Korean Job Discussion Forums

[cubanlord]

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/opinon/2007/11/162_13913.html

[Bibbitybop]

Everyone (usually) knocks Schertzer about his methods, but has anyone rebutted him by writing to the newspaper?

[cubanlord]

[Ilsanman]

I don't think it justifies a response.

I am not quite sure what he's asking for. The way I interpret it, he is saying western teaching styles don't work in Korea, so we should

a) teach Korean style

b) act as much more than teachers, including counselling, etc.

c) teach with electronic equipment (that most schools don't provide)

d) all of the above, or some combination of the above.

There is an English word maybe he doesn't know. It's called 'administration'. If they did their job better, maybe we could too.

[The_Eyeball_Kid]

I've already said everything I want to say about Steve Schertzer. However, that will not stop me saying this:

STEVE SCHERTZER IS A BITTER, IMPOTENT, POWER-HUNGRY ULCER OF A MAN WITH BREATHTAKING DELUSIONS OF GRANDEUR AND AN ATTITUDE AND PERSONALITY THAT ARE NOT FAR REMOVED FROM BIOLOGICAL WARFARE.

[agentX]

Oh, so many problems with this article. I don't know where to begin.
Too bad I have better things to do than debunk this crap. So I'll just start with the most egregious things.

[chris_J2]

[aarontendo]

I think he was just trying to be a little poetic on that line. I doubt it woulda sounded better by saying "not in Kansas anymore, or London, or Sydney, or Canada with its' cute flags on our backpacks, or in South Africa. Because God forbid we don't remember to include everyone!".

Though I guess the guy with his nation's flag for his avatar and his location ALSO making reference to his home would naturally latch onto that one single point. Don't worry we won't forget that there are non Americans teaching here, what with the canucks and aussies flying their flags and boardnames how could we? Good job!

(Yeah it's also cute that this might be somewhat of a troll and lo-and-behold, my avatar sorta looks like one!)

[Homer]

This guy is often all over the map and pretty condescending.

But, he makes accidental points sometimes!

In this one he makes a decent point (not willingly I am sure) about foreign teachers and how they teach.
I do not think we should teach like Korean teachers. I do think however that if you want to be truly effective you need to at least look at the teaching philosophy and pedagogy here and apply some of it to your style.

This is simply learning to adapt to the learning styles of your students. A hybrid approach here is best.

The "western style" of education is not bad and the author takes a false road when he says applying it will lead to bad results here. But he again makes an accidental point: applying a "western teaching method" as is here and imposing it will not be very effective. As a teacher you need to find the best way to engage your students and create a fertile learning environment. This inevitably includes figuring out how people learn here....

I agree we should have office hours for students. However, these should be structured and organized as well as supported by the school.

Teachers do not work alone, they need assistance from their schools.

[Roch]

[chris_J2]

Americans constitute less than 50% of the ESL teacher numbers in many parts of Korea. Fact.

[oh_daesu]

[Unposter]

I'm sorry but much of what Steve says seems uneducated, grossly irresponsible and downright dangerous.

It seems uneducated because he makes a number of statements such as Foreighn teachers do this... as if they were absolute fact without any evidence to support it. I can hardly imagine even an elementary school student getting a good grade for such writing.

It is grossly irresponsible because it plays up to all the "racists" out there that feed off of "stupid foreigner" stories. No matter how much Steve wants to improve education in Korea such articles can only quicken the demise of the profession. If I did not suspect otherwise, I would think that was his true goal.

And, that is why it is downright dangerous. It is one thing to rant on Dave's and it is another thing to write "something serious" in the newspapers. The information in this article can become "fact" by being cited and it further seeps into the unconsciousness of its readers that FTs are "bad" people and teachers.

If Steve wants to improve English education in Korea there are many more productive ways. For example, he could do some teacher training or work with a group like KOTESOL to educate FTs on how to teach and then write an article about the positive impact he is making rather than rant on about how "special" he is and how "worthless" everyone else is. It only sounds self-serving, narcissistic, and "idiotic."

There are a lot of people who do use good methods, get good results, and have good relationships with their schools. But, these stories rarely make the newspapers and they hardly make for exciting conversation. Not surprisingly, it is the shocking and scandalous that make for good "watercooler" chat. Which is fine. It is where it belongs. But, raising it up to newspaper fodder is just plain wrong. Under such circumstances, I feel nothing but shame for Steve. Steve, please grow up and take some responsibility for your actions.

And if there are newspaper people out there reading this forum, please stop printing irresponsible people like Steve. It may sell newspapers but it does not serve the community well.

[Scotticus]

[gwhitey09]

chris j2 why do you have to be such a *beep*? Stop being so self-conscious about your little country. Your a homo. Fact