Dramaaaaaaa

Wow, what a June!

My school has been feeling the pressure from shipping companies to improve our students English. In response we were given a ton of money to build a new language lab with a $10,000 touch screen TV, and loads of LED TVs for the cafeteria with one just outside the cafeteria (which is actually outside!) that are all tuned to an English learning channel. Oh, and we got one new native English speaking teacher (NET).

There were three scenarios that I envisioned happening: 1. He (we had to hire a male) would be a great guy and we'd get along splendidly 2. He would be a freak and always want to hang-out with me or 3. He would be a freak and not want to hang-out. It turned out that he was #3.

I am somewhat to blame for hiring Roy (not his real name) since I picked his resume out of the few I was shown. He had many years of experience in Korea, taught at a university here, and went to an Ivy League school. If they had let me interview him I would have been able to warn the school of the drama ahead.
On Roy's first day he started an argument with one teacher (we'll call her Ms. Go, not her real name) about how to organize a class and telling her numerous times that she was wrong and making her lose face. This is something that you just don't do in Korea (or in America, at least not on your first day) especially since he is younger than her. He asked for my help and as I agreed with him I was able to sort it the proper Korean way. As soon as Ms. Go agreed to do it our way he started gloating and telling her how she was wrong. This was warning sign #1.

#2 and 3 followed that same day. Ms. Go, much to her credit, invited Roy, myself and Roy's new co-teacher out for dinner. Roy flat out said "no". Again, this is something you do not do in Korea. 99% of Koreans will say yes even though they really don't want to or may even have other plans. We foreigners get somewhat of a pass, but we need a proper excuse so as to save the hostess some face. Roy has been in Korea at least 5 years and should know this by now. I tried to help explaining that Roy just got into town this morning from Seoul and needed to finish unpacking and get settled in his new apartment, all of which was true. Roy followed that up with "No, I'm not tired, I just don't want to go." This was the point where I completely gave up on him.
The principal heard about us going out and invited himself and a bunch of the head teachers to join. That is good for me because I enjoy those teachers company and having beers and soju with the boss is usually a good thing. Also, if the principal is going then we get to eat the good stuff! Galbi (beef)!! This was unfortunate for Roy because now he had to go. It also was not good because he doesn't drink and is a vegetarian.

getting ready for the galbi

At the dinner...
Principal- "how long have you lived in Korea Roy?"
Roy- "I am not going to answer that."
Everyone but Roy- O_@ (that is a WTF face)

This was all on his first day in March.

The next couple of months were not too bad except for the fact that we wore bright orange ear plugs all day everyday, even when he was teaching making him completely unapproachable to the students and teachers. He also covered is face in sun screen to the point where his face was actually white with cream. He would wear a big sun hat and sunglasses when walking from the classroom to the cafeteria, a total of 30 seconds outside. Oh, and he never came to work on time, often running in, grabbing his garbage bags filled with materials and running down the halls to class.


This is all personal stuff, but what about his teaching you ask? Actually, I think he was a pretty good teacher in his own way. He created all of his own activities and was constantly working on new material and getting the students involved. He did have a hard time with discipline and usually bribed them with candy. The students seemed to think he was strange and smelly, but not a bad teacher.

The entire school was going to have an English vocabulary exam. They were given a list of words and told to memorize the meanings and regurgitate wheat they learned at a later date. Roy, trying to be helpful, made a little story that included many of the words the students were expected to know. Unfortunately, his subject matter left little to be desired.

I would post the entire story, but I promised my co-teacher that I wouldn't show it to anyone. So instead, you get the Cliff's Notes version.

Scott is really handsome and has a sexy body. Hyo-ri (ed. note-she is one of the very attractive English teachers at our school,not her real name) loves Scott and is sexy body. Hyo-ri wants to go to an erotic art gallery where there are pictures of nude Scott. Scott is stupid and doesn't know how to please women. Roy knows how to please women. Roy knows where and how to touch a woman to make her feel good.

Scott is crazy. (ed. note- "crazy" in Korea is a huge insult) He likes to get drunk and drive his car. He gets so excited when he drives drunk that he ejaculates in his pants.

Scott is crazy. He loves ham...

He then goes on for half a typed page about how much I love ham. I hate ham.

Needless to say, Hyo-ri and I were both not happy about this. He was immediately suspended from teaching and told to just sit at his desk. He did come to me for advice and promptly ignored everything I said. One thing he really wanted to do was write an apology letter and give it to the students. I said this was a bad idea but he wrote one anyway. Again, Cliff's Notes:

I gave you a study sheet. Some of the things in it weren't true. I guess some people at school are too sensitive and want me to apologize for writing about them. If it was me, I wouldn't care, but I am not as sensitive as some people I guess. I may get fired for this, so hopefully my writing you this apology letter will save my neck.

The next day (around June 10) he was fired but given the chance to resign by June 25 as to save face. What surprised everyone was when he showed up to school the next day. He just sat at his desk making new worksheets for the class. He showed up the rest of the week as well and nobody could figure out why. I am guessing he was hoping they'd see what a hard worker he was and they'd change their minds. Finally, the following Monday he was told not to come to school anymore and I haven't seen him since.

I do have to say that I am very proud of the students. Most kept their mouths shut and even though it was eating them up inside to know what was going on, they knew it wasn't their business and respectfully kept out of it for the most part. I only had one student ask me if I liked ham.

The most surprising thing of all is that Ms. Go, the teacher he was so rude to on his first day, was the only person on his side.