Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Summer Wine]

This is not a site to bitch and moan, but rather a place to laugh at the certain absurdities that you encounter in a school.

Today, eager and willing to teach grade 1 elementary I hurry pompously to class. On the way, I pass a student from my class who is really puzzled as to where I am going. I explain that he better hurry as he is going to miss class. He explains to me that there is no class and why am I intent on going there. (Its all in korean -so I am a little fuzzy on why he believes it, as ,my korean is pretty basic to non existant). I head up there full of piss and vinegar and what do you know, he's right, there is no class.

Tomorrow is the day for middle school exams for my 6th grade students. Fair enough, they must need absolute peace and quiet for our diligent 6th grade students to study. I look next door into our 6th grade class and not one is studying, its just fun and games in there. The 6th grade teacher is in the teachers room eating cake and the students are taking advantage of that.

So I am confused, maybe I didn't quite understand the issue. So I start looking for any teacher who can answer as to whether I have a class today and low and behold there is not one teacher available from any of the classes I teach today. (we dont have a secret teachers room, I checked). Finally, I get confirmation from the 4th grade teacher that in fact all my classes are cancelled today and tomorrow.

I almost laughed out loud, my 6th grade students are having play time and classes are cancelled so that they can study. Its such a funny situation here. It definately brought a smile to my face. Though its why I do like my country school. Even my 5th grade teacher mentioned to me the other day that it was quite a shock for him coming to the school from a city school as the students are so low level and dont care about studying.

So what experiences have you had that brought a smile to your face?

[tanklor1]

Ain't enough time or beer in the world, man.

[southernman]

My first co-teacher got invited to Korean English Teachers training course for 6 months. All expenses paid, living away from home, quite a few ex pat teachers involved. For her last month she and her classmates went to the States to live and study on campus

All up, the cost must have been huge.

She got back to her new school and is now teaching 4th grade, so she only teaches one English class a week.


At my new school the new Principle got all of the children's blood pressure, heart rate etc checked. He's an ex P.E teacher. That's a good idea I thought. However, as I found out, the Principle didn't do it for anything proactive or as a positive way to send letters to parents about their children's health.

It turned out that any class that had to many unhealthy kid's, the Homeroom Teacher had to go to the Principle's room and get a telling off.

[Vagabundo]

In principle, I believe in the principal's principles on the matter since he's the principal official on the premises

I also believe in the principle of earning interest on my principal sitting in a bank.

Those are my personal principles, I don't know about my principal's.

[Skyblue]

OP: The funny thing is that everyone but you seemed to know it was canceled. That's what strikes me as strangest here. Everyone in my office knows everything about me, and knows what's happening all over the place, but I'm only told the absolute minimum at the very last minute. What's up with that? Is there some danger in giving a brotha a heads up?

[ajuma]

OP!! LOL!!


Back in the day...my first hagwon job.

First, let me say that I started my job at the beginning of August. Classes started at 9 am.

The last week of August, I go to work....NO ONE IS THERE!! No kids, no director, no secretary...not even the cleaning ajuma!!!!

I look around.....still nobody!

Finally my director shows up.

"Oh! Didn't anyone tell you? Summer vacation is over! You start at 1 pm from now! Schedule change-e!!"

And after THAT experience, nothing that the Korean education system has thrown at me has made me blink!

[WadRUG'naDoo]

[Caffeinated]

[WadRUG'naDoo]

[ajuma]

[nomad-ish]

i went to school one time just to discover everyone had left early in the morning for everland.

actually, i discovered this fact the following day, after walking around a deserted school until lunch on the actual day.

[Caffeinated]

[oldfatfarang]

I had to teach summer vacation camp at my last school (sob). Nobody turned up, so I waited, and waited, and waited. After an hour there was still no caretaker and no students.

Man, I was wild: "Those damm Koreans, why don't they tell us if classes/camps are cancelled etc."

I eventually rang the head co-teacher, and although I wanted to give her a piece of my mind - I didn't (my spidey senses sensed something was up). "It's first day of camp. Where is everybody? I've got my materials ready, I'm waiting. Where are the students? Oh, I see. It's Sunday. Thanks" ...........

[ThingsComeAround]

Koreans overseas are the same.

I went to church, and right after service I'd see some charter buses lining up what is otherwise a quiet street.

I'd ask my friend (the church "kansanim") "What are those buses doing there?"
"Oh (ThingsComeAround) we are going to the mountain! Will you come with us?"

"Nope"

[SinclairLondon]

Not my school, but my student is now back on a year break from her years "abroad." She attended a Chinese High School in China, international class, 100% which were KOREAN, with Korean food and a separate caf for them, too. After school, several hours of Korean hagrons, then home to her Korean homestay. And now enrolled in a Chinese university, studying with all Korean students.