Korean Job Discussion Forums

[asmith]

I work in a public school as an assistant teacher. I just do what they tell me. That's the secret to my success. I take the word assistant literally. I'm not the main teacher.

When my co-teacher wants me to do something, I just do it--even if I don't agree with it. I avoid conflicts at all costs. I don't have the patience for conflicts.

I just put my time in at the old salt mine. I teach four hours a day--give or take. Then I drive home in my Santa Fe. After that, I watch Lost
on Mega TV. I don't even think about school or my job when I'm home.

This job is so ridiculous that I don't see the point of getting stressed or fighting with the Koreans. I once overheard two foreigners getting into a verbal shouting match over whether or not one should by stickers for the kiddies. WTF?

If you are going to work for EPIC, GEPIK, or SMOE, then do yourself a favor and just be a sissy. Show up, do your job, get your pay.

[Zulethe]

You're not a sissy, you're smart. Don't ever confuse the two.

[fromtheuk]

At my last school, I argued with my co-teacher and felt it was clever.

I have now adopted the same 'pretend-to-be-a-shoe-kisser-by-always-saying-yes-to-all-work-requests' as the OP.

Why? Because it makes life easy. I will use this approach for the rest of my working life in Korea.

OP - This approach is not in my nature and it amuses me to just agree all the time, it makes life a bit easier.

[bobbybigfoot]

[asmith]

[asmith]

[bobbybigfoot]

[Kurtz]

I think there is a very fine line between acting like an assistant and thus not doing much, and total apathy. I'm leaning towards the latter of late.

[ESL Milk "Everyday]

I don't think you're being a 'sissy'... you're just doing what is expected of you.

Nobody's going to get upset with you if you're always prepared, if you know how to politely turn down extra work (and give reasons why), and if you show that you're willing to do whatever you can to make sure your students are learning.

If you are a professional who has been properly trained, I don't think you'll be getting into shouting matches over stickers-- hopefully you'd be able to have a rational, adult discussion about it, and it wouldn't involve saying 'I can't believe you expect me to spend MY money on stickers!'.

Maybe I've just been lucky with my schools, but I think that what lands people in trouble is when they have no idea what they're doing and they act like they own the place.

If there's zero point in getting into conflicts, you're not a sissy if you don't get into conflicts... as someone already said, you're smart. Only stupid people go around actively looking for fights.

[yfb]

[asmith]

[Kurtz]

[ekul]

I agree that there is no point getting into conflicts with your co-teachers, it's pretty unprofessional and doesn't help anyone. However it's when your administration/principle/VP start testing you with certain things you have to man up about it. That is unless you want to be messed around with just for the sole reason that they don't think you care.

[Rory_Calhoun27]

[Cartman]

I haven't arrived in S. Korea yet but I am not surprise to read these posts confirming that the same BS politics exist in the workplace in any part of the world!

You have to smile and play the game. The system has a system within another system Sometimes no one hears your cries.