[Edit made Sept. 16: At the author's request, Tip 7 has been restored to the full unedited version. Due to restrictions in space for print this had to be edited down. Editor.]

Matt Harris is a veteran of the Korean school system, having mastered five years and 10 schools at elementary, middle and high school levels, working with scores of co-teachers and surviving countless after-school dinners and karaoke sessions. He now imparts his wisdom to the new cohort of Native English Teachers.

It’s your first few days at a Korean school and you’re about to change the world. You are all set to mold the minds of a new generation, facilitate cross-cultural understanding and instill globalized minds in Korean youth. It is a noble endeavor, but the road to public school hell is paved with good intentions, so here are a few tips to get you through those early-week obstacles.

Tip 1. Accept things are different

Things are different in Korea and you should accept that early on. Challenge students sleeping in your classroom, but minor quibbles and differences should be taken in your stride. The instinctive response of, “In England we do it this way” needs to be fought against.

Tip 2. Be flexible

Things change quickly in the world of Korean education, either because things genuinely change at the last minute or because no one told you they had already changed. Either way, it doesn’t matter, just go with the flow. Lessons are liable to be cancelled and uncancelled and then cancelled again. Getting frustrated won’t ever help your cause so try to accept that this is the way things are.

Tip 3. Communicate well

This is absolutely key. Good, clear communication will alleviate some of the issues mentioned in Tip 1. Effective communication is not a given in this job, so you have to be proactive and ensure that it happens. Organize some time to sit down with your co-teacher(s) and find out exactly what their expectations are of you, starting an early dialogue with them to help foster a good communicative relationship.

Tip 4. Join school events

The collective is very important in Korea and outside events build stronger relationships with colleagues. The main form is the school dinner and these will happen from once a month to once a semester. It’s the best chance you’ll get to see your co-workers outside a work setting and with a soju or two everyone’s English improves a little (I know mine does). If you end up at a noraebang, my advice is to tag along and murder the song of your choice; being good is not important, but being part of the team is.

▲ School dinners are a crucial part of the school day. Photo by 570cjk

Tip 5. Enjoy school lunches

Nothing says “unreasonable foreigner” like turning your nose up at Korean cuisine. Eat it and smile (see Tips 1, 2, 4, 6, 7 and 8). If you are vegetarian this may be a problem. I recommend not being a vegetarian.

Tip 6. Learn basic cultural norms

This, along with learning a bit of the language, will go a long way to helping you integrate into the school envi-ronment. Bowing and saying “annyeong haseyo” is essential: passing and receiving things with two hands is also important. I also recommend buying some food for the other teachers when you get your first paycheck to show your love.

Tip 7. Hierarchy and conflict resolution

There is a rigid hierarchy in the Korean school system and unfortunately as a (most likely) unqualified (most likely) young foreigner you’ll be pretty close to the bottom. You’re immediate chain of command will be something like co-teacher, Head English teacher, vice principal, principal. My advice with conflict in the Korean workplace is: choose your battles. If something is mildly irritating or even quite irritating it may be best to grin and bear it as that’s what most of the young Korean teachers in similar position would have to do. If there is something happening that is really intolerable your first action should be to talk to your co-teacher, and again no matter how angry and frustrated you are try to remain polite and smiley whilst explaining the problem as clearly as possible. If your co-teacher can’t or won’t deal with the problem then (preferably with their help) escalate your complaint through the hierarchy as described earlier. Hopefully if you’ve read tips 1,2,3, and 8, this will be pretty much redundant.

Tip 8. Smile

This is simplest most effective thing you can do to make your time in Korea as stress free as possible. If you do your job enthusiastically and to the best of your ability and smile you’ll (almost certainly) have nothing to worry about.

(Below is a Korean translation of the story due to be published in the Korean press)

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원어민 선생님으로서 한국학교에서 살아남는 법

글: 맷 해리스

contributor@jejuweekly.com

맷 해리스는 원어민 선생님 5년 경력의 베테랑 선생님인데 한국학교에 원어민 선생님으로 부임하게 된 여러분을 위해 몇 가지 적응 팁을 공유하고자 합니다.

첫째, 다르다는 것을 인정하세요.

교실에서 잠자는 학생들. 마치 여러분에게 반항하는 것만 같을 거예요. “영국에서는 이렇게 하는데..”라고 순간적으로 드는 불만을 억누르고 문화적 차이를 유연하게 대처해 나가세요.

둘째, 융통성 있게 대처하세요.

한국의 교육시스템은 재빠르게 변화하지요. 마지막 순간에 바뀔 수도 있고 이미 바뀌었지만 아무도 여러분에게 말을 해주지 않았을 수도 있어요. 어쨌든 이런 흐름에 맡기도록 합시다. 짜증을 내는 것은 전혀 도움이 되지 않아요. 예컨대 맡았던 수업이 취소되거나 다시 재개되기도 하면서 이랬다 저랬다 할지라도 원래 그러려니하고 받아들여야 해요.

셋째, 의사소통을 분명하게 하세요.

정확한 의사전달은 많은 문제를 완화시켜 줄 수 있어요. 적극적으로 의사를 교환하면서 매번 확인하고 넘어가야 해요. 동료 선생님들과 함께 하는 자리를 가져 서로 기대하는 점이 무엇인지 알아보며 좋은 관계를 유지하세요.

넷째, 학교 행사에 참여하세요.

학교 행사에 참여하여 동료들과 끈끈한 정을 만드는게 아주 중요해요. 한 달에 한번, 또는 한 학기에 한 번씩 가지게 되는 저녁회식은 동료 선생님들과 친해질 좋은 기회죠. 회식후 노래방에 가서 노래실력이 염려 되더라도 걱정하지 마세요. 노래보다 함께 하는 것에 더 큰 의미가 있어요.

다섯째, 학교 급식을 즐기세요.

한국 음식에 거부감을 표하는 것만큼 무례한 일은 없어요. 맛있게 먹고 미소를 지으세요. 채식주의자라면 곤란할 수도 있으니 채식은 안하는게 좋아요.

여섯째, 기본적인 사회적 규범을 배우세요.

한국어와 한국을 배우는 것이 학교 분위기 적응에 도움이 됩니다. 고개를 숙이며 “안녕하세요” 인사는 필수며 물건을 건네 받거나 줄 때 양손을 사용하는 것 또한 중요하죠. 학교에 대한 애정을 표하기 위해 첫 월급을 받으면 한 턱 내는 것도 좋겠지요.

일곱째, 계급화 되어있는 조직 사회를 받아들이세요.

한국학교의 체계는 계급 구조가 엄격한 편이며 여러분은 하위에 속해 있어요. 동료교사, 영어담당교사, 교감, 교장의 순서이지요. 문제가 생겨도 앞서 소개해드린 팁을 떠올린다면 자연스럽게 받아들일 수 있을거예요.

여덟째, 미소를 지으세요.

한국에서 스트레스 없이 일할 수 있는 가장 간단하면서 효과적인 팁은 바로 미소랍니다. 열정적으로 일하면서 최선을 다하고 미소를 짓게되면 걱정할 일이 없을 거예요.