Korean Job Discussion Forums

[grunden]

Today before I taught that baby class I suggested watching a barney video which she has and uses on her daughters, and she tells me that the mothers do not want that. So the time for the class starts, all the mothers are getting their kids ready for class, the cards are on the chair where I sit, and already two babies are crying, and so I just walk out. My boss follows me out and tells me I am fired, then she starts screaming at me as I walk, I mean screaming telling me I will be taken by immigration, or something like that, I do not even answer her, but just go to the beach for a while, now I am at a pc room, is there any lawyer that can help me, I am tired of being treated like a nobody. Is there any help I can get from an agency that helps teachers with legal problems, thanks for your help.

[soviet_man]

If that is true - I'd say you are finished.

You can't recover from a situation like that and go on like it didn't happen.

Those mothers will pull their children out and the director will be seething (and rightly so).

[Straphanger]

I have nothing of value to say on this topic.

[BigBuds]

[Blueberry]

Pretty sure this is a troll, but I'll bite. You should get fired if you walked out merely over being asked to not play a video and having 2 crying kids.

Take your disjointed writing and weirdo behavior back to (inset home country).

[Cheonmunka]

I wouldn't worry too much about whether you made an impact - you will have been sorely missed today.

[spyro25]

the first half of the story sucked - you were totally unprofessional.

that said i love the image of the boss firing you, then just screaming as you walk away. thats my nice mental image for the day now. she won't have known what hit her lol. one minute she has an important parent/teacher meeting, the next her FT has left and her school is in ruins...... such utter agony. the horror!

[moosehead]

well since you didn't listen to us before - why should anyone offer advice now?

not only did you not listen - you gave up. not good. I expect my students to at least try, it's a given for the teachers -


- obviously you are not cut out for this particular classroom environment.

you definitely need to apologize to your director, explain yourself (for at the very least damage control - aren't you in a school's apt? and you want them to cancel your visa!), and look for another job that doesn't involve such young children.

don't worry about immi - getting fired is no big deal - you leave the country and come back and get another job -

[Unposter]

Bad day, eh? Fired or quit, it does not matter. Sometimes these things happen. I won't say you handled it the best possible way but sometimes things just happen. It wouldn't be the first and it won't be the last.

Sometimes, the best thing to do is just go home and start over. There isn't any shame in it. It happens. I'm sure there are plenty of people who will tell you, the second time is the charm. And, remember that it is not failure, it is a new opportunity.

Anyway, don't let her bully you know but you are probably going to need to buy an airline ticket and pay her for the one that brought you over.

Good luck!

[dmbfan]

O.P.,


While others will balk and bark about how you were unprofessional, mainly just to hear themselves speak (on the forum, anyway), I am assuming there is more to it?


It seems that this was the final straw, based on a series of troubling events that you have been experiencing. If feel tired of being treated like a noboby, then I guess this is not something that happened out of the blue.

Also, were you told that you were going to be teaching babies? Well, in my opion they have no business in the classroom at that point.

If you walked out, your boss should have been more professional and asked what the problem was. Perhaps, and this is just a gamble....I'm going waaaaaaaay out on a limb here....but, if she were nice about it and actually wanted to help you get back in the game, rather then yell and scream, I'm sure you may have taken a different approach.


Teaching babies? *beep* that. You arm chair ESL generals out there can have them.


OP.....if you walked out, there is nothing anyone can do. However...if there is more to the story concerning legal issues, then let us know.

dmbfan

[Robot_Teacher]

I'd say pack up your things and leave the apartment and Korea now ASAP unless you want and can get the visa canceled, find a new job, and go on visa run for new E2.

[Milwaukiedave]

No, I doubt it is a troll. In fact here is the OP's other thread about the problem


My question to the OP is why was it not clear which ages you were teaching before you started and if this wasn't agreed to, you should have had a meeting and let the boss know ahead of time you were not comfortable teaching them.

[dmbfan]

[pocariboy73]

Phone or email Tony Hellman or Tom Rainey at ATEK. That association representing over 25,000 foreign teachers was specifically set up to assist people like you when faced with bad hagwon bosses or other stressfull situations in Korea.

Here is their link:
http://atek.or.kr/

Good luck with them and do let us know on how they plan on assisting you for future teachers in your situation.

[Steelrails]

Well there clearly is a past history and Ill try to give you the benefit of the doubt...

But...Walking out is VERY disrespectful to Koreans. I once did it to my Korean boss in America at the pizza store he owned, and he got PISSED, and we were good friends with a long relationship. It was like me calling him a b-word. At least we were able to repair it cuz we were both having a crappy day and had mutual enemies- The customers and crappy employees.

Needless to say, to anyone here- don't ever walk out, no matter how nonsensical your boss is. Like most people, after your boss yells at you and vents, if you just sit there and take it they will lose their steam and maybe even feel a bit embarassed, especially if you do good work. Let them yell and then ASK to go home for the day and try again tomorrow. Or take 5. Just don't walk out.

Don't lose your cool. Remember your the adult and the teacher and the leader. You are the example. How can you expect the kids to have emotional control when clearly you yourself did not have it? You have to have emotional control, even when your boss dosen't have it (I know its not fair). The parents DID shell out major coin so they have expectations, but regardless you are still in a sense their leader. Make them follow along and participate in the lesson if you have to.

Always remember what your responsibilities are. If people have a problem with your lesson plans, emphasize how what your doing is in line with your responsibilities. Regardless of what some ppl here post, the parents are mostly reasonable adults, and will understand things if you show them basic respect and take the time to explain why your doing something. I cannot emphasize enough the use of the phrase "my responsibility" in dealing with Koreans or bosses in general.

Instead of losing your temper or yelling, try disciplining with actions. (this goes for all age groups). At times you have to bust out your inner drill sergeant and instead of yelling give them homework or silence time or make them stand up and sit down at your command. Just dont throw a temper tantrum.

I don't know if your age group was mentioned or not in the contract, but if it was you should have been somewhat prepared.

Well it can be a struggle, but hopefully you can reboot and find a better situation, one more closely to your talents and temperment. Get a good meal, have a drink if it helps, take a walk listen to some music. Look ahead to things, because you are in all likelihood done with where you are.