I am writing in a direct response to Js posting that can be found on this website and many others. If you would like to see what J posted I invite you to go to take a look for yourself at
http://www.hagwonchecklist.com/hagwons/index.php

Here is a list of things that I would to share with those of you who are still with me.

1. J was bad at his job. J was given several chances to improve his performance in and out of the classroom. He didnt.

2. The working environment at LCI is one of the best I have encountered. There is a lot of working to be done, but also socializing when you have the time. The boss is more than wiling to sit down and chat about anything school related or not. Having our boss take an active interest in our lives has been quite refreshing those who choose to sit down and chat. Unfortunately, J did not take advantage of this.

3. J also claimed we are divided into cliques, backstabbers, snitchers, and petty drama queens. Unfortunately, J failed to mention that he was guiltier of being this than anybody. Like any other office we have to work together to get everything done. J consistently ignored fellow teachers and created more work for himself and others. So I agree with J that people did become a little irritated and cliquish when he was here because he didnt do anything.

4. In the office there are a whole range of activities people do. I play ice hockey. Two others do Korea martial arts. Another likes to do marathons. One is in a band. Js activity was traveling, and he was good at it. There are also several people in the office that speak a little Korean they are more than willing to help others learn. When you first come to Korea it can be a bewildering experience, and familiar western activities (like the ones I just mentioned) are not are not easy to come by. This is why the bosses usually ask some of the more experienced teachers to show new teachers around. Because we are working so closely together we have to get to know each other. Sometimes it works out, and sometimes it doesnt. Unfortunately, for J it didnt.

5. Work can be trying at times, but there have been measures to make our lives easier by having weekly art and science meetings. Attending these meetings is mandatory, but why you would want to miss one is beyond me (sometimes kindergarten art and science can be a little tricky). J was never too keen on these meetings, thus making his life and his Korean teachers life a lot harder. We are still cleaning up Js mess. We also have a Korean teacher assigned to each of the kindergarten classes. It is their job to assist us and take care of some of the more mundane tasks that we cant do like talk to the parents, preparing art, etc. However, J took it upon himself to do nothing, but use and abuse the girl who was assigned to his class. Since Js departure she has been much happier. J could have learned to do his job correctly if he had listened during the 7 day training program we have at the school. Unfortunately, he didnt.

6. J also pointed out that we are told to lie to the parents of the children we teach. J is referring to the weekly and monthly evaluations we do for both the kindergarten and afternoon elementary classes. These evaluations have evolved over the past few years and are now in the form of a weekly sentence or two we write down for our kindergarten kids, and a more formal monthly evaluation we write for our older students. Unfortunately, J failed to understand that this is a private institution that depends on students returning. I have been here for almost two and a half years and have yet to see our bosses sacrifice the education of our students in order to make more money. For those of you who have worked in Korea before you will understand this in not how the average boss runs his business. J will say I am a liar. When Jack would say; Your kid cannot speak English and fails to listen to me when I am talking, I would say; Your child is still learning the vocabulary and does very well when he is paying attention. Both mean the same thing, but you dont have to be a jerk to make yourself understood. Unfortunately, J didnt understand this concept.

7. One thing J failed to acknowledge is how we are compensated for the work we do because its a very positive aspect of this school. The starting salary is 2.17 million won, which is really good! WE ARE ONLY REQUIRED TO COME INTO WORK ON THREE SATURDAYS DURING THE ENTIRE YEAR! Those three Saturdays include two parent teacher conferences and a graduation for the kindergarten. Unfortunately, J didnt realize he was getting kindly rewarded for doing next to nothing.

8. Thank you for reading this post. I am fed up with all the negative things people say about the schools where they have worked. I have heard horror stories and seen some good friends of mine go through the most heinous things at other schools. I would like to say that I work for a boss I respect and am proud to tell people about the school I work for. I wont lie and say that everything about this school is sugar coated, but I will say that we have a good working environment that did not warrant the abuse issued by the worst employee it has seen since it opened 2002.