Korean Job Discussion Forums

[captain kirk]

I thought about this today while hiking. Vistas of limitless free space, drops in air, distant hills and blue sky. Why can't this hiking freedom on the weekend be reproduced in a sweaty hagwon? Well, perhaps it can with an understanding boss, Korean head teacher, IF they had a manual, 'How to Care For Your Foreigner'.

The typical contract with a haggie is a year. A hagwon that doesn't have experience with foreigners wants them to be Korean in temperament, expects them, unconciously or consciously and both, to take to Korean style of management. Koreans think diffently, in a Confucian way. They give it up for the group and loyalty to the Ultimate leader, especially, like a kind of apparent mindmeld (or faking it 'til they make it that way). The crosscultural, foreigner-Korean staff relationship will only last a year, but a foreigner can't be converted into a Korean in that time.

Therefore wonjonims need the manual, 'How to Care for Your Foreigner'.

Section One.

Give your foreigner some black, twizzler licorice rope. They will never forget it and might even lick your hand....

[SweetBear]

... Give your foreigner some black, twizzler licorice rope. They will never forget it and might even lick your hand....

I got lucky at my Haggie, after years of problems on all fronts a Korean American sat the Wongja down and said " Hey, it's like this..."
Awahhh ! Point was taken, face was saved and apart from being payed late (which he got away with because he was super cool in other ways) all the waygooks were happier. The K teachers were another story however...

[Julius]

leave the hogwon and go work in a real school, problem solved!

Unless you're a newbie with nothing but a BA and no experience, theres no reason to still be in the performing arts.

[Julius]

rule 1: exotic pets are difficult to keep. Their exact requirements are a mystery and many have fled captivity for no apparent reason. however, installing an ornamental korean princess in the workplace has been known to have them resigning again and again.

[redlightorchestra]

Rule #2 Routine:

Foreigners seem to like schedules so they know when, what and who they are teaching! If you make a schedule, try to stick with it for at least a week.

Rule # 3 Communication:

Foreigners need communication, it doesn't have to be in English (but it helps). It can be hand signals, a letter, a diagram, a map, etc.
But they CAN NOT read your mind.
They don't know you have changed the schedule two days after posting it! (See Routine)

Rule # 4 Toilet Training:

Most foreigners assume that everything they need will be in the washroom. Especially T.P. and SOAP. The new ones will not think to bring these with them, and they may (mostly females) stay there for an extended period of time waiting for someone to come in so they can ask for some T.P.

[Panic]

Rule #5 Foreigners seem to think of break times as their time to collect their thoughts, mentally review their previous class and organise themselves for the next lot of paid contact hours. Last minute photocopying, kindy sandwich class prep, photo shoots and/or surprise paperwork will not be happily undertaken unless first you ask them nicely.

Panic

[the eye]

If your foreign teacher does a good job, let them know once in a while.
It happens.

[Summer Wine]

Rule No. 7 Letting the students know there has been a change of classroom without notifying the teacher may be construed by said teacher as a problem. Unless they like walking around looking for their classrooms after the bell has rung.

[Dan The Chainsawman]

Rule 6: Don't be a hater, when your waygook pet comes in all hung over slam down a few soju shots, teach his first two classes and send the hung over waygook to a massage parlor.

[some waygug-in]

I could write a lot on this topic, but it's getting late and I have to mentally prepare for the coming week of............edutainment.

When you ask your foreign teacher for advice about textbooks etc. it's a good idea to actually follow some of it. If you choose to not follow it, at least explain why.

It's a good idea to listen to teachers side of things, even if it goes against what you are planning. You may be able to make some small concessions that will be appreciated by the foreign teacher.


Pay that is on time and in full is not just a luxury, it is essential. If you can't even do this, you really shouldn't have a foreign teacher at all.

Treating a teacher badly may help you out in the short term, but in the long run it will only hurt your business. Every teacher who leaves gritting their teeth and unhappy will tell at least 100 possible new teaching candidates about their experience. Think about it.

[Lizara]

If you and your foreigner both have some brains, and some idea of what you're doing (and i know those are big ifs...) then constructive criticism and help should be welcome. "You must teach them better" is not constructive criticism.

Along those lines, changing your foreigner's schedule every day and then complaining about their classes is only going to lead to frustration.

Furthermore, as much as you and the moms would like to believe it, the little darlings will not absorb English simply by being in the same room as your foreigner. Disciplinary support and the purchase of adequate teaching materials can make your foreigner's teaching much, much more effective.

[own_king]

I don't know about the 'How to Care for Your Foreigner' manual, but I'm there is a 'Screwing the Waygook Handbook' in circulation.

[some waygug-in]

It's not just screw the wayguk, but screw the employee. It's just that us wayguks are so much easier to screw over, with out language skills and some basic knowlege of how the system works.

There's a whole lot more to being a good school than just paying on time.

There's also things like having proper resources, allowing teachers to choose suitable teaching materials and proper level course books, supporting the teacher when problems with discipline arise, giving the benefits that are listed in the contract........not just some of them.

Yes, teachers have a responsibility to make things run smoothly as well, but even a crappy teacher can do OK with the proper support and materials.

[Lizara]

[Roch]