|
Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
The Dude from Canada
Joined: 19 Feb 2007
|
 Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 5:50 pm Post subject: Have you ever thought? |
 |
|
Have you ever thought seriously, what on earth are you doing in Korea? Are you really teachers? They want to start unions, they want better rights, they want more pay. But what do you do? You don't teach anything. When the kids do their uni exams, it's all from what they learned from their Korean teachers, not you. You don't teach history, math, science, and you don't even teach English. You simply reinforce what they already learned from their Korean teachers.
A teacher is somebody who is supposed to reinforce the minds of young people regardless of conditions. I am sure most of you have heard how desperate the inner city schools are for teachers back in the US and Canada. Do you want to look back in retrospect and see how useless yout career in Korea is? Or do you want to go to where you are really needed?
Are you too afraid to do your job in a meaningful manner where it is really needed? Or are you content to leach of your Korean masters for your 2.1 million won and apartment while not accomplishing anything? |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
seoulunitarian
Joined: 06 Jul 2004
|
| Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 5:55 pm Post subject: Re: Have you ever thought? |
|
|
| The Dude from Canada wrote: |
Have you ever thought seriously, what on earth are you doing in Korea? Are you really teachers? They want to start unions, they want better rights, they want more pay. But what do you do? You don't teach anything. When the kids do their uni exams, it's all from what they learned from their Korean teachers, not you. You don't teach history, math, science, and you don't even teach English. You simply reinforce what they already learned from their Korean teachers.
A teacher is somebody who is supposed to reinforce the minds of young people regardless of conditions. I am sure most of you have heard how desperate the inner city schools are for teachers back in the US and Canada. Do you want to look back in retrospect and see how useless yout career in Korea is? Or do you want to go to where you are really needed?
Are you too afraid to do your job in a meaningful manner where it is really needed? Or are you content to leach of your Korean masters for your 2.1 million won and apartment while not accomplishing anything? |
Many of us, though not completely satisfied with our teaching jobs here, are making our time here worthwhile. Some are getting advanced degrees. Some are writing books. Some are simply preparing themselves in other ways for what they really want to do back home. Most of us do not care what Koreans think of us - whether they look up or down on us. We are only here for a short while, preparing to move on.
Peace |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
sojourner1
Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Location: Where meggi swim and 2 wheeled tractors go sput put chug alugg pug pug
|
| Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 6:53 pm Post subject: |
|
|
* Uh, can I ask the OP why he is flaming on everyone here when he was here for 2 years just like us? I think he is considering coming back to teach, but is resisting the urge. What else would his interest be of starting a new account 3 months ago and posting again on Daves? I am very sure of this one.
I teach math, science, and literacy in English to kindergarten students at an elitist hagwon where wealthy people put their kids. Their kids are learning allot from us foreign English teachers here.
The OP taught here for 2 years and then went home for a job in IT with a company that sends him over to Asia on business. Do you think you would have landed that good job without the relevant experience of teaching in an Asian country? The experience you gained in Korea equipped you enough to sell yourself to that company for that good job. That is the same path I am taking. My plan is to teach here for 2 years and then join a western company in an international business area, be an IT or finance area of the company.
In the afternoon, I am teaching phonics and literacy to middle school and elementary students who did not do an English kindergarten program and they are learning.
I beg to differ on the statement made by the Dude in Canada that we are not teachers. It may be true that in some schools such as many public schools, FT's are just speaking simple phrases to a class with a KT present as common in public school classes to my understanding. FT's who have a job that doesn�t involve a great deal of actual teaching have no control over that predicament, they are here for a career opportunity just as everyone else. I am not flaming anyone, everyone�s situation is different. I could have been the one to land a job that didn't involve actual teaching, but I did land a challenging and rewarding job that involves the responsibilities of actual teaching by myself in the classroom.
Yes, I know the St. Louis public schools could use a few fine teachers, but their finance budget crisis and social corruptions doesn't appeal to me despite the fact they pay more than Korea and are at home where great restaurants, my friends, and my family reside. It is true that a Korean public school is much more attractive than American city public schools despite the fact American schools pay more so this is not just about money. Any one with brains or common sense looks out for #1 first in this day and age.
As for leaching Korean masters, we are selling our services to them who are demanding these services. We provide services in the manner requested by our Korean masters. It is not leaching. Now if we were at home staying with relatives and receiving money from them that would be leaching. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
pocariboy73
Joined: 23 Jan 2003
|
| Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 7:04 pm Post subject: Re: Have you ever thought? |
|
|
| The Dude from Canada wrote: |
Have you ever thought seriously, what on earth are you doing in Korea? Are you really teachers? They want to start unions, they want better rights, they want more pay. But what do you do? You don't teach anything. When the kids do their uni exams, it's all from what they learned from their Korean teachers, not you. You don't teach history, math, science, and you don't even teach English. You simply reinforce what they already learned from their Korean teachers.
A teacher is somebody who is supposed to reinforce the minds of young people regardless of conditions. I am sure most of you have heard how desperate the inner city schools are for teachers back in the US and Canada. Do you want to look back in retrospect and see how useless yout career in Korea is? Or do you want to go to where you are really needed?
Are you too afraid to do your job in a meaningful manner where it is really needed? Or are you content to leach of your Korean masters for your 2.1 million won and apartment while not accomplishing anything? |
Have you ever thought you may be a jealous flaming TROLL with too much time on your hands???
Last edited by pocariboy73 on Fri Jun 01, 2007 7:17 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
KYC
Joined: 11 May 2006
|
| Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 7:13 pm Post subject: Re: Have you ever thought? |
|
|
| The Dude from Canada wrote: |
Have you ever thought seriously, what on earth are you doing in Korea? Are you really teachers? They want to start unions, they want better rights, they want more pay. But what do you do? You don't teach anything. When the kids do their uni exams, it's all from what they learned from their Korean teachers, not you. You don't teach history, math, science, and you don't even teach English. You simply reinforce what they already learned from their Korean teachers.
A teacher is somebody who is supposed to reinforce the minds of young people regardless of conditions. I am sure most of you have heard how desperate the inner city schools are for teachers back in the US and Canada. Do you want to look back in retrospect and see how useless yout career in Korea is? Or do you want to go to where you are really needed?
Are you too afraid to do your job in a meaningful manner where it is really needed? Or are you content to leach of your Korean masters for your 2.1 million won and apartment while not accomplishing anything? |
To each his own. Each person walks his or her own path...if you are unhappy, then chose another path. Don't question others and what they do...it's not YOUR life..it's theirs  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Ozabout7or8
Joined: 04 May 2007
Location: NZ
|
| Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 8:47 pm Post subject: Re: Have you ever thought? |
|
|
| The Dude from Canada wrote: |
Have you ever thought seriously, what on earth are you doing in Korea? Are you really teachers? They want to start unions, they want better rights, they want more pay. But what do you do? You don't teach anything. When the kids do their uni exams, it's all from what they learned from their Korean teachers, not you. You don't teach history, math, science, and you don't even teach English. You simply reinforce what they already learned from their Korean teachers.
A teacher is somebody who is supposed to reinforce the minds of young people regardless of conditions. I am sure most of you have heard how desperate the inner city schools are for teachers back in the US and Canada. Do you want to look back in retrospect and see how useless yout career in Korea is? Or do you want to go to where you are really needed?
Are you too afraid to do your job in a meaningful manner where it is really needed? Or are you content to leach of your Korean masters for your 2.1 million won and apartment while not accomplishing anything? |
The answer is that YOU are not a teacher, the majority of the rest of us probably are.
Just because we don't teach the questions they sit an exam on next month doen't mean that we don't give them tools and learning approaches to improve their English, and in turn their whole education and life prospects.
If you wanna start comparing poor people over the World mate, you would not start in NYC, it would be more like Africa, South America and Eastern Europe buddy. And if you did start helping these children do you know the first thing we might need to start teaching them.....ENGLISH.
The Inner city NYC slums are a cause and effect from the Economic policies of the US Government, do not try for a second to put the guilt trip on English Teachers in ROK.
Find the rock you came from and crawl back under it. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Ozabout7or8
Joined: 04 May 2007
Location: NZ
|
| Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 8:52 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| sojourner1 wrote: |
| It may be true that in some schools such as many public schools, FT's are just speaking simple phrases to a class with a KT present as common in public school classes to my understanding. |
That is the exception rather than the rule. You are describing more the situation in Japan. Just have a look at all the posts from Public School Teachers about their KT's disappearing on them.
I taught in apublic school and it was largely left up to me to plan my lessons and include the KT, which is largely the impression I got from most of my collegues.
You need to understand that the Korean Teacher can have a period off by letting the Korean teacher plan and deliver their quota of lessons and this is appealing to most if not all Korean Teachers of English. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
bosintang
Joined: 01 Dec 2003
Location: In the pot with the rest of the mutts
|
| Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 9:01 pm Post subject: Re: Have you ever thought? |
|
|
| The Dude from Canada wrote: |
Have you ever thought seriously, what on earth are you doing in Korea? Are you really teachers? They want to start unions, they want better rights, they want more pay. But what do you do? You don't teach anything. When the kids do their uni exams, it's all from what they learned from their Korean teachers, not you. You don't teach history, math, science, and you don't even teach English. You simply reinforce what they already learned from their Korean teachers.
|
I'm afraid your attitude probably mirrors a lot of what of man Korean educators believe. In a public school, this is mirrored in your title as a "native speaker" rather than an "English teacher", and in the lack of respect for teaching experience and credentials. I think many believe foreign teachers don't "teach", they provide conversation and pronunciation practice, inheritently failing to reckonise the difficulties and challenges, but still complaining when they don't get the results they want.
In the end, teachers, educators, customers, we all get what we deserve.
| Quote: |
A teacher is somebody who is supposed to reinforce the minds of young people regardless of conditions. I am sure most of you have heard how desperate the inner city schools are for teachers back in the US and Canada.
|
I've never heard of any school in Canada being desperate for teachers. But what does this have to do with anything?
| Quote: |
Do you want to look back in retrospect and see how useless yout career in Korea is? Or do you want to go to where you are really needed?
Are you too afraid to do your job in a meaningful manner where it is really needed? Or are you content to leach of your Korean masters for your 2.1 million won and apartment while not accomplishing anything?
|
Again, what does this have to do with anything? Who said they wanted to save the world?
But since you've asked, I don't think teaching in Korea is a meaningful career, and no, I don't plan to stay here. Korea is a fun place to be the exact person they complain about. A user with no ambition other than to party and chase skirt. Because no matter how much they might complain about you, you will *always* have the same job opportunities here as anyone else. There's no reward for taking yourself too seriously in Korea.
Last edited by bosintang on Fri Jun 01, 2007 9:07 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
jajdude
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
|
| Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 9:04 pm Post subject: Re: Have you ever thought? |
|
|
| The Dude from Canada wrote: |
.
A teacher is somebody who is supposed to ...... |
This is the line that always astonishes me, no matter what else is said. Why the "supposed to" part? The world of ideals exists in our heads. I also hate when people say "teacher" in quotes. What the hell do people think a teacher is anyway, some sort of exceptional being?
Forget the ideals, the shoulds and supposed tos. Please. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
bosintang
Joined: 01 Dec 2003
Location: In the pot with the rest of the mutts
|
| Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 9:08 pm Post subject: Re: Have you ever thought? |
|
|
| jajdude wrote: |
| The Dude from Canada wrote: |
.
A teacher is somebody who is supposed to ...... |
This is the line that always astonishes me, no matter what else is said. Why the "supposed to" part? The world of ideals exists in our heads. I also hate when people say "teacher" in quotes. What the hell do people think a teacher is anyway, some sort of exceptional being?
Forget the ideals, the shoulds and supposed tos. Please. |
Especially a school teacher. Does isolation breed grandeur in foreigners in Korea? I don't get it. A school teacher for the most part, is nothing more than a glorified babysitter. Expecting them to conform to some kind of higher role is a bit much. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Ozabout7or8
Joined: 04 May 2007
Location: NZ
|
| Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 9:42 pm Post subject: Re: Have you ever thought? |
|
|
| bosintang wrote: |
| jajdude wrote: |
| The Dude from Canada wrote: |
.
A teacher is somebody who is supposed to ...... |
This is the line that always astonishes me, no matter what else is said. Why the "supposed to" part? The world of ideals exists in our heads. I also hate when people say "teacher" in quotes. What the hell do people think a teacher is anyway, some sort of exceptional being?
Forget the ideals, the shoulds and supposed tos. Please. |
Especially a school teacher. Does isolation breed grandeur in foreigners in Korea? I don't get it. A school teacher for the most part, is nothing more than a glorified babysitter. Expecting them to conform to some kind of higher role is a bit much. |
Tripe.
How do you think children, who get little if any assistance from their parents, learn to read and write and gain skills in mathematics and the sciences, all before they enter highschool? From thin air???
From good teachers numbskull. 
You have a low opinion of yourself but don't paint others with your dirty brush. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
bosintang
Joined: 01 Dec 2003
Location: In the pot with the rest of the mutts
|
| Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 9:49 pm Post subject: Re: Have you ever thought? |
|
|
| Ozabout7or8 wrote: |
Tripe.
How do children who get little is any assistance from their parents learn to read and write and gain skills in mathematics and sciences, all before they enter highschool? From good teachers numbskull.
|
I guess your teachers never taught you that insults are not a substitute for an argument.
| Quote: |
You have a low opinion of yourself but don't paint others with your dirty brush. |
I don't have a low opinion of myself. I think being a teacher is as an honourable job as being a police officer, a firefighter, or any other job. *I'm not saying that teachers don't play a vital role in society. They do.*
BUT -- school teachers are generally conservative and low-key. It is not the best paid profession and does not attract the best talent. Most school teachers become teachers because they love children, love summer vacations, or because it's an easier non-demanding 9-5 job. Very few people become teachers because they are highly talented in their subject, or because have grand ambitions to save the world, get rich, or do whatever.
Of course I'm also stereotyping, many teachers do have larger ambitions, but I'm stereotyping for a reason, because the OP is self-projecting that an EFL teacher should have ambitions beyond doing their job, or conform to a higher ideal, both of which are ridiculous assertions. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Ozabout7or8
Joined: 04 May 2007
Location: NZ
|
| Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 10:03 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I do agree with you Bosintung about the kind of people (generally) who end up working in public elementary/middle/high schools. This is not to say there is anything 'wrong' with them, but they are able to be generally distinguished as a group, against say lawyers, businessmen and scientists for example.
It does depend on someones motivation for choosing the job and different personal ambitions and motivations will steer someone away from, or towards public school teaching.
I guess the point I wanna add to yours Dog SOup, is that we were talking about two separate things, because in my personal opinion, education should retain the highest level of importance in our society, however as you mentioned, not all of the high achievers are able to be attracted to help in doing it.
My father said something interesting once: "Isn't it funny how we will pay our mechanic twice or even three times more than our babysitter?" |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
bosintang
Joined: 01 Dec 2003
Location: In the pot with the rest of the mutts
|
| Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 10:16 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Ozabout7or8 wrote: |
I do agree with you Bosintung about the kind of people (generally) who end up working in public elementary/middle/high schools. This is not to say there is anything 'wrong' with them, but they are able to be generally distinguished as a group, against say lawyers, businessmen and scientists for example.
It does depend on someones motivation for choosing the job and different personal ambitions and motivations will steer someone away from, or towards public school teaching.
I guess the point I wanna add to yours Dog SOup, is that we were talking about two separate things, because in my personal opinion, education should retain the highest level of importance in our society, however as you mentioned, not all of the high achievers are able to be attracted to help in doing it.
|
To be honest, we're lumping all teachers into one group here, when that's not the case. Many teachers are intelligent, worldly, write books, own businesses, play active roles in their communities, and do all those things that we expect of movers and shakers of society.
But take the case of a woman I know. She's now a school teacher. She's not the smartest person alive, nor the most worldliest. She was an average student (mostly from effort rather than natural ability), not particularly interested in her field (English). She won't be going to Africa to to do aid work, she won't be writing any books, and for the rest of her career, she probably won't be doing anything other than teach elementary in a small town in Canada.
But here's the thing about her: she has always wanted to be a school teacher and she loves her job. She's friendly, patient, and loves children. She has motherly-type written all over her, and I'm sure she's an excellent teacher. A school teacher does not need to be a highly talented or ambitious person. There are other -- probably better -- qualities that make someone a good teacher. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Ozabout7or8
Joined: 04 May 2007
Location: NZ
|
| Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 10:51 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I'm pretty sure the OP was Troll/sock  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
