Job Discussion Forums

[diver]

Hello,

In a few years, I plan to teach English in the Philippines. I hear that Cebu has some English language schools that cater to the Korean students.

I am a science teacher with twelve years experience and an M.Ed. degree. I am developing a long term plan to teach ESL using my top 50 science demonstrations as a bridge between the English language and the student�s native language.

Is there a specific time of the year when most Korean students come to the Philippines to study English?

Thanks,

diver

[ghost]

If you plan to teach English in the Philippines you will have a very hard time.

Even in the schools which exist (in Manilla and Cebu) they hire their own Philippinos to teach Koreans, and you will not be offered a job....for sure. HAVE BEEN THERE AND SEEN IT.

You have about a 1/million chance of teaching in the Philippines.....BUT it would not be English, because they already have plenty of qualified people for that.....you and other ''native speakers'' are not needed. A few Profs. with Ph.D's teach esoteric subjects in the Philippines, but they are usually just there for a semester or two on exchange.

Forget it.....you have no chance basically.

Ghost (frequent resident - vacations - in the Philippines

[White_Elephant]

[ghost]

One finds it hard to believe there are 30 or more EFL/ESL schools in Cebu...even in Manilla which is much larger, there are only a handful of schools which cater to foreigners.

Once again, one is very doubtful that a white face will get a job teaching English in the Philippines.....many reasons.

1. Specialist Philippino English teachers know much more English than most anyone who is a foreign English teacher...most of whom have serious difficulties with grammar and technical aspects of the language.

2. Philippine teachers are happy to work for $150-$300 U.S. a month....and they are more qualified than you....so they will not employ a white face who ''demands'' $1000 a month...and then starts demanding about ''housing allowances'' and all the other b.s.

3. Koreans are perfectly happy to learn English from Pinoys and Pinays....they are cheaper and more ''jolly'' than most of the white faces who teach English....most of whom are deficient in their home countries in the job market.

4. Hiring foreigners in the Philippines is extremely complicated and expensive, and basically you can only hire people who have skills which you cannot find among the natives....and as this is not the case, you are very unlikely to get a work permit....even if you hire a lawyer!

Take it from ghost, who keeps travelling back to the Philippines for r&r....forget getting a job there....just use it as a base for vacations, and work in other places where you are sure to find work and be valued as a teacher.....almost impossible in the Philippines...as no one will be impressed by your B.A. and measly T.E.F.L. Cert.

Sad but true. Ghost has been there, seen it, and done it, and lived it...don't waste your time.

Ghost

[White_Elephant]

There are far more ESL schools in Cebu for Koreans than Manilla. There's no comparison.

"CEBU: GUESS WHO'S STOPPING THE KOREANS FROM GOING TO RP?"

http://www.newsflash.org/2004/02/ht/ht005716.htm

"Koreans eye Cebu as hub to learn English"

http://www.thefreeman.com/local/index.php?fullstory=1&issue=articles_20041019&id=23565

I was there observing their classes with Filipina teachers. I saw and took note of a number of serious problems as part of my research. One of the major problems I saw was a total lack of rapport that seemed to stem from both angles. It got to the point where the teachers were being called "monkeys" by their students who refused to listen or pay any attention. No doubt that the Korean children were controlling the classrooms and the Filipina teachers were perilous to do anything. These teachers were constantly punishing the students (not physically, of course). Also, the teachers were in tears over the whole uncomfortable and strenuous situation that they were put into. It got to the point where the school and students were begging me to teach their classes rather than observe. I taught the classes, established rapport immediately and after the class was over the students did not want me to leave. I'll never forget the one little girl who kissed my hand. The Filipina teachers were amazed!!! It was a completely different situation.

I didn't say this to gloat. I'm just trying to prove my point that Koreans sometimes do prefer to have a "white face" and they will happily pay the higher price to get what they want. Also, not all of the teachers in the Philippines are more qualified and better at grammar, etc. Take a good look at the OP's qualifications. Not too shabby IMHO.

For what it's worth, I taught English to Filipino children too. They were such a delight! But make no mistake about this, English is definitely their second language. Most Koreans would rather learn from a native speaker. However, we are not so cheap to come by and so the students will settle for second best.

All and all, I would not waste my time either trying to find work in the Philippines. Among other reasons, you could probably cut the politics with a knife even if you were hired with a decent salary.

[ghost]

The white faced teacher who had his hand kissed by the student - that was an unusual, exceptional situation.

The point one is making is that foreigners looking to work teaching English in the Philippines are wasting their time.....the Pinoys and Pinays can do the job..and their accent is what is different, but no worse than a so called ''native speaker'' who has a strong Irish, Scottish or regional accent from the U.S. or Canada (Nova Scotians!).

Yes, Korean kids can be demanding, and they have to be entertained, but in that department the Philippinos beat us (native speakers) hands down. Philippinos are the most fun loving and animated souls on earth, and they are able to transfer that energy and joy in the classroom. One has never seen a foreign teacher who possesses that kind of energy and dynamic. No contest there - the Philippinos are better pedagogues in 99% of the cases....seen it and done it (ghost did some voluntary teaching in exchange for Tagalog lessons).

The prejudiced view about Philippinos not being native speakers is nonsense, as anyone who has attended courses at the University of the Philippines or any of the other major Universities in the Philippines will attest....their general level is much higher than the average TESL ex-pat. from Canada, U.S., Australia, who has a B.A. in an unrelated subject and a highly dubious "TEFL Certificate."

The teachers in the Philippines who attended colleges of Education in the Philippines are, in general, much better qualified to teach English, compared with you and all the others on this forum, because they have studied all aspects of the language (including the grammar mechanics) at a much deeper level than all the TEFL crowd, most of whom are just backpackers out to subsidize an extended vacation oversesas.

The Philippine teachers are the real thing, but that can hardly be said about the average backpacker who calls himself/herself a ''teacher."

Sorry for the reality check, but a dose of reality is a good wake up call.

Ghost

[White_Elephant]