Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bovinerebel]

I'm always complimented on my accent and it's neutrality and rightly so. Having lived a "global" life I've meshed myself together something of a global accent.

I think to generalize entire countries as having good accents is silly. Within my country alone we can barely understand each other for the diversity of our English Accents...same can be said for Britian (heck , even England).

[maingman]

no !


I personally believe though the "accent" thing ie this American bias /english is something that our so classy Korean Bosses - mainly but not as arule in Hakwons tend to base assumptions for future ESL teachers/employees

[ReeseDog]

[kiwiduncan]

[ReeseDog]

I still can't tell. It all sounds the same to me.

Actually, I once had an Australian classmate. She was asked for her British passport. She was offended. I was amused. We were both detained.

[kiwiduncan]

The funny thing was when I lived in Oxfordshire in hte UK I very regularly asked people "Are you a kiwi or aussie?" and they would say they were English. It's all very confusing

[Mr. BlackCat]

I wouldn't hire an Irishman, but it has nothing to do with his accent.

I kid, I kid. I love the Irish. Some of my best friends are Irish. I swear!

In one of my previous jobs here I often showed news clips from around the (English speaking) world. My students, kids and adults, couldn't tell the difference between Indian and Canadian English accents. Malaysian and British. Aussie and South African. Really. Sometimes I wouldn't understand the words right away and my students would explain it to me and ask why I didn't get it. We both struggled with the Irish, though.

[Geckoman]

When it comes to applying for English teaching jobs, Korea engages in a lot of discrimination: racism, sexism, ageism, and lookism.

That's why they require a photo.

Unlike in America where "equal opportunity" is a major theme of society, and where there are strict laws against discrimination (racism, sexism, ageism, and discrimination based on marital status is prohibited under federal law, and many states have laws that further prohibit discrimination against sexual orientation, veteran status, etc.), which are strictly enforced (every lawyer dreams of a rich company breaking the anti-discrimination law(s), as o'the money that would bring them via a lawsuit), discriminatory practices are very common in Korea.

As for accents, North American accents are definitely more marketable than non-North American accents. And within North America, an American accent(s) is desired over Canadian accent(s). Though overall, choosing an American accent over a Canadian accent happens way less than choosing a North American accent over a non-North American accent. So if you hold citizenship from a North American country, go with that country. But if you hold citizenship from both the US and Canada, then go with the US one.

Also, in case you don't know this already, currently Korean law only allows citizens from seven countries to qualify for an English teaching visa. Those countries are: USA, Canada, Australia, UK, Ireland, New Zealand and South Africa. So if you don't hold citizenship from either of those 7 countries than you won't qualify for an English teaching visa. There has been some discussion in Korea about changing the law to allow people from other countries that speak English to qualify for an English teaching visa. I totally agree that they should do that. After all, so many other countries speak English besides those seven -- India, Malaysia, the Philippines, Pakistan, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Ghana, Singapore, Costa Rica, etc.

But despite only citizens from those seven countries qualifying for an English teaching visa, that's not to say that there aren't English teachers here who have citizenship from other countries besides those seven. They are here just on a different type of visa. For example, I�ve heard of Filipinos teaching English in Korea.

Good luck!

[nateium]

[Whistleblower]

nateium, I decided to use very simple language for the culturally racist and blind-sided recruiter that I was talking to because he couldn't have understood: "Where was the first origin of English?".

Rather I use a simple language when talking to Koreans (or providing instructions with exercises in the class). It is easier and creates less ambiguity. I agree that the English didn't "invent" the language but it is originally from the UK but it was the only time I used that word with a Korean so he could understand my question.

I wouldn't normally say it to a native speaker.

[raketbaler]

I've traveled around Asia and have heard Asians speak English with an English accent. Its sounds strange coming from them. I know it's because they learned from an English ESL teacher. Since then I've vowed that the Koreans I teach will be able to use the word 'dude' in every context. I could only hope to give them a Californian accent, but we don't have accents here

[nateium]

[ReeseDog]

[Quack Addict]