Korean Job Discussion Forums

Rock · Joined: 25 Feb 2005

I don't like telling people I'm an 'English teacher.' It sounds too stuffy, both here and back home(Could you picture you calling yourself an English teacher to your friends?) Think of the cannotations.

It means you've superb grammar and are a bibliophile, read tomes and know a lot about literature. Then you're looked on with suspicion. It's as if you're going to leap at them with a pencil and correct every word they say.

Not so me.

I prefer to call myself an ESL Language Instructor. That's really all I am anyways. To call myself anything else just doesn't really fit.

I can't stand people calling me "Teacher" here either. It's nice, but doesn't fit. Until I have a degree and certificate in hand, I don't think I have the right to officially call myself a teacher.

Maybe they see things differently here, but I'd like to downplay the differences. Basically, people use this nomenclature to their advantage and it breeds a lot of ego-tripping and horn-locking, when after all, no one at these institutes is really constituted as a 'teacher,' per se.

Heck yes, I'd like to be one officially. But actually, I don't have the credentials. Not yet, anyways.

Rteacher · Joined: 23 May 2005 Location: Western MA, USA

I prefer to call myself "Supreme Master" - and I insist that others follow suit (while referring to themselves as mere language instructors... Laughing

)

VanIslander · Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 4:17 am Post subject:

I'm an English language teacher.

JamesFord · Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Location: my personal playground

I'm a gravedigger.

blurgalurgalurga · Joined: 18 Oct 2007

I'm an Educator. I have a Calling.

Rock · Joined: 25 Feb 2005

ED209 · Joined: 17 Oct 2006

I am Sam

Czarjorge · Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2007 3:47 am Post subject:

Skeletor, Master of the Universe.

Easter Clark · Joined: 18 Nov 2007 Location: Hiding from Yie Eun-woong

Not to step on anyone's toes, but we don't teach ESL here! We teach English as a Foreign Language--EFL. Now back home we would be teaching ESL. Hope that helps clear up some of the confusion!

Boodleheimer · Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2007 5:57 am Post subject:

Dr. Worm here.

someday, somebody else besides me will call me by my stage name, they will call me Dr. Worm, good morning, how are you, i'm Dr. Worm. i'm interested in things, i'm not a real doctor but i am a real worm, i am an actual worm, i live like a worm. i like to play the drums. i think i'm getting good but i can handle criticism. i'll show you what i know and you can tell me if you think i'm getting better on the drums

mistermasan · Joined: 20 Sep 2007 Location: 10+ yrs on Dave's ESL cafe

teacher. "just" a teacher. like a mother is "just" a housewife.

poet13 · Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2007 9:26 pm Post subject:

I'm called many things.

I like 'poppa' best of all.

Underwaterbob · Joined: 08 Jan 2005 Location: In Cognito

Meh, nothing wrong with "English Teacher". I liked most of my English teachers long ago.

What I do hate is my co-teacher calling me Mr. Jason even though I've explained a dozen times that you don't use Mr. before someone's first name.

ESL Milk "Everyday · Joined: 12 Sep 2007

Usually Spiderman P. Superman or Rambo.

regicide · Joined: 01 Sep 2006 Location: United States