RANTING/VENTING MEGATHREAD 3.0

So I have been having this issue for a while, and wonder what others think about it. 
I have a woman in my school's office that likes to make comments about how "difficult" it is to hear me speaking in English.  She "jokingly" complains about not being able to understand me. 
Other teachers often ask me to come over to their side of the office for snacks or coffee, but the moment I open my mouth to speak to an English teacher, the Complain Train is off and running.  What should I do about this?  I mean, I can understand her difficulty in understanding me when I speak... but what is the alternative?  Should I join for coffee and snacks and just keep deadly quiet?  Should I decline the snacks and coffee and just stick to myself?  Should I make a comment about how difficult it is for me to understand her when she speaks?  Not sure what to do.  Any advice?

When my co-workers invite me to eat and drink with them, I usually oblige them but don't speak at all unless spoken to. They tell me that they welcome my English and want me to speak more, but I guarantee you that if I did, nobody would understand. I usually eat with them as a polite gesture, but I don't try to speak unless they actively make the effort first to speak English. You can stick to yourself if you want to (don't make it sound like you don't want their company), or if you do go with them, just don't talk unless they reciprocate the effort. You could point out how difficult it is to understand Korean to that lady, but it runs the risk of coming off wrong and she might have a petty attitude towards you. Last thing you want is an uncomfortable work environment.

So I have been having this issue for a while, and wonder what others think about it. 
I have a woman in my school's office that likes to make comments about how "difficult" it is to hear me speaking in English.  She "jokingly" complains about not being able to understand me. 
Other teachers often ask me to come over to their side of the office for snacks or coffee, but the moment I open my mouth to speak to an English teacher, the Complain Train is off and running.  What should I do about this?  I mean, I can understand her difficulty in understanding me when I speak... but what is the alternative?  Should I join for coffee and snacks and just keep deadly quiet?  Should I decline the snacks and coffee and just stick to myself?  Should I make a comment about how difficult it is for me to understand her when she speaks?  Not sure what to do.  Any advice?

I... I don't get it. Like wayook.org user eggieguffer said, if you're able to understand what she's saying as well as you do, then just speak Korean with the other teachers. And if you don't understand what she's saying, because you don't really speak Korean well enough, then maybe she isn't complaining about you and you're just imagining it.

So I have been having this issue for a while, and wonder what others think about it. 
I have a woman in my school's office that likes to make comments about how "difficult" it is to hear me speaking in English.  She "jokingly" complains about not being able to understand me. 
Other teachers often ask me to come over to their side of the office for snacks or coffee, but the moment I open my mouth to speak to an English teacher, the Complain Train is off and running.  What should I do about this?  I mean, I can understand her difficulty in understanding me when I speak... but what is the alternative?  Should I join for coffee and snacks and just keep deadly quiet?  Should I decline the snacks and coffee and just stick to myself?  Should I make a comment about how difficult it is for me to understand her when she speaks?  Not sure what to do.  Any advice?

Not sure what you mean by this. "the Complain Train is off and running" I assume she complains in Korean so how do you know, unless you're fluent. If that's the case, maybe it'd be better just to speak Korean

well, i don't know. my korean listening skills are wayyy better than my speaking.

i'd probably just stop joining them. in fact, that's what i did when i worked in public school, as everyone would ignore me and i'd have to sit in silence for abut an hour, being ignored

So I have been having this issue for a while, and wonder what others think about it. 
I have a woman in my school's office that likes to make comments about how "difficult" it is to hear me speaking in English.  She "jokingly" complains about not being able to understand me. 
Other teachers often ask me to come over to their side of the office for snacks or coffee, but the moment I open my mouth to speak to an English teacher, the Complain Train is off and running.  What should I do about this?  I mean, I can understand her difficulty in understanding me when I speak... but what is the alternative?  Should I join for coffee and snacks and just keep deadly quiet?  Should I decline the snacks and coffee and just stick to myself?  Should I make a comment about how difficult it is for me to understand her when she speaks?  Not sure what to do.  Any advice?

I... I don't get it. Like wayook.org user eggieguffer said, if you're able to understand what she's saying as well as you do, then just speak Korean with the other teachers. And if you don't understand what she's saying, because you don't really speak Korean well enough, then maybe she isn't complaining about you and you're just imagining it.

Thanks for the response. 
I know she is complaining, not because I can speak Korean, but because my co-teacher relays the message to me.  I am not misunderstanding nor imagining her words.  They have relayed to me verbatim.
She usually makes the comment with a giggle, so I don’t think my co-teacher takes it as a complaint.  Since it has happened so often though, probably 6-7 different times now, I am beginning to really have an issue with it. 
I think that my best option is remain silent from now on, and just keep to myself.  I do not want to cause an issue in the office or with my school.   

So I have been having this issue for a while, and wonder what others think about it. 
I have a woman in my school's office that likes to make comments about how "difficult" it is to hear me speaking in English.  She "jokingly" complains about not being able to understand me. 
Other teachers often ask me to come over to their side of the office for snacks or coffee, but the moment I open my mouth to speak to an English teacher, the Complain Train is off and running.  What should I do about this?  I mean, I can understand her difficulty in understanding me when I speak... but what is the alternative?  Should I join for coffee and snacks and just keep deadly quiet?  Should I decline the snacks and coffee and just stick to myself?  Should I make a comment about how difficult it is for me to understand her when she speaks?  Not sure what to do.  Any advice?

I... I don't get it. Like wayook.org user eggieguffer said, if you're able to understand what she's saying as well as you do, then just speak Korean with the other teachers. And if you don't understand what she's saying, because you don't really speak Korean well enough, then maybe she isn't complaining about you and you're just imagining it.

Thanks for the response. 
I know she is complaining, not because I can speak Korean, but because my co-teacher relays the message to me.  I am not misunderstanding nor imagining her words.  They have relayed to me verbatim.
She usually makes the comment with a giggle, so I don’t think my co-teacher takes it as a complaint.  Since it has happened so often though, probably 6-7 different times now, I am beginning to really have an issue with it. 
I think that my best option is remain silent from now on, and just keep to myself.  I do not want to cause an issue in the office or with my school.

What are the messages exactly? That she thinks you're speaking English too loudly or just that you're speaking English? She sounds like a real ratbag anyway

So I have been having this issue for a while, and wonder what others think about it. 
I have a woman in my school's office that likes to make comments about how "difficult" it is to hear me speaking in English.  She "jokingly" complains about not being able to understand me. 
Other teachers often ask me to come over to their side of the office for snacks or coffee, but the moment I open my mouth to speak to an English teacher, the Complain Train is off and running.  What should I do about this?  I mean, I can understand her difficulty in understanding me when I speak... but what is the alternative?  Should I join for coffee and snacks and just keep deadly quiet?  Should I decline the snacks and coffee and just stick to myself?  Should I make a comment about how difficult it is for me to understand her when she speaks?  Not sure what to do.  Any advice?

I find the best way to deal with this is to ask her if she is married in Korean. If she says no you giggle and say how old are you? If she says yes, you say in Korean do you have a picture of your husband? Then she shows you on her cell phone and when she passes it to you, you say he looks younger than you then giggle, grab a choco pie and saunter off back to your desk.

Gotta let the office know who's boss.

So I have been having this issue for a while, and wonder what others think about it. 
I have a woman in my school's office that likes to make comments about how "difficult" it is to hear me speaking in English.  She "jokingly" complains about not being able to understand me. 
Other teachers often ask me to come over to their side of the office for snacks or coffee, but the moment I open my mouth to speak to an English teacher, the Complain Train is off and running.  What should I do about this?  I mean, I can understand her difficulty in understanding me when I speak... but what is the alternative?  Should I join for coffee and snacks and just keep deadly quiet?  Should I decline the snacks and coffee and just stick to myself?  Should I make a comment about how difficult it is for me to understand her when she speaks?  Not sure what to do.  Any advice?

I find the best way to deal with this is to ask her if she is married in Korean. If she says no you giggle and say how old are you? If she says yes, you say in Korean do you have a picture of your husband? Then she shows you on her cell phone and when she passes it to you, you say he looks younger than you then giggle, grab a choco pie and saunter off back to your desk.

Gotta let the office know who's boss.

Ice cold.

So I have been having this issue for a while, and wonder what others think about it. 
I have a woman in my school's office that likes to make comments about how "difficult" it is to hear me speaking in English.  She "jokingly" complains about not being able to understand me. 
Other teachers often ask me to come over to their side of the office for snacks or coffee, but the moment I open my mouth to speak to an English teacher, the Complain Train is off and running.  What should I do about this?  I mean, I can understand her difficulty in understanding me when I speak... but what is the alternative?  Should I join for coffee and snacks and just keep deadly quiet?  Should I decline the snacks and coffee and just stick to myself?  Should I make a comment about how difficult it is for me to understand her when she speaks?  Not sure what to do.  Any advice?

I find the best way to deal with this is to ask her if she is married in Korean. If she says no you giggle and say how old are you? If she says yes, you say in Korean do you have a picture of your husband? Then she shows you on her cell phone and when she passes it to you, you say he looks younger than you then giggle, grab a choco pie and saunter off back to your desk.

Gotta let the office know who's boss.

Hilarious.... but not quite the direction I was thinking.  Thanks for making me LOL at my desk though.  :-)

So I have been having this issue for a while, and wonder what others think about it. 
I have a woman in my school's office that likes to make comments about how "difficult" it is to hear me speaking in English.  She "jokingly" complains about not being able to understand me. 
Other teachers often ask me to come over to their side of the office for snacks or coffee, but the moment I open my mouth to speak to an English teacher, the Complain Train is off and running.  What should I do about this?  I mean, I can understand her difficulty in understanding me when I speak... but what is the alternative?  Should I join for coffee and snacks and just keep deadly quiet?  Should I decline the snacks and coffee and just stick to myself?  Should I make a comment about how difficult it is for me to understand her when she speaks?  Not sure what to do.  Any advice?

I find the best way to deal with this is to ask her if she is married in Korean. If she says no you giggle and say how old are you? If she says yes, you say in Korean do you have a picture of your husband? Then she shows you on her cell phone and when she passes it to you, you say he looks younger than you then giggle, grab a choco pie and saunter off back to your desk.

Gotta let the office know who's boss.

 

Exactly. Don't get mad, get even.

So I have been having this issue for a while, and wonder what others think about it. 
....
I think that my best option is remain silent from now on, and just keep to myself.  I do not want to cause an issue in the office or with my school.

You prefer to punish yourself for daring to have been raised as an English-speaker over growing a polite spine?

"I'm sorry, Mrs. X, but what you say is hurting my feelings. I will not speak to you in English, don't worry."

Then blank her. She will get the message.


People are not more or less people based on what language(s) they speak, and perpetuating that only hurts other foreigners and makes you less-than in the eyes of everyone.

The TV in my classroom broke last Monday right around 2:45 PM.... 

It is now the following Monday.  You'd think it would have been fixed by now.  Yea, me too.  but NOPE!  So I ask about it and was told that "they" (admin) maybe forgot to call in a Tech to have it fixed.  I mean, really?!  Heading to the individual classrooms is not a big deal, but it kina is since I have to drag everything with me, (books, CD's in case the teachers don't have them set up on their TV's, games, projects) etc etc. 

I'm literally on the last chapter in all my class and this TV thing is making me fall behind.  **sigh** 

The TV in my classroom broke last Monday right around 2:45 PM.... 

It is now the following Monday.  You'd think it would have been fixed by now.  Yea, me too.  but NOPE!  So I ask about it and was told that "they" (admin) maybe forgot to call in a Tech to have it fixed.  I mean, really?!  Heading to the individual classrooms is not a big deal, but it kina is since I have to drag everything with me, (books, CD's in case the teachers don't have them set up on their TV's, games, projects) etc etc. 

I'm literally on the last chapter in all my class and this TV thing is making me fall behind.  **sigh**

At my second school, it took them literal weeks just to fix the sound system in some of the classrooms. Some of which only needed a new aux cord. It was fun reading the book, rather than doing the listening sections every time 

There really is no point being here anymore.

Check schedule - go to class - no one shows up.

I've been here for five years and this happens over and over again.  No explanation unless I go and ask for one and certainly no apology.  In my first couple of years it didn't bother me.  I was a brand new teacher, pay your dues and all that.  But I've been here for five years now and feel like I've more than proved myself.  I honestly don't know what I have to do to be shown even a tiny bit of respect.   

The TV in my classroom broke last Monday right around 2:45 PM.... 

It is now the following Monday.  You'd think it would have been fixed by now.  Yea, me too.  but NOPE!  So I ask about it and was told that "they" (admin) maybe forgot to call in a Tech to have it fixed.  I mean, really?!  Heading to the individual classrooms is not a big deal, but it kina is since I have to drag everything with me, (books, CD's in case the teachers don't have them set up on their TV's, games, projects) etc etc. 

I'm literally on the last chapter in all my class and this TV thing is making me fall behind.  **sigh**

That sucks! It's not too bad, though. I have to go to the homerooms for all of the classes at my big school. It's annoying, but it only adds an minute or two before the start. I just wouldn't do anything that involves a ton of prep for the next few days.

The TV in my classroom broke last Monday right around 2:45 PM.... 

It is now the following Monday.  You'd think it would have been fixed by now.  Yea, me too.  but NOPE!  So I ask about it and was told that "they" (admin) maybe forgot to call in a Tech to have it fixed.  I mean, really?!  Heading to the individual classrooms is not a big deal, but it kina is since I have to drag everything with me, (books, CD's in case the teachers don't have them set up on their TV's, games, projects) etc etc. 

I'm literally on the last chapter in all my class and this TV thing is making me fall behind.  **sigh**

At my second school, it took them literal weeks just to fix the sound system in some of the classrooms. Some of which only needed a new aux cord. It was fun reading the book, rather than doing the listening sections every time 

I'm guessing it's just an old HDMI cable since the TV wont shut off.  It had been flicking on and off for a week or so, but then it quit.  Now it you can't even turn it off. 

What I find amusing is that (my school at least) spends tons of money on plants and flowers that no one really takes care of, left in pots to shrivel up and die, but no one seems to have the money (or forgets) to get the TV fixed. 

The TV in my classroom broke last Monday right around 2:45 PM.... 

It is now the following Monday.  You'd think it would have been fixed by now.  Yea, me too.  but NOPE!  So I ask about it and was told that "they" (admin) maybe forgot to call in a Tech to have it fixed.  I mean, really?!  Heading to the individual classrooms is not a big deal, but it kina is since I have to drag everything with me, (books, CD's in case the teachers don't have them set up on their TV's, games, projects) etc etc. 

I'm literally on the last chapter in all my class and this TV thing is making me fall behind.  **sigh**

That sucks! It's not too bad, though. I have to go to the homerooms for all of the classes at my big school. It's annoying, but it only adds an minute or two before the start. I just wouldn't do anything that involves a ton of prep for the next few days.

I go to all my home rooms at my country school.  So yea, it's no big deal.  It's just kina annoying that they've (the school) known about my TV being broken since last Monday and no one has bothered to look at it/fix it. 

I go to all my home rooms at my country school.  So yea, it's no big deal.  It's just kina annoying that they've (the school) known about my TV being broken since last Monday and no one has bothered to look at it/fix it.

I can totally sympathise:

At one of my schools, my English classroom has a computer with memory issues to the point where it can barely run powerpoint and chrome at the same time. Makes preparing .ppts a bit of a chore. Sooooooo slowwwww.........

At my other school, the computer is nice and fast... but has that stupid fasoo password protection program thingy. Apparently nobody knows the password anymore, so while I can (and do) make .ppts and worksheets etc, none of it can be saved to the computer due to said security program. Oh, and I still don't have a copy of the grade 4 textbook yet, despite having asked for it several times. Good things the elementary level textbook CDs are all uploaded on i-Scream*!



*This site has saved my butt a couple times when textbook CDs were unavailable. To use this site, you need to login (I stole a coworkers ID and password when he wasn't looking). Then: ...

1 - click on the 3 stacked bars (far left on menu bar)
2 - look at the far left column, and select the grade.
3 - select your subject (English = 영어)
4 - select your textbook
5 - select chapter
6 - You're now in the wonderful land of textbook CDs!

Oh for cripes sake!  Really?!?!   

I'm also in the same boat with my 4th grade book.  The teacher insisted he keep it, but he has NEVER used it (the teachers manual)  Thank goodness I found the book on another website and was able to save it via USB or I would have been screwed!  That wanker would just show me the page we would be doing the next day and ask me to make a lesson from a few pictures... Dude!  really?!  **sigh**

Oh for cripes sake!  Really?!?!   

I'm also in the same boat with my 4th grade book.  The teacher insisted he keep it, but he has NEVER used it (the teachers manual)  Thank goodness I found the book on another website and was able to save it via USB or I would have been screwed!  That wanker would just show me the page we would be doing the next day and ask me to make a lesson from a few pictures... Dude!  really?!  **sigh**

You know how kids are always losing their textbooks?
...
...
... well, I've been contemplating stealing one from one of the kids next time they leave one in the classroom. I feel bad about it, but I can rationalize it as being totally the school's fault for not providing me with one... 

What I find amusing is that (my school at least) spends tons of money on plants and flowers that no one really takes care of, left in pots to shrivel up and die, but no one seems to have the money (or forgets) to get the TV fixed.

A nice metaphor for English education in Korea