Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Ya-ta Boy]

You can safely ignore this post. It's just a rant.

All of us teachers have one big office. I've been at my computer for 2 1/2 hours. Both of the Korean English teachers are within 20 feet of me. They saw me making copies and cutting out pieces of paper. One of them even sat down and talked to me for a few minutes. When I stood up to go to third period class, one of them said, "Oh, Ya-ta Boy, there's a listening test today. You just have to teach for 20 minutes."

Thanks for telling me. My activity won't fit in 20 minutes and while I appreciate having it ready for next time, what do I do to kill 20 minutes? Yes, I can I scrounge one of the things I have for that kind of situation but why do you have to treat me like this? I go on and do my filler activity and end on time, and the teacher who will monitor the test doesn't show for an extra 5 minutes so I kill another 5. This is the same one who just doesn't show up at all with no notice when I am only supposed to do a 15 or 20 minute thing, leaving me to fill the 50 minute period after finishing my activity.

At this point, I want to just say, "No, thanks. You can take the class today. If you don't give me any advance warning so I can prepare, then I think I'll just sit here and surf the internet and you can take the class by yourself. Enjoy."

I can understand the concept of group harmony (most of the time) but why doesn't my kibun and my harmony matter as much as theirs?

[riley]

You're right, I had something similar happen to me today and it annoys the hell out of me. Class was canceled and I only found out when I walk into the classroom and there are no kids. Find out they're outside running.
The teacher who did this, her English is good enough that it was pure bullshit.

[Juregen]

[rothkowitz]

Ah yes,the "white people don't have face thing"

For the second time this year I've had the you-have-to-be-more-Korean speech at school.

I just kept saying communication is a 2 way thing.If they don't want to acknowledge me,why should I bother acknowledging them?Strangers in the night,dude.

You are the junior teacher.You have to bow.

No.......I'm a visiting teacher,better formally qualified than many of the other teachers at school.

You have to bow,can you try?

Conversation repeats.........

[ilovebdt]

The exact opposite happened at my school this week.

I went to watch an open class yesterday afternoon and one of my Korean co-teachers turned up with her class for a lesson and the door was locked.

No one, or it hadn't filtered down, that I wouldn't be there yesterday afternoon. So, the Korean grapevine doesn't always work either.

LOL I did laugh

What goes around comes around.

ilovebdt

[UncleAlex]

Indeed, our relationship with our co-teachers is a one-sided affair. We are expected
to be sensitive to the ethnic and cultural sensibilities of our Korean counter-
parts, but when it comes to us it is a different matter. I have experienced similar
instances of what Ya Ta Boy had had to suffer. At a former middle school of mine
in Gunpo, several class changes had occured at the last minute and with no proper
notice. I complied without a murmur on all occasions except one, when I adamantly
refused to leave my desk and unfinished work to step into a classroom. The response
of my supervisor depicted a facial expression that showed disgust and resentment
and a 'Fine, suit-yourself' look. I considered the matter dropped and long forgotten
until it was time to renew my contract. At that time I was denied a contract
renewal because I was deemed "unco-operative and "neglected the Korean teachers".
The latter charge alludes to an occasion when I was absent one day
because I had a fever. Apparently, my co-teachers complained that I had made it
very "inconvenient" for them by missing a day of classes. However, I did call in
at 8am with my first class slotted at 10:10. So my co-teachers had enough time
to make their adjustments. (My contract granted me 15 annual sick days, but I took
only that one day off all year.) Meanwhile my Korean colleagues made it a habit
to be 5 to 10 minutes late for class most of the time, sometimes not showing
up at all because they were "too busy", "I should understand". I give up!
A one-sided affair indeed! Are public schools really worth it?

[Qinella]

Same type of thing has happened to me numerous times, Ya-Ta Boy. I'll be sitting in the office, and the director or secretary will pop in and act surprised that I'm not in class.

You had class starting 5 minutes ago!
Uh.. no I didn't.
New class is starting today!
Why didn't you tell me?
Oh, we must have forgotten! I'm sorry. Please just go do something with them.
Ok, what books are they using?
Oh, we haven't gotten books for them yet. Just do something with them and make it fun for today, okay?
Oooookay.

That's happened about, oh.. five times in the past two months I've worked at this hagwon. It's like they expect me to magically know about everything that's going on.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

In fairness to the schools, the grade 1 listening test was Wed. at 11am. The grade 2 listening test on Thurs at 11am; and anyone who's worked at a high school for a while should know that the grade 3 listening test will follow at 11am Friday.

Of course absent-minded folk like myself and Ya-ta boy may forget from time to time, but I wouldn't blame the co-teacher for something like that.

That's not to say there aren't plenty of other good reasons for slapping certain co-teachers.

[butter808fly]

I have only 3 weeks left of complaining about my co-teacher so I guess I can make the most of it.

Shes still nutty and she still fights for control. My old co-teacher thinks every single activity we do in the class is a race to see who is better. Who can get the kids under control better, whos side of the classroom can win the game, who can have the most kids like them. Even after a YEARS time the kids are still manipulating her into speaking when I am speaking.. they say something like 'oh i dont understand oh poor me!!!' and she always talks to them when Im in front. IRRITATING!! I really try to be patient with her, but like today sometimes I just lose it! I asked her if she wanted to continue being superwoman and finish the task... hehe... also telling her its beyond rude (which ive told her before) to talk to students while im speaking. Shes a psychologist for goodness sakes! I cant believe she doesnt see how dependent she makes the children. My other co-teaching situation is great and the children never ask my fellow teacher things while Im speaking. They listen well and KNOW they may understand if they just try.

Man, she is the most irritating person Ive ever worked with. Of course, everyone (other co-teachers) love her and she manipulates the children to make them feel sorry for her in some strange way... Wow... the capacity for bullcrap is beyond my comprehension.

The one good thing I saw from this today is.. I must be a good teacher as she always takes my methods and uses them.. but not for good, but to 'win the race'.

This is true Korean thinking in my opinion. Old skool.

YATA - Ive had short notices too and they suck. Im surprised that you dont discuss the class with your co-teacher before classtime though.

[Ya-ta Boy]

[butter808fly]

May I offer a suggestion then? You are half of the equation. If they ask you about the classes you say to them 'this is the time I have available to get together and discuss the class'... it benefits the students more to have both teachers working together on things... and makes for happier teachers Id think.

good luck....

[Grotto]

Its called dont tell the waegookin anything syndrome!

At the public school I was at:

I would walk into a classroom with my props, handouts and lesson plan all ready to teach and be told....'oh, classuh changee....testuh...no Englishee'

Be sitting in my class and a group of students would walk in and I would be at a loss because I had nothing on my schedule and then the teacher would tell me....'makeup classuh?'

Did I ever want to slap my coteacher? Hell yeah!

I call in sick..."you mustuh come schooluh!' "sorry I am sick and staying home today"......'you mustuh comeuh to schooluh'....."no I am sick and staying home, its raining and I'll be damned if I am going to get drenched going to school just because you say I have to!" 10 minutes later banging at the door....'YOU COMEUH TO SCHOOLUH'.....sick, miserable, grumpy and now pissed off I countered with....FXCK OFF YOU STUPID BIATCH at the top of my lungs. Shocked she left and I returned to bed. Next time I called in sick no problem.

[Wishmaster]

I'm glad that I don't have a co-teacher. That must blow. Enjoy.

[MorgolKing]

[Ya-ta Boy]