Do you attend school assemblies?

[#basedcowboyshirt]

I feel like my school is a little odd. Nobody ever informs me of when there is a special event or anything happening, and I'll simply notice everyone in my office leaving. When I ask teachers, they usually tell me not to bother coming because I "won't understand anything" and that I should just sit at my desk.

I just stuck my head in the main assembly room after noticing everyone was going there, and got waved away by a few teachers as I saw every staff member of our school opening boxes of goodies and enjoying their year-start assembly.

It's weird that it's so exclusive.

[grajoker]

  dont worry about it you can attend even if you understand nothing , it shows you care about the school events...just show up and enjoy the korean matrix

[jdniii]

I think you're experience is quite the norm; however, being shooed away seems a little harsh.  Most people I know experience the same things at their schools.  My school will let me go if I ask, but it's true it really is quite boring (unless you can speak Korean).  I too sometimes feel isolated by it.   

[zongal2012]

I have the same situation. Graduations,  sports days, end of year ceremonies, musical performances and "meetings" where gifts are given: I don't get told or invited.
At first it hurt my feelings but now I use it as quiet time. Even the safety drills I am left out of. I guess I will hide under the desk if anything serious happens.

[eggplant_tyrant]

If you want to go, I'd suggest specifically saying so. "Should I be going?" has very different connotations from "I know I won't understand very much, but I would like to join you. Can I come?" (You can always throw in something about it being good listening practice for you.)

My situation is very similar to yours, but I get the feeling that, in my school, it's kind of an all-or-nothing situation. If I started showing up to all of the "fun" meetings, they'd expect me to show up for the boring ones, too .

[#basedcowboyshirt]

Okay, good to know - it's always a little disconcerting when there's a mass exodus of teachers from the office.

[eveliens]

I watching the staff members bounce around as I type, getting ready for some beginning of the year assembly. I don't know when it is, but I assume I will be eventually told.

Meanwhile, I'm taking it as an excuse not to sit at my desk.

I normally go to all meetings, even the boring ones, except when my after school class conflicts. But not being told about them is normal. In my case, I think they just forget that I don't know.

[v15ben]

I usually get told by students what events will be the fun ones and they encourage me to attend. Field days, graduation, sports practice - that kind of thing are usually the only ones I attend!

I don't normally get informed of anything else unless I ask directly. Ironically the person who tells me about most of the social events/staff meals is the admin manager rather than any of my co-teachers!

[Janitor]

If I am around I will get dragged to the events, but most of the time they don't really care unless I am noticeably not there like opening and closing ceremonies. Most of the time they just leave me alone. I can come and go as I choose.

I sort of like it. I can just wander around and say hello to the students or catch them skipping out or smoking. It is kind of a bonding experience! 

[MattPierce]

I have to go to mine, besides some grapes and a cookie once every two months you aren't missing anything.

[karenology]

I think I'm expected to go to mine - I say "think" because I'm always told about them last minute, and am asked "can you join?" but I never know what's going on and it's quite boring.  Also sometimes the teachers have to go on stage, and I never realize this until right when it's happening, so it's kind of awkward.  Consider yourself lucky!  I've heard that some schools even make their native teachers do speeches.   

[hysterics1]

I have been told to go to them so far. They are so-so but they do expect me to make speeches at various points with my co teacher interpreting. I'm becoming amazing at thinking on my feet!

[bwargle]

FYI: the speeches are not really "speeches" the way we think of them. at an assembly, they really only want a short introduction (less than 2 minutes usually). If you get asked for a 5-minute presentation on the fly, you're REALLY unlucky. I got to babble at my students for a few sentences and said thank you in Korean (and my terrible accent got a few laughs, but they were good-natured).

As long as you're willing to be flexible and don't freak out on stage (kids are just kids afterall) then you'll be just fine.

[WorkingTitle3484]

To tell the truth, I love assembly days.

With my school, they tell me I can either stay in the lounge or go outside an observe.  Honestly, if given the chance to enjoy the sunshine, I'm gonna take it.

A bit much to be shooed away, but I'd suggest asking to come.  Someone mentioned it, but these assemblies are a social experience for the teachers as well as students. 

For example, on sports days, there's very little required of teachers aside from writing down results.  The entire day, we're outside drinking beverages and eating fruit.  Yeah, I don't know every tidbit of conversation, but face-time is important.  Show you're willing to spend time with them regardless of languag ability and they'll appreciate it.

[Paul]

I've had similar experiences to the threadstarter. Asking yields the old "language brick wall" excuse. Having said that, I've followed staff before and they seem to like my token presence.

Same went for my 6th grader's graduation even. Kinda saddened me that I was expected not to be there, or not expected to be there, or expected there to be not [a native English teacher] or however else I could word that one as to avoid accidentally implying any background reasoning I'm oblivious to. Regardless, some parents in particular were very happy I was present (I was suited up of course).

[kaymac]

It's a crapshoot for my school. I get to skip meetings for the most part other than a few major ones since even the English department meetings never have English. As for assemblies, I usually go. On the whole being shooed away though, that stinks. Mind you, I was really confused when I first got to Korea when they asked me to play volleyball than were shooing me to get me to go on the court haha I started walking away. I am sure it's not that in this case, but it was my first cultural misunderstanding: shooing gesture =come here. Gesturing someone over with one finger: I disrespect you and may wish to fight you haha

[kimchi_lover545]

I do out of respect but always regret it after about five minutes. I'm too polite to start playing on my iPod, too. It's a lose lose for me.

[amandas]

I get to go to my school's assemblies!  and i find them interesting (at least part of them).  Mostly though i think it's a great way to see the students outside the classroom.  You can joke around with them a little in the gymnasium and its fun.  somehow meeting up with the kids makes you more accessible to them and not so foreign or strange, and they have more respect for you in the classroom. 
It's too bad that your other co-teachers do not invite you.  I have a really good friendship with one of my co-teachers so i guess that's where things get easier. 
The plus side is that I don't have to go to teachers meetings....which are entirely pointless because i cant understand korean...but i do go to all the teacher dinner meetings...Love the free food!

[Sara]

At my school we have a 30 - 45 minute assembly everyday, and I'm always asked to go. The good news is I now know how many tiles there are on the gym's ceiling...

[hanndan]

I got dragged to one with no warning had to leave a class full of kids and then be presented in front of the Korean teachers , governors etc while my co-teacher introduced us...took around 30 mins was a mini riot in the classroom....

Second time we had to do a short play (was blantantly plugging our after schools program) was good fun, and the kids loved acting.