Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sileni]

Yes, I'm in the market for a job in South Korea. Got a question:

My appearance is pretty standard - slender 6'1" Irish/English-looking fellow, 29 years old. However, I'm missing most the fingers on my right hand (from birth). Judging from what I've read about some employers in Korea, how will this bode for me? Could it cause an "unexplained" loss of job, for example, if some kids freak out or are uncomfortable with it in class?

I just got through teaching in Ukraine for almost 2 years. Although I know it initially made some students very curious, it had z-e-r-o bearing on my employment or quality of interaction. No one (with the exception of my Ukrainian girlfriend's close-minded grandparents) really cared, or even noticed after a while.

but in South Korea.... how will it affect me, employment-wise? I've never had to consider it being a problem until now, when I read how superficial some directors can be.

My personality is usually a big ball of fun and laughs, for the record.

Very interested in your thoughts on this one.

[bassexpander]

Wow... tough question.

I honestly think your experiences might be mixed. Personally, I think it would be a great thing for the kids to have you as a teacher, but it's hard to know what some bosses might think. The main reason is because hagwon bosses really want to make everyone think they've got some superstar teacher coming (so they can sell the idea and make money). What often happens is that, in their first year here, many teachers encounter difficulties due to these high expectations.

If I were you, I would just be up-front and honest about your hand. Make sure the school knows about it (and that the recruiter tells them). It doesn't make a hill-of-beans difference in your teaching ability, but it's hard to know how a boss might take it. It's not unheard of, for example, for a hagwon to show up a the airport to pick up a new teacher, see that he/she is black, and then promptly disappear -- leaving the teacher stranded. That is why they always ask for a photo.

I honestly don't think it'd be a problem with a public school job, but a hagwon might be different. Just be up-front about it with everyone involved in the hiring process who might need to know.

On another note, If you do work here, you'll have kids (and maybe some adults) constantly asking you about your hand, and if they're rude little kids, they might poke fun at it.

Sad to say, but you being Irish might be a worse thing right now. There are so many North Americans flooding the jobs right now (preferred accent) it seems the job market is quite tight.

Don't give up... keep trying.

[sileni]

I am only Irish by ethnicity, for the record (I am completely American).

Looks like I'll let everyone know, then. Cheers for that.

I hope it doesn't factor in because I can basically guarantee that we'll have a blast in class, but obviously there's no way to convince people sometimes.

[nottina]

Whenever I see someone with any type of deformity, almost everyone around points and or laughs at that person.

You are probably used to having people stare, but this is much more blatant.

[CrikeyKorea]

I wouldn't tell them anything, if you tell them then it could easily be misinterpreted, and then when the recruiter tells the school and they think, hmmm, i guess be better go with the bloke that hasn't said he had anything wrong with his hand for safety's sake, even though it is irrelevant.

I would try for a public school job, coz they aren't gonna fire u for the sake of appearances, and so long as u don't care about people talking about it, or talking about it yourself I would imagine it would be the best bet.

[Chambertin]

Depends on the employer.

We have fat, pierced, tattooed, bearded, and other here in town.
No idea what to say other than it depends on who signs the check in the end.

[waseige1]

I know a guy here in Busan in EPIK that has severely deformed hands. He seems to be doing fine. I don't know if he revealed it or not. Next time I see him I'll ask him.

[mimis]

[ruffie]

[tremendous]

I taught a kid last year who had no hand. I wasn't repulsed by it. I didn't walk out of the classroom and quit my job. It wasn't a factor. Why is it a problem the other way around?

[Chet Wautlands]

I agree with what Bass said about making it known before you come over. Back home I would never give someone this advice, but Korea isn't back home. It's possible that a hagwon boss might fire you because of it. That's just how things work over here a lot of the time.

Public school would definitely be your best option.

As far as kids pointing, you've lived abroad before and you're willing to do it again, so I doesn't seem like you let it hold you back.

[mimis]

[nathanrutledge]

I have a kid with a deformed hand. He wears a glove over it so that the other kids don't notice it. Being unaware of this, I asked him why he was wearing a single glove last year and he scurried off as my co teacher chastised me for bringing it up. It's one thing to be old and disabled, another thing to be young and disabled. Becoming disabled through life vs. being born that way. If anything, I'd come up with an awesome story to make the boys jealous.

[Skippy]

I have now started on my Rules about Korea.

Skippy Rule of Korea #2 Skippy's Rule of Korea #2 - It doesn't matter how you look as long as it is GREAT.

Koreans are beauty obsessed. Of course that does not mean they will not make allowances for imperfections. Fat teachers get hired but they will have a harder time.

Skippy's Rule of Korea #3 - Perception is everything here in Korea.

God forbid your students find out your gay! Before you know it your are labeled a pervert, possible child molester or a child molestor, Japanese, satanist, etc. You could be and look normal as person in a Rockwell painting but if they find that one thing that messes with their perception of you - boy - it can blow up.

You might have some luck with older students - Adults, University, maybe highschool students. But in the end I think most hagwons and schools will be all freaked out abut the hand.

I think I heard a story here on Dave's. That for many months a teacher worked at a school. She had one disability she was missing one leg, thru she had an artificial leg. She walked a little funny and always wore pants. The students and I think the school did not know about the leg. She was an OK maybe even great teacher. SO one day they find out she has one leg. God the stink raised. I think in the end she was let go. Once again I repeat this might not be true. Or I told it wrong. But it relates the basic concept of the problem you will face in Korea.

[Buffalo]