Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Goku]

I got a great suprise today.

The Vice Principal talked to me about 4 things I need to improve upon


1) Get to work on time, my bad, I'm always a bit late 5-10 minutes. Usually I spend too much time in the morning logging into World of Warcraft and updaing Auction house (nerd talk so probably a handful of people will know what I mean)

2) Wearing slippers, This is just kind of hard because I wear a pants a shirt and a tie, and wearing slippers doesn't exactly complete the ensemble... It looks so unprofessional ug. But I'm wearing them atm and they feel good..

3) Be more passionate. I'm capricious sometimes I'm excited. Sometimes I'm a bit on the drone side. Either way, kind a BS thing that because he's VP he just has to say it. I totally understand that.

4) Learn Korean culture. This kind of came out of the blue for me. lol... If I need to be critized, I don't exactly think this is a valid concern. But somehow, I feel a lot of FT's might be critized for this kind of thing.

So now I ask to you guys. Have you been hit with similar critisms? How did you react? Did you just do them (obviously I will for 1+2)? or did you find ways around them?

[Fishead soup]

I'd be most concerned about #1 and #3. The rest is just typical VP talk.

#1: This is just one of those things Koreans get uptight about. It doesn't matter if you don't teach untill 11 they want you in the door at whatever.
#2: This is just that typical" When in Rome" VP's love this kinda stuff makes them feel really important
#3: This ones the most vague. Ask specifically what he wants. Whether he would like you to be more animated when you teach. In other words does he want you to do more of the dancing monkey act. As indicated by your avator. Or more involved with things like afterschool programs.
#4 Typical VP talk take it with a grain of salt.

[Straphanger]

[cmr]

[lifeinkorea]

[moosehead]

[meangradin]

I have a suggestion in regards to the slippers: buy some "Crocs." They are now available in Korea, they come in huge sizes (I'm a 300) and they are very comfortable, not to mention, relatively stylish.

[Xuanzang]

Don't they all wear slippers though?

[some waygug-in]

I bought a set of slip-on shoes that I only wear indoors.

I don't know if shoes is the right word, they have no back, but have a full toe.

They are more comfortable and look more professional than the standard school slippers.


About the culture thing, some principals can be real arse-grinders about that. The way some have dealt with it is to learn a bit of Korean language.

There are some simple video lessons on youtube or a begginner site
here: rki.kbs.co.kr/learn_korean/lessons/e_index.htm
This usually satisfies them.

The other points have been dealt with by other posters.

[D.D.]

[ekul]

I have a pair of normal dress shoes that I just keep at school in my little cupboard and walk to school in trainers. I don't see why it has to be slippers only, I always thought it was an indoor/outdoor thing. Anyway I've never been pulled up on it before.

This post makes me quietly chuckle on the inside, especially because of your avatar and the fact you're late to school because you need to update auctioneer. You've been told you're boring, come late to school each day, don't have indoor shoes and apparently do not understand Korean culture (I can forgive that one).

[Goku]

Thanks for the responses guys. Actually all of them I think were helpful.

The VP is well known for his harshness. He's usually yelling at parents or teachers everyday. Other co-teachers don't like him, but he's not such a bad guy really. I'm just glad he didn't chew me out. He actually treated me quite respectfully.

Anyways

The being late and the shoes. I can deal with that. Totally my fault. Don't get me wrong. I'm hard working and pretty punctual for most things. But the biggest reasons I don't like showing up on time is because I have to deal with a horde of kids calling me handsome and wanting to give me high fives... The WoW of AH thing actually now that I think about it isn't so frequent.

The shoes, Imma get somethign crocish like you suggested. Actually I have been switching shoes. the problem is they look identical, the indoors and outdoor ones. I'm not sure if his issue is that he's mistaken, or it actually has to be indoor shoes. Either way, I'm not going to argue and just wear the damn slippers. Maybe I'll sock to him a little and get pink ones that look bunnies.

A few of you mentioned the passion. Well, honestly I think he's clearly mistaken on that. I'm no candy, games, and stickers teacher anymore. When I did that, YEAH it was great. I was happy, the kids were happy, the co-teacher was excited. Was fun, but when I tested the English on all the kids, no on remembered a damn thing. I was so dissapointed. Now I run the classroom like a normal Korean teacher and the results have been more than satisfactory. So I'll ignore his comments about passion and like Fishead said, the dancing monkey act (lol). I absolutely refuse to go the candy route anymore... It hurts because honestly I liked doing it that way since these kids are so stressed... not to mention the huge amount of love (if you want to call it that) from the students. But I have some principals regarding the kids learn something for life. So I won't budge and go back to games. And let's be hoenst, I can't be 100% all the time. Sometimes I'm just tired.

The cultural thing. Well I told all the co-teachers about it and they all agreed it was kind of out of the blue and completely wrong about me. It didn't make sense really. Now while I respect my VP actually... I couldn't really understand what he meant. I talk to my co-teachers it's usually something about me interested in Korean culture. So he probably just doesn't understand what we're talking about. I think you had it right waygukin when you said it's about learning the language. I think that's what he meant. I've been planning to learn some more Korean for teaching purposes. And so I can buy something other than bibimbap from gimpab naras....

[bundangbabo]

[Goku]

[bundangbabo]