Korean Job Discussion Forums

[yakey]

An F-2 friend of mine has a part-time job at a hogwan and his director came up to him and out of the blue said he had to go to class early. He said it wasn't time and continued as normal. Then suddenly she told him that he was sitting in class and sitting wasn't allowed by anyone in her institute. She told him he must stand all through class because she had a photo of him sitting and the parents saw it and didn't like it. He told her that he always taught well and treated her students well, did whatever he was told, and that he was offended by what she was saying because he hardly ever sat down. He told me he sat down only during their speaking part of their class because he's constantly got to pause the CD that they repeat and it's on a low table that would require this very tall guy to bend down awkwardly every five seconds. So then he says he won't stand up all class and says he quits and he's leaving. The director then grabs him by the arm and tries to make him go to class. She tries several other unsuccessful wrestling grabbing techniques and he tells her to let go. She finally does and he goes home.

I can't believe the stupidity of some directors. This guy runs circles around me as a teacher and she's going to make a federal case out of the fact that he sits down for good reason 10-15 minutes out of every hour. I think it's totally ridiculous. Another funny thing is that many times he's told me he has a Korean co-teacher who - you guessed it - is sitting in the back of the room.

[Mashimaro]

and they wonder why it's hard to find good teachers!

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Great to hear. Would she do that do a Korean teacher with a strong reputation and status? I don't know what their respective ages are, but probably hell no.

I never sit unless we're watching a video (I patrol the room a lot and watch my students like a hawk) but at public school it just wouldn't be an issue if I did it once in a while. I often walk by other classes and see teachers sitting down. I co-teach about 50% of my classes and the KT often just takes a seat at the back most of the time. Except for Miss Clueless, my rookie MS co-teacher. She copies every single thing I do. When she's translating something at the front I go stand in the back to make sure the kids are paying attention, so when I'm talking at the front she attempts the same thing, but with less effect. The rest of the KTs I co-teach with are usually happy to fill an empty seat at the back if there's one available.

[jinju]

He has an F2 so its like "hey bitch, Im leaving, and there ain't nothin' you can do about it".

[rothkowitz]

Or else what?

Wonjonslag has to explain why their children didn't/don't have a teacher?

To the Korean parents it's pretty obvious what she'll say.

To herself?"Sh-ite.That didn't go very well..... Um...would he accept that it was just a misunderstanding?젠장.......아......18"

I want to buy that guy a drink.

[jinju]

[Thunndarr]

[rothkowitz]

Come to think of it,Japanese use the word "bugger".Do Koreans?

[jinju]

[jmbran11]

I'm sure the director was a jerk, but this rule about standing is not so outlandish. My last school (in the U.S.) had the same policy. I thought it was good. And, we all know what happened- some mother saw a photo and went ballastic threatening to yank her kid and the big tuition money that goes with it, so the director reacted in the way most of them do.

And, honestly, the director says: "Stand up during class" and the employee says "screw you I quit!" Isn't that over-reacting a little? It must be nice to have an F-2 and work in an industry where no one cares if you have a stable history of employment.

[yakey]

Since someone asked, the teacher was 41, the hogwan owner about 28.

If she had just shown a little tact and respect, she could have navigated her way out of this situation.

When he said he wouldn't stand all class, she looked at him and with this smirk on her face said, "What, are you too tired?!"

I would've walked, too, especially with the F-2.

[jinju]

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[riley]

I'm going to take a guess that there were other bits of random stupidity on the wongjangnim's part before this incident that made him walk out. What gets me is that she wrestles with him to get him to stay. Doesn't try to talk, doesn't try to listen, just starts pushing him around. Not worth staying, in fact the last part would make it even more enjoyable to leave.

[Milwaukiedave]

I don't believe I'm going to say this but...

(wait...let me pinch myself)

I actually agree with Jinju, the best course (again assuming you have a F-2 or F-5) would be to state that you don't have to put up with unreasonable demands and walk out if it's really that bad.. Confrontation will get you nowhere, except possibly a call to the police.

Now granted, there are other factors to consider. Some F-2 or F-5 visa holders have their own place, but some have a place provided by the employer. If you walk out and the employer provides your place, then you have to be willing to accept the fact that the employer could call your bluff, in which case you will have to move.

On the other hand, the employer could come back to you and be more willing to resolve the situation, realizing he (or she) has less leverage then with an E-2.