Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sojusucks]

I have a friend who came to Korea as a teacher in a public school in 2009. This was at a GEPIK school and she was a Korvia client from South Africa. She arrived in November and the school had no problem with her teaching. In fact, everyone loved her. I can attest to that. She had some serious issues with the head teacher and wanted to do a runner but I talked her into resigning and staying the full 60 days to 1) Honor her word/the contract and 2) Honoring the contract in case she wanted to return to Korea.
She stayed and flew home on her own money. The school had office personnel come to her apartment and make sure everything was paid as far as utilities, maintenence fees, and the keys were all handed in. I was there when it all happened.
Now, about 16 months later, she has reapplied to EPIK and GEPIK but the school, through that rotten head teacher, has given her a bad reference. He claims she owes the school money, which is a lie. No one at Korvia will help. I have offered to give her a letter of recommendation, but I have been told by recruiters that there's nothing they can do. Is there anything that can be done? Give your best advice. I'm certain that others have dealt with the lies of former schools. How can this be overcome? TIA

[3DR]

I had a similar problem.

I worked at a public school and finished in April 2010. I aimed to come back and get another public school gig, but all throughout the summer whenever a job came up, I was given a bad reference by my main coteacher. Emails to her went unasnswered and even when I was at the school, the other coteachers thought that she wasn't too fond of me. I know she was the reason I wasn't renewed.

Anyways, I was cool with the science teacher at the school. She helped me with Korean, fed me dinner a few times, and I taught a few classes with her in English for some after school overtime.

I used her as a reference. Now I had lost all my phone numbers so I actually had to track down the current NET and get her number again but I'm glad I did.

I ultimately ended up at a hagwon, but for any public schools, I knew I had a good reference to fall back on.

So just ask your friend if they were cool with any other teachers at the school and have them give a reference.

[sojusucks]

I just hate it when a teacher "plays by the rules" and gets treated like this. I was there and she followed my advice and still gets treated like dirt. What a shame, but we all know the ESL industry in Korea is like this.

[comm]

I'll try to sum this up as a useful lesson for everyone:

Even if you play by the rules and do well in your job, identify at least one person who really likes you, get their contact info, and only use them as your reference from that school.

I haven't been in the situation (yet) but I think that'll be my plan.

[methdxman]

Same story over and over again.

"Excellent teacher, EVERYONE LOVED him/her/me. The one person who could make or break my career in ESL HATED ME, though."

Bullcrap... Everyone loved you... hilarious. There's always a reason why people don't like you. Get along with people.

Why is always the same story, guys? Everyone else loves me but the person who gives me a reference. So, I guess the conclusion is that when Koreans have the power to give references, they automatically turn evil and stab you in the back. Right? But everyone else loves you, because they can't give you a reference.

I wish there was a stock market of life for people on this board and I would go short on every single person who gives this same sob story.

[sigmundsmith]

my 2 cents. Get a reference letter with letter head from the institution/school and have it signed. Obviously, get it proof read before you use it by a Korean firend. Then, by rights there would be less of an excuse for someone to contact the referee. They have their answer on paper.

Now, the idea of 2 facedness is experienced and told by many here. No matter how good you are and told that you are the best, you then get told at a later date the same people gave you a bad verbal reference.

So, what does that tell you? Don't trust what anyone tells you about their opinion of you. Koreans can (and are) very personally vendictive, especially when they are threatened. And that is so true when it comes to foreigners.

And before anyone says that I have bad experiences with references. Nope. Hasn't happened. Hagwon job, I didn't worry about the reference process because I knew she was crazy. 3 years same public school had the VP right a reference (then I had it checked). First University gig did the same.

Just be smart about how they do things in Korea. Just because we believe that it is not ethical to make false statements about someone doesn't mean that koreans see it the same way.

[NYC_Gal 2.0]

[enchoo]

Don't just rely on an evil head teacher or co-teacher. Before you leave ask if your principal, assistant principal, or senior teacher can write a letter of recommendation for you in the farewell dinner and give him/her some kind of bottle of wine or box of chocolate as a parting gift. Occassionally write an email message every holiday asking them how they are doing and if you can help them. Even if there is a former supervisor that worked with you for only a few months can be your recommendation. I have 4 principals and 5 professors who I can count on for a positive recommendation by email. Send any very reliable recommenders some airmail or regular postal stamps as Christmas gifts that they can use at their discretion. Guys I have thought about this problem for a long time.

[TECO]

[marsavalanche]

I just finished a job at a hagwon, got along with everyone, and the teachers still there have told me my exboss has given me plenty of good recommendations.

What is the problem here again?

Yea I'm sure the boss just randomly decided to screw her over for no good reason. You're leaving something out, something doesn't line up.

[PatrickGHBusan]

[TECO]

[red_devil]