RANTING/VENTING MEGATHREAD 3.0

Hopefully this is the right place to bitch about co workers.
Generally my co teachers are a massive help. I have three, one for fourth, fifth and sixth grade. Sadly my sixth grade co teacher took early maternity leave about four months ago. I ended up with a temporary co teacher who is completely inept.
She lets students talk over her, can't effectively discipline students and never even asks what we're going to do before a lesson. I've had four months of being responsible for planning out the semester, preparing all lesson material and figuring out how to present it without a co teacher to help translate because her English level is lower than a lot of my students.
She actually makes my job more difficult by walking around while i'm presenting vocabulary, the rules of a game or playing a song while the students complete a gapfill and then she just chats in Korean which is really distracting. She almost never speaks in English during lessons. My ideal lesson these days are the ones where she stands at the back subtly using her phone. I've also noticed that some of the work she does during her solo lessons seems very low level.. like 3rd or 4th grade color the picture kind of stuff. The classroom is often messier as well so I end up tidying frequently after her lessons end. She also has a terrible habit of jamming the photocopier and then just walking away... which isn't a great tactic as its jammed with her crappy worksheets.
I'm proud to say that three of my sixth grade classes are doing very well overall but the other two are noticeably worse in terms of their behavior.
At this point i'm feeling burnt out and can only hope that I never have the misfortune of working with her again after the semester ends next week.
Rant finished....

I'm guessing she's slightly on the older side, correct?

I've worked with lots of temp teachers like that. They have very few expectations placed on them, and have no vested interest in putting a lot of effort into the classes. Also, their English level may be much lower than that of most regular teachers.

There's not much you can do. Just roll with it. There's no point getting into a spat with her. Just show up, do whatever for the forty minutes with the comfort of knowing that she doesn't care if you phone it in, and she would also prefer if you could both have a minimum effort class.

Plus, they're 6th graders, so you won't even have to deal with them next year.

Sadly I still have a semester to go and feel bad that my original co teacher will have to help me fix these discipline issues. She's actually quite young, early 30's. She's very polite but just seems to not take anything seriously. I've been putting a lot of work in but over the past two months try to subtly show the students that she has no real authority or role in the lesson. Like when I give out a worksheet which she can't really help the students with because it's too hard for her and I didn't give her an answer sheet. That's about the closest i'll get to any form of revenge though. I'm mostly just annoyed that she gets paid to be there and also that i'm overworked. I'm actually more stressed out now than I was while both working and studying my masters.

I've been in that exact situation. And I was really stressed, and felt really petty and bitter, like you do.

Then that teacher got a bad attitude towards me and it ended up being a huge headache.

Next time I had a teacher who really didn't care at all, I just dialed back my expectations, chatted with her and the students, didn't stress about anything, and didn't try to force the lessons, and everything was great. It was one of the easiest semesters I ever had, and everyone was happy.

Just change your perspective and realize that you've basically been given a free pass to have super low-effort classes.

Having a super disinterested teacher who doesn't ask anything of you or the students doesn't mean you have to do more work. It actually means you can do much, much less.

I've been in that exact situation. And I was really stressed, and felt really petty and bitter, like you do.

Then that teacher got a bad attitude towards me and it ended up being a huge headache.

Next time I had a teacher who really didn't care at all, I just dialed back my expectations, chatted with her and the students, didn't stress about anything, and didn't try to force the lessons, and everything was great. It was one of the easiest semesters I ever had, and everyone was happy.

Just change your perspective and realize that you've basically been given a free pass to have super low-effort classes.

Having a super disinterested teacher who doesn't ask anything of you or the students doesn't mean you have to do more work. It actually means you can do much, much less.

I can't really look at it that way though. I have to prepare all of the lesson material because she won't do that. so I can halfass that but then the lessons won't be as much fun and the students are the ones losing out. I also have to discipline students if they misbehave. I have to tell them to be quiet during class. So I can not discipline kids but that's only going to cause problems. I also have to check she does things like prepare tests... which she forgot about.. and then we ended up doing three tests in a row with all of my lessons.

I mean if I don't put any work in... discipline becomes a bigger issue and the students don't enjoy the lessons as much. The only reason I have three good classes and two bad ones is because I put so much work in. It's not a matter of perspective. It's a matter of me having to do everything and find ways of overcoming the language barrier between me and the students at the same time.

I can't just chat with her either because her English is way too low for this position. She only got the job because she was literally the only person who was available at such short notice.

I like to have a nap on the subway, as I have a fairly long journey. I am also listening to music. Two days in a row now, while I was sleeping, someone found it suitable to tap me until I wake up, make me remove my earphones, and try and talk to me. This isn't acceptable behaviour, right? I wanted to do nothing more than to tell them to **** off and leave me alone

I like to have a nap on the subway, as I have a fairly long journey. I am also listening to music. Two days in a row now, while I was sleeping, someone found it suitable to tap me until I wake up, make me remove my earphones, and try and talk to me. This isn't acceptable behaviour, right? I wanted to do nothing more than to tell them to **** off and leave me alone

Just growl at them... Not a silly growl, but an honest bear growl.

People ignore the mentally ill.

Just growl at them... Not a silly growl, but an honest bear growl.

People ignore the mentally ill.

My mom's friend, back when they went to U of T, would recite the dialogue from A New Hope quite loudly as she walked home.

No one ever fu**ed with her.

I like to have a nap on the subway, as I have a fairly long journey. I am also listening to music. Two days in a row now, while I was sleeping, someone found it suitable to tap me until I wake up, make me remove my earphones, and try and talk to me. This isn't acceptable behaviour, right? I wanted to do nothing more than to tell them to **** off and leave me alone

Are you riding Line 1?

I like to have a nap on the subway, as I have a fairly long journey. I am also listening to music. Two days in a row now, while I was sleeping, someone found it suitable to tap me until I wake up, make me remove my earphones, and try and talk to me. This isn't acceptable behaviour, right? I wanted to do nothing more than to tell them to **** off and leave me alone

I don't know how some people have the nerve to do that to strangers. I barely had the nerve as a kid to wake my parents when they were sleeping.

Yeah, I don't get it, either. Some people are just that socially oblivious, but most of the ones I've encountered aren't oblivious -- they're just brazen because they're either 1) disrespectful of others (especially of non-Korean ethnicities/nationalities) and believe they can get away with bad or inconsiderate behavior towards them as long as they do it with a smile, or 2) they've got the wrong idea about what non-Korean cultures are like, and ignore social cues to the contrary because they've tunnel-visioned on that idea.

I've also both read and been told about how some asshats have actually yanked earphones out of people's ears. No idea what I'd do if someone did this to me, the very idea pisses me off so much that I don't know if I could stay polite after that.

Anyway, if it keeps happening to you, work on your resting bitch face. 100% tested and approved.

Yeah, I don't get it, either. Some people are just that socially oblivious, but most of the ones I've encountered aren't oblivious -- they're just brazen because they're either 1) disrespectful of others (especially of non-Korean ethnicities/nationalities) and believe they can get away with bad or inconsiderate behavior towards them as long as they do it with a smile, or 2) they've got the wrong idea about what non-Korean cultures are like, and ignore social cues to the contrary because they've tunnel-visioned on that idea.

I've also both read and been told about how some asshats have actually yanked earphones out of people's ears. No idea what I'd do if someone did this to me, the very idea pisses me off so much that I don't know if I could stay polite after that.

Anyway, if it keeps happening to you, work on your resting bitch face. 100% tested and approved.

RBF in combination with death glare.

Yeah, I don't get it, either. Some people are just that socially oblivious, but most of the ones I've encountered aren't oblivious -- they're just brazen because they're either 1) disrespectful of others (especially of non-Korean ethnicities/nationalities) and believe they can get away with bad or inconsiderate behavior towards them as long as they do it with a smile, or 2) they've got the wrong idea about what non-Korean cultures are like, and ignore social cues to the contrary because they've tunnel-visioned on that idea.

I've also both read and been told about how some asshats have actually yanked earphones out of people's ears. No idea what I'd do if someone did this to me, the very idea pisses me off so much that I don't know if I could stay polite after that.

Anyway, if it keeps happening to you, work on your resting bitch face. 100% tested and approved.

i asked my wife if anyone would do this to a korean citizen and i got a solid "no"

it's a pretty obvious social cue not to disturb someone if they are listening to music -- and if someone is sleeping, too...

it's always the older generation, though. probably the whole "i'm older so i can do what i want" attitude. i don't believe for a second they are socially oblivious -- just they think the rules don't apply to them

Hopefully this is the right place to bitch about co workers.
Generally my co teachers are a massive help. I have three, one for fourth, fifth and sixth grade. Sadly my sixth grade co teacher took early maternity leave about four months ago. I ended up with a temporary co teacher who is completely inept.
She lets students talk over her, can't effectively discipline students and never even asks what we're going to do before a lesson. I've had four months of being responsible for planning out the semester, preparing all lesson material and figuring out how to present it without a co teacher to help translate because her English level is lower than a lot of my students.
She actually makes my job more difficult by walking around while i'm presenting vocabulary, the rules of a game or playing a song while the students complete a gapfill and then she just chats in Korean which is really distracting. She almost never speaks in English during lessons. My ideal lesson these days are the ones where she stands at the back subtly using her phone. I've also noticed that some of the work she does during her solo lessons seems very low level.. like 3rd or 4th grade color the picture kind of stuff. The classroom is often messier as well so I end up tidying frequently after her lessons end. She also has a terrible habit of jamming the photocopier and then just walking away... which isn't a great tactic as its jammed with her crappy worksheets.
I'm proud to say that three of my sixth grade classes are doing very well overall but the other two are noticeably worse in terms of their behavior.
At this point i'm feeling burnt out and can only hope that I never have the misfortune of working with her again after the semester ends next week.
Rant finished....

I have a similar situation, but with my 5th grade coteacher. First coteacher was a temp coteacher. She was absolutely amazing. We were around the same age (both on the younger end), and she spoke almost perfect English. We would plan lessons together and I knew that her lessons would be excellent with or without me. Kids excelled, and, despite being notoriously the worst behaved grade in the school, they behaved quite well in our classes.

In the middle of the semester, the original (full time) teacher returned. She's back just to finish out the semester and get retirement. She's the sweetest person in the world, but she can't speak English to save her life, and she can't control the students. In just a month, all of the classes have devolved. They don't listen, they don't participate, and they don't retain anything they've learned.

I've instituted a 3-strike system. They get a tally mark on the board if they're loud or not listening (the whole class, or just one person), and 3 tallies means we stop whatever we're doing and they have to copy and translate lines in silence for the rest of class. They're still not as good as they were with the temp teacher, but they are behaving better.

Today is draaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa gging.

Today is draaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa gging.

Have you considered taking speed?

Today is draaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa gging.

Have you considered taking speed?

Not until now. Wanna deliver some to my school?

Today is draaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa gging.

Have you considered taking speed?

Not until now. Wanna deliver some to my school?

Co-worker just came by with a round of iced coffee for the crew.
Caffeine level back on spec!

(Is it Friday yet?)

Hopefully this is the right place to bitch about co workers.
Generally my co teachers are a massive help. I have three, one for fourth, fifth and sixth grade. Sadly my sixth grade co teacher took early maternity leave about four months ago. I ended up with a temporary co teacher who is completely inept.
She lets students talk over her, can't effectively discipline students and never even asks what we're going to do before a lesson. I've had four months of being responsible for planning out the semester, preparing all lesson material and figuring out how to present it without a co teacher to help translate because her English level is lower than a lot of my students.
She actually makes my job more difficult by walking around while i'm presenting vocabulary, the rules of a game or playing a song while the students complete a gapfill and then she just chats in Korean which is really distracting. She almost never speaks in English during lessons. My ideal lesson these days are the ones where she stands at the back subtly using her phone. I've also noticed that some of the work she does during her solo lessons seems very low level.. like 3rd or 4th grade color the picture kind of stuff. The classroom is often messier as well so I end up tidying frequently after her lessons end. She also has a terrible habit of jamming the photocopier and then just walking away... which isn't a great tactic as its jammed with her crappy worksheets.
I'm proud to say that three of my sixth grade classes are doing very well overall but the other two are noticeably worse in terms of their behavior.
At this point i'm feeling burnt out and can only hope that I never have the misfortune of working with her again after the semester ends next week.
Rant finished....

I have a similar situation, but with my 5th grade coteacher. First coteacher was a temp coteacher. She was absolutely amazing. We were around the same age (both on the younger end), and she spoke almost perfect English. We would plan lessons together and I knew that her lessons would be excellent with or without me. Kids excelled, and, despite being notoriously the worst behaved grade in the school, they behaved quite well in our classes.

In the middle of the semester, the original (full time) teacher returned. She's back just to finish out the semester and get retirement. She's the sweetest person in the world, but she can't speak English to save her life, and she can't control the students. In just a month, all of the classes have devolved. They don't listen, they don't participate, and they don't retain anything they've learned.

I've instituted a 3-strike system. They get a tally mark on the board if they're loud or not listening (the whole class, or just one person), and 3 tallies means we stop whatever we're doing and they have to copy and translate lines in silence for the rest of class. They're still not as good as they were with the temp teacher, but they are behaving better.

Oh man.. that sounds tragic. The other day I tried talking to my co teacher about how the 6th grade has gotten worse, problem students, problem classes and all of that good stuff. Unfortunately my co teacher had drawn a dragon on her hand.. and every time she moved her thumb it looked like the dragon was breathing fire.. so I don't think she really focused on what I said or will work to improve in any way. Thankfully just four days left of teaching with her. I'd honestly quit if I had to work with her for another semester.

I have a coworker who is just wonderful. She is excellent at her job, friendly, always smiling, and just great person to be around... except her breath!

There seams to be a stark divide in Korea - those who carry a toothbrush everywhere and those who don't own one.

I have a coworker who is just wonderful. She is excellent at her job, friendly, always smiling, and just great person to be around... except her breath!

There seams to be a stark divide in Korea - those who carry a toothbrush everywhere and those who don't own one.

To be fair they are extremely overpriced. Back home my carbon fibre handled toothbrush with spider cob web bristles and alligator hide rear for tongue scrubbing is similarly expensive. 

Individually wrapped cookies.

**** you, Lotte.

yeah, ordering stuff like cans of tuna from coupang. wrapped in bubble wrap, with the cans wrapped in plastic (in cans of 3), and then the cans of 3 are wrapped in more plastic, in sets of 9.

this is all surrounded with those air-pocket padding, and put in a box. or, in another plastic bag

That is SO bad for the environment. Did you know South Korea has the highest per capita plastic consumption in the world? And did you know plastic is made from petroleum, a finite resource? Hopefully excess packaging and plastic umbrella covers, etc. will go away or at least be reduced soon. I've been thinking of ways to help make that happen.