Korean Job Discussion Forums

[SSA]

I work for EPIK and I requested to re-sign for another year but move to a new school in a different town within Gangwon-Do.

My current school had to fill out an evaluation and yesterday my CT said that my scores were low (or below) average. I asked what they evaluated on and was given a vague response that it was teaching, attitude, relationship with coworkers and something else. My co teacher does not attend ANY of my classes, she hasnt since I started in Sept 2008. The principal has been in the school for 10 weeks only and the vice-principal works in a different school completly. I asked how these three people came together to evaluate me when not one of them knows me.

I am very hurt to hear this negativity about me because I had no idea of this for the last 9 months. I am polite and decent to my coworkers and attend dinners and outings when I can. The students seem to like me although English ability is very low and the school has only 35 pupils (middle school). I just wish they had given me feedback during the year so I could have improved.

My question is are EPIK likely to not want to keep me on based on this evaluation? I am working on a TEFL course to improve my teaching abilities and I had 5 years work experience with kids before coming to Korea.

Im not desperate for this job but wont hear about the outcome of this for another month and I feel I should start applying for jobs back home!

Any advice?

[D.D.]

Don't worry about them. They like my teaching but they have some serious things that I have done. Here is some examples

1. I dont eat kimchi so maybe I don't like Korea. 2. I didn't improve my Korean after the start of my second contract. 3. I didn't say hello to some teachers some days. 4. I don't go to all the dinners. 5. I expect the students to learn English. 6. I expect the students not to talk in class when I am talking. 7. I told a teacher that I drank whiskey one Saturday night. 8. I asked them not to cancel too many of my classes.

I am not perfect but I tried my best and didn't go to dinners because I was sitting alone with nobody talking to me. I quit volleyball because I was placed in the back with no rotation and they cut me off for all my shots. I just eat what I like and told them it was nothing personal. So many male teachers show up hung over but I am a bad guy in the christian teachers minds because they heard I drink whiskey on some weekends. I say hello about 1000 times a day, but I am rude because I don't see some people.

In other words dont take it personally unless you were doing something really wrong.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

If they like you they'll keep you no matter how crap your teaching is. If they don't like you they'll try to dump you no matter how great your teaching is. It really doesn't get much simpler.

[Otherside]

[Otherside]

[Rteacher]

I would think that even if there's a negative review from one school, you could still reapply for an EPIK job through a savvy recruiter who presents your side of the story.

[SSA]

I would just like to clarify that I do not want to stay at the same school or even in the same area. I requested on the original renewal form that I wanted to move. The evaluation forms get sent to the POE where they are reviewed by a committee and I guess at that point they decide who they will give a new contract to. I think my issue with this whole situation is that while I do no more or no less than other foreign teachers with regards to my interaction with the Korean teachers (I have spoekn to others and read what people have said). But i feel that like someone said its about if they like you or not and it has nothing to do with my teaching. As the school already knew I wanted to move anyway why did they have to give a low evaluation based on nothing by people who never see me (the principal) and never watch me teach (co teacher).

Thank you for the comments everyone. This who thing has left a sour taste in my mouth but I must wait until July when the renewal applications go through a committee.

[Mr_Anderson]

[andrew]

.....

[chris_J2]

Yu_Bum_suk wrote:

[Pink Freud]

[Boodleheimer]

if you ever do 'teacher training' in korea, you'll learn that they just like to criticize other teachers. they snipe. they like it. ignore it.

(oo! and ask your co-teacher what her evaluations were have been like. ask for copies. 'to learn from' or something. it doesn't matter if they're in korean, you have friends who can translate.)

[The Gipkik]

It is an interesting paradox. During teacher's college, Korean teachers (I am told) do complete a short practicum--something like one month. Yes, they are observed. No, they aren't criticized, unless they are doing something that doesn't follow the master plan or are just plain hopeless. If they are criticizing you, it has nothing to do with your teaching--again, unless you are truly hopeless. Teaching here should be very, very easy. It's about relationships!

[chachee99]

[Ilsanman]

I wonder if this isn't the principal's way of refusing to give you a raise. He can agree to 'reluctantly' resign you without a raise. More samgyeopsal parties for staff coming out of your budget.