Eviction Result & 'Angry' Foreign Teachers

The eviction result is known. As expected, Paul, who still texts me whenever he meets his 22 year old girlfriend, is saved. Of the other two, the news is good and bad. BFA Pete is to be evicted, but shockingly, Crazy Korean/American is saved. It seems that this place is sort of aware that some of the teachers here are inept. But to go the whole hog and get rid of the one who puts her English ability on full display via many many signs around the building, upon none of which is the English correct...well that would be going just too far.

BFA Pete didn't seem to be too affected by this at first. However, as the days went by he was losing it. Unfortunately there are another 4 kids camps to go before he leaves. In the latest kids camp a 12 year old found a blue ball he had hidden in a cupboard. The kid didn't realize he had done anything wrong, and thought BFA Pete was playing when he tried to grab it off him. So BFA pushed him up against the cupboards with force, and took the ball. The kid seemed a bit confused, not knowing if that was a joke or not. But BFA Pete was in a rage...and had to yell loudly to let out the energy that would otherwise have been aimed at another kid.

This happened just before an indoor football game the kids were about to play. Americans don't seem to know or care much about football, and this was demonstrated in BFA Pete's refereeing skills. It was, unlike the previous incident, hilarious. BFA Pete briefly explained rules that he didn't understand himself to the kids. There were about 8 on each team, and the room was small. He put girls in goal for the boys match, and boys in goal for the girls match. I don't know why. The players were not allowed into the goalkeepers area, but this had not been explained. So when half the team entered the keeper's area during a game the whistle was blown and BFA Pete decided to award a free kick..but at the other end of the pitch...to the wrong team. The funniest part was when the ball went above head height (not allowed), but before BFA Pete could blow the whistle, it went above head height again. So what did the ref do? Award 2 free kicks, one after the other. All free kicks incidentally were referred to as 'penalties'. Funny? I pi$%ed myself. I think I will miss this chap when he has gone. But then again, maybe I won't.



Attention Koreans - Don't make the foreign teachers 'ANGRY!'

On a Friday a meeting was called to discuss a series of 'complaints' that various foreign teachers here had documented. All of the complaints were aimed at the Korean management here. Apparently all foreign teachers agreed to the comments in the document, although nobody had asked me. After the meeting, the complaints were passed onto the management...and action was expected!
Here are some of the best bits copied and pasted straight from the document, The first ones are about communication between the Korean management and the foreign teachers here:

Direct vs. Indirect Communication

Examples:

- Koreans do not understand westerners in this area
- Koreans know what is expected by subtle hints by their supervisor
- Westerners do not have this cultural background
- Westerners are used to outlines, deadlines, details and direct communication, when this is not given, the person cannot do their job well and this will make them angry if they care about the quality of their work


Communication

1. Ignored Requests
Example:
- class numbers dropped at last minute, teachers not informed (3rd floor)
- requests made to Mr.Choi , ‘he does not listen’ meaning what was just said is ignored or the same thing happens again, this makes NT’s angry, the phrase ‘thank you for your cooperation’ is not for someone who is part of a team, but from a controller
- westerners do not like ‘fake’ phrases like this, it is insulting as it is not meaningful
- the same issue occurred with Mrs. Choi, numerous letters were written, no meeting
was held to discuss the complaints with the NT’s

2. Last Minute News

- last minute news shows disorganization
- in Korea, it is ok to change something at the last minute, this happens rarely in western cultures and will make the teachers angry and lowers the respect of the employees toward an Institution
- discuss decisions BEFORE implementation that affect NT’s
- when NT’s are told something at the last minute, the feeling is they are not part of the team, the KT’s want harmony and teamwork, but this is a big factor why this is not happening


4. How NT’s respect management

- education, age or wealth does not earn respect in a western organization
- managers must show they know their job well and if not, work with their ‘co-workers’ not ‘employees’ to find out how to solve a problem together
- NT’s respect managers who a nice, contribute well to the team and see themselves as part of the group not a controlling leader
- Managers have the duty to control the group, but not all the time, and only when very important issues come up

No Details
Examples:

- tasks such as ‘you call we go” , online teaching, the training programs in the beginning stages – very little information was given – if we do not ask, we are not told
- this will make NT’s angry because 1. it is not professional for a manager to present something without thinking about everything about it first 2. NT’s cannot do a good job without details 3. Failure is more likely to happen


Repetitive Work that is too easy
- NT’s will not be satisfied in their jobs if they are not learning
- This will cause people to leave their contract or not renew their contract



'New Teachers will solve the problem'

- these issues are a management problem, as all of the teachers have gone down hill attitude wise since working here. (No sh%t Sherlock. Maybe cause they are all incompetent fools but don't realize it...and so have travelled several miles up their own arses??)


Clear Expectations from the beginning that do not change

- there is no excuse for not having expectations, even for a new institute
- this is not baby treatment, this is letting people know, and they only need to be informed one time


Class Oberservations

- teachers need structure and feedback
- it is rude to watch a class and not say anything (mainly because the teachers don't want the management to see their lesson...as it is probably shite)