Korean Job Discussion Forums

[snowysunshine]

This may be long, sorry. I'm having a bit of trouble with my co-teacher, and would really like some advice on what I should do.

When my CT first came and started working with me she was cool. The last couple of months have not been so great, though. I just passed most of it off as stress regarding an open class for the VP and principal. We did butt heads a few times about the schedule of the open class. My understanding was that she was planning it all, but she'd come to me and ask for my input, I'd give it to her, and then she'd forget about it, and then come to me again. So, I let her know I was confused about what we were doing. See, for all of our classes, I plan everything, and she often just stands around in a daze. Sometimes she translates things, often when it's not necessary, or at strange times. The day of the open class we had a schedule made, it was too long already, but she kept coming up to me with more things she wanted to do, so we had a bit of a disagreement again. So, we had the open class, where she acted like she's a huge part of the class, and did all this showing off for the VP. Once it was finished, she was not at all interested in teaching the next two classes. She went back to doing what she usually does, well, except for the one class she sat in front of her computer, with her back to the students, and didn't bother doing anything in class. I was so angry.

Then, the rest of the week, she hardly said boo to me at all, about anything. She was away from the classroom, until about 5 minutes into class, would stand around all class, sometimes interrupting my lessons, and then would leave again as soon as the students were gone.

On Monday, when classes started, she stormed in, started rummaging through my books, and started writing the lesson name, and objective on the white board, as well as the three activities. I removed one of them, stating that we wouldn't be doing that. Really, how would she know what we were doing? She doesn't plan anything! She stated that she'd do it after class was finished. During class I informed a student that if he didn't stop being a distraction, that I would send him outside. She yelled at me in class that I'm not allowed to send students out of the classroom. When that class was finished, and it was obvious that she was going to keep the students for a very long time after class was finished, I went to speak with my main head teacher. I was so frustrated. Well, she told me not to go to my next class, but to stay and speak with her, and so I did. On my way to the next class, I saw that my CT was on a rampage, looking for me and my main head teacher. She had told the principal and the administration office that I wasn't in the class. Then, when my head teacher suggested that she give her side of the story to her, she refused, and wanted to go directly to the principal. (See, they are buddies... ) Well, apparently, it was her mistake not to be making lesson plans, and my mistake not to be following her. I asked my main teacher to find out what I was to be following, but haven't heard back yet.

Since this event, my CT refuses to speak with me. She communicates through written notes, or messages, even if she's directly in front of me. The only time she did speak was when she came in and told me that her and the principal have decided that we will split the class in two, and she will teach one group for 20 minutes, and I will teach the other and then we'll switch. When I went and asked her who would be responsible for teaching what, she ignored me. When I asked her again, she cut me off and told me she was busy. So, while I'm trying to fit the lessons in the book into 20 minutes, twice for each class, she's over in another room showing videos and letting the students play with toys.

I don't know if I can deal with this situation for much longer. My VP has been out of the office, so I haven't had a chance to talk to her, and my principal doesn't speak any English at all, or at least hasn't to me, so talking to him seems to be out.

What should I do?

[ChilgokBlackHole]

[sulperman]

My advice? What comes naturally after a few years. Just go with the flow. Don't get upset about these minor problems. Don't get attached to your plans. Flow. You are a little piece of algae in the steam. Flooooooooow. If you do all will be well. If not, you are in for a world of annoyance.

Co-teacher does this? Whatever, who cares? Co-teacher does that? No big deal. You are trying to turn people who are on the same team (and who most likely have a lot more classroom experience than you) against each other. Unnecessary! You can do whatever you want. SNIP it!

You gotta remember, you are the newbie here, even if you've been at the school 9 months, a year and three months, whatever. Just ask them what they want you to do, then do whatever you want! Make em happy. No big deal.

Just go with the flow. Key to success in Korea, and probably anywhere else.

[thegadfly]

snowy,

From the sounds of things, you were able to plan your lessons and teach your classes without any input from your CT -- so I would suggest going back to doing that. It sounds like you need to plan for much shorter classes, and may not get nearly as much done as you used to, but none of that is your fault.

It sounds like your CT got absolutely reamed, and it sounds like it was deserved. Consider her a wounded animal, and stay the hell out of her way. None of what you are describing is right or proper or good or professional, and she is wrong for her behavior...but if you are in the crosswalk when a car hits you, you may be in the right, but you are still gonna get splattered all over the pavement.

She wants to distance herself from you (splitting the class) and that is actually going to work in your favor when she crashes and burns...though actually it sounds like she has ALREADY crashed, and is in the process of burning to a cinder. Stay away, or else get splashed with her napalm....

It sounds like she is self-destructing as a teacher, and you really aren't in a position to help her...but with her hostile attitude toward you, and your lack of strong support at the school, you ARE in a position to GET hurt if you stay too close as she spins out of control. Cover yer own adze, keep up on your side of the class, and prepare for an eventual confrontation. It will either blow over within a month, or she'll get canned and replaced within a month (well, that is my prediction, at least)....

Good luck, and keep yer head down!

[tanklor1]

Wow..the first half of that story sounds like my current deal. As someone already said going with the flow (No matter how irritating it can be sometimes) is always better than saying "Hey WTF are you doing?" I've had entire days swept from under me regardless of actual lessons. I've had classes completely taken over and others completely left up to me. I've been under-minded by the slightest mistake and ignored at whenever I actually get something right. I fully understand that I don't have a leg to stand on in the totem pole that is that school which is why I'm putting up with it. Korean offices and Public School in particular are all about one thing: survival.

The number one lesson that I've learned over my YEARS here is very simple: Stay off the radar. If you stay off the radar they tend to leave you alone and let you be but once you open up and complain you're on the radar and once you're on that damn radar there ain't no getting out of it. Not unless you switch schools.

[snowysunshine]

Thanks for the advice, everyone! I will have to learn how to just keep my head down, and get through the rest of my contract as quietly as possible.

[balzor]

I would like to mention that the coming in a couple mins late and leaving immediately ater class, is not abnormal. My Co-teachers are all great(so far) and they do this as well. most of them have a bunch of work to do and some are on the fourth floor when my class in on the 1st so they book it out of there. I agree with the rest, my Co-teacher in my open class was so freaked out the week leading up to it that she was making me nervous, so I told her, just relax, let me do the teaching and you just help me with control and translate when you think it is necessary. I took all the pressure on me and we killed. Sounds like she got punked for not letting you teach the class like she is supposed too

[Fishead soup]

[lukas]

[son of coco]

[Fishead soup]

[Zulethe]

[ThingsComeAround]

wish I could stay OTR

my co-teacher has their lil desk next to mine on the fifth floor in the classroom!

I can't even fart without it being noticed

[kabrams]

I find that for many of us, we're actually 80% ignored and 20% forced to participate in mindless group harmony exercises like getting completely ****faced at the local samgyapsal place.

What I've learned in my soon to be over time here is that a lot of our co-teachers are passive aggressive responders to life, and in particular, to us.

They have a lot of work, and instead of the system changing to accommodate this workload and to lift some of the burden off our co-teachers, the establishment ignores the issue.

Instead of giving our Korean co-teachers training that will actually help them interact with their non-Korean coworker/assistant/NT or whatever they're calling us these days, the establishment ignores the issue.

So we are seen as a burden, a reminder that we are doing the job that they have been told they can't do. We are the "assistants" but act like we are actual teachers. We usually have less training, but sometimes are just naturals at teaching. We don't have as much work, and usually don't come in on Saturdays. We are usually much younger, with no kids and a free life.

Instead of seeing the positives of having a Native English speaker in the classroom, it becomes an "us" v "them" thing.

How many of these problems arise because of cultural differences? A lot more arise because there is a difference in what they tell our co-teachers, and what they tell us.

They write in our contracts that we will be co-teaching with our co-teachers. They write in the co-teacher's contract almost the complete opposite. They call us assistants, but then insist in their guidebooks it says we teach 80% of the class.

"Keep your head down" and "go with the flow" are good methods.

If you try to fight this system with no support it's going to cause you more headache than is necessary and you are going to get burnt out.

Believe me, I know!

I'm not trying to write a manifesto, I'm just realizing that a lot of people who I thought were "bitter" and "confused" on Dave's were actually write.

Keep your head down, keep your spirits up. Eventually, the system will have to change.



ETA: "right" not "write". LOL.

[Fishead soup]