Korean Job Discussion Forums

cdninkorea · Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Location: Seoul

I got to school today in the nick of time, at 8:58, having had to speed walk/run to get there on time (I left late), only to find the school dead-quiet, something which never happens in the morning at my elementary school. I was also the first one to get to my shared office, which is strange considering my co-teachers always get there at 8:45.

I got my books and went off to my first class, only to find no one was in the classroom. Or any classroom; I could hear my footsteps echo and was the only person in the building. So I went to the Vice Principal's office in the next building, where it was explained to be that it is National Examination Day today, and classes start at 10:00 instead of 9:00.

Apparently one of my co-teachers was assigned the duty to inform me of this, but he didn't. Everyone I spoke to said some variation of "oh, no one told you? It's National Examination day!" I'm glad people are finally telling, but their timing leaves a lot to be desired.

Did this happen to anyone else?

R-Seoul · Joined: 23 Aug 2006 Location: your place

It is common practise to withhold information, often because they assume you know or because to explain everything to you takes too much effort. Sometimes it can be damn annoying other times I think I'm glad they didn't waste my time telling me about that.
Either way it does mean that I never have a complete understanding of what's going on in my workplace.

riley · Joined: 08 Feb 2003 Location: where creditors can find me

Mine are nice enough that when it does happen that I can guilt them and they will remember to keep me informed for a couple of months or so. Sometimes I have to be proactive and ask if there is something about to happen.

Octavius Hite · Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 5:09 pm Post subject:

I told my handler/teacher that if I wasn't given 2-3 days notice of something I wouldn't do it. The first time something came up after school they hadn't told me about I politely refused saying I had to be somewhere and they should have told me in advance. Never happened again.

CabbageTownRoyals · Joined: 14 Sep 2006

Zyzyfer · Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 5:11 pm Post subject:

Helps to have a teacher who's kind of your coordinator or someone who is always assigned the duty of informing you about events.

Thunndarr · Joined: 30 Sep 2003

Porter_Goss · Joined: 26 Mar 2006 Location: The Wrong Side of Right

My Uni doesn't tell us jack. I usually find out about special events and the such the day before when one of my students asks me something like "what are your plans for your day off tomorrow?"

At first I thought it was just the other foreign teacher and I who were left out of the loop, but the K teachers in our department are constantly b*tching about the same things I am.

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

This is pretty common at my school too. I was the one not wearing any makeup and sloppy khakis on yearbook photo day. Niceuh!

I would approach you co-teacher or some other teacher you know and basically tell them (asking politely) that it is their job to tell you about stuff. I have to teach a class of teachers after school once a week. I told them it was theri job to tell me. So far, so good.

twg · Joined: 02 Nov 2006 Location: Getting some fresh air...

I guess I have a new appreciation for that white board behind my boss' desk that she uses to post announcements on.

cdninkorea · Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Location: Seoul

Milwaukiedave · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Location: Goseong

I think it's pretty common to be out of the left out of the loop on most things no matter where you work. I just got told there was a "training class" today to learn bookmaking (making paperbooks, not betting). My teacher class was canceled because of it.

I'm trying to decide if I want to go to this class with the Korean teachers or just hide in my classroom.