Korean Job Discussion Forums

[demianamar]

I've been here long enough to know the ins and outs, as well as be able to handle the bad days without thinking of a midnight run right away. The thing is these days my co-teachers seem to be working double time to prepare for all kinds of events. They do not inform me of these events, they do not ask my help, they don't really talk to me at all because none of them speak English and I'm the sole foreigner. The point is that I feel, only instinctively, that some of the teachers resent me for not working as many hours and basically keeping to myself alot, which I do only because I have no other choice since I have tried to start conversations with them to no avail. This situation is really making me miserable these days! I have 6 months to go with this school and I have tried everything I know to do. Does anyone else get these vibes from their co-workers? Any tips on how to deal??

[BigBlackEquus]

Sure, it can be that way.

You are working on contract. You are a foreigner. Your rules are different. Be thankful they are, and don't apologize for it. If foreigners were expected to follow all of the nuances of the Korean boss/employee system, then virtually NO foreigners would work here.

Just be glad it's not you doing so much and kissing butt.

[mindmetoo]

Bring them chocolate on Valentines Day. Once a month bring in some donuts, hodduk, or a mess of gold fish bread.

I found myself in the same position. I worked half the hours of my Korean coworkers and got paid twice as much. I worked in a small office with 5 other Korean teachers. I wrote down all their birthdays and brought them in a cake on their birthday. It's hard to resent a person that remembers your birthday with a cake and sings you happy birthday.

Just little PR things really.

[Pyongshin Sangja]

They are doing the equivalent of sweeping streets. They are regarded as menial labour. Do you apologise to the kid at Family Mart? Capitalist society needs a class of underpaid workers and someone with a degree to make it look good. They're in one of Korea's crappiest jobs for a couple of years before they get married to salary men and start cranking out babies. Right now, all they need their wages for is getting drunk until Mr. Majah comes along. They live at home and are essentially grown-up children. You, on the other hand, finished university in a country that actually makes you work for it and need to pay your own way. Stop worrying about them. If they resent you, they need to learn a bit about reality.

[J.B. Clamence]

*beep* 'em.

[peppermint]

I was in a similar situation at my school, but I've come to the conclusion that my co workers are nice people who I just can't communicate with very well.

Bringing in food is a surefire thing. Smile, compliment their new hairstyle, or clothes ( even if you have to do it by hand gestures). This will help lower the tension a lot.


Ask the kids what events are coming up and when- they're generally the most reliable source

[mindmetoo]

[demianamar]

I must say that I agree with mindmetoo in saying that it's just hard to have nothing attached to the idea of saying bye and seeing some of them looking at me with envy at the end of my work day...the middle of theirs! I keep telling myself the same thing that Pyongshin said "If they resent you, they need to learn a bit about reality".....that's actually the only thing that keeps me going! If they can move to the other side of the world, work with people who do not speak their language, live alone, put up with a HELL of a lot....then they can still resent me, if not.....screw off..but then the "feelings" set in and I feel bad once again. Whatever...I appreciate all the replies! Always good to know I'm not the only one:)

[Pyongshin Sangja]

[Corporal]

[the eye]

as long as you put forth a conscientous effort on the job, and treat them with respect, don't worry about what they think.

lots of korean english teachers have seen their share of JOE NEWBIE, fresh out of uni, but still living the life.
they've seen him come to work late, or not at all, or drunk. and they've seen him do a half ass job when he is there.
the workload is in his favor by a lot, and so is the pay scale.

and they've seen him collect a year's cash a take off on a nice vacation.
something they can't do as easily.

[mindmetoo]

[jacl]

I don't know about the resentment part, but the fact that Korean staff don't go out of their way to communicate with you is annoying. I blame it on the language thing.

[Grotto]

Its not just the language....its also the culture.

I had a house warming party and invited all the teachers to visit for food and drinks.

Everybody seemed to have a good time and people were quite freindly ....for a while. At school there was still apparent resentment....not necessarily at me....but at the fact that they had a foriegner forced upon their school by the powers that be.

[flint]

I know that feeling. While the owners and management at Ivy wasn't any good I was lucky enough to have some fantastic co-workers. They worked their derrieres off for the school, and then some. Some of them would even go out of their way to help us (foreigners) out. For that, I was very appreciative. I found ways, like some mentioned here, to let them know I appreciated it. Also, I helped them out when I could, whether it was preparing for a class, or outside of work.

One thing I did find is that management sometimes used the extra work and feelings of resentment as a way of keeping the korean and foreign teachers apart. God forbid we all get along and like each other.

In one case the school ran an essay/writing contest. There was a set date, and a mailbox, to enter your work. They had a few of the Korean teachers sort through a mountain of entries putting them in the right age/ability group. I had a break between classes, didn't know this was even going on, and was on the computer. Next thing I know I am being told by Mr. Kim that I should help the Korean teachers, they are complaining because I am not, blah blah blah. I told him he should have ASKED me to help before, and I went to help them. Talking with them, and I believe the ones I talked to, they never complained because they didn't know I was free. They thought they were the only ones free. (As free as someone working at a hagwon can be. ) If they knew I was free they would have asked me.

You always have to take what the management says with a grain, actually a shaker, of salt.