Korean Job Discussion Forums

[htrain]

I am by no means a conformist, and really don't care what other people think... but sometimes the *beep* talking about ESL gets to me. I know teachers in the West aren't generally a respected lot, and it gets worse here because you have many alcoholic or aloof types... but holy crap.

I really love this job and respect those who take it seriously. I plan to do it for a long time.

I think I feel a certain kinship with expats here in Korea basically because in Japan and China there were always "businessmen" ready to turn their noses up at you... here we are mostly all teachers.

Whenever I hear the word "teacher" in any snide tone or derogatory fashion I wanna break noses.

[guido]

Well maybe if it took a little more skill than flipping burgers does we might get some more respect.....I have worked in China and Japan as well and at least it was a bit more professional there, just not as much easy cash coz they arent so obsessed with this craze of learning English...dont kid yourself, a monkey could do your job, just have to be a white one....get in and get out and take as much of KOreas money with you as you can.

[Typhoon]

I used think like you OP, but these days there seems to be so much crap going on with the "teachers" here. I am constantly hearing about teachers fighting, using drugs, and causing shit throughout Daejeon. I just don't get it. These people are "teachers", but acting like high school students. I have lost a lot of respect for "teachers" and am anxious to get back into the world of education in the west where teachers are held to a higher moral code or they lose their job. I hate hearing about all these "tough guys" fighting because some guy looked at him funny. ESL teachers in Korea do not deserve respect until we can clean up our industry and I don't see that happening anytime soon.

[saw6436]

At present ESL in Korea is not a job it is a "gig".

[guido]

would you like fries with that English lesson.....

[pkang0202]

[Homer]

Interesting suggestion pkang0202.....

The problem is two headed: Foreign teachers themselves and Korean rules for selecting them.

It makes for a dealy combo: low standards of entry and an influx of people who should be teaching at all....

This all being driven by mad demand here and an unwillingness (up until very recently) of Korea to tighten the bolts and monitor who comes in better.....

[jaganath69]

[Homer]

Good point too jags....

I know a few older dudes who booze it up like they were still in High School.....

[SuperHero]

[guido]

[htrain]

Besides professionals like doctors and lawyers, (and even some doctors and lawyers), how many people's jobs REALLY require that much skill? 80% of the jobs in America I would venture to say are worked by burger-flipping caliber people.

America even proved an absolute chimp can become president.

I'm stacking hoards of cash and plan to retire long before those who invest in "careers" start to see any payoff. Who's smarter?

[kimchi_pizza]

Sure I get tired of it as this is my chosen profession and hate to see it dragged in the mud, so I just have to make peace with the realization that my profession will never, at least during this generation, ever be wholly accepted or properly respected.

Obviously for the reasons of the attitude and performance of other foreign teachers, but also because of the fact I left my homeland. This is a collective society and can't understand why anyone would want to work or live in another society. That plus I'm the oldest son and brother doesn't make me look too good leaving my family unlike many'a "devoted sons" of their family and country.

That's just my take on it with all the generalizations wrapped around it. I just take a deep breath, put a smile on my face and try my best.

[guido]

[RACETRAITOR]

Respect is earned. I'm sure there are some English teachers who've earned respect, but probably 95% of them are jokers.