Korean Job Discussion Forums

Gollum · Joined: 04 Sep 2003 Location: Japan

Just venting my dirt into the already dirty Seoul air...

The General Manager at my former Kindy hagwon, with whom I share a budding friendship, recently left the school a few weeks after I did. She happened to add me to her MSN buddy list, and she popped on and chatted with me last night.

She told me that the owner of the chain, who shared an office with her, wanted me gone from her particular branch because of my "sense of humor and jokes." As it happened, I wasn't fired -- my E-2 was up, and I left for greener pastures. Still, it upsets me a bit to hear I was unliked by the owner. Especially because I was never told a single negative thing like this while I was there. I was only told by other koreans working there that, "the students and mothers really like you."

I really wonder now -- can't a guy have a sense of humor in Korea? I mean, you might wonder if I "over-do it", but I am pretty sure I don't. I hear that the owner also wanted a certain female Korean teacher to move on, because she was "too humorous." That's a trajedy, because she is really a fabulous teacher, and the kids really loved her. Isn't that important? She is gone from the school now, by the way (by her own choice).

That owner is really a "stick in the mud". Her hagwon is successful, and she always seemed to treat me nice, but I would have appreciated knowing my "humor" wasn't welcome.

Now I am wondering if I should avoid any humor around my superiors in Korea in my new job, as well. I always treat the management with respect, however it really bugged the owner that I joked with the General Manager (my friend) too much.

Is it Korean culture never to joke around the boss? Must be. I hear about how paranoid most Korean workers are around their higher-ups in Samsung and Posco.

What about at your school?

Sorry to vent.

Mr. Pink · Joined: 21 Oct 2003 Location: China

I think the following:

1) You post makes ya sound like a Chandlier Bing type of guy...
2) Your boss needs to get laid or some other type of stress relief...
3) You sound like the kind of guy most people want to work with. Jokes help the time pass...sorry to hear you had a bad experience.

4) Keep the jokes coming. Seriously, I joke with my supervisor and co workers ALL the time. It makes for a friendlier atmosphere. Not all Koreans have a stick up their ass.

ratslash · Joined: 08 May 2003

indeed mr pink. this woman sounds too uptight for her own good. let the jokes and funny moments flow...

but...

if you have a staff room and everybody else is quiet, preparing for lessons or whatever, take a step back and think to yourself "hey, is this time that i should be telling the one about the nun, a sheep and a cucumber?"

just because · Joined: 01 Aug 2003 Location: Changwon - 4964

Gollum....
You need 2 things to survive in Korea
1.Good sense of humor
2.Finely tuned sarcasm

Don't loose the humor. To be honest i see a direct correlation between people who live here and there sense of homor. People with a good sense of humor seem to be able to deal with kids a lot easier and brush off some of the logic you have to deal with here.

Also, because Koreans don't use any sarcasm i love just playing with them sometimes. Not in a mean way, just to lighten the mood of the hagwon a bit.

Don't change your methods. Stick with the humor.

As Mr. Pink said

Harpeau · Joined: 01 Feb 2003 Location: Coquitlam, BC

I wouldn't worry about it too much if I were you. You've mentioned 3 out of 3 that have left. 2 that the boss didn'r like because of their "humor". It may have more to do with your boss. If she didn't mention it, don't worry about it. It might be that she just needs a bit of brain candy (prozac). You can't worry about making other people happy. Follow your own heart.

Finally, if I were a boss, I'd probably hire you before I hired your boss.

Cheers!

Harpeau

Ilsanman · Joined: 15 Aug 2003 Location: Bucheon, Korea

If his biggest complaint about you is that you have a sense of humour, he has nothing to complain about.

At my last school, which I worked just for a short time, one of the teachers got a little defensive towards me on the first day, because I am so outgoing, but when I left, she said she will miss me. Apparently, no one else pays her any attention.

I think it's a good thing to have a personality at work, and not just be an english speaking machine.

The Bobster · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

Gollum · Joined: 04 Sep 2003 Location: Japan

Gollum · Joined: 04 Sep 2003 Location: Japan

peppermint · Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2004 8:06 pm Post subject:

I've seen Koreans with minimal English skills use sarcasm. One night last winter I was teaching a class of business men and mid class, my voice kind of dropped out on me.(I had a sore throat) One of my students looked at me with a bit of a grin and said "nice voice!"

I was teaching these guys Side by Side 1, so that'll give you an idea of their level, but we had great rapport.

Gollum, is it possible that the owner felt a little threatened because he didn't understand the jokes, and thought he was losing face?

bellum99 · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: don't need to know

You joke with a boss who doesn't understand the joke and they think you are laughing at them. They lose face and get angry. I never joke around a boss, I speak clearly and make it simple to understand me. It just gets you in trouble when you joke with a boss who's English sucks.

kangnamdragon · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Location: Kangnam, Seoul, Korea

Many Koreans don't understand western humor.

McQwaid · Joined: 18 Jan 2004

I know what you mean with the humour issue. I just landed in Korea a couple of days ago with 9 other teachers from Canada. I'm the youngest at 28. Some are retired teachers or in their thirties. I'm having alot of fun and I'm absorbing everything. The group is so serious and sensitive. I'm using humour all the time, and maybe in a Chandler Bing kinda way as Mr. Pink suggested. They just stare as if they can't bring themselves to laugh. Almost like it's giving in to something. The word "acceptance" comes to mind. I'm positive my jokes are not offensive. They are just quick humorous observations. There is one girl around my age that is laughing all the time though.

I have heard many times on this site that it's not the Koreans ya have to worry about, but the foreigners can be a weird bunch. This might be true in my case. They do seem a little off to be polite.

I think Gollum that all you can be is yourself. I know you had a boss/employee dynamic which can easily happen. So you can Imagine how weird it is to have co-workers being weird. Oh well......

rapier · Joined: 16 Feb 2003

Koreans humor appears to be based on scoffing at someone elses stupidity or misfortune.. so the boss probably feels a bit uneasy/ threatened when faced with it from subordinates.

Ghostinthemachine · Joined: 22 Jun 2003

The Bobster wrote