Korean Job Discussion Forums

[is so delicious]

I've never heard of a co-teacher like this. I'm not sure I've ever met a human being like this. If this lady were a character in a movie, you'd say the character was over-the-top. My co-teacher is simply the most miserable, anti-social, bitter person in the history of the world. She is shut off to everyone. She doesn't know how to interact with people, or she simply chooses not to. At first I tried to make small talk with her... ask her where she's from, how long she's been at the school, etc. She simply ignores me... acts as if I didn't say anything. When she arrives, she doesn't say hello. When she leaves she doesn't say goodbye. She often ignores me, even if I ask her a job-related question. I know... it's hard to picture, who does this... she does. I literally have never seen her smile. She has never said anything to me that wasn't work-related, and that only came in the form of criticism, never encouragement or any kind of compliment, and of course she was totally condescending.

I immediately noticed she'd get very flustered and annoyed if I asked her anything. She'd roll her eyes and her body language ranged from acting like she'd already answered the same question seventeen times to acting like answering would severely impact her life. That came to a head quickly... she started talking down to me, started raising her voice saying, 'I already told you,' or 'look around the classroom,' (if I couldn't find a book or document), or 'I'm really busy... why are you always asking me things?' We had it out a bit, as I firmly explained to her that she was my co-teacher and it was her job to help me. She claims she's really busy and basically wouldn't stoop so low as to help me... but as far as I can see, and as far as the other teachers have told me, she simply goes to each school in the area (this is an independent company running an after-school program) and sits in the back of the room, frowning and looking at her phone and drinking tea.

Okay... to her defense, she seems to call the parents of a student if he or she is absent. I know this because last Friday, after correctly marking the attendance of fifty children over a hundred days on the the job, I accidentally marked someone absent who had only come late, and was rewarded with a text saying: "Why did you put an x for Jerry? How can you embarrass me like that??" What a sweetie.

Another thing is that the hierarchy at the company is hazy, if not nonexistent. I teach by myself four times a week, so maybe I shouldn't be calling her my co-teacher. But she isn't my boss, either. She is supposed to be my liason, however, and... remember how she kept dropping hints that it was really awful of me to ask her questions? And keep in mind, I hate this s---t and find it incredibly awkward and am basically intimidated to the point where I never ask her for anything unless I absolutely have to... anyway, she took it a step further and actually told me I'm not allowed to e-mail her or text her questions- I'm only allowed to ask her things when she visits my class, which is once a week. The other day I called her and asked her something, and she moaned: "I don't know," and hung up.

She never lifts a finger to help with the students. She never offers to translate, never says a word in class between occasionally yelling at a kid to be quiet. The students, of course, are too sweet and innocent to realize how bitter some people turn out, and they try to talk to her... she seems to respond with the complete minimum, but at least she doesn't ignore them like she often does me.

Anyway... I'm obviously just ranting here. I doubt many of you have made it this far. I'm not really looking for advice, because I already have thought it over a lot and have come to realize the best thing, the only thing, is to just do what she asks and not worry about the rest. Though obviously I am dying to tear her apart, and part of me really wants to try to get her fired. But I'm afraid to mess with her... she could report me as a crappy or problematic teacher and get me fired probably easier than I could her. Though I'd be the third teacher to fail to finish his contract in a row, in the past year alone (I heard they bailed because of her), and I doubt that would be good for the company.

Mostly I'm just wondering... has anyone ever had to teach with robot set on 'aloof, hateful b itch' mode??

Oh, and I'm really not one of those constantly whining teachers with massive persecution complexes. In fact I think this lady is undeniably poor at her job, and I truly hate her, but I think it's simpler to swallow my pride and keep my opinions to myself, so I haven't whined to my recruiter or the head boss (in the event I find out who that is).

Anyone who works in the Gireum Station area for a company called In The World... feel free to post so people know I'm not exaggerating or just being a baby.

[jmuns]

[I'm no Picasso]

I had one of these last year. Just ride it out. Develop a good relationship with the students and your other co-teachers and ignore her and her attitude problem. At the end of the year, the school and your co-workers will be just as eager to get rid of her as you are. She'll move on to torture another school and you'll be free of her.

[dirving]

[is so delicious]

As far as I know, she's been there for a while. But I agree... ride it out... then trash her to anyone who'll listen as soon as my flight home as been reimbursed and hope it wakes them up. I'm usually not quick to wish ill will upon people, but I think this lady is just a horrible person and I hope she gets fired.

[Xaiko]

I hear a some Korean co teachers hate the foreign teachers because we get paid like twice as much as them. My Korean co teacher is lazy and never does anything but she keeps the kids in check and dresses sexy. So I dont care. A lot better than when I was alone going crazy with kids bouncing off the walls and kicking me

[VFRinterceptor]

After my last Korean coteacher saw how much I spent on my macbook, she hated me, from that moment forward.

[PatrickGHBusan]

I am sure there may have been other reasons that some laptop...but hey who knows....

[Mr. Pink]

Sounds like she needs to get laid.

My personality wouldn't work with someone like that. I would end up getting into a fight with them, or I would say something that would make them want to fight with me. Either way, the problem would get fixed, or one of us would be looking for a new job.

One side effect of living in Korea too long is I get blunt. I'd just come out and say: why do you hate me? Then take it from there.

[I'm no Picasso]

[winterfall]

lol sounds like half my co-teachers. the rest are worse. Just ride it out and transfer at the end of the year.

[some waygug-in]

[caribmon]

I have never talked to a co-teacher. there is no reason to talk with them. you go to class, talk to the students about things, and go home at the end of the day. who cares about them? they are teaching the kids phrases like, "The peoples are look at the pagee" and that's considered legit.

[PigeonFart]

You can't expect her to change. For whatever personal reason she's like that (she's autistic, she has cancer, her friend was raped, her baby died), you can't make her change.

However, when she refuses to help you with WORK RELATED issues, then she's crossed a line. Call her out on that. Tell her she's being unprofessional and an absolute disgrace.

Although i do acknowledge that you're alone in a public school and don't have the usual channels to deal with this situation, thus putting you in a vulnerable position.

Maybe write a letter to SMIC or EMIC or whoever those public school organisations are. I'm glad i don't have to deal with this, it'd be awful. I feel for you i really do.

[dorian_gray]