Korean Job Discussion Forums

[venus]

My Korean friend (who is an English teacher at middle school) and I were talking about why it's okay for Korean teachers to get angry, sahout, even whack the kids and they don;t complian but Korean students and parents expect foriegners to be happy go lucky entertaining clowns like that Isac guy from tv and when we're not - they make a huge fuss about it...

She said she thinks it's because in movies Western teachers (saved by the bell, Dangerous minds etc..) are all super friendly and outgoing etc...

Anyone else heard this.

Could a whole nation of people really make a judgement and thus form expectations abou us just from what they see on tv shows and in movies...?

Wouldn't surprise me I must say...

[Yu_Bum_suk]

They don't have a clue what we do in western schools and if they like you you can get away with anthing, too (not that you should necessarily). One teacher asked me 'Do Canada teacher ever whip their student? Never? [genuine surprise]'.

I could tell them that these days we make naughty kids sit on a stool wearing a dunce cap and they'd probably believe me.

Isaac & Co. really don't help, though.

[krats1976]

I've heard comments like that for the last four years... not about teachers, but about American culture in general.

It's annoying, but, really, what choice do they have? It's not as though most people here have traveled to the US to see for themselves.

[RACETRAITOR]

Better if they judge you for Saved by the Bell than Law and Order.

[venus]

[swetepete]

Yeah, it could be worse...they could be judging us by 'Notes On A Scandal.'

[venus]

[Yaya]

Or perhaps on what they see in Itaewon and Hongdae on weekends.

[dogbert]

[Ozabout7or8]

I'm from New Zealand and I judge Americans pretty much from what i see on television. This of course includes reality TV programmes, news, current affairs programmes, sitcoms and of course the odd movie.

I know the diversity of Americans because I can speak their language but I am sure Koreans have a hard time realising the differences that exist within America and other English-speaking countries because they cannot understand the intricacies of what is on the television.

They probably get the same surprise with ESl teachers as to the Western men who thought they were getting a 'quiet, docile, compliant' wife.

[pest2]

I had some middle school students who judged western culture on the basis of Tyra Banks and Desperate housewives. Those students would always ask me how many gf's I have, whether I had ever killed anyone, etc etc.. they really believed it to a 't'.

[Donkey Beer]

Yes, they do. I can affirm this from many first hand experiences.

Koreans are often rude to me and cut in line in front of me. I have even had them spit in my direction as i walk by. I have also been called a "bad man" by unprovoked children in class. When i spoke to my Korean co-teacher i was told that i look like Kevin Bacon who is generally despised in cinema.

I don't believe that i look like him but i have had many other Koreans say that there is a very close similarity.

[mindmetoo]

I think every culture judges every other culture based on their movies. Some people only know Korea via Sun and Jin from Lost or MASH or Super Junior.

And yes my students think I'm vastly rich like everyone in TV and movies.

[Ilsanman]

Then we should judge Koreans by their TV shows.

Pretty much all men either a) overdrink b) cheat, c) beat up their wives, or d) 2 or 3 of the above.

[happeningthang]

Who doesn't judge other countries by what they see on TV or movies?

If you haven't travelled or lived there, or talked to people who have, then all you've got to go on is what you watch or read about a place. It's only natural.