Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Smithington]

I have worked in several public schools over the years and there seems to be one factor common to them all. In each school there is always one teacher who ignores your very existence. You are not acknowledged in any way, even though you pass them in the hallway, enter the building at the same moment, pass by them going into the cafeteria, etc. There's always the one. They act like you are completely invisible and consequently there is no reason to acknowledge you.

Anyone else notice this? Are they just anti-foreigner or is there another explanation for this odd behavior. Oh, one more thing. The teacher in question is almost always a younger female.

Anybody else getting the cold shoulder from Korean staff?

[Nolos]

I thought it was also some kind of hatred for my existence too but they are most likely shy or scared to engage in a conversation in English.

[Underwaterbob]

Dave's: where one person's anecdotal evidence gathered over the course of a year is indisputable fact that must apply to everyone.

[Fox]

When it's a younger female, it's probably out of anxiety. Putting aside potential communication problems, if they mingle with you they may be concerned about the interaction being misunderstood and the impact that can have on their reputation. They aren't necessarily wrong either: I've had students conclude that I was dating certain of the younger female teachers that have worked at my school simply because they saw us conversing, and although adults might not be as forward about their suspicions, that doesn't mean they don't have suspicions.

[chickenpie]

I've been here about ten years and worked in public schools for the last six.

Usually it's a guy in his mid-forties, has been in the last three schools I've worked at. I smile and greet everyone I see in the morning, they are polite and greet me back, except for the ajoshi.

OP I know exactly what you mean. As to why either they are embarrassed because they can't speak English or they are just xenophobic. Always seems to be the kind of guy you meet who tells you how great Korea is if you'd have met him out of school.

[No_hite_pls]

[No_hite_pls]

[b-class rambler]

[le-paul]

[Patrick Bateman]

[hiamnotcool]

[Who's Your Daddy?]

Yes, I've never had this behavior in hogwons, only public schools. Actually, I've worked in every kind of school here, kindergarten, english only hogwon, multiple subject hogwon, middle school, high school, and university. The place I've felt most unwelcome was public elementary school.

Here's an example. This year I sit in the 3rd grade teachers room. This morning, I was getting my mix coffee, and I was told "you can't drink that coffee, you have to bring your own." I said why? "Because that is the 3rd grade teachers coffee. You should bring your own coffee from home." I said, why don't they let me join their group, I sit in the Grade 3 teacher room? They said "you'll have to pay 30K." I said fine. So I forced myself into their group, I wasn't asked, actually they probably never even thought about me being part of their group, which is the sad thing.

[augustine]

I've only been here a couple years but I'm at my third after school gig. With my previous co-teachers, even though they either fell under the idiot or evil column, we'd always leave at the same time because we finish at the same time. My current co teacher had another after school job for a year before this one, but in her words, the foreign teacher was just about the biggest screw up ever and often wouldn't even show up to work, so I can do wrong. But, even though we both finish work at the same time and have to walk to the same subway station, I've left before her 100% of the time. She's a really timid and shy person but we have a fine working relationship, and yet I've seen her lurking behind me fifty yards back sometimes on the way home and it's just weird. She's afraid to be seen walking around the area with a white guy. There's no other explanation for her to leave a minute after I do every day since there's nothing she needs an extra minute to do. And I don't really care since I just don't think she's had a lot of exposure to outsiders and is 'that kind of girl', but it's just strange and kind of confirms what I've always believed about a large portion of the population here.

Otherwise, I'm pretty isolated from the rest of the school staff, but I'm generally ignored and left hanging when I try to say hello to people I run into. The lunch ladies, principal and gate keepers are always super friendly, but where I come from it's strange behavior to walk by someone you work around and avoid making eye contact and ignore them completely. And that has happened A LOT in my experience in public schools here. Maybe it's just because I'm the after school teacher. I always leave it open and try to smile and say hello but I've had it slammed back in my face more times than I can count. Part of the life.

[b-class rambler]

[Steelrails]

Dave's- The place where one person ignoring someone in school is a xenophobic attack and a cause of great anxiety, but likewise having a bunch of kids run up to you and say hello is also a xenophobic attack and cause of anxiety.

First off, you can't judge people by how they are at work. People at work adopt different personalities compared to their private lives. The silent one might just be "in the zone" at work, or hung over, or nervous, or shy, or preoccupied, or he hates you, or they are "teacher's union cliquey" (some teachers make a big stink about Full Teachers vs. Contract subject teachers/administration types) or whatever.

That doesn't mean they aren't friendly. Sometimes those guys/girls at the staff dinners become the life of the party and unwind when they get some sojus in them.

I don't expect everyone to come up and wave to me and fawn over me. If you want to be silent, fine. We're colleagues, not friends. I'll bow or wave and say hi, but I don't expect a reply. All I care about is that they hold up their end of the responsibilities concerning English class and likewise for me to them.

I think it also depends on where you grew up. Certain regions back home have higher expectations of friendliness, even extending towards greetings. Southerners sometimes perceive Midwesterners as extremely cold, while Midwesterners sometimes perceive them as overly friendly, and clingy.

Some people feel that you should have warm relations with your neighbors as well as others in the neighborhood. Others want more privacy and don't talk much to their neighbors at all.

Lastly, you also have to remember that there is a lot of reciprocal obligation in Korea. Getting "friendly" with someone often involves lots of reciprocation. Some people become wary of things like making friends or accepting gifts because of that sense.