Korean Job Discussion Forums

[rookieglobetrotter]

I am nearing the end of my PS contract and let's just say this year the admins have always been testing my patience. I've done my job, kept my head down, and did my best to avoid drama and problems (some came anyway) but I just have a feeling my school is trying to block me from getting another PS job since I said I would not re-sign my contract.

Long story short, in order for me to reply for other PS jobs like GEPIK I need a certificate of employment and a recommendation letter from my previous employer.

I asked my nice coteacher to write me one and she was more than happy to. My main handler found out (though I had already asked her a week ago) and she said that the principal will not allow any coteacher to write a recommendation letter for me. The only thing they will provide for me is a standard proof of employment letter with the work I've done so far. This will be dated February 25, 2009 to the present date, December 10. I am expected to complete my contract February 25, 2010. Is this standard procedure or written in a rule book somewhere (I am in Gyeongnam) or is this pretty much code for if anyone calls we are giving you a bad reference.

I can't read their motives at all. If I apply for GEPIK or another EPIK province will my present employers burn me? Am I stuck with hagwons? Thanks for any help.

[OculisOrbis]

That's BS and could be considered for litigation as it is hindering from gaining employment. a principal has no right to deny a reference letter from another person.

[calicoe]

I feel for you OP. This seems to be like standard BS around here, and yes it is unfair, infantile and completely unprofessional. Do a search around the forum concerning recommendation letters and references, and you will see it is a major problem.

I have a renewal thread going, and have been trying to play this correctly in case I need a reference or letter of recommendation. In a sense, I feel like you are damned if you do (resign), and damned if you don't (not renewed). Either way, it seems like they can slam you.

I have gingerly been trying to prepared the road for possible exit if need be, and make it seem like it is their decision, but will that help my reference, even though I've been professional and reasonable teacher?

This is Korea, and somehow this "up and coming advanced nation" still seems stuck in feudalism. Plain and simple.

[hagwonnewbie]

What is the name of the school?

[cubanlord]

[OculisOrbis]

I totally agree the sheep will cow to whatever the shepherd orders, but since the principal/co-teacher already has some sort of vendetta against the teacher there wouldn't be any harm in bringing it up to the labor board. It's not as if it would make the relationship any worse and it could result in actually getting a letter or even compensation. The very least, it would be some well deserved face-loss for the transgressors.

[TheUrbanMyth]

[Weigookin74]

Why don't we flood the EPIK website with complaints about the pettiness of this? If a phone call to a coteacher can suffice, why shouldn't it. Each one of you file a complaint in a long winded email when you leave to the EPIK website. If you are a good teacher, most kids like you, and most coteachers like you, why should some $h!t for brains authority figure be given the power to deny you? Flood with complaints. Email ATEK, get them to take this cause up too.

[OculisOrbis]

[rookieglobetrotter]

Thanks everyone for the help. What I said was true, but I'm not going to name the school since I work for them for another two months.

I am in Seoul now talking to EPIK coordinators, they will probably try to call my handler on Monday. They support me, but I fear she will have a lot of bad things to say about me.

I can't read my handler at all, but my guess is she follows the board's rules strictly and 2) she has poor English and misinterpets what it says in her little books. Case in point, this weekend I went to a teachers reunion, she kept on insisting it was a teachers training. Some things don't register with her, and even my cool coteacher said that my handler has no idea about personal recommendation letter that they are NOT official documents (which she thinks this is because it has the school letterhead).

Sadly, it will take a higher up to call her out (so she can save face). Both my cool coteacher and I have tried to explain, but she won't budge and more than likely has gradually made the VP dislike me (he can't speak English).

The whole situation is just sad though. A Recommendation letter is supposed to be a small, personal matters but every little thing gets blown up in proportion. Everything for me goes through my coteacher (she's a control freak). I have no say or power in any matter. Any time I ask too many questions or try to prove a point, she gets angry. Is this a dictatorship or a coteaching relationship? Only a few more weeks of this bs unless I lose it first.

[rookieglobetrotter]

I will indeed first say - if she threatens my future employment (I am trying to move somewhere in a different job in Korea with my GF next year) then boy, I am going to need some tips to fight back!

BUT

I think I should be positive though. I had a good relationship with my handler coteacher at the beginning of the year. I feel they perhaps overworked her and she's stressed out in her first year handling the whole English Department and being my handler.

I can see how she's gradually changed from the good witch well to the stressed out one. Her appearance has changed and she disciplines the kids a lot harder (they flick her off now). But its difficult now since she expects me to tell her everything I do, and frankly I don't trust her and just want to follow the contract.

I will try to finish my contract in a professional manner and give her the benefit of the doubt. I will have EPIK or someone else talk to her, and if that doesnt work maybe try to work around her (try my 2nd school, etc).

I was thinking of maybe buying a Christmas gift for next time I see her, (any ideas), but I have a feeling it will get rejected lol.

So here's hoping she doesn't hate me, but is just a little stressed and needs someone she WILL listen to, to tell her something she might have missed . . .

[sojusucks]

That's a bummer, OP. It sounds like a good thing for you that you are leaving that school.

[TheUrbanMyth]

[DosEquisXX]

Hi OP, I also live and teach in Gyeongnam.

I work at two schools: one on Monday-Wednesday (public) and one Thursday and Friday (all-girls private). The private school loves me half to death. They were hounding me mid-semester about getting me to stay another year. I know that I could get a letter of recommendation from the VP or Principal with no problems.

The public school is a different story. If it was the prior administration (one I had for the first semester), I would not have any fear of this. But the new administration has been keeping their distance from me and has been a real pain. They don't seem to like me or care much for me, especially since I am not resigning. Since they know nothing about me and refuse to know anything about me when I have tried to actively reach out to them, I think I'll have a hard time getting a reference from them. From the co-teacher, I should be okay. But I do fear the administration burning me.

Though I wonder what response would exist if one school loved me and the other was not too fond of me. Very interesting. I wonder if one school could give the recommendation and the other provides the proof of employment.

[OculisOrbis]

The letters of reference could come from either school written by any of your co-workers or administration. The certificate of employment would come from neither because, assuming you have a standard PS contract, you are employed by the provincial office of education. The POE office would be the one to issue/sign your certificate of employment.

Actually, rereading your post, you could be getting two certificates of employment - one from the private school and one from your POE.