4:42 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| merrypr4nkster wrote: |
| I definitely am open minded and looking forward to experiencing a different culture! But does 'Confucian-ville' really treat people like shit by just ignoring and taking back offers? I'm pretty surprised, I was expecting to be treated like a 'foreigner' but are you really saying that I have no legal rights? |
Of course we have legal rights, but many times tradition and narrow minds trump these. You're going to treated like gold by many and like crap by some. Expect to be looked at, pointed at, have comments about you being a foreigner and if you're dating a Korean girl probably get some interesting glares and comments (especially in the sticks like I am).
Korea is changing but at the pace of molasses. It's a great place to be and there are awesome things to experience and embrace. Being treated like a foreigner isn't something you think about every day, just one the bad days when you're really annoyed and need to vent on Dave's.
Good Luck. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Ramen
Joined: 15 Apr 2008
|
| Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 4:48 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| merrypr4nkster wrote: |
Should I not ask for previous teachers emails?
I know it's going to be a long way in Kansas... Just getting more and more surprised at how far. They obviously didn't write about any of this in the guide book, so please tell me what other kinds of 'differences' I can expect! |
You should always ask for previous FT's emails. It's a good practice to weed out the undesirable schools. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
merrypr4nkster
Joined: 03 Jun 2009
|
| Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 4:50 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| afsjesse wrote: |
| merrypr4nkster wrote: |
| I definitely am open minded and looking forward to experiencing a different culture! But does 'Confucian-ville' really treat people like shit by just ignoring and taking back offers? I'm pretty surprised, I was expecting to be treated like a 'foreigner' but are you really saying that I have no legal rights? |
Of course we have legal rights, but many times tradition and narrow minds trump these. You're going to treated like gold by many and like crap by some. Expect to be looked at, pointed at, have comments about you being a foreigner and if you're dating a Korean girl probably get some interesting glares and comments (especially in the sticks like I am).
Korea is changing but at the pace of molasses. It's a great place to be and there are awesome things to experience and embrace. Being treated like a foreigner isn't something you think about every day, just one the bad days when you're really annoyed and need to vent on Dave's.
Good Luck. |
I can live with all that for sure! But does this happen a lot? It's kind of a beach to buy a ticket and $500 in immunizations and then be unoffered a job! So what should I do with my next job in order to not be un-hired? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
