RANTING/VENTING MEGATHREAD 3.0

This is what was said:

"My co-workers told me to never discuss test questions with my students after the exam. If my students had any questions about them, I was to send them straight to their Korean teacher who made the questions because my answers were inflammatory..."

Is it still hard for you to figure out what happened above, Mr. Tim?

Yes, that is what was initially said. When you called him out on that, he further clarified on what had occurred the one time there was an issue. He clearly demonstrated that your criticism wasn't entirely applicable in the situation.

At that point, rather than saying something like "Ah, well then what I said doesn't really apply to that particular situation," you dug in your heels and continued to insist he was in the wrong, saying he was just trying to justify it rather than accept responsibility.

You could've conceded while still taking the opportunity to make a suggestion on how to change moving forward, but instead you stuck with your usual condescending schtick. You could've been constructive, but you chose instead to just be a jerk.

Serious question: Is the way you talk to people in here an indication of how you talk to people face-to-face?

Hindsight being 20/20, do you know understand what you did was wrong?

I ask, because it didn't sound like it from you post.

It sounded more like you were justifying it, rather than accepting responsibility for making trouble.

He said he didn't know it was a test question, so your earlier complaint didn't apply to that situation. He wasn't trying to meddle or second guessing the KETs, he was just answering a question a student had.  He wasn't "inserting himself," and he couldn't have "redirected them to ask the teacher who made the test," because he didn't even know it was from a test.

So hindsight being 20/20, do you see now how what you said doesn't apply to him there?

Well, you are either simply being ignorant or taking the piss, because only a mouth-breather would think that a student would ever ask you an English exam question for "shits-n-giggles", especially someone who is a known "ringer".

That is why, as others have said countless times, when asked a question, you ask "Why?" before sticking your foot in your mouth.

That's silly. Kids are supposed to ask questions in class, that's normal classroom behavior. Everytime they ask a question, you should ask why they're asking?! In what world?

Why you asking? ;)

What a day...

I teach at 4 schools (all of which want to do camp) and in May, I told my CT at one of my rural schools to let me know about Winter camp plans ASAP, as I work on a first come first serve basis.
I regularly reminded her and by July, 3 of my schools had locked in their dates, I'd signed my vacation days off and booked my plane tickets.

Today, 15th of November, she announces that she wants to do camp for Winter. Quite bluntly, I told her there was no way that was happening. She's convinced that it's unfair that I only teach camp at my 3 other schools. Apparently, explaining what first come first serve means didn't work.

To add to this, she comes to school with nothing short of bubonic plague, coughing and sneezing her lungs out, which is compounded by her habit of standing way too close to me. Delicately, I try to explain that she's aggravating her condition and she's potentially infecting me and all the students she comes into contact with. She goes on to leave used tissues all over my desk to, as if to stress the point that she couldn't care less.

The ace up her sleeve is to tell me, after lunch, that all the teachers will be going on a hike at 3pm. As usual, no prior notice is given, and I'm expected to walk up a mountain in my dress pants and oxfords.

That's completely disgusting and entirely passive aggressive 

What a day...

I teach at 4 schools (all of which want to do camp) and in May, I told my CT at one of my rural schools to let me know about Winter camp plans ASAP, as I work on a first come first serve basis.
I regularly reminded her and by July, 3 of my schools had locked in their dates, I'd signed my vacation days off and booked my plane tickets.

Today, 15th of November, she announces that she wants to do camp for Winter. Quite bluntly, I told her there was no way that was happening. She's convinced that it's unfair that I only teach camp at my 3 other schools. Apparently, explaining what first come first serve means didn't work.

To add to this, she comes to school with nothing short of bubonic plague, coughing and sneezing her lungs out, which is compounded by her habit of standing way too close to me. Delicately, I try to explain that she's aggravating her condition and she's potentially infecting me and all the students she comes into contact with. She goes on to leave used tissues all over my desk to, as if to stress the point that she couldn't care less.

The ace up her sleeve is to tell me, after lunch, that all the teachers will be going on a hike at 3pm. As usual, no prior notice is given, and I'm expected to walk up a mountain in my dress pants and oxfords.

That's completely disgusting and entirely passive aggressive 

Could very well be. Then again, she is extremely untidy and leaving tissues on the desk (which we share), seems about right.
On the hike, all the teachers sat down to share food from a single large bowl. Hacking and sneezing away she heartily indulged whilst her, and all the other teachers, seemed perplexed and perturbed by the fact that I kept my distance and opted not to eat from the same bowl as her and 8 other people.

 

Urg.

1.  We have the 1.5 hour delayed start tomorrow for the university exam... but they've just shifted the day and erased 7th hour, which I'm not scheduled for, so none of my classes are canceled.

2.  The mugunghwa train is so goddamn crowded since they've canceled a few of the routes.  They've been running out of standing tickets more and more lately which forces me to just sneak on because I'm not going to wait over two hours for the next one.  If this was in my country I would be writing and calling the company to complain every day.  I can't be the only one mega inconvenienced by this.

3.  Every single day all the students and teachers who aren't me are given a carton of milk.  They give me so many shitty rice cakes and other gross bs every day that I don't want, and the milk would be the one thing I do want.  I don't understand why I don't get it... I pay into the school fund...  Luckily a few of the teachers give me theirs if they don't want it that day.

Urg.

1.  We have the 1.5 hour delayed start tomorrow for the university exam... but they've just shifted the day and erased 7th hour, which I'm not scheduled for, so none of my classes are canceled.

2.  The mugunghwa train is so goddamn crowded since they've canceled a few of the routes.  They've been running out of standing tickets more and more lately which forces me to just sneak on because I'm not going to wait over two hours for the next one.  If this was in my country I would be writing and calling the company to complain every day.  I can't be the only one mega inconvenienced by this.

3.  Every single day all the students and teachers who aren't me are given a carton of milk.  They give me so many shitty rice cakes and other gross bs every day that I don't want, and the milk would be the one thing I do want.  I don't understand why I don't get it... I pay into the school fund...  Luckily a few of the teachers give me theirs if they don't want it that day.

Go to the 행정실 and ask your school administrator about the milk. I'm almost positive that if you ask, they'll take 300 won or so a day out your paycheck and you'll get your milk. Sometimes using words to communicate with people can be an amazing tool.

Go to the 행정실 and ask your school administrator about the milk. I'm almost positive that if you ask, they'll take 300 won or so a day out your paycheck and you'll get your milk. Sometimes using words to communicate with people can be an amazing tool.

Yes.  Because this thread/forum isn't 100% full of people who try using words to communicate with people and are misunderstood all day every day.  Great advice.

Urg.

1.  We have the 1.5 hour delayed start tomorrow for the university exam... but they've just shifted the day and erased 7th hour, which I'm not scheduled for, so none of my classes are canceled.

2.  The mugunghwa train is so goddamn crowded since they've canceled a few of the routes.  They've been running out of standing tickets more and more lately which forces me to just sneak on because I'm not going to wait over two hours for the next one.  If this was in my country I would be writing and calling the company to complain every day.  I can't be the only one mega inconvenienced by this.

3.  Every single day all the students and teachers who aren't me are given a carton of milk.  They give me so many shitty rice cakes and other gross bs every day that I don't want, and the milk would be the one thing I do want.  I don't understand why I don't get it... I pay into the school fund...  Luckily a few of the teachers give me theirs if they don't want it that day.

Go to the 행정실 and ask your school administrator about the milk. I'm almost positive that if you ask, they'll take 300 won or so a day out your paycheck and you'll get your milk. Sometimes using words to communicate with people can be an amazing tool.

You have to pay extra for the milk. It's a separate purchase from any school fund.

You have to pay extra for the milk. It's a separate purchase from any school fund.

Okay.  That's surprising to me since no one ever mentioned it to me and there's one teacher that gives hers to me a few times a week.  Why doesn't she just not pay for it?

You have to pay extra for the milk. It's a separate purchase from any school fund.

Okay.  That's surprising to me since no one ever mentioned it to me and there's one teacher that gives hers to me a few times a week.  Why doesn't she just not pay for it?

It's not something you pay for each time, they deduct it monthly as a lump sum. So you're either all in, or you're out.

With that being said, maybe she felt pressured to do it because everyone else was doing it. Also could be that she doesn't always want it but wants it enough times that she doesn't want to opt out of the program. Or maybe she thought she'd drink it more often but it turns out that milk really isn't her thing, or it could be she feels bad for you and wants you to have it sometimes.

My own school asked me if I wanted to opt in, but I said "no" because I knew it would be the Seoul milk brand (it always is) and I hate that brand. When I started bringing my own, the teachers were like, "Why didn't you just opt for the program?" And they can't really understand why I don't like Seoul milk because it's supposed to be really good quality milk.

No, it's not. It tastes weird to me and I don't want it.

You have to pay extra for the milk. It's a separate purchase from any school fund.

Okay.  That's surprising to me since no one ever mentioned it to me and there's one teacher that gives hers to me a few times a week.  Why doesn't she just not pay for it?

It's not something you pay for each time, they deduct it monthly as a lump sum. So you're either all in, or you're out.

With that being said, maybe she felt pressured to do it because everyone else was doing it. Also could be that she doesn't always want it but wants it enough times that she doesn't want to opt out of the program. Or maybe she thought she'd drink it more often but it turns out that milk really isn't her thing, or it could be she feels bad for you and wants you to have it sometimes.

My own school asked me if I wanted to opt in, but I said "no" because I knew it would be the Seoul milk brand (it always is) and I hate that brand. When I started bringing my own, the teachers were like, "Why didn't you just opt for the program?" And they can't really understand why I don't like Seoul milk because it's supposed to be really good quality milk.

No, it's not. It tastes weird to me and I don't want it.

I like this one the best...

You have to pay extra for the milk. It's a separate purchase from any school fund.

This is correct (although the milk is free for the students -- it's just teachers/staff who have to pay for it if they want it).

It's not something you pay for each time, they deduct it monthly as a lump sum. So you're either all in, or you're out.

With that being said, maybe she felt pressured to do it because everyone else was doing it. Also could be that she doesn't always want it but wants it enough times that she doesn't want to opt out of the program. Or maybe she thought she'd drink it more often but it turns out that milk really isn't her thing, or it could be she feels bad for you and wants you to have it sometimes.

My own school asked me if I wanted to opt in, but I said "no" because I knew it would be the Seoul milk brand (it always is) and I hate that brand. When I started bringing my own, the teachers were like, "Why didn't you just opt for the program?" And they can't really understand why I don't like Seoul milk because it's supposed to be really good quality milk.

No, it's not. It tastes weird to me and I don't want it.

I'm also quite apprehensive about milk in this country since I can't tell exactly what any of it is... I'd prefer whole milk as it's a whole food...

Milk is gross and I hate it. Especially when it's warm, which it always IS whenever someone gives me a carton of milk at school. When they give it to me, I'm reminded of that Kanye West twitter rant about waking up next to a water bottle on an airplane.

My first reaction to seeing milk just in a crate in the hallway was that everyone was gunna die from spoiled milk.  I agree that milk is gross (unless its for cooking) and I can't imagine paying for lukewarm milk.

You have to pay extra for the milk. It's a separate purchase from any school fund.

This is correct (although the milk is free for the students -- it's just teachers/staff who have to pay for it if they want it).

i'm always amazed at the sheer amount of stuff kids in this country get for free. milk, school lunch, even stationary like glue, scissors, compasses for math ... all free. pretty much everything and anything they need for school is just given as a hand out. great for the poor kids out in the rural areas who really need it, but when you have 10 year old kids walking into class wearing North Face down jackets like they do in my city .... perhaps the government could spend that money better in certain regions.

I like this one the best...

I purchase "organic" milk from a local COOP whenever I can... not because I feel it's healthiest or whatever, but because it really does taste so much better than most of the milk sold here.

But when I can't have it (sells out a lot where I live), I go with GT from the local market. Especially fond of GT's Einstein milk (I think it's supposed to be for kids, but whatever, I like it).

I'm also quite apprehensive about milk in this country since I can't tell exactly what any of it is... I'd prefer whole milk as it's a whole food...

I was the same originally, but I've made my peace with it because I gotta have milk. It's the source of my power.

I've almost entirely given up cow's milk for almond milk. That stuff is addictive.

I've almost entirely given up cow's milk for almond milk. That stuff is addictive.

I saw some almond dream banana almond milk at a mini stop.  Is that exclusive to Korea or is that a thing?

... She goes on to leave used tissues all over my desk...

That's completely disgusting and entirely passive aggressive 

Could very well be. Then again, she is extremely untidy and leaving tissues on the desk (which we share), seems about right.
On the hike, all the teachers sat down to share food from a single large bowl. Hacking and sneezing away she heartily indulged whilst her, and all the other teachers, seemed perplexed and perturbed by the fact that I kept my distance and opted not to eat from the same bowl as her and 8 other people.

Ah, a shared desk. Maybe not intentionally passive aggressive then but still disgusting. Hurk