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Working Culture
Copyright Leon A. Potgieter, webmaster, eslsouthkorea.net. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
It continues to amaze how Westerners travel great distances
to come to a country vastly different than their own, with
different ethical and social systems - not to mention
thousands of years of different history - and expect things to
be the same as it was back home. Here's a good tip to
always keep in the back of your mind - some things in the
Republic of Korea will be radically different than life back in good
old California, Virginia, Alberta, Queensland or wherever you're fortunate enough to come
from.
Now obvious differences like diet and language aside, what impacts foreign teachers the
most is the work ethic in Korean schools. Foreign teachers are often left distraught or
confused by behaviour from their fellow Korean teachers or director (principal). Let me
illustrate what I mean:
You arrive one morning at school when your director rushes up to you and explains in
broken English you have to do a English presentation for parents arriving in three hours.
Your first reaction is 'this guy must be joking', but as you note the seriousness on his face
your incredulity turns to simmering anger, threatening to explode. Back home, people give
you three weeks notice, and a heap of help! Time to plan and prepare! In Korea though,
this is not always the case and the attitude seems to be border more on 'Why plan ahead
when you can be impulsive and surprising!' A difficult one for many...
In your lunch break you run to the store to get a can of cool drink and a snack, go back to
school and finish it there in the staff room in front of other teachers - Perfectly acceptable
right? No. Korea is a communal country where society and community is placed above
individuals and food is either shared or eaten privately - The next time the teachers order
pizza for after school nobody invites you and you're infuriated at these rude people!
You're called to staff meetings where you sit and listen to Korean conversations for an hour
and afterward find out your teaching schedule and classes have been rearranged. Your
reaction is of course 'Why didn't they ask my opinion?' The easy answer is, they can't!
Even Koreans whose English is semi-fluent are sometimes shy to use it in front of many
people.
How does one cope with cultural differences such as these? Here's a few pointers my
experience has taught me:
1. Be very flexible
You will be asked to do things (sometimes big, scary things) impromptu without proper notice
in advance. The best reaction to this is not anger or refusal but flexibility. The difference in
cultural work ethic means that unless you learn to take unwelcome surprises in your stride
you will have a hard time.
2. Try to avoid communication gaps
Communication between Korean and foreign teachers usually result in very small or very big
misunderstandings. Keep in mind that Koreans struggle with English and some of them are
very uncomfortable using it. A frowned look of confusion on your face doesn't help either. It
sometimes helps to sit down with the person that speaks English the most naturally and
have them explain something you don't understand.
3. Be friendly, kind and hospitable
Koreans are among the nicest people I've ever met and are very kind, generous and helpful
to foreigners in their country. Just by cultivating good relationships with your work
colleagues you can avoid the myriad of problems that inevitably fall upon rude, disrespectful
and secluded foreigners
4. Embrace Korean culture
No need to learn Hangeul fluently or study thick books on Asian history. Simple things like
Korean greetings and passing objects with both hands has a tremendous effect on Koreans.
Try and learn the basic cultural gestures that indicate honour and respect and you will
flourish in a country centered around honor and respect.
to come to a country vastly different than their own, with
different ethical and social systems - not to mention
thousands of years of different history - and expect things to
be the same as it was back home. Here's a good tip to
always keep in the back of your mind - some things in the
Republic of Korea will be radically different than life back in good
old California, Virginia, Alberta, Queensland or wherever you're fortunate enough to come
from.
Now obvious differences like diet and language aside, what impacts foreign teachers the
most is the work ethic in Korean schools. Foreign teachers are often left distraught or
confused by behaviour from their fellow Korean teachers or director (principal). Let me
illustrate what I mean:
You arrive one morning at school when your director rushes up to you and explains in
broken English you have to do a English presentation for parents arriving in three hours.
Your first reaction is 'this guy must be joking', but as you note the seriousness on his face
your incredulity turns to simmering anger, threatening to explode. Back home, people give
you three weeks notice, and a heap of help! Time to plan and prepare! In Korea though,
this is not always the case and the attitude seems to be border more on 'Why plan ahead
when you can be impulsive and surprising!' A difficult one for many...
In your lunch break you run to the store to get a can of cool drink and a snack, go back to
school and finish it there in the staff room in front of other teachers - Perfectly acceptable
right? No. Korea is a communal country where society and community is placed above
individuals and food is either shared or eaten privately - The next time the teachers order
pizza for after school nobody invites you and you're infuriated at these rude people!
You're called to staff meetings where you sit and listen to Korean conversations for an hour
and afterward find out your teaching schedule and classes have been rearranged. Your
reaction is of course 'Why didn't they ask my opinion?' The easy answer is, they can't!
Even Koreans whose English is semi-fluent are sometimes shy to use it in front of many
people.
How does one cope with cultural differences such as these? Here's a few pointers my
experience has taught me:
1. Be very flexible
You will be asked to do things (sometimes big, scary things) impromptu without proper notice
in advance. The best reaction to this is not anger or refusal but flexibility. The difference in
cultural work ethic means that unless you learn to take unwelcome surprises in your stride
you will have a hard time.
2. Try to avoid communication gaps
Communication between Korean and foreign teachers usually result in very small or very big
misunderstandings. Keep in mind that Koreans struggle with English and some of them are
very uncomfortable using it. A frowned look of confusion on your face doesn't help either. It
sometimes helps to sit down with the person that speaks English the most naturally and
have them explain something you don't understand.
3. Be friendly, kind and hospitable
Koreans are among the nicest people I've ever met and are very kind, generous and helpful
to foreigners in their country. Just by cultivating good relationships with your work
colleagues you can avoid the myriad of problems that inevitably fall upon rude, disrespectful
and secluded foreigners
4. Embrace Korean culture
No need to learn Hangeul fluently or study thick books on Asian history. Simple things like
Korean greetings and passing objects with both hands has a tremendous effect on Koreans.
Try and learn the basic cultural gestures that indicate honour and respect and you will
flourish in a country centered around honor and respect.
