RANTING/VENTING MEGATHREAD 3.0

I too have turned into the teacher I swore I would never be. Thankfully my days are short, and it's almost time to go home but teaching in Korea has convinced me that I never want to teach again.

I am done, too. I feel the same way. Well, teaching kids. Do you ever look back and think, "how did I do this for so long?"
because I do

I've gotten to the point as well where I tell myself and others "I would stay in Korea if I didn't have to teach." There are some annoying things about living here, but it's harder to turn a blind eye when you're in school.

well, i enjoy teaching adults and will continue to do so. teaching kids though... never again

I too have turned into the teacher I swore I would never be. Thankfully my days are short, and it's almost time to go home but teaching in Korea has convinced me that I never want to teach again.

I am done, too. I feel the same way. Well, teaching kids. Do you ever look back and think, "how did I do this for so long?"
because I do

Every single day!!!!

Titus Groan:
So spare me the 'Hallowe'en is only a children's thing' bullshit... Perhaps you've never been to a real adult Hallowe'en party...? If  that's the case, maybe you should give it a go. If you have been to one, and it wasn't great, maybe you just went to/go to lame parties...!

That' right, man.  Adult parties that REQUIRE guests to dress in a costume aren't lame!  It's all subjective.  As an adult I have no interest in wearing a costume and find the people that really get into it annoying.  That's just how I feel.  If I get invited to an event that insists that I wear a costume because same lameo thinks it's "Fun and wacky!" you can be assured I can't be bothered.  All the power to you if you're into that. 

If I meet someone for the first time and the first thing they talk about is either Tinder or Cat Cafe/SJW type BS, I immediately file this person under the category of "Disregard".

"Hey, nice to meet you"
"OMG you won't believe the white privilege/mansplaining I just encountered"

*flash to inside of my head*- immediate thoughts of alcohol and classic Simpsons episodes

Following my post about consulting in the "Friday Ramblings" thread, the ones who did my consulting told me several interesting bits of info. One of which was that putting one's hands in their pockets is considered a sign of disinterest or disrespect (I've only been doing this since I've been wearing a hoodie these past two weeks). I appreciate the advice to not do that, but at the same time my CTs have been aware of this and several other things that they talked about for WEEKS now, and at no point do they think it's a good idea to tell me?

"Oh, but JVPrice, what about...?"

No. My CTs were nodding in silent agreement as I was given this information. I wouldn't even be angry with a lot of these criticisms if they weren't things my CTs could've told me.

If I meet someone for the first time and the first thing they talk about is either Tinder or Cat Cafe/SJW type BS, I immediately file this person under the category of "Disregard".

"Hey, nice to meet you"
"OMG you won't believe the white privilege/mansplaining I just encountered"

*flash to inside of my head*- immediate thoughts of alcohol and classic Simpsons episodes

I.... what?

No. My CTs were nodding in silent agreement as I given this information. I wouldn't even be angry with a lot of these criticisms if they weren't things my CTs could've told me.

A lot of people have a hard time being direct with their coworkers about stuff like this, so they'll wait for someone with authority to say something, or just agree with the collective should the subject come up.

I will say, though, that sometimes people will just agree with the collective because of conformity and not because they actually agree with it.

With that being said, apparently crossing your legs while sitting with others (one leg over the other, not when you're on the floor) is considered rude, too. I only learned about that this year because no one ever said anything to me about it. I just happened to be around when a CT scolded a student for crossing her legs, and I was all like, "What, that's not allowed?"

No. My CTs were nodding in silent agreement as I given this information. I wouldn't even be angry with a lot of these criticisms if they weren't things my CTs could've told me.

A lot of people have a hard time being direct with their coworkers about stuff like this, so they'll wait for someone with authority to say something, or just agree with the collective should the subject come up.

I will say, though, that sometimes people will just agree with the collective because of conformity and not because they actually agree with it.

With that being said, apparently crossing your legs while sitting with others (one leg over the other, not when you're on the floor) is considered rude, too. I only learned about that this year because no one ever said anything to me about it. I just happened to be around when a CT scolded a student for crossing her legs, and I was all like, "What, that's not allowed?"

Yeah. But for reals, a lot of these little faux pas are only a problem if someone decides to make them a problem.

Example: I once had a deeply unpleasant manager (who I mentioned in the other thread about waygook.org user JVPrice's consulting experience) who REALLY wanted to get me fired / not renewed.

So, during a big 'consulting'ish meeting, the following complaints were brought up:
- that I didn't go into neighbouring classrooms to chat with teachers [who I didn't know] in between classes
- that I worn jeans
- that I put my hands in my pockets
- that I didn't smile enough outside of class
- that I brought a water bottle to class
- that I didn't greet the VP every morning in her office
- that I didn't speak Korean well enough

And all of these things are things I had been doing / have continued to do before and since then. And they're literally not things that should be made an issue of. Nobody - sincerely nobody- has ever complained about or mentioned any of those things to me, ever. Except for that one person, who wanted to cause a stink.

Contrary to what some people on this website might have people believe, the vast majority of Koreans are not  hyper-dogmatic 'this is wrong / this is right' people who nitpick every little thing. BUT! Those kind of people do exist. And they can make your working life absolutely miserable.

I'm not one to b*tch much.  It usually take A LOT to annoy me, but...……………..  Why is it that the traveling Violin Teacher HAS to use my classroom when the auditorium is empty?  The kids literally drag their music stands into my room from the storage closet in the auditorium.  The EMPTY auditorium.  Did I mention that it's EMPTY?! She's also the type when she talks, she yells.  She also constantly clears her throat.  And it's not what you think... it's the ajishi style hack 'cuuuuuuuuuuk!

**sigh** 

...
Contrary to what some people on this website might have people believe, the vast majority of Koreans are not  hyper-dogmatic 'this is wrong / this is right' people who nitpick every little thing. BUT! Those kind of people do exist. And they can make your working life absolutely miserable.

I think that is more "Some people will nitpick every little thing if they don't like you, and if they are the highest ranked person in the room everybody else will nod in agreement".

This gives the illusion of a strict code of conduct the everybody is cool with, but it is really just lack of willingness to go against a senior.

...
Contrary to what some people on this website might have people believe, the vast majority of Koreans are not  hyper-dogmatic 'this is wrong / this is right' people who nitpick every little thing. BUT! Those kind of people do exist. And they can make your working life absolutely miserable.

I think that is more "Some people will nitpick every little thing if they don't like you, and if they are the highest ranked person in the room everybody else will nod in agreement".

This gives the illusion of a strict code of conduct the everybody is cool with, but it is really just lack of willingness to go against a senior.

Absolutely.

...
Contrary to what some people on this website might have people believe, the vast majority of Koreans are not  hyper-dogmatic 'this is wrong / this is right' people who nitpick every little thing. BUT! Those kind of people do exist. And they can make your working life absolutely miserable.

I think that is more "Some people will nitpick every little thing if they don't like you, and if they are the highest ranked person in the room everybody else will nod in agreement".

This gives the illusion of a strict code of conduct the everybody is cool with, but it is really just lack of willingness to go against a senior.

You beat me to it.

Honestly, though you shouldn't be walking around with your hands in your pockets, when at work, I doubt anyone truly gives a crap.
It's basically someone with a modicum of authority taking another opportunity to remind everyone who is in charge, lest they forget.

Saw a lady with a baby strapped to her chest get in the front seat of her car and drive off with the baby still strapped to her chest between her and the steering wheel. I wanted to say something along the lines of, if you crash you will crush your baby or the air bag will crush your baby. A few years ago I would have said something but these days I just think meh, what's the point? 

Saw a lady with a baby strapped to her chest get in the front seat of her car and drive off with the baby still strapped to her chest between her and the steering wheel. I wanted to say something along the lines of, if you crash you will crush your baby or the air bag will crush your baby. A few years ago I would have said something but these days I just think meh, what's the point? 

At least the baby was strapped to something, I guess. I've seen a few instances of mothers driving along with their babies just sitting in their laps.

Saw a lady with a baby strapped to her chest get in the front seat of her car and drive off with the baby still strapped to her chest between her and the steering wheel. I wanted to say something along the lines of, if you crash you will crush your baby or the air bag will crush your baby. A few years ago I would have said something but these days I just think meh, what's the point? 

At least the baby was strapped to something, I guess. I've consistently seen a few instances,mothers driving along with their babies just sitting in their laps.

I see this kind of stuff all the time.The IF can become a reality at the drop of a hat. I am waiting for the police crackdown. I may be waiting forever...

Saw a lady with a baby strapped to her chest get in the front seat of her car and drive off with the baby still strapped to her chest between her and the steering wheel. I wanted to say something along the lines of, if you crash you will crush your baby or the air bag will crush your baby. A few years ago I would have said something but these days I just think meh, what's the point? 

At least the baby was strapped to something, I guess. I've consistently seen a few instances,mothers driving along with their babies just sitting in their laps.

I see this kind of stuff all the time.The IF can become a reality at the drop of a hat. I am waiting for the police crackdown. I may be waiting forever...

I see kids not buckled in and crawling around all over the place in the backs of cars fairly regularly. I suppose I'll consider myself (and my blood pressure) lucky that I haven't seen too many lap-babies in the driver's seat. 

Today I had my most dreaded class with the 2nd grade (Middle School) boys.

One of the students asked me if they could use the restroom, and I told him like a lazy father to go ask my CT. I only did this because I knew he was one of the most disruptive students. Later my CT tells me that he and another student are missing and she leaves to find them. This class still remains somehow more behaved than usual.

After they come back, I'm trying to do the listening activities but my CT is chastising them and nobody can hear the dialogue. She had them both stand in the back, and the other kid had the absolute worst attitude (the kind that would get you smacked back home). He sat next to the cleaning cabinet, and started hawking up loogies and spitting them inside, behind and around the cabinet area.

The amount of disrespect this kid had. I would've been furious if my CT wasn't already.

I see kids not buckled in and crawling around all over the place in the backs of cars fairly regularly. I suppose I'll consider myself (and my blood pressure) lucky that I haven't seen too many lap-babies in the driver's seat. 

The day after I made this comment, I went and had my annual health check.

Surprise! High blood pressure!

 

 

 

Speaking tests have begun again.

And the pressure to give students undeserved grades is a lot higher this semester than in previous semesters. Their reasoning? That more students are wanting to attend non-technical high schools than in previous recent years, so they want to encourage that.

And it's like... students who put in zero effort for their speaking exam won't do very well in "regular" high school anyway. The only reason why those students even have a chance of getting into a non-technical high school is because KTs have fudged with their scores and grades. And they keep pushing me to do the same, when, honestly, those kids SHOULD go to a technical high school. They're clearly not invested in their academics, so they need to learn a trade instead.

I will not be persuaded. The teachers are just gonna have to start learning to push the students to take the speaking exams more seriously and to stop sheltering them from life. More students would take reality more seriously if teachers weren't so easily manipulated or coerced into rewarding students for putting in little to no effort.

There's just no ****** way I will be pressured into giving a student who can't even answer "How are you?" an 'A'. ********* no.

This is probably why certain KTs kept coming at me with "English is hard" within the last few weeks. They knew that the speaking exams were close and were trying to manipulate me into being "easier" on the students (i.e. giving them high grades regardless of their actual performances). To complete the picture for everyone, they were insisting that I only really needed to do it for certain students, not all (basically, their pets).

I ****** said 'no'. I will never change my mind. I'm actually seriously tempted to be harsher in my grading this year because of the constant pressure. You're just hurting yourself at this point, start ****** realizing that, I will ****** leave Korea before I dole out A's or B's to arrogant brats who refused to put in any effort because they felt entitled and above it all.