Korean Job Discussion Forums

[chaz47]

Recently my coworker had to fly back home because his father was ill. He returned a day later then he expected. Instead of contacting the school he contacted another one of the foreign teachers and asked them to tell the school he would be a day late. The foreign teacher did tell the manager, but the manager was angry that the teacher didn't email her directly.

The teacher did return a day later and came to work. The manager pulled him and a translator into her office. I don't know what exactly transpired behind that door but now the teacher is quitting and the way my school hires people we will be short-staffed for 2 months.

We have a small staff at my school. We work a rotating split-shift. The absence of this teacher, will make it impossible for the other teachers to take their vacations or rotate to block-shift. All of us have already worked splits longer than we were told we would have to... now we are all looking at 7 to 8 months of split-shift.

This manager has issues. This teacher has issues. I understand where and they are both coming from and why they are upset, but it seems very childish and their actions will only hurt the school. A little diplomacy, a little tact, would have gone a long way in this situation but neither made any effort to be understanding.

This manager's style is above all else very autocratic, she puts on a veneer of benevolence but the words compromise and apologize don't exist in her vocabulary. I don't know if it's a cultural thing or what but if she has something against you... well... don't say anything contrary, you are expected to take it like dog... roll over, expose your belly and admit fault, even if you feel that you aren't wrong.

This teacher will never do that, that I think is what irks her the most. The fact that he will not yield to her. He's been abroad for a number of years and taught for quite awhile, if anything, he's the most professional teacher we have. Since he doesn't fit the mold and won't knuckle under...

well... you get the picture.

I should note that the reason the teacher is quitting may be related to original family problem back home. Unfortunately I have tried to contact him by phone, email and text message since the event and he will not reply.

Since I came off my vacation (I managed to get one day off) so that the school wouldn't suffer and the manager wouldn't stress him too much about leaving...I think maybe he feels guilty about leaving me in the lurch?

I want to find a school where I can try to be more professional and not have to deal with drama like this. I was really looking forward to having more than 2 days off in a row... it looks like this contract will be filed under the nether-regions of sleep deprivation and too many Saturdays spent at work.

Do professional jobs actually exist in Korea? I teach adults one to one and have had some really rewarding experiences but the environment at my school has become tedious. I don't want to teach huge classes, the number of students I have that came from that sort of environment and have little or no English skills is staggering.

I really really wish privates weren't illegal.

ok, now i am just rambling...

[chaz47]

I lucked out. My manager felt sorry for me... I get tomorrow off. My coworkers and I will be able to take vacations later, but we will each have to work between 2 and 4 extra hours a day... whee... and one of us will be on split-shift too.... that means about 5 hours of sleep a night plus no nap during the day... for a week... but... we will have more than two days off in a row... it will be hell but we have agreed that it will be worth it....

To that other teacher out there that won't answer his phone, reply to email, or text messages... damn, guy... what is up? I went back to work for you in good faith and you won't even dignify me with a response?

[braunshade]

he may feel that he got screwed by the hogwan and now does not want anything to do with anyone who works there. he either went home or found something better.