A sixth grade teacher has changed the 6th period class on Tuesday to first period on two occasions this past month. Both times, she asked me the day before so it was fine.Today, at 8.45, a student from her class came to my office to say that from now on, the teacher wanted to have our class in the sixth period. Seemed a bit odd, but the teacher is very anxious, so I figured she just wanted to clarify everything.A few minutes later, the student came back out of breath, explaining that his teacher wants our class to be in the first period from now on. I've complained many times about not having proper notice of schedule changes, and was in the process of eating breakfast and drinking coffee, so I told the kid to tell his teacher that I was eating breakfast and I'm not going to accept schedule changes without being told the day before. Ten minutes is not acceptable notice.I do kind of feel sorry for that teacher as she's extremely anxious and cannot control her own class. She's even had parents insulting her over Kakao Talk which brought her to tears. But in the Korean workplace, you have to draw firm lines unless you want the crap to roll downhill onto you.
Quote from: StillInKorea on June 26, 2018, 08:20:07 amA sixth grade teacher has changed the 6th period class on Tuesday to first period on two occasions this past month. Both times, she asked me the day before so it was fine.Today, at 8.45, a student from her class came to my office to say that from now on, the teacher wanted to have our class in the sixth period. Seemed a bit odd, but the teacher is very anxious, so I figured she just wanted to clarify everything.A few minutes later, the student came back out of breath, explaining that his teacher wants our class to be in the first period from now on. I've complained many times about not having proper notice of schedule changes, and was in the process of eating breakfast and drinking coffee, so I told the kid to tell his teacher that I was eating breakfast and I'm not going to accept schedule changes without being told the day before. Ten minutes is not acceptable notice.I do kind of feel sorry for that teacher as she's extremely anxious and cannot control her own class. She's even had parents insulting her over Kakao Talk which brought her to tears. But in the Korean workplace, you have to draw firm lines unless you want the crap to roll downhill onto you.To just play devil's advocate; didn't you anticipate that the class might be moved again since it had already happened twice in the past month? In that situation I would have waited until you knew for sure before tucking into a full blown meal at your desk during work time.Has there been any fallout? Because surely the message is "StillInKorea didn't come to class because he was eating his breakfast (during work time) and refused to stop". Aristocrat and Dave Stepz are talking about bullying. Did she really bully you? lol I just think that however annoying last minute changes are (and I know they are!!) we should try and be flexible because it is a different culture.I think that spitting the dummy just makes you come across really badly to your coworkers.
Eating breakfast during work is an allowance, not a right. You're supposed to take care of that before you come into work.You have every right to stand your ground over short notice, NOT because you're eating breakfast during work hours (unless as part of a designated meal break time)
Quote from: Mr.DeMartino on June 26, 2018, 11:07:21 amEating breakfast during work is an allowance, not a right. You're supposed to take care of that before you come into work.You have every right to stand your ground over short notice, NOT because you're eating breakfast during work hours (unless as part of a designated meal break time)If she'd asked me yesterday, I'd have eaten breakfast earlier and been ready to teach her class in the first period. However, when you give somebody no notice of changes, there's a pretty good chance you're going to be interrupting something, which is really quite rude. In this case, it was my breakfast that she would have interrupted.
Quote from: alexisalex on June 26, 2018, 09:42:08 amQuote from: StillInKorea on June 26, 2018, 08:20:07 amA sixth grade teacher has changed the 6th period class on Tuesday to first period on two occasions this past month. Both times, she asked me the day before so it was fine.Today, at 8.45, a student from her class came to my office to say that from now on, the teacher wanted to have our class in the sixth period. Seemed a bit odd, but the teacher is very anxious, so I figured she just wanted to clarify everything.A few minutes later, the student came back out of breath, explaining that his teacher wants our class to be in the first period from now on. I've complained many times about not having proper notice of schedule changes, and was in the process of eating breakfast and drinking coffee, so I told the kid to tell his teacher that I was eating breakfast and I'm not going to accept schedule changes without being told the day before. Ten minutes is not acceptable notice.I do kind of feel sorry for that teacher as she's extremely anxious and cannot control her own class. She's even had parents insulting her over Kakao Talk which brought her to tears. But in the Korean workplace, you have to draw firm lines unless you want the crap to roll downhill onto you.To just play devil's advocate; didn't you anticipate that the class might be moved again since it had already happened twice in the past month? In that situation I would have waited until you knew for sure before tucking into a full blown meal at your desk during work time.Has there been any fallout? Because surely the message is "StillInKorea didn't come to class because he was eating his breakfast (during work time) and refused to stop". Aristocrat and Dave Stepz are talking about bullying. Did she really bully you? lol I just think that however annoying last minute changes are (and I know they are!!) we should try and be flexible because it is a different culture.I think that spitting the dummy just makes you come across really badly to your coworkers.I'd hazard a guess that you haven't been here long.I mentioned bullying because that's what it's related to. The culture, in Asia, Japan and Korea is to be non-confrontational in order to save face and not put others in a position to lose face. When being bullied or being obstructed by a problem, or issue, that will lead to confrontation, what Confucianism teaches is to:A - Run away B - Ignore the problem and/or endure itC - Shift the responsibility on someone else or blame someone elseD - Play the victimThe homeroom teacher has opted for 'C', she probably got some BS errands to run for parents or God knows who as she's too weak and meek to refuse... option 'B'Be very, very careful when doing 'favours' for Koreans at work... personal life, that's your business. Trust me, they're well aware that you're trying to be mindful of the culture and don't want to offend. Many will take full advantage of it, never has the proverb "Give him a finger and he'll take the whole arm" been more appropriate. When my wife first came to Korea, the school got her to teach 26 classes! The kept saying there wasn't a budget for overtime and that the previous NET did it and everyone loved her, they even tried to get her to "hang out with the students" during lunch, in the English class. They specifically called it "hanging out" so they didn't have to register as teaching time. Be professional and have your boundaries.
I don't get this crusade to try to change Korean culture. Trust me, the lesson that StillInKorea thinks he taught his co-teacher is totally lost on her. She's not going to be hit with the epiphany "You know what? This foreigner has really opened my eyes. My culture really is sh*t isn't it?!!"
what Confucianism teaches is to:A - Run away B - Ignore the problem and/or endure itC - Shift the responsibility on someone else or blame someone elseD - Play the victim
Humid today.
Quote from: Aristocrat on June 26, 2018, 02:58:58 pmQuote from: alexisalex on June 26, 2018, 09:42:08 amQuote from: StillInKorea on June 26, 2018, 08:20:07 amA sixth grade teacher has changed the 6th period class on Tuesday to first period on two occasions this past month. Both times, she asked me the day before so it was fine.Today, at 8.45, a student from her class came to my office to say that from now on, the teacher wanted to have our class in the sixth period. Seemed a bit odd, but the teacher is very anxious, so I figured she just wanted to clarify everything.A few minutes later, the student came back out of breath, explaining that his teacher wants our class to be in the first period from now on. I've complained many times about not having proper notice of schedule changes, and was in the process of eating breakfast and drinking coffee, so I told the kid to tell his teacher that I was eating breakfast and I'm not going to accept schedule changes without being told the day before. Ten minutes is not acceptable notice.I do kind of feel sorry for that teacher as she's extremely anxious and cannot control her own class. She's even had parents insulting her over Kakao Talk which brought her to tears. But in the Korean workplace, you have to draw firm lines unless you want the crap to roll downhill onto you.To just play devil's advocate; didn't you anticipate that the class might be moved again since it had already happened twice in the past month? In that situation I would have waited until you knew for sure before tucking into a full blown meal at your desk during work time.Has there been any fallout? Because surely the message is "StillInKorea didn't come to class because he was eating his breakfast (during work time) and refused to stop". Aristocrat and Dave Stepz are talking about bullying. Did she really bully you? lol I just think that however annoying last minute changes are (and I know they are!!) we should try and be flexible because it is a different culture.I think that spitting the dummy just makes you come across really badly to your coworkers.I'd hazard a guess that you haven't been here long.I mentioned bullying because that's what it's related to. The culture, in Asia, Japan and Korea is to be non-confrontational in order to save face and not put others in a position to lose face. When being bullied or being obstructed by a problem, or issue, that will lead to confrontation, what Confucianism teaches is to:A - Run away B - Ignore the problem and/or endure itC - Shift the responsibility on someone else or blame someone elseD - Play the victimThe homeroom teacher has opted for 'C', she probably got some BS errands to run for parents or God knows who as she's too weak and meek to refuse... option 'B'Be very, very careful when doing 'favours' for Koreans at work... personal life, that's your business. Trust me, they're well aware that you're trying to be mindful of the culture and don't want to offend. Many will take full advantage of it, never has the proverb "Give him a finger and he'll take the whole arm" been more appropriate. When my wife first came to Korea, the school got her to teach 26 classes! The kept saying there wasn't a budget for overtime and that the previous NET did it and everyone loved her, they even tried to get her to "hang out with the students" during lunch, in the English class. They specifically called it "hanging out" so they didn't have to register as teaching time. Be professional and have your boundaries.But there's a huge difference between your wife's situation and StillInKorea's. She was being asked to do things not in her contract and well outside the realms of reasonable "extras". I'm all for standing your ground there and having boundaries.StillInKorea refused to teach a class because he was annoyed at the short notice. He literally refused to do his job. A world of difference!I don't get this crusade to try to change Korean culture. Trust me, the lesson that StillInKorea thinks he taught his co-teacher is totally lost on her. She's not going to be hit with the epiphany "You know what? This foreigner has really opened my eyes. My culture really is sh*t isn't it?!!"
If you're 100% miserable, quit. 30-day notice would give you time to get your things in order. Or... There is nothing illegal about pulling a runner. Not too classy, but it's your life.
Quote from: williamwhite on June 26, 2018, 06:34:31 pmIf you're 100% miserable, quit. 30-day notice would give you time to get your things in order. Or... There is nothing illegal about pulling a runner. Not too classy, but it's your life.Bingsu should do a midnight run, report everything to the Education Office, and then name and shame her school and co-teacher once she's left the country. The people at her school are absolute scum.