Korean Job Discussion Forums

[King Baeksu]

I was interviewed last week for a documentary examining the "English-language frenzy" here in South Korea. It will appear on Sat. the 23rd at 11pm on the long-running SBS show, "그것이 알고 싶다" ("I Want to Know That"). Here's a link:

http://wizard2.sbs.co.kr/resource/template/contents/07_review_detail.jsp?vProgId=1000082&vVodId=V0000010101&vMenuId=1001376&rpage=4&cpage=1&vVodCnt1=00433&vVodCnt2=00&vUrl=/vobos/wizard2/resource/template/contents/07_review_list.jsp

Interestingly, the producers said I was the only foreigner they were interviewing for the program, which shows how apparently insignificant we all are in the overall scheme of things here.

I told them 60-70% of South Koreans didn't even need to learn English because they don't have any foreign friends and hardly ever use it at work, and should at least have a choice to study other languages, especially Chinese.

I also said there were too many "low-grade" foreigners in the hagwon industry here, and that if the hagwon industry here was willing to pay more, they'd attract a better pool of applicants.

Saturday night broadcast time means only geeks and losers will be watching it! Brilliant!

[endo]

60-70% don't even need English?


Have you ever traveled abroad? English is the international language.

I think that was a bit of an ignorant statement on your part.

[billybrobby]

[in_seoul_2003]

[endo]

When I was in China last month I was hanging out with a girl from France and a dude from Poland.

The only way the three of us could communicate was through English.

You go to ant international airport, train station, ferry terminal, ect.... and you will most likely see only two languages on the signs. One being the local language and the other being English.


Plus I currently make a living off the ESL field so of course I'm biased.

[Alyallen]

[in_seoul_2003]

It's cool that a Frenchwoman, you and a Pole would be hanging out in China. But there was no Korean now was there?

And from all the travel stories from Korean adults who have traveled abroad internationally (even though well versed in english), I've never heard any story except Koreans meeting up with other Koreans. I don't think I ever will hear a story about a Korean, Japanese, and Chinese hooking up in Thailand and hanging out and shooting the shit with their common english.

[hogwonguy1979]

I think the King is dead on here. In fact I've been telling this to my students for years. Learn Chinese first thats where all your factories are going to, thats your #1 trading partner. Yeah if you are in univ learn 2 langauges especially if you are going into int business.

In reality how many of these kids are REALLY going to need to learn English? For some once every few years package tour to SEA where they will be with a group of fellow Koreans and never interact with the locals and never speak English?

I say let 2/3rds of the kids in the English hogwons out of this, let them be kids and play etc. It will make them a better people over the long run

[Pyongshin Sangja]

[bosintang]

[spliff]

[King Baeksu]

In the case of the ESL industry here in the ROK, "low-grade" means lacking any form of teacher training, and having little or no interest in Korea itself beyond your monthly paycheck.

I have been in South Korea since 1996 and have met literally thousands of foreigners here so I think I know what I am talking about. I also lived in Japan for three years and can compare between the two countries. The percentage of foreigners who go to Japan with a high interest in the local culture is much higher than it is in South Korea.

I personally teach at a local university and wouldn't even dream of teaching kids here because that is much more difficult and requires a high level of training and experience in my opinion.

[ajgeddes]

But, don't you think there is a difference between low-grade foreigners and low-grade teachers? If you said low-grade teachers, that is one thing, but to say low-grade foreigners, I really don't think you have the right to comment on that. Low-grade foreigner is pretty subjective isn't it?

[King Baeksu]

"Low-grade" would also refer to native English speakers who are unable to parse accurately statements like:

..."low-grade" foreigners in the hagwon industry here

The term "teacher" is not one that I throw around lightly.

[steroidmaximus]