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pest1
Joined: 09 Feb 2006
Location: Korea
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 Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2006 6:30 am Post subject: What kind of employees do Korean schools want? |
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Today one of my co-workers got fired because he had complaints from the parents. So I was worried and asked my supervisor if I had any complaints too. My supervisor said there were no complaints about my teaching, but they did complain that I am not a "white American". I am Asian New Zealander.
My co-worker is a "white American", who has blue eyes and blone hair. He was hired in the beginning based on his looks. However as time went by they seemed to have found him hard to work with because he is not a comformist. He was told that he was a bad teacher even though his classes seemed to have improved the most and could speak the best English. My supervisor has openly told him that she hates Americans because they are loud and obnoxious. I, on the other hand, seem an even worse deal for them. I am yellow on the outside and white on the inside.
So what kind of employees do Korean schools like? The only teacher they have ever been happy with is this "white American" teacher who thinks like a Korean person - or he is an egg, who is white on the outside and yellow on the inside. She is basically a doormat who works overtime willingly and does all kinds of extra things for them, without asking for any compensation. She (egg) is also the kind of person who would tell you that YOU are a good teacher one minute and then tell your coworkers you're terrible a minute after you leave. She also lies and backstabs you. Whenever there is a dispute between the foreign teachers and the supervisor, she is sure to be on the Koreans' side to save her own ass. The supervisor openly admits that she is not a very good teacher, but it doesn't matter because the school is not about teaching, but more about pleasing the parents.
It is all about "attitude", says my supervisor. She wants me to come in early in the morning and stay late after school even when there is nothing to do. Besides it is really "unfair" that we foreign teachers get paid more money than them Korean teachers and don't work as hard. |
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guangho
Joined: 19 Jan 2005
Location: a spot full of deception, stupidity, and public micturation and thus unfit for longterm residency
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| Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2006 11:24 am Post subject: Re: What kind of employees do Korean schools want? |
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| pest1 wrote: |
Today one of my co-workers got fired because he had complaints from the parents. So I was worried and asked my supervisor if I had any complaints too. My supervisor said there were no complaints about my teaching, but they did complain that I am not a "white American". I am Asian New Zealander.
My co-worker is a "white American", who has blue eyes and blone hair. He was hired in the beginning based on his looks. However as time went by they seemed to have found him hard to work with because he is not a comformist. He was told that he was a bad teacher even though his classes seemed to have improved the most and could speak the best English. My supervisor has openly told him that she hates Americans because they are loud and obnoxious. I, on the other hand, seem an even worse deal for them. I am yellow on the outside and white on the inside.
So what kind of employees do Korean schools like? The only teacher they have ever been happy with is this "white American" teacher who thinks like a Korean person - or he is an egg, who is white on the outside and yellow on the inside. She is basically a doormat who works overtime willingly and does all kinds of extra things for them, without asking for any compensation. She (egg) is also the kind of person who would tell you that YOU are a good teacher one minute and then tell your coworkers you're terrible a minute after you leave. She also lies and backstabs you. Whenever there is a dispute between the foreign teachers and the supervisor, she is sure to be on the Koreans' side to save her own ass. The supervisor openly admits that she is not a very good teacher, but it doesn't matter because the school is not about teaching, but more about pleasing the parents.
It is all about "attitude", says my supervisor. She wants me to come in early in the morning and stay late after school even when there is nothing to do. Besides it is really "unfair" that we foreign teachers get paid more money than them Korean teachers and don't work as hard. |
I see you answered your own question. |
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Big Mac
Joined: 17 Sep 2005
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| Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2006 11:59 am Post subject: |
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I think they prefer naive people with a North American accent. The less questions they ask the better.
It's all about harmony. The boss is God and can do no wrong (even though in reality this is usually not the case). If you ever question him (even if you're absolutely right for doing so), it could be game over.
I was the same as your friend...definitely not a conformist. My boss didn't like it at all and made it clear. He never fired me though, so I was lucky.
That being said, I don't think that any of us should be afraid to ask questions if they are legitimite (in my case, they were mostly contract issues and things I was entitled to but not getting).
I hope that as Koreans have more business with the outside world they will realize that you can't expect foreigners to walk into their country and suddenly have the same temperment as a Korean.
I think your friend's case is one of a huge misunderstanding of the two cultures. In North American culture, questioning and critical thinking is something that is expected of an intelligent person. A lot of Koreans don't seem to understand that aspect of our culture. |
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Yu_Bum_suk
Joined: 25 Dec 2004
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| Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2006 3:59 pm Post subject: |
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It sounds like your director would be doing you a favour if she fired you. I'd keep a contingency fund, make friends with some recruiters, have a notarised copy and transcripts ready to go, and if you get any BS tell her you're happy to go to immigration and get your visa cancelled.
Yes, they want a doormat. Please show her that not eveyone Asian is one. |
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chessmaster9000
Joined: 31 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2006 4:56 pm Post subject: Re: What kind of employees do Korean schools want? |
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| pest1 wrote: |
Today one of my co-workers got fired because he had complaints from the parents. So I was worried and asked my supervisor if I had any complaints too. My supervisor said there were no complaints about my teaching, but they did complain that I am not a "white American". I am Asian New Zealander.
*****Allot of teachers get fired in South Korea, because they complain to their parents. They will complain if you disciplined the little heathens, worked them a little harder, were strict, split troublemakers apart, so on and so forth. That's the nature of the beast in the land opposite of the Rising Sun. Hagwons are a true racist breed. They shall leave their mark on Korean Society indefinately! That's why your having trouble with the fact that your not an American.
My co-worker is a "white American", who has blue eyes and blone hair. He was hired in the beginning based on his looks. However as time went by they seemed to have found him hard to work with because he is not a comformist. He was told that he was a bad teacher even though his classes seemed to have improved the most and could speak the best English. My supervisor has openly told him that she hates Americans because they are loud and obnoxious. I, on the other hand, seem an even worse deal for them. I am yellow on the outside and white on the inside.
So what kind of employees do Korean schools like? The only teacher they have ever been happy with is this "white American" teacher who thinks like a Korean person - or he is an egg, who is white on the outside and yellow on the inside. She is basically a doormat who works overtime willingly and does all kinds of extra things for them, without asking for any compensation. She (egg) is also the kind of person who would tell you that YOU are a good teacher one minute and then tell your coworkers you're terrible a minute after you leave. She also lies and backstabs you. Whenever there is a dispute between the foreign teachers and the supervisor, she is sure to be on the Koreans' side to save her own ass. The supervisor openly admits that she is not a very good teacher, but it doesn't matter because the school is not about teaching, but more about pleasing the parents.
*****What kind of employees do Korean schools want? I will be completely honest with you my friend. They are always right in South Korea. There is no room for improvement within their organization. They want a white American who will stand post at the computer desk to attract parents, due to skin color. Your there for the money, and nothing else in their minds. They are a bunch of lying cheap-o's! I just speak it, how I call it. I'm sure others will have plenty to say when they read this.....
It is all about "attitude", says my supervisor. She wants me to come in early in the morning and stay late after school even when there is nothing to do. Besides it is really "unfair" that we foreign teachers get paid more money than them Korean teachers and don't work as hard. |
*****If it's not in your contract then don't do it. |
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chessmaster9000
Joined: 31 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2006 5:00 pm Post subject: I agree with this poster |
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| Yu_Bum_suk wrote: |
It sounds like your director would be doing you a favour if she fired you. I'd keep a contingency fund, make friends with some recruiters, have a notarised copy and transcripts ready to go, and if you get any BS tell her you're happy to go to immigration and get your visa cancelled.
Yes, they want a doormat. Please show her that not eveyone Asian is one. |
I would keep what's called the "other school packet" if want to go to another school in cased you get asked to leave deceptively at your 5th, 6th, or perhaps 11th month mark. It would be easy for you to find a job. |
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some waygug-in
Joined: 25 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2006 5:10 pm Post subject: |
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I have to wonder sometimes........some of these directors see their positions as a means to ridicule, berate, denegrate or make fun of people from other countries. Why on earth do they want foreign teachers anyway? Just so they can try and have some silly ego/power trip over them? The whole thing is just so childish and stupid..........it's best just to walk away from a boss/job like that.
Unfortunately, those kind of bosses and jobs seem to more of the norm than the exception in K-land. |
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Grotto
Joined: 21 Mar 2004
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| Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2006 5:37 pm Post subject: |
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| Until they get some employees with a vestige of a backbone they will continue to run roughshod over their employees |
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Col.Brandon
Joined: 09 Aug 2004
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2006 6:29 pm Post subject: Re: What kind of employees do Korean schools want? |
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| pest1 wrote: |
| She is basically a doormat who works overtime willingly and does all kinds of extra things for them, without asking for any compensation. She (egg) is also the kind of person who would tell you that YOU are a good teacher one minute and then tell your coworkers you're terrible a minute after you leave. She also lies and backstabs you. Whenever there is a dispute between the foreign teachers and the supervisor, she is sure to be on the Koreans' side to save her own ass. |
Yellow in the middle indeed. |
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Yu_Bum_suk
Joined: 25 Dec 2004
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| Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2006 6:45 pm Post subject: |
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| Grotto wrote: |
| Until they get some employees with a vestige of a backbone they will continue to run roughshod over their employees |
Unfortunately there are too many spineless employees around right now to replace them. This is even more true with KTs who have decent but not exceptional English skills. I know one who's looking for a better hogwan but is having trouble finding one. If you think hogwan FTs have it bad the KTs have it ten times as bad, whatever air of authority they might put on. |
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ddeubel
Joined: 20 Jul 2005
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| Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2006 11:44 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Unfortunately there are too many spineless employees around right now to replace them. This is even more true with KTs who have decent but not exceptional English skills. I know one who's looking for a better hogwan but is having trouble finding one. If you think hogwan FTs have it bad the KTs have it ten times as bad, whatever air of authority they might put on. |
Yes, so right. We have it many times better no matter all the complaints we hear (and I don't mean to denigrate those FTs with problems.).
I think most importantly for any FT is that they have good people (manipulative) skills. They have to know how to respond to requests and act like they are in charge of their ship while at the same time appearing gracious and thankful. Same kind of quality that makes others move up the ladder back home -- in the business/skyscraper world. This is what they are looking for in teachers --- perceived competence - shown through how they handle themselves with the higher ups.
Unfortunately, teaching ability is given nay a look. Counts for little. And before anyone thinks it is only Korea, think again. Same in our own countries...I know, I've been there. Our school system is full of dysfunctional, lazy louts . {but fortunately man brave and exemplary types who keep things from falling completely apart.}
DD
Live simply, simply live. |
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Yu_Bum_suk
Joined: 25 Dec 2004
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| Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2006 12:00 am Post subject: |
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| ddeubel wrote: |
| Quote: |
| Unfortunately there are too many spineless employees around right now to replace them. This is even more true with KTs who have decent but not exceptional English skills. I know one who's looking for a better hogwan but is having trouble finding one. If you think hogwan FTs have it bad the KTs have it ten times as bad, whatever air of authority they might put on. |
Yes, so right. We have it many times better no matter all the complaints we hear (and I don't mean to denigrate those FTs with problems.).
I think most importantly for any FT is that they have good people (manipulative) skills. They have to know how to respond to requests and act like they are in charge of their ship while at the same time appearing gracious and thankful. Same kind of quality that makes others move up the ladder back home -- in the business/skyscraper world. This is what they are looking for in teachers --- perceived competence - shown through how they handle themselves with the higher ups.
Unfortunately, teaching ability is given nay a look. Counts for little. And before anyone thinks it is only Korea, think again. Same in our own countries...I know, I've been there. Our school system is full of dysfunctional, lazy louts . {but fortunately man brave and exemplary types who keep things from falling completely apart.}
DD
Live simply, simply live. |
Very true about developing Korean people skills. To this I'd add how important it is to choose one's battles cafefully. Far too many foreigners cause unnecessary loss of face by sweating the little things. If I get (a) paid on time and (b) have the full support of my school to teach effectively, that's all I really care about.
What I can't get over, however, is how many FTs and especially KTs will concede (a) and / or (b). Teachers who put up with the indignity of not getting paid or getting completely undermined really shouldn't be in the profession. Unfortunately for KTs working the private educational industry (I can't really call it a profession) it just seems to be the cultural norm. |
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some waygug-in
Joined: 25 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2006 1:37 am Post subject: |
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It's not so easy to fight when you have no money in your bank account and can't afford to walk out.
It's easy to talk tough until you are in that situation. |
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TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired
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| Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2006 3:49 am Post subject: |
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| some waygug-in wrote: |
It's not so easy to fight when you have no money in your bank account and can't afford to walk out.
It's easy to talk tough until you are in that situation. |
I wouldn't get in that situation in the first place. |
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Homer
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2006 3:54 am Post subject: |
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While some people may end up in the situation mentionned above (no cash and painted in a corner) I think that it is largely up to us to avoid getting stuck there.
There are many ways to lower (and even eliminate) the possibility of getting shafted by a boss.
There are also basic things a teacher should do (like keep a certain amount of money in the bank in case of an emergency). |
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