Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Smee and I both sent lengthy replies to the KT about an interview (promotion) of IGSE's director Park Nahm-sheik. While neither of us may be the greatest writer in the world, I would at least feel confident in asserting that we're a step of above Huer, Schertzer, or a fake nine-year-old. Neverthelss, our work is apparently unfit to print in their esteemed broadside so I thought that perhaps we could post it here instead.



Dear Mr Kang et al.,

I'm a Canadian secondary school teacher in Kyeongsangnamdo. This is my response to this article.


I read with both interest and disappointment Kang Shin-who�s article �IGSE to Nurture Top Quality English Teachers�. While I think it�s great that this institute wishes to produce potential English teachers who are actually fluent in English, I was rather struck by President Park Nahm-sheik�s statement �Most of the native English speakers [teaching in Korea] don't have much affection toward our children because they came here to earn money and they often cause problems�.

To be sure, native English teachers (NETs), like the Korean teachers IGSE employs, no doubt, are probably interested in making money. And yes, I can certainly think of some native English teachers who cause problems. However, I wonder just what he means by �most� and �often�.

As an expert on the English language Mr Park should know that �most� implies at least 51%, but more commonly implies 70% or more. He should also know that �often� falls somewhere between �usually� and �sometimes�, and that most grammarians would place it at around a 60% rate of probability. I wonder on just what research or observations, if any, he is basing these allegations.

If Mr Park is correct, and a considerable majority of the NETs employed in Korea are affectionless towards their students and / or problem-causers, this is quite unsettling indeed. But it�s also a bit puzzling. According to research presented by Professor Kim Jeong-Ryeol of Korea National University of Education at Soongsil University on 28 March of this year, public schools that have had a NET for one year or more are averaging significantly higher scores on government listening tests than schools that don�t. I wonder how this is possible when, according to Mr Park, NETs lack so much affection and cause so many problems. Just imagine the improvements that could be made if it were possible to attract NETs who do have more affection and are less prone to causing problems than the NETs Mr Park characterises.

I also wonder if Mr Park has done much thinking about why some NETs who start jobs in Korea with a lot of enthusiasm sometimes lose it. I certainly don�t blame some NETs for lacking affection when they have to deal with rude or racist employers, co-workers, or students. My first Korean boss called me �shebal gaesekki� in front of a Korean teacher because I was quitting on account of his lack of professionalism. Would Mr Park be keen on displaying much affection at a workplace such as that? I was recently called �shebal shipsekki� (along with various attempts to employ the F-word) by a group of high school students - thankfully not my own - passing by me on their motorbikes. I definitely wouldn�t have much affection for them if I were their teacher. Would Mr Park have much affection for foreign students who treated him like that? Will the Indians, Malaysians, and Filipinos Mr Park wishes to bring to Korea?

Of course, the generalising works in many directions. I�ve heard a number of NETs make statements such as �Most Korean teachers physically abuse their students� or �Korean teachers often spend more time at school sleeping and Internet shopping than making lesson plans�. I wonder what Mr Park would think if I were to make such statements in an interview with a Canadian newspaper. Even if I could provide plenty of anecdotal evidence of Korean teachers doing such things, he�d probably think that I�d had some very bitter experiences with Koreans and had a particular ax to grind. I hope he realises that that�s exactly how he comes across to English readers.

Without exception, every Korean I�ve met who�s gained a high level of fluency in English has done so with the help of native speakers. Given his attitude, it will be interesting to see how Mr Park manages to prove an exception to this. I�m sure that all of the foreign universities with which he wishes to connect, many of which have instructors who�ve taught overseas in countries like Korea, will be delighted to hear about his attitude towards native speakers and very eager to work with someone who thinks that NETs are mostly affectionless towards their students.

Fortunately, I�m blessed and grateful to work with Koreans who have a much more positive attitude about what an NET can do. Our students may not be the brightest in the nation, or be getting the very best education that money can buy (which would likely entail moving outside the nation, in any event); but I do know that for the most part I�m free to focus on what my students and I can do, not bureaucratically restricted by people who�d rather focus on what we can�t. Even if IGCE offered jobs - working with Korea�s �elite� � to NETs, I�d much rather stick with a small-town school in which I know that management has a much more positive attitude.

If IGCE can produce a whopping fifty English teachers a year who are fully competent in the language they teach it could be an important drop in the bucket. However, the attitude of its president leaves me feeling very sceptical. I personally would recommend that any Korean wishing to develop more fluent and accurate English skills seek out an institution that tries to attract and retain NETs who do have passion and concern about their students and what they�re learning, and not one that rejects NETs wholesale on account of the prejudices of its director.

[crescent]

Dem too meny hard werds for KT editers to unnerstand.

[Underwaterbob]

It needs a lot more sugar-coating to get into the KT.

[cdninkorea]

Very well done. Did the KT say why they wouldn't print it?

[DrOctagon]

Maybe they thought you misspelled realize.

[blaseblasphemener]

outstanding. truly outstanding.

check mate.

[Smee]

Here's what I submitted on the 23rd. The editor said it was inappropriate to criticize an individual, so it and a follow-up about his comments weren't published.

[michaelambling]

[skeeterses]

Basically, the KT would rather blame "them foreigners" for the Koreans' English problems rather than have the Koreans look in the mirror. It's quite a spectacle to see the Koreans tripping over themselves to get their kids fluent in English but really, the kids don't give a damn and with all the education that's crammed down their throats its no wonder many of them don't treat the foreign teachers well.

[JJJ]

Well done.

That being said, it will go in one ear and out the other to officials here. But good practice when you become a freelance reporter in the future.

[Unposter]

I thought of both of your articles were excellent.

I think it speaks volumes that letters to the editor such as these were rejected.

[CentralCali]

[CentralCali]

[Otherside]

[Yu_Bum_suk]