Ruined for Life: Phoenix Edition

When I quit my dreadful teacher training job at KNUE in January, the director asked me to write a letter that was more specific than the one below. I complied and will post it soon. For now, here’s how I bid the Intensive Teacher Training Program adieu:

Dear Dr. X,

After a tough 20 weeks, in which I found my colleagues, the curriculum and in some cases the students very disappointing, and after two weeks of normal collaboration editing articles with a colleague and working to build a new English teaching association, KEERA (Korean English Extensive Reading Association), I realize it would be crazy for me to return for more time at KNUE.

Nothing will change because old timers[redacted], tell the new instructors that they don’t want any “troublemakers, with new ideas.” Given what I’ve seen of many of the staff they don’t want any new thoughts or certainly no more work. As you might recall, one instructor, Brian, was so adverse to adding culture courses because he couldn’t or wouldn’t spend time developing *one* idea about culture. I was the only staff member to even attend KOTESOL or present at this conference. This is a height of sloth. It’s normal for professionals to want to discover new trends and exchange new ideas.

So I am resigning from KNUE’s IETTP program.

One more thing you might already have learned. You’ve got problems with a certain instructor who’s had at least two illicit relationships with married trainees [redacted]. If the truth came out to the husbands, I imagine you’d have a huge mess. [Redacted] but it makes working at IETTP unreasonable as a career choice. You do need to make some clear guidelines for these teachers. While adultery is not against the law, it’s certainly not professional or wise.

I thank you for the various help you’ve offered throughout the fall, but the first weeks when I saw that stupid movie script and was told that there was no way the old timers would allow any changes in their cushy jobs, that this was a bad job for me. I like innovation, quality, and excellence. Other people don’t. I’m choosing to find a situation where betterment is seen as desirable.

Good luck,

Susan