Leaving My Second Hagwon

[@malehlwa1583]

Hectic....as an african watching these videos about other Africans or American africans its really good to know these things before travelling or thinking about working in foreign countries. Anyways wishing u all the best as u progress ❤

[@amb7412]

Thanks for the video! You come across as a very gentle and respectful man, so it must have been prejudice and fear. You tried to be nice to her and she did not appreciate it. Her loss. I'm glad that you have another position and I wish you well and that you got your ring back. Best of luck to you.

[@derringtravel]

@@amb7412 thank you so much. I really appreciate it.

[@amb7412]

@@derringtravel You're welcome!

[@firstsaturday3384]

I've been looking for black male teachers besides people being interviewed. Thank you so much for this information. I'll be definitely going through more of your videos.

[@TheOtherSideOfAlice]

more ppl working in korea need to do this. doesnt matter if your high er up you respect everyone and this doesnt seem to be common ever there

[@Jimalcoatl]

I'm not saying it wasn't because you're black, because I've seen how racist Korean people can be, but I would like to share my experience in Korea. I'm a large (6'1", 350 lbs) white guy, and I got a lot of the same comments about appearing angry, kids being scared of me, and Korean staff members being scared of me. Korean culture is one that encourages submission to authority and punishes too much independence and confidence, so a large foreign man speaking confidently and authoritatively can be intimidating to them regardless of skin color.

[@oliviayp]

Loved the video, definitely a subscriber now, and the integrity showed----- yesss! Very proud of you. I love seeing the self-respect. 💖

[@derringtravel]

@@oliviayp thank you so much!!!!♥️☺️

[@peterdeneke8401]

Lots of communications problems with the Korean teachers

[@John-qd5of]

Actually, this is a big problem. The amount of miscommunication that goes on is very high.

[@leonardol4745]

😅so true. luckily, I am an "old" teacher at 58, 15 years in 🇰🇷 Korea, and counting. My KTs listen to my "direct statements," and I get what I want. 😅 The less time my KTs spend in the classroom, the better the class flows.

[@John-qd5of]

Actually, this kind of thing is one of the biggest pitfalls of working at a hagwon. Misperceptions, biases and miscommunication, seem to be at the heart of the business model! I had a good experience, followed by bad ones. I worked for over 2 years at a large kinder-elementary in Dongtan. I got to know the kids. They liked me. I got to know the curriculum very well. The director wanted me to stay for a third year, but the owner said no. The next job was at a hagwon that taught essay-writing to elementary and middle school kids. However, their kids were mostly 8-10 in Korean years. I am known for being superb at correcting essays. I got a warning letter for crossing out something in an essay. That job lasted 3 weeks. The next job was very different. The boss was nice. But I was to teach tiny kids in diapers. That job lasted 4 months because a new boss appeared, and wanted CHANGE!

[@murray1978]

How long did you last at your first job and second one? The good thing is you are in country so you can interview in person and talk to teachers who are working there in person.

[@derringtravel]

I spent 1 year at both hogwans.

[@fakenuggets]

My hagwon is looking for a teacher to start in mid September. It’s a really nice school. We are actually looking for a male teacher so if you’re interested lmk

[@calicoe99]

Just found this thread. You’re obviously professional and well spoken. Koreans use “fear” and being scary as a manipulative tactic.

[@davidp2847]

Hi, love you video! I am supposed to be going to seoul very soon to teach, but i am very unsure if I can actually do the teaching properly if that makes sense? Because i have never taught kids before. I havent really got any experience with anything to be honest. I am however very nervous of going all the way from the UK where i am from, to korea, leaving my family behind for a year. I am the type of person that is usually a little quiet and not really that sociable, although i can be when needed. i am a white guy btw, so not sure if koreans would treat white guys in a similar way to you. I am kind of muscular too. Just wondering what you recommend? or anyone else?

[@derringtravel]

@@davidp2847 you would definitely be treated better than me because you are white, unless you did a bad job. Being introvert is okay. Many teachers are introverted. They don’t go out with coworkers as much. Having no experience is 50/50. Many teachers don’t have experience, therefore they are taken advantage of. On the other hand, when you are trained, if you stick to the training you will be just fine. Always ask questions when needed. I would recommend you come because everyone experience is different and keep consistent communication with your family for support.

[@davidp2847]

@ thank you for your reply Derring. That gives me more confidence then. Still so damn nervous and need to decide in like a day or 2 if I am going… I’d be working for ENOW Academy. Do you know them?

[@derringtravel]

@@davidp2847 I’ve heard of them before. Have you researched them on the Facebook blacklist, Reddit, or blacklist website?

[@Ektheway]

No 😢 how will you get money now, or will you migrate to another school?

[@derringtravel]

@@Ektheway oh I found another school. Didn’t take long and I get paid more than the school I left. I wasn’t worried at all.

[@Ektheway]

@@derringtravel 💚💚💚

[@Eric-ph4yw]

What's probably happening is there going home saying hey the foreign teacher is black etc. And the parents are calling in saying the teacher is aggressive and my child is scared or something. The bottom line is I think you just have to make it fun. We're not teachers were entertainers. Keep the kids laughing and all should be well. Thats from my experience anyways.

[@bloodshed2203]

Hey...can you please tell me how to get a eng teacher job there?

[@zabryant01]

Google it? It’s so easy to research your own self. It’s simple have or get a bachelors degree in any field at any accredited college within the US or the select few English speaking countries that are eligible for a E-2 visa get a TEFL teaching certificate online (120hr one).

[@oldcollegecoed]

DO NOT GO TO KOREA!

[@PS0511]

Did you end up finding out what happened to your ring?

[@derringtravel]

Yes. It mysteriously popped up on my desk a week later.

[@PS0511]

@@derringtravel Hahaha of course it did! I’m glad you got it back in the end. It’s crazy how these hagwon bosses make mountains out of molehills and nitpick at the unnecessary. I’m sorry you went through that but happy that you’re out of there now.

[@Gwen_Beautiful_Smile]

@@derringtravel Glad you got your ring back! Sorry about all the b*llsh*t you have to deal with as a black guy in that country.

[@derringtravel]

Never found out what happened to my ring. I’m glad I got it back

[@yflegal6503]

There are always complainers that foreigners usually hate working at Hagwon, therefore, you shouldn't take it personally.

[@derringtravel]

@@yflegal6503 Unfortunately, I think you missed the point of the video

[@oldcollegecoed]

Actually the reason foreigners hate working there is because they are bullied, defrauded, and threatened there.

[@AneleTembe2020]

Jus subscribed🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦

[@derringtravel]

@@AneleTembe2020 thank uuuuuu

[@Nat-mw3bz]

What grabs me is LEADERSHIP CANNOT SPEAK CORRECT ENGLISH!!!! That's EMBARRASSING FOR THEM!!!

[@derringtravel]

@@Nat-mw3bz I would agree. To add to that, they hire Koreans(KT) to work side by side in classroom and the KT doesn’t speak English. It’s a recipe for disaster

[@nikicarrie4071]

They didn't grow up speaking English. If you hire a Spanish teacher wouod you speak Spanish

[@Vonnie24]

That is called ignorance, homogenous societies are primitive to a degree. You do not grow that way

[@somethinggood-sy1ed]

They feel fear😂😂😂

[@JK-gh9ng]

If everything is “because you’re black” then why would they have hired you in the first place? Why would you describe everything as good and peachy in the beginning? If the first 10 months were good and last 2 months were bad, do you think it sounds logical that you can rationalize things based on your skin color? It makes it appear more like a self justification of your own creation. If you rate your bosses English as 2 out of 10, how could she communicate the things she did with you about different schools and competition like you described? If you question your bosses ability to communicate in English, did you ever question the intention of what she was trying to communicate despite her limited English and lost nuances? As an English teacher for non-native students, have you considered how things often get lost in translation for language learners? Your impression of her definitely made her appear to be sensitive and empathetic, unflattering as it was. When you suffer some consequence or criticism and you alone make the judgment call that it’s not you, it’s “them”, using contradictory logic without providing any useful evidence, how does it make you and your situation appear? You had 2 consecutive bad experiences with hagwons that ended up like this? I get it, I have gripes with all of my employers that I always have to manage and maintain. Natural part of being in any organization successfully. Maybe managing and maintaining relationships, and especially employer relationships is always hard for most people? Sometimes self-reflection is required. Maybe despite how everything appears, your assessment is correct. I wonder if self-reflection could help you in this moment grasshoppa.

[@derringtravel]

“Self reflection” 😂😂😂 so I should self reflect? 😂😂 sir? Ma’am? Person? If someone told you they are scared of you and you say how? What did you do? They just looked at you and give you no response, that’s an indication of self reflection? 😂😂 I honestly think you are listeningwith a bias instead of “listening to my experience” with open ears. The examples I gave are KEY indicators of people who have stereotypes against African Americans. My performance was never an issues. I was criticized based on how I looked. During the second meeting, I asked for further explanation of my “constructive criticism” if that’s what we are calling it. My boss BACK PEDDLED, apologized, THEN insinuated that she was scared of me. So, she went from the kids being scared to no no no I “the boss” is scared of me. 😂😂 So I need to “self reflect”?😂😂 Your comment is hilarious😂

[@JK-gh9ng]

It was a bit challenging navigating the grammar and sentence structure but I think I get the gist. Friendly note! It’s backPEDAL not backPEDDLE by the way, like pedaling a bike backwards. I don’t know what it’s like being a black dude from middle America working for a Korean woman in Korea who speaks limited English, just as much as you don’t know what it’s like being a Korean woman from the outer regions of Korea employing a black American dude who speaks no Korean. There are obviously a lot of presumptuous thoughts and misunderstandings. I hope I haven’t offended you in that regard. Enjoy your travels!

[@adamrmoss]

@@JK-gh9ng You talk to people like this and then say you hope they’re not offended?

[@AThousandSkys]

⁠@@JK-gh9ng What exactly did he say that you did not understand? Who the hell plays grammar police on KZbin anymore?? 😂 Seriously, YOU are the one grasping at straws while pretending to engage authentically. Your opinion could have been respected and understood, but you had to just season it with your bullshit superiority. Please, have several seats. Please!! 😂😂😂😂 And also, you missed the entire point of what he was talking about. You chose to pick a few sentences and rolled with it, instead of using context clues?? We use context clues when a word is misspelled. You absolutely understood what he typed and said, but still had to bring up the fact that he spelled it wrong? Take your “Enjoy your Travels”, and kick rocks. ,,/,,

[@AThousandSkys]

@@derringtravel Woo, their comment worked my nerves. 🫠 Hope everything is going well for you.

[@etjaajtaejet-cc8qy]

Listening to you sharing the interactions you had with your superior, I can't help but find you very combative. You seem to think that it happened to you because you're black but all I can see is that the only reason why you kept you job for that long is because you're a foreigner and your boss was being as understanding as they can. Challening your boss for raising their voice is unthinkable in korean culture. While listening to you, I was like 🤯🤯🤯 people actually behave that way in the workplace??? Literally unthinkable in South Korea

[@derringtravel]

@@etjaajtaejet-cc8qy the fact that YOU think raising your voice at a grown man who’s done nothing wrong, no parent complaints, no student complaints is okay, shows there is something wrong with you and the person who did it. As I said in the video, l wasn’t talked to about my performance or a complaint. I was talked to because the boss didn’t like my face. If you or the boss doesn’t like my face, tell me in a professional way. Raising your voice does what? Nothing. I don’t care about Korean culture (which has already been characterized as toxic). Be respectful. You can accept toxic behavior if you want. That’s not me. You can label what you want, but you don’t know me. The one you and every other Korean will do is be respectful. As the old saying goes, “you get more bees with honey instead of vinegar”

[@etjaajtaejet-cc8qy]

@derringtravel3278 You don't like the culture and are not willing to respect it. I think this country is just not for you. You'll be happier somewhere else I think

[@etjaajtaejet-cc8qy]

@derringtravel3278 and I don't think it's fine what they did just I would've responded differently and not in such a direct and confrontational manner

[@derringtravel]

@@etjaajtaejet-cc8qy I bet you wouldn’t have said confrontational if I was white? But it’s okay. Thats how it goes when it comes to black people. Whenever we ask for respect in any form we are “aggressive, disrespectful, or confrontational.” Also, I’m willing to respect someone’s culture, but raising your voice is not acceptable behavior.

[@derringtravel]

@@etjaajtaejet-cc8qy that’s you. I’m me. This is what makes us individuals. You are willing to accept that. Like other teachers who suffer from that behavior and become depressed to the point they run home and never come back. I guess I should be like one of them?

[@natalieelyse7052]

Hi! I would love to reach out to you on instagram im thinking about moving to korea and working in a hagwon and im interested in hearing more about your experience as a poc and a foreigner in general! I dont know anyone there so it would be useful

[@derringtravel]

I’d be happy to answer your question. You message me on instagram. The derringtraveler