Korean Job Discussion Forums

nomad-ish · Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 7:36 pm Post subject:

my handler is like that. the lady who made my schedule only put 19 classes, plus 2 for "extra" classes and 1 for parents. however, my co-teacher said the lady won't revise the timetable if the parents class is cancelled, so, i will have to make-up the 1 cancelled class by hanging out in the english library. not a horrible thing, just petty.

RufusW · Joined: 14 Jun 2008 Location: Busan

As long as I can get him out for a few pints I don't think I could ask my co-teach to be any cooler.

fromtheuk · Joined: 31 Mar 2007

My first co-teacher used to bad mouthe me, but wasn't on a power trip.

The second co-teacher was a nightmare, a control freak, and an emotional wreck. She started off by laughing at me in my presence, with her colleagues.

Thankfully, I managed to upset her pretty easily. Before she was replaced, she used to cry on her own between class. It was because I used to make her unhappy. I loved it.

My current co-teacher? She is lovely, she hasn't bad mouthed me in my presence, she demands nothing of me at all, in fact I have less work than ever before.

I've approached the Principal to request my contract to be renewed in May. I hope he agrees.

OP - It seems there are a few nasty co-teachers out there. If you wait it out, the next one may be an improvement. My current co-teacher is the best one so far. I hope she doesn't change. Laughing

Horangi Munshin · Joined: 06 Apr 2003 Location: Busan

I'm getting that min and max of 22 classes a week this year too. It's not my co-teacher doing it though.

poet13 · Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 8:02 pm Post subject:

"Today, she told me, not asked me, that I must formulate a good presentation she can use for the up coming school evaluation."

No you don't. You're there to teach students, not prepare her presentations. Sabotage.

hobakmorinam · Joined: 22 Dec 2008

With these attitudes, no wonder Koreans hate foreigners.

Have fun deskwarming this summer while I am on a beach.

poet13 · Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 8:12 pm Post subject:

So you're saying that us foreigners should just acquiesce (sp?) whenever some co-teacher orders us to prepare THEIR presentations?

I guess you use your own spit when you take it in the butt.

I personally would be happy to help the person who came to me, ASKED for help, and was also a participant in the creation process. Who gets credit doesn't concern me. But a certain amount of mutual professional respect is within our rights.

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

What's your relationship like with the VP and senior teachers, and what's hers? Pretty well your only way out is going above her.

You could, however, plan a demonstration lesson that will make her look like a complete idiot.

fromtheuk · Joined: 31 Mar 2007

I think we have an apologist in our midst. When anybody behaves in a disrespectful way to another human, they can ignore it for only so long.

If you think to reject such disgusting conduct means foreigners deserve to be hated by Koreans, you need to look in the mirror, and evaluate your own self-worth. Laughing

bogey666 · Joined: 17 Mar 2008 Location: Korea, the ass free zone

what usually happens is when your principal and vice principal don't speak any English, then your co-teacher/handler gets "the power" and accompanying "power trips" if they are so inclined.

i'm lucky in that my vp speaks English and I communicate directly with him if need be.

btw.. my last co-teacher/handler (who was excellent btw) flat out told me - "I'm NOT your boss" when I was joking around saying I needed her "approval" for something etc etc

but when the true higherups don't speak any English, she/he is the medium for communcations hence gets "power".

pkang0202 · Joined: 09 Mar 2007

At every elementary school I worked at, they made my schedule to the maximum hours in the contract. They usually did it by putting in teaching teachers classes, and after school club activities.

Every time the teachers classes got canceled a few weeks in and the kids stopped coming to club because it interfered with hagwon schedule. So, on paper I tuaght 22 hours, in reality it was always a few hours less.

hobakmorinam · Joined: 22 Dec 2008

If you have half a brain in your head, it will take you maybe 30 minutes to plan an open class. Whereas, the Korean teacher will stress about it for weeks, and it will still probably suck. Their careers depend ;partially on their scores on these things. One hand washes the other. You help them, and they will help you.

But no, you'd rather read Dave's. You're pisssy becuase they "asked you to teach all the hours in your contract", but I bet you will be the first one whining in a thread about onlyhaving two weeks off in summer. Well cool. You will have plenty of time to do that this summer when I am in Koa Samui.

fromtheuk · Joined: 31 Mar 2007

Are you chickenlover's twin brother?!! Laughing

hobakmorinam · Joined: 22 Dec 2008

No, I'm just a guy in a public school that gets four months a year off. No reason to listen to me I guess.

Go ahead, try to make your school and coteachers look bad in front of everyone. You love it when they do it to you right? Make sure to post your adventures in public school helll on Dave's though. It should be amusing.