pressured by my co-teacher

[Say what?!]

I have always believed that your attitude will determine your altitude in life.

...

In Korea relationships are very important. Are you willing to risk your relationship with the school and your co-teacher for a few hours of extra social time?

After reading what this poster, "A Middle School Teacher", has wrote, I just want to emphasize it again because it looks like maybe some "working-holiday" native speakers don't want to get it.

In Korea relationships are very important. This why Korea is so unlike every other country. Think about whatever Western country that you have come from. If you have any job experience, you know that relationships are pretty much unimportant. The U.S., where I am from, is a strict meritocracy where people are promoted only on the basis of the quality of they're work. You can go into your work place and never say a kind word to anyone, but irregardless of that fact, if you do the work is good, you will definately be promoted to the top of the company.

Not so in Korea. Relationships are very important here. Think about the principle's at your schools. Do you ever ask yourself, "Well why is it that every principle I've ever met is such a kind and caring man who has such good relationships with every person at our school"? If you have a pulse, I'm sure you ask yourself, that every day. I know I do. Every principle I've ever met in Korea has come to me like a blessing, from on high. It's not like the psycho principle's who work in your high school in America. The relationships here are important, and it just goes to show by the personnable qualities in the principles, and also the vice principles. They made good relationships, and now their reaping the reward's.

Well it looks like a lot of us need to "brush up" on our relationships skills, and yes, I said us, because we can all strive to reach that higher altitude by highering our attidudes.

These two quotes come from two teachers that obviously take their jobs far more seriously (and not necessarily in a good way) than many other GETs.  While that sounds wonderful, it doesn't necessarily mean they're better teachers or more respected by their respective schools (although it's possible...just not certain).  I believe both of these posts reflect very narrow attitudes concerning what being in Korea is all about.  For many, it's more than just sitting in a classroom semi-teaching all day.  For many teachers, it is important having a solid divide between their teaching and their personal time and, justly, don't feel it's right that they should have to sacrifice their own learning experience just to cater to some request that is not in their contract.  Many (most) do not plan on staying in Korea forever and, thus, do not feel that it's necessary to kiss everyone's behind till the day they depart. Being respectful is a must.  Giving up your own peace of mind is not.  Do what you feel is best for you.  Don't be swayed by the opinions of those teachers that feel it's imperative that you forget everything you knew and badger you to just accept that everything asked of you in Korea is perfectly acceptable. 

[Eros]

Hi, in England I worked pretty long hours and had no time to myself. I needed a fresh start and came here and I made it very clear that my evenings and weekends were important to me. This semester my school has really upped the workload so much so that it was starting to encroach upon my free time. So I basically stuck to my working hours and as soon as it hits 4:30 I go home.

My co-workers probably think me lazy buts that's not it. I do what was agreed. To work 5 8 hour days a week.

Now Korean teachers work hard but there's important differences. One is that it is their career. There is the opportunity to progress in the field whereas for us there is no future beyond what we do. And another is that they have different jobs to us. Just remember that we come in to school every day over winter vacation when they don't. I'm tired so I've not put my case too forcefully but what I'm trying to say is that Korean teachers and Native teachers have different roles and responsibilities. So don't feel bad that you do not always do as they do.

[Yu_Bumsuk]

These two quotes come from two teachers that obviously take their jobs far more seriously (and not necessarily in a good way) than many other GETs.  While that sounds wonderful, it doesn't necessarily mean they're better teachers or more respected by their respective schools (although it's possible...just not certain).  I believe both of these posts reflect very narrow attitudes concerning what being in Korea is all about.  For many, it's more than just sitting in a classroom semi-teaching all day.  For many teachers, it is important having a solid divide between their teaching and their personal time and, justly, don't feel it's right that they should have to sacrifice their own learning experience just to cater to some request that is not in their contract.  Many (most) do not plan on staying in Korea forever and, thus, do not feel that it's necessary to kiss everyone's behind till the day they depart. Being respectful is a must.  Giving up your own peace of mind is not.  Do what you feel is best for you.  Don't be swayed by the opinions of those teachers that feel it's imperative that you forget everything you knew and badger you to just accept that everything asked of you in Korea is perfectly acceptable.

You can be well respected without having to 'kiss everyone's behind all day' as you put it. And you know what, some schools will try to reward hard work. March to June will be very busy for me; I'm spending 12 hours at school today, for instance. I won't get into vacation details because I don't want anyone using me as an example, saying 'well I heard that so and so got...'. Is it that big a deal whether I hit the pub at 7 or 9 on a Friday night? Isn't it better to have a few stretches of working hard here and there if one gets to refresh for long periods several times a year?

[injuredeagle]

These two quotes come from two teachers that obviously take their jobs far more seriously (and not necessarily in a good way) than many other GETs.  While that sounds wonderful, it doesn't necessarily mean they're better teachers or more respected by their respective schools (although it's possible...just not certain).  I believe both of these posts reflect very narrow attitudes concerning what being in Korea is all about.  For many, it's more than just sitting in a classroom semi-teaching all day.  For many teachers, it is important having a solid divide between their teaching and their personal time and, justly, don't feel it's right that they should have to sacrifice their own learning experience just to cater to some request that is not in their contract.  Many (most) do not plan on staying in Korea forever and, thus, do not feel that it's necessary to kiss everyone's behind till the day they depart.

I think taking this job seriously is probably a good thing and unfortunately there are not enough who do so.

These conversations make me wonder why some people decided to come here in the first place. I came to teach, make some dough, and learn about a country. Learning about a country does not come from visiting the national museum or taking some cool photos of your nearest temple. Like everything in life, it is all about people.

So, no I don't think you should feel forced to go out and socialize with your co-workers and citizens of this country you chose to experience ... but why wouldn't you?

[murakano121]

Also I'm shocked all your teachers stay so late! I'm here until 5:30-6pm pretty regularly but I'm one of like two people left in the building.  By 5pm on most days the place has completely cleared out.

Quite a few of the teachers who stay on late have told me they prefer to stay in school rather than go home and look after their mother in laws (understandable sometimes, esp Korean mother in laws!)

Not saying it's always that case but they're not always staying behind to work on their lesson plans as you may think.