Korean Job Discussion Forums

jurassic82 · Joined: 21 Jun 2006 Location: Somewhere!!!!

I was just wondering if my situation has ever happened to anyone before. At my school there are five teachers. Three Koreans and Two foriegners. Along with that there are two secretaries. For the most part everyone gets along really well. I thought this was the case until the other day I caught the secretary of my school spying on my class. She was standing next to the room listening in to what the students were saying and checking up on my teaching. As soon as I walked out of the classroom I heard her run away really quick thinking that I didn't notice. This is the first time I caught her but I'm sure she has done it for other teachers and classes also. Has anyone else been in this situation and if so what have you done? Cool

Young FRANKenstein · Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 5:04 pm Post subject: Re: Spys

ChuckECheese · Joined: 20 Jul 2006

Never happened or caught anyone spying on me, but if I catch someone spying, I would ask them if they'd like to sit in my class.

As her if she'd like to set in your class. Cool

flint · Joined: 11 Apr 2004

First Hagwon I worked at the director had one of the secretaries looking in on our classes all the time. Ostensibly to see how many students were there, but that wouldn't really require the length of time she would stand watching, and we had attendance sheets.

C'est la vie.

kat2 · Joined: 25 Oct 2005 Location: Busan, South Korea

I would rather them stay outside the classroom than come in. Kids usually act wierd when there are other people in teh classroom.
I don't think this is wierd. Both hogwans I worked at had cameras in the classrooms. I pretty much did as I wanted anyway.

jmbran11 · Joined: 19 Jan 2006 Location: U.S.

I don't really understand what the problem is. Why shouldn't your employer be able to monitor your work? I'm sure you're doing a good job, and it's not your private abode, so why does it bother people? Like the other posters, I would prefer that to having them interrupt my class and causing weird behavior in the students.

At my company, all classrooms have cameras, and we can be "secretly" watched by any of our superiors at any time.

laogaiguk · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Location: somewhere in Korea

There is absolutely no problem with monitoring you, even every day (though that is a waste of time). I don't get the whole hiding thing though, unless the previous teacher was one of those weirdos. Anyways, ask if she would like to watch.

Actually, thought of another thing. It may not be about you at all. Students tend to change a bit when there is authority in the room watching. They think they are watching them, and you think she is watching you. Smile

Boodleheimer · Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 7:26 pm Post subject:

have you thought about inviting her in? maybe calling on her to answer questions?

Young FRANKenstein · Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 8:56 pm Post subject:

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

Yeah monitoring, I mean, whatever. I'd rather have a camera than someone listening in at the door. An eye in the sky can protect you as much. I remember someone here had a story about a mother who was claiming her perfect child wasn't learning and then they showered her the cam footage of her kid being a little monster.

I would just comment that "I don't mind someone popping in once in a while but if someone is coming by my door, it's a distraction from my teaching."

Lizara · Joined: 14 Apr 2004 Location: Seoul

wylies99 · Joined: 13 May 2006 Location: I'm one cool cat!

Spies? Yeah, sounds like the typical BS in Korea. They won't help you but they will do everything they can to catch you doing something wrong.

OP- maybe she likes you. It does happen here.

ajuma · Joined: 18 Feb 2003 Location: Anywere but Seoul!!

At one of my old hagwons, the director used to come and sit in on my class sometimes. I didn't mind (actually, I think she just wanted to improve her English), but I had to politely keep telling her to shut up and let the KIDS answer the questions!! Laughing

Sash · Joined: 08 Aug 2006 Location: farmland

harryh · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: south of Seoul

They 'over' monitor here in Korea. It's a control thing they have, I guess.

But I wonder if these 'snoops' have a job to be getting on with themselves. Isn't it a waste of the company's money to have someone constantly watching the foreign monkey? They could be doing something more productive with their time. Surely, if a boss has hired a foreigner, from a short-list of candidates, they should trust them to get on with the job.