Korean Job Discussion Forums

[gargaflute]

Hello all

I'm new to Dave's ESL so maybe there's already a few threads about the same subject.

So here we go. I'm applying for a public school job in Soko but in order to do so I need a letter of recommendation from my former employer. But she refuses to do so for some random reason (we're communicating through the foreigner who's replacing me).

We've had some problems while I worked there, which I was oblivious to until she wrote me a warning letter half-way through my contract (I never signed it since nothing made sense). Anyway, we worked things out. I worked extra hours, extra classes, gave up 5 days of vacation etc... I managed to finish my contract in june 2009.

I'm trying to get a letter from one of my coworkers but teachers come and go on a monthly basis there.

Any tips would be appreciated



I worked at GnB English in Guri, Inchang dong

[VFRinterceptor]

[gargaflute]

She wrote a warning letter saying that I wasn't writing any lesson plans, was screaming at the students etc...

In return I wrote a review of her warning letter arguing every single point. I signed the document and I promised to do my best in class. So there I was, working extra hours and giving away some of my vacation days.

Surprisingly she didn't fire me after 11 months. I finished my contract and even received my severance pay and my ticket home.

I forgot to mention that I was the first wegook who ever worked at the school and that her english wasn't that good. So there might have been some miscommunication issues.


BTW, what's the difference between "terminated" and "released" ?

Here's the warning letter with my review;







Mutual agreement

Between 장 경 순 (Sarah Jang) and Me, on Thursday February 12 2009.

This is a review of the attached warning letter issued by 장 경 순 (Sarah Jang) to Me on Tuesday February 10 2009.


Point 1

"Several times the employer had been asking to change the employee's behavior due to damage to the reputation of the school such as discipline the student violently. However he has not improved himself as a teacher so that the school is giving you a final warning letter. If you do not wish to change the attitude then the school will advise you resigning the position."

My point;

-As I remember you told me once to change my behavior (last week, on the 3rd of February 2009) and you did so by yelling at me in front of the classroom. Personally it does not bother me. I spent nearly 4 years in the military and I've been yelled at over and over again. However, doing so in front of the classroom made me lose face (lose leadership) and thus affected my influence on the classroom. I did understand your point I immediately stopped this behavior.



First of all section

A. "The school has witnessed the violent of the teacher to students many time."

- I would like to know what exactly you and the parents consider "violent". I did raise my voice in class but I never physically harmed a student, unlike the other Korean teachers who deliberately hit the the students and make them cry several times a week. I understand that they are part of their culture and I am not, but if my "yelling" is considered more violent than physically hurting the students for the only reason that I am a foreigner, I can only describe this judgement purely discriminatory.

On the other hand, I understand that as a foreign teacher, I should not, in any way, act violently. I will never do so again (raising my voice, expelling them from the classroom and so on) , but I refuse to sign anything saying that I acted violently when other teachers act even more violently and get away with it for the only reason that they are Korean.


B. "The teacher is not allowed to discipline the student violently in any case."

-Like I said, all I did was raising my voice. I find very sad that some Korean parents perceive me raising my voice more violent than a Korean teacher hitting a student. Anyway, I already argued this point and I will do exactly as you told me.



C. "In the case the student is disturbing the class then the teacher shall inform the principal and discuss how to solve the problem."

-That is what I've always been doing but the other teachers are often too busy to intervene. I fully understand this point and I will wait as long as it takes the next time such an incident occur.



Secondly section

A."The school is receiving a lot of complaint from the parents such as screaming at kids and showing a fearful and aggressive face during class."

- See my previous argument regarding screaming/yelling/raising my voice. Once again, I find very unjust that it's fine for a Korean teacher to physically hurt a student when I can't even raise my voice without being warned not to do so. Also, I would like to physically see these "complaints" since it could be anything for me in Korean. Anyhow, I agree with the above statement but I will not sign anything saying that I have been perceived as violent, especially when the only reason is because I am a foreigner.

-As for my "fearful and aggressive face during class"; I've been hired to teach, not to be a clown. On the other hand I understand your point and I will try to smile more but I won't accept in any way this "fearful face" argument as being part of a warning letter as this is a very trivial point that can be interpreted any way someone wants. For example, another parent could perceive me as someone who tries to take advantage of students because I smile a lot and and I am also friendly.



B. "Thus the teacher should be clam in any situation. Even if you get mad with Kids. The teacher shall inform the case to the principal and discuss how to dissolve the problem at any time."

I have no problem with this point and will execute it to the letter from now on.



Thirdly section

A: "The school was asking the teacher for adapting school's method of teaching students but the teacher just ignore that request from the school."

- I'm sorry but this is false. I follow the other teacher's examples to the letter and I've been making a lesson plan for every single class. They are all on the computer's hard drive; every single book, every single level and every single lesson. However, you haven't asked for any teaching plan yet. I know you asked me to submit my weekly lesson plan, which I have been doing so since, every Friday. I know I have failed to do so a few times but to do my own weekly lesson plans I need the other teachers lesson plans which is sometimes not handed to me promptly.

Moreover, a few teachers rushed into the classroom a few times without notice telling me to change the book and the chapter I was suppose to teach, thus completely disregarding my own lesson plan and having me improvise a whole class. I am aware that this is part of my responsibility but I refuse to be blamed for it since it is out of my reach.

You have to understand that it is difficult for me to keep track of every single class at school. It makes it even more difficult when I have to literally improvise a whole class. I never teach the same class more than once a week (beside the ESL class) and this can lead to some confusion.

To cut a long story short, I understand your point and I will submit every single lesson plan you ask me to.


B. "Therefore the teacher should follow the school's teaching methodology with no condition at all even if he hates it."

- See my previous point. I have no problem with that, although it would be nice if you could show me exactly how the teaching methodology works. I went to a workshop at GnB HQ about 6 months ago and have been following their example to the letter. I've also been asking the other teachers how and what I should teach exactly.


C. "If it is necessary the school will adjust school's teaching methodology upon agreement with principal."

- I see no problems here, but I would like to actually see this teaching methodology.



Final point

"If you do not show your improvement in these regards within 15 days, the school will discharge you without notice"

- I cannot accept this last statement since most of the previous points have so far not been clarified.



To sum everything up, I fully understand your condition and I am aware that you have a very demanding career. I will do exactly what you told me but I need more feedbacks to do so. I will follow every single directive you give me and I will do whatever is necessary to keep my position and improve my teaching abilities. I know that I have my flaws but I am fully willing to improve every aspect of my current situation.

I am also aware of the language barrier present at work which does not facilitate our task and I would really like to set everything straight on paper to avoid further complication. However, I also have to point out that none of the software I use to do my work is in english, which is very inconvenient and frustrating, especially when I have to do something without delay. I am more than willing to work but like I said in our previous conversation, I cannot read your mind, you have to tell/ask me and provide me with the required tools.

Furthermore, if you remember correctly, every time you requested something from me I did so immediately without even asking a question.

I hope we can both agree with the above statements.






Me 장 경 순
12/02/2009 12/02/2009


Written by Me on Thursday the 12th of February 2009.

[caniff]

If that is your real name, I'd recommend you delete it out of your post.

[proustme]

I'd recommend the same! Google caches everything on these forums. Just look, your post is already there!

http://www.google.co.kr/search?q=site%3Aforums.eslcafe.com%2Fkorea+sarah+jang

[gargaflute]

Jeez, I wasn't expecting that. Thanks guys.

[Weigookin74]

Any of you having problems with your public schools giving you reference letters? I'm in the country and go to multiple schools. I am in good standing and am well liked by the kids. But, when I ask principles or vp's for reference letters through my coteachers. They all say they will get back to me and avoid writing me one. I am reading a lot about this. Is this some type of conspriracy amongst koreans? Is it soe dumb cultural thing I'm not understanding? I really wish I knew what is going on and why it's so difficult. Are there a lot of you having the same problem here?

[proustme]

[gargaflute]

I did so a few hours ago. Is it still showing my name?

[NatalieIlsan]

You don't need a letter of recommendation from the Korean school. You just need a letter of employment verification. Something short, like:

To Whom it May Concern,
Mr. X worked at X Hagwon from 2001-2002.
Best,
Mr. Kim

Ask for a letter of recommendation from an old professor or a different employer.

[gargaflute]

Thanks NatalieIlsan, I hope it's gonna help.

Weigookin74, I did some research and apparently it's not uncommon in Korea. Here's another thread;

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=172841