Korean Job Discussion Forums

tomato · Last edited by tomato on Fri Dec 04, 2009 9:44 pm; edited 4 times in total

Two weeks ago, four potentates observed my classroom.
Last week, I was informed that my contract would not be renewed as a result of that observation.
No reason was given. I was surprised, because I thought I deported myself as a perfect gentleman.
I have two ideas:

1. They thought I was teaching a lesson as I usually teach a lesson.

What they saw was a script written by the sixth grade teacher and rehearsed on the day before.
He went all out to impress the visitors with what a dazzling show he could put on.
The first and second grade classes had animal masks, so he borrowed a tiger mask and a bear mask for role playing, even though he never tied tigers and bears in on a lesson about birthday parties and Thanksgiving dinners.

2. They couldn't understand that a foreigner could learn Korean and not speak Korean in Entglish class.

When I met the visitors in the hallway, I said, "안녕 하세요" out of sheer haibt.
One of the visitors pointed a stern finger at me and said, "English!"

After the so-called lesson, there was a meeting in which the visitors spoke Korean to each other and spoke English to me.
One of the visitors spoke to me about the importance of the students hearing the second language.
I replied that they should address that concern to the homeroom teachers, not to me.
I try to keep the class all in English, but the homeroom teachers insist on translating, even though I have asked them not to.

Perhaps I was not diplomatic enough by implying that any Korean teacher could be less than perfect.
But now that I got canned, I am trying to be more diplomatic.
Now I am printing this letter for my four visitors:

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

Am I the only one who gets Korean as jumbled ascii symbols?

Also what is the point of that quote? Absolute waste.

pusky · Joined: 03 Jun 2009

that letter is nice and all but within the first few lines you throw your co teacher under the bus. They will stop reading there and still can you anyways.

It really doesn't matter if it is his fault or not. The ability of calling people out to their superiors is not a desirable work trait here.

proustme · Joined: 13 Jun 2009 Location: Nowon-gu

Yea, I get the ASCII symbols too.

ED209 · Joined: 17 Oct 2006

Was the reason actually stated that it was your observation lesson which made them decide to 'let you go'? What went wrong?

Who made this decision? The POE.

If the decision is from outside your school then you're not going to get them to change their minds. Also most teachers are let go due to poor evaluations by their co-teachers. This can happen when a teacher has simply been around too long and they want a fresh face(yeah I know:roll:).

Find out if it's possible to transfer to another school. You may have to apply to another POE though, or go for a private elementary school.

It also may not help to blame you co-teacher for doing something ever single co-teacher does at an observation.

The rest of your letter will probably fall on deaf ears as it has little to do with how POE's view NETs. You could be the best teacher that POE had but if they want you out, you're out.

I'm sure though you can set yourself up with a sweet gig after this. Take a break and study your options, then get cracking.

ED209 · Joined: 17 Oct 2006

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

tomato · Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 10:01 pm Post subject:

VanIslander · Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 10:06 pm Post subject:

more than one waygook teacher has stated that koreans are less than thrilled at their korean fluency: tomato got to see it in action

to replace him they'll hire a wide-eyed newbie with neither training nor experience, someone who knows their place in the hierarchy

it's a group culture: the individual that stands out gets squashed like, like a tomato

tomato (whom i thought was a girl a couple of years ago but he set me straight long ago, like in '05 i believe), do you think a self-confident pimping of how good you are along with a statement that they are making a mistake is gonna win them over?

anyways, you'll find as good or better - think of this as an opportunity to move on

good luck whatever

cruisemonkey · Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 10:09 pm Post subject:

tomato,

Too bad you didn't get that TaLK position at W1,500,000/mo. (and slept on the floor of the kitchen... down on Mr. Kim's pig farm) to learn Korean.

tomato · Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 10:13 pm Post subject:

tomato · Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 10:16 pm Post subject:

nautilus · Joined: 26 Nov 2005 Location: Je jump, Tu jump, oui jump!

The real reason, Tomato... is that they're disposing of foreign males now because they can easilly be replaced with young females.
Recruiters are calling schools telling them they have multiple willing american blondes waiting to start work at a moments notice.
Females are more compliant and most importantly, they don't steal away korean women.

cruisemonkey · Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 10:37 pm Post subject:

conrad2 · Joined: 05 Nov 2009

Let this be a lesson to everyone. I have read many of Tomato's posts, and I can tell he is very competent and cares immemsely about is teaching. However this is Korea and and the level of instruction is not the foremost concern for Korean teachers and administrators. I have been in the same situation as Tomato because I too criticized my coteachers for being absolutely clueless in how to best teach. We are all expendable in the eyes of Koreans and dont you forget it.