|
Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Rumple
Joined: 19 Sep 2007
|
 Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 11:09 am Post subject: Top Educators Propose One-Stop Service for Foreign Teachers |
 |
|
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/04/117_21926.html
| Quote: |
04-03-2008 18:19
One-Stop Service for Foreign Teachers Proposed
By Kang Shin-who
Staff Reporter
Top educators Thursday proposed that the government open a centralized office to provide a one-stop service for foreign English teachers.
The suggestion was made by top educators in 15 cities and provinces in a meeting with Education Minister Kim Do-yeon in Gangwon Province, Thursday.
So far, each school and city or provincial education office has to, by itself, check backgrounds of foreign English teachers and verify their degrees as well as settle all problems with foreign nationals. However, Most provincial education offices, except for those in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province lack resources and manpower to handle affairs linked to recruitment, visa issuance and other welfare issues for native English teachers, they said.
Both education offices and foreign teachers have yet to establish communication networks. A network linking both local and foreign teachers is yet to be institutionalized.
As foreign teachers have been recruited through multiple channels, it was hard to get unified information and data about them.
Currently, the National Institute for International Education Development (NIIED) is undertaking such tasks as a body under the Education Ministry. The NIIED has English Programs in Korea or EPIK under its wing and EPIK has managed a system that deals with foreign teachers at elementary and secondary schools since last year.
The educators in the cities and provinces are asking the government to ``expand the functions of the EPIK'' for more efficient management of affairs involving foreign teachers.
However, EPIK has been unable to cover all native-English speaking teachers due to a shortage of manpower and budget. More than 4,000 foreign nationals teach English at public schools and education authorities plan to increase the number of teachers.
``I agree that governance of foreign teachers is almost nonexistent now, and that the government has good reasons to provide a centralized service for foreign workers,'' said Tony Hellmann, spokesperson for the Association for Teachers of English in Korea (ATEK).
``I think that an association of volunteers like ATEK could work with the government to provide them valuable information and consultation that they could use to make well-informed decisions,'' he added.
Also, the 16 educators proposed that the education minister ease rules on English teaching visa or E-2 visa so that anyone who is able to teach English can apply for the teaching positions. They also made the same suggestion to President Lee Myung-bak, last January.
Currently an English teaching visa is issued only to citizens from the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and South Africa. However, the head of the Korea Immigration Service said in an interview with The Korea Times, last January that he has decided to change the rules in agreements with other involved ministries including the Education Minister and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Meanwhile, the Education Ministry announced that it will invite ethnic Koreans overseas or foreigners majoring in Korean studies to be provided as native English speakers volunteering part-time teachers at schools. ``It would be also good opportunities for ethnic Koreans and foreigners who are interested in Korea to visit here. We will give priorities to schools in rural areas to have those teachers,'' said Oh Seok-hwan, the ministry official.
[email protected] |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 1:46 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| I hope the government listens to this suggestion and adopts some form of it. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
mehamrick
Joined: 28 Aug 2006
Location: South Korea
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 2:18 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| Meanwhile, the Education Ministry announced that it will invite ethnic Koreans overseas or foreigners majoring in Korean studies to be provided as native English speakers volunteering part-time teachers at schools. ``It would be also good opportunities for ethnic Koreans and foreigners who are interested in Korea to visit here. We will give priorities to schools in rural areas to have those teachers,'' said Oh Seok-hwan, the ministry official. |
So let me see if I am reading this right. I don't have to speak English, but as long as I am an ethnic Korean or have a major in Korean studies I can come teach English??? Come visit here? It's just a big vacation huh..
And I love how they are shitting on the rural schools.. Oh we aren't going to put you in the big cities we are going to ship you out to BFE...  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
matthews_world
Joined: 15 Feb 2003
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 3:58 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| The article sounds creepy. What are they gonna do to us foreigners after they've centralized all of our data? Tag us with locator chips? Sounds more and more like 1984 for us waygooks. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
tob55
Joined: 29 Apr 2007
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 4:08 pm Post subject: Can you say "Monopoly" |
|
|
This company is doing nothing more than trying to create a monopoly on the recruiting taking place in this country. Look at the article and you should be able to read the writing on the wall: "Of course we can help everyone, making it virtually impossible for any other recruiter in the country to have a job."
Of course money will win out in the end. The company willing to pony up the greatest percentage of the profits to greased hands will eventually win. The TOP company sees an opportunity to make itself rich at the expense of every other recruiter, whether good or bad, that now operates in Korea. If given the opportunity this will create more problems for the country than they bargained for.
The sad thing is that Korea already has a system in place that could work if they would just use it. The nearsightedness of the education ministry in this regard is making much more hardship for people who would and could come to this country to help the whole English education project. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Rumple
Joined: 19 Sep 2007
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 5:21 pm Post subject: Re: Can you say "Monopoly" |
|
|
| tob55 wrote: |
This company is doing nothing more than trying to create a monopoly on the recruiting taking place in this country. Look at the article and you should be able to read the writing on the wall: "Of course we can help everyone, making it virtually impossible for any other recruiter in the country to have a job."
Of course money will win out in the end. The company willing to pony up the greatest percentage of the profits to greased hands will eventually win. The TOP company sees an opportunity to make itself rich at the expense of every other recruiter, whether good or bad, that now operates in Korea. If given the opportunity this will create more problems for the country than they bargained for.
The sad thing is that Korea already has a system in place that could work if they would just use it. The nearsightedness of the education ministry in this regard is making much more hardship for people who would and could come to this country to help the whole English education project. |
You misunderstand. There is no TOP company. When he says "top educator," he means the head of the education ministry for each province and city. Like a school district superintendent back in the USA. Except REAL big districts. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
tob55
Joined: 29 Apr 2007
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 5:47 pm Post subject: my mistake |
|
|
| Thanks for the correction. I did misread the article, but the logic behind the point I brought out is one that will come to light in the near future. this is the way things usually go. Thanks again for correcting me. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired
|
| Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 4:17 am Post subject: Re: Top Educators Propose One-Stop Service for Foreign Teach |
|
|
| Quote: |
``I agree that governance of foreign teachers is almost nonexistent now, and that the government has good reasons to provide a centralized service for foreign workers,'' said Tony Hellmann, spokesperson for the Association for Teachers of English in Korea (ATEK).
``I think that an association of volunteers like ATEK could work with the government to provide them valuable information and consultation that they could use to make well-informed decisions,'' he added.
] |
If I were a member of ATEK who joined under the belief that ATEK would stand up for me should I get unfair treatment, this apparent getting in bed with the government would make me extremely nervous.
And the Korean government doesn't exactly have a sterling record when it comes to taking advice from the foreign teachers it brings here to work. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
