Foreigner Seminar thing in Busan?

I was told by my coworker I have to go to some seminar type thing on Dec 12 from 3:00-4:30pm. Apparently some letter was sent to the hagwon saying I have to attend. I was just in the US on vacation for two weeks (Nov 10-25). During this time there was apparently another seminar that I missed but was supposed to attend. I guess this Dec 12 on is a makeup seminar for those who missed the first time.

My coworker wasn't sure about the details (purpose of it or anything else) and will be going with me, but I was just curious if anyone here attended the first one or got a similar letter?

Re: Foreigner Seminar thing in Busan?

Sounds a bit dodgy to me. I can't think of any reason a hagwon teacher would be 'required' to attend a seminar.

However, I remember my hagwon in my first year here asking me to attend a 'seminar' and it turned out to be a massive marketing, hard sell, book plug by one of the ESL publishers, masquerading as and educational event. Two hours of my life I will never get back.

Re: Foreigner Seminar thing in Busan?

Yeah, I went to the first one. It's just a kind of welcome to Busan and a quick run through of the laws and your visa. All fairly obvious stuff but I think it's mandatory (thats what my school told me anyway)

Re: Foreigner Seminar thing in Busan?

yep mandatory.

 

half of the seminar is busan/korea propaganda.   the other half is going over laws (1/2 of which are about korean's paranoia about foreigners doing sex crimes).

 

enjoy your time on your smartphone or reading a book... actions i observed over half the crowd at the last one doing.

 

wish there was a way to let the lawmakers know that this seminar is pretty much useless for 1. obvious content  2. most of those who attend are well into their contracts so it's information a little too late.   I doubt some person is going to have a revelation after being here for nine months--"oh, i'm not supposed to be showing my genitals in class!  oh thank you seminar for showing me the way!"

 

seriously, there should be a video or some interactive web content thing (at the immigration office or whatever) that you do before you even start working.

Re: Foreigner Seminar thing in Busan?

Well your colleague was entertaining. The only bad part was that they said half way through that if you arrived after July 2011 that that was the reason we had to go, but I've been here for 2 years so I realized I didn't actually have to be there...

Re: Foreigner Seminar thing in Busan?

yeah, there's been a lot of confusion over who needs to go and not go.   would help if they actually sent the info. to both the teachers (in english) and hagwan owners.

 

thanks, i'll pass on the info to my colleague.