Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Harpeau]

Ethnic Bias Seen in South Korea Teacher Hiring

July 9, 2007 � As South Korea's economy grows, many students there are learning English. But Americans of every race who apply to teach in that country are discovering a troubling reality. Schools in South Korea often only hire white Americans.
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Racism is alive and well in the land of the Midnight Noise!!

[mindmetoo]

[stevemcgarrett]

The mainstream American press always seems to be well behind the learning curve when it comes to anything in Asian life.

Next thing they'll be reporting that a generational divide exists.

[Julius]

In 10 years the US might just realise that their troops are protecting a country that despises them.

[R. S. Refugee]

[R. S. Refugee]

[cbclark4]

[twg]

[CentralCali]

I suppose you could call it a ten year old story. Or you could recognize that it's still a problem now and that's why the NPR did the story.

[VirginIslander]

I'll be the Devil's Advocate.

One could argue that it has less to do with race and more to do with accent.

First, who would a parent rather have in a classroom? An American of Irish descent, a South African of Irish descent or an Irishman. Obviously, the former. I have been offered several privates because parents prefer my familiar Hollywood accent.

Likewise, blacks in America speak with a different accent than middle-class white Americans. For exampe, my adopted black brother--like all of our black friends--pronounce "th" as "f."

"Did you do your maf homeork?"

Perhaps that is why English speaking Caribbean citizens do not teach in Korea. How many parents want a Jamican to teach their child English, regardless if the former is of European, Asian or African blood.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_American_Vernacular_English

Lastly, Koreans have a difficult time not associating race with language. A Korean should speak Korean, regardless of their place of birth. A white person should speak English, regardless of their place of birth (ask a Russian how often they get a "hello.") So, perhaps Koreans think Africans can't speak English as well because they are African.

[Adventurer]

I would say "Good for NPR". However, many non-white teachers do teach with no problem in Korea. There is definitely prejudice out there, but I know someone who is of Asian descent and teaching with no problem, and another fellow who is from California who isn't white at all and might be a dark Hispanic or black (I am not sure) is teaching with no problem.
They need teachers and they will hire plenty of minorities. However, there is a serious problem out there when it comes to bigotry against foreigners including Caucasian teachers and it is just worse for the others... That's my take, at least.

[On the other hand]

[R. S. Refugee]

[darkhorse_NZ]

[CentralCali]

VirginIslander:

Your description of "all Black's accents" is far off the mark. To be blunt, it can only serve to perpetuate the ignorance which drives the "We can't hire Blacks!" attitude here. Not all Blacks in the US grow up in dialectal communties which display the features described in that link.

You are right, though, about how very many Koreans view language and race. Again, that is driven by their ignorance.