|
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 |
Bigfeet

Joined: 29 May 2008 Location: Grrrrr.....
|
Posted: Thu Dec 25, 2008 12:12 am Post subject: |
|
|
Come on over to a PS. Since they took me, they'd take anybody!  |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
rationality
Joined: 05 Jul 2007 Location: Some where in S. Korea
|
Posted: Thu Dec 25, 2008 2:59 am Post subject: Re: teaching job for a non-white teacher? |
|
|

Last edited by rationality on Sun Jan 18, 2009 3:04 pm; edited 4 times in total |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
ED209
Joined: 17 Oct 2006
|
Posted: Thu Dec 25, 2008 3:18 am Post subject: Re: teaching job for a non-white teacher? |
|
|
"rationality" are you being ironic? That was the most nonsensical post on this thread. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
rationality
Joined: 05 Jul 2007 Location: Some where in S. Korea
|
Posted: Thu Dec 25, 2008 3:29 am Post subject: Re: teaching job for a non-white teacher? |
|
|

Last edited by rationality on Fri Jul 03, 2009 9:54 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Kimchieluver

Joined: 02 Mar 2005
|
Posted: Thu Dec 25, 2008 6:19 am Post subject: Re: teaching job for a non-white teacher? |
|
|
rationality wrote: |
ED209 wrote: |
"rationality" are you being ironic? That was the most nonsensical post on this thread. |
What I mean is that the OP shouldn't let the fear of racism stop him/her from applying or accuse Koreans of racism if OP can�t obtain employment. If the OP worked here before, then the OP ought to know about how the Koreans think about teachers' nationalities and race. I don't see the perceived racism here as an impediment. Perhaps, the OP ought to get in touch with his/her last Korean employer or fellow colleagues and asked for a written reference highlighting OP�s teaching attitude, behavior, personality, and skills. If the OP is a good teacher, then the OP has nothing to worry about.. |
True dat! |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
theBengi
Joined: 11 Oct 2007
|
Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2008 6:57 pm Post subject: |
|
|
SA gal wrote: |
hi, i am of indian descent, and work at a hagwon in seoul... try getting into contact with kevin from tiger english, good luck |
cheers mates, just the answer I was looking for. I have just sent kevin an email. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
sweetiesmith
Joined: 18 Nov 2008 Location: Bucheon
|
Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2009 7:21 am Post subject: |
|
|
I had the same problem. I applied to several different job offers with just my resume only. As soon as they saw my picture the job offers where gone. I am going with GEIPK.
Which one did you decide to go with? |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
PigeonFart
Joined: 27 Apr 2006
|
Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2009 8:16 am Post subject: |
|
|
Mr rationality... yes you're right, the OP should not give up. But didn't you consider that the reason your African American friend is treated professionaly by his employer is because there is an element of selection taking place. That is, his/her employer is one of the few hogwons that looks beyong race (as it should). He/she wouldn't have been hired by a racist employer.
The reality is, many K-employers (not all) are more racist than their 1st world counterparts because they won't even consider a teacher unless its white female and North American. I've seen "caucasian only" job adverts only recently. So just because you've never experienced racism doesn't mean it's not there.
Many K-people think the 'wondergirls' make good music, they think people can die from fan-death, so it's no surprise that they think (i'm yet to see scientific evidence saying so) that a staff full white N.American females is best for their childrens' education.
I on the otherhand have a different opinion. I have no problem with white north american females (in fact i dabble in a few now and again, he he), but a school that is only comprised of employees of that profile is doing their students a great disservice. What is needed are more teachers of different race, age, nationality, and academic backgrounds.
To the OP, it's a disgrace that you are not considered equal by the hangooks. I can't accept the excuse that the employers are only discriminating because k-parents only want a certain racial profile. That may be true that k-parents are biased. But don't we have an obligation to speak out?
When you compare K-parents to English speaking parents, k-parents tend to be less well travelled (ok 80% of Americans dont have passports, so i'm talking about other english speaking nations here), less likely to be multi-lingual, less likely to have interacted with races different than their own. So of course k-parents are going to have ignorant points of view. That doesn't mean we should accept them.
If you are white and you reply to a job advertising "caucasian only" then you're not helping.
If you're female and you accept a job that was advertised as "female only" then you are making the problem worse.
If you are Gyopo and you accept a "gyopo only" job then you're adding fuel to the fire.
If you are not a gyopo and you accept a "No gyopo" job then you are prolonging the ignorance.
I've deliberatly had interviews with schools that had racist job adverts just so i could get to that magic moment when i'm offered the job. I then question the employer about their racist job advert and tell them that their narrow-minded selection policy left a bad impression on me, and i then go on to decline their job offer. It's a sweet moment of silence on the other end of the phone let me tell you.
Maybe i'm just a wishy-washy little fairy who lives in a fantasy world, but i think a person should be chosen for a job if they're the best qualified (passion, talent, qualifications etc), and not for simply chosen for their gender/age/race/nationality.
Good luck to the OP.
Thanks for reading. Sorry it was so long. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
I'm no Picasso
Joined: 28 Oct 2008
|
Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2009 8:28 am Post subject: Re: teaching job for a non-white teacher? |
|
|
rationality wrote: |
ChinaBoy wrote: |
ThingsComeAround wrote: |
theBengi wrote: |
its the same old story/excuses (Americans preferred, female preferred) I guess it might be genuine requests but I cant help thinking its also a bit racist too. |
Racist & Sexist
Too bad the adjosshis don't realize that this policy makes the f-dudes there look a whole lot better! |
Yes, too bad that Koreans want to learn American English, since that's where most of their exports go. Too bad they don't export much to Bangladesh. |
Ya, it�s too bad isn�t it? Ha! Ha! Ha! You people claim that Koreans are racist on the one hand, because they don�t accept the US multi-diversity crap, and on the other hand you say that Korea is so influenced by America or that America controls this and that. No, I don�t buy that sorry ass story. They have a right to choose who they want to hire. It is called choice! I am not a so called African-American or an Iranian-American, but a European American and I don�t feel that the Koreans treat me any different than my fellow African-American teacher that works in the next town over. He has never felt racism himself, and he feels like he is treated with respect and kindness by his Korean host. You sound like you are very anti-white. I haven�t really thought much about the racism factor until I have read your posts. |
You don't by any chance have a shaved head....?
Good luck, OP. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
theBengi
Joined: 11 Oct 2007
|
Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2009 8:59 pm Post subject: |
|
|
PigeonFart wrote: |
Mr rationality... yes you're right, the OP should not give up. But didn't you consider that the reason your African American friend is treated professionaly by his employer is because there is an element of selection taking place. That is, his/her employer is one of the few hogwons that looks beyong race (as it should). He/she wouldn't have been hired by a racist employer.
The reality is, many K-employers (not all) are more racist than their 1st world counterparts because they won't even consider a teacher unless its white female and North American. I've seen "caucasian only" job adverts only recently. So just because you've never experienced racism doesn't mean it's not there.
Many K-people think the 'wondergirls' make good music, they think people can die from fan-death, so it's no surprise that they think (i'm yet to see scientific evidence saying so) that a staff full white N.American females is best for their childrens' education.
I on the otherhand have a different opinion. I have no problem with white north american females (in fact i dabble in a few now and again, he he), but a school that is only comprised of employees of that profile is doing their students a great disservice. What is needed are more teachers of different race, age, nationality, and academic backgrounds.
To the OP, it's a disgrace that you are not considered equal by the hangooks. I can't accept the excuse that the employers are only discriminating because k-parents only want a certain racial profile. That may be true that k-parents are biased. But don't we have an obligation to speak out?
When you compare K-parents to English speaking parents, k-parents tend to be less well travelled (ok 80% of Americans dont have passports, so i'm talking about other english speaking nations here), less likely to be multi-lingual, less likely to have interacted with races different than their own. So of course k-parents are going to have ignorant points of view. That doesn't mean we should accept them.
If you are white and you reply to a job advertising "caucasian only" then you're not helping.
If you're female and you accept a job that was advertised as "female only" then you are making the problem worse.
If you are Gyopo and you accept a "gyopo only" job then you're adding fuel to the fire.
If you are not a gyopo and you accept a "No gyopo" job then you are prolonging the ignorance.
I've deliberatly had interviews with schools that had racist job adverts just so i could get to that magic moment when i'm offered the job. I then question the employer about their racist job advert and tell them that their narrow-minded selection policy left a bad impression on me, and i then go on to decline their job offer. It's a sweet moment of silence on the other end of the phone let me tell you.
Maybe i'm just a wishy-washy little fairy who lives in a fantasy world, but i think a person should be chosen for a job if they're the best qualified (passion, talent, qualifications etc), and not for simply chosen for their gender/age/race/nationality.
Good luck to the OP.
Thanks for reading. Sorry it was so long. |
I'm no Picasso wrote: |
rationality wrote: |
ChinaBoy wrote: |
ThingsComeAround wrote: |
theBengi wrote: |
its the same old story/excuses (Americans preferred, female preferred) I guess it might be genuine requests but I cant help thinking its also a bit racist too. |
Racist & Sexist
Too bad the adjosshis don't realize that this policy makes the f-dudes there look a whole lot better! |
Yes, too bad that Koreans want to learn American English, since that's where most of their exports go. Too bad they don't export much to Bangladesh. |
Ya, it�s too bad isn�t it? Ha! Ha! Ha! You people claim that Koreans are racist on the one hand, because they don�t accept the US multi-diversity crap, and on the other hand you say that Korea is so influenced by America or that America controls this and that. No, I don�t buy that sorry ass story. They have a right to choose who they want to hire. It is called choice! I am not a so called African-American or an Iranian-American, but a European American and I don�t feel that the Koreans treat me any different than my fellow African-American teacher that works in the next town over. He has never felt racism himself, and he feels like he is treated with respect and kindness by his Korean host. You sound like you are very anti-white. I haven�t really thought much about the racism factor until I have read your posts. |
You don't by any chance have a shaved head....?
Good luck, OP. |
Thanks people. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
champagne@caviar
Joined: 08 Dec 2008
|
Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2009 10:00 pm Post subject: |
|
|
PigeonFart wrote: |
I've deliberatly had interviews with schools that had racist job adverts just so i could get to that magic moment when i'm offered the job. I then question the employer about their racist job advert and tell them that their narrow-minded selection policy left a bad impression on me, and i then go on to decline their job offer. It's a sweet moment of silence on the other end of the phone let me tell you. |
that.is.awesome.  |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
fusionbarnone
Joined: 31 May 2004
|
Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2009 10:38 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Usually Hogwons prefer white people, especially NAs because "their" English is considered or perceived by Koreans as more acceptable in a snobby sort of way. I think the order is ;NA, 20-something-ish, blonde, the more attractive the better; it is after all a business to private academy owners and it is what parents want.
I have seen non-whites teaching in hogwons however so it's not impossible. Just a pain -in-the-butt going through the BS when the calls stop after they sight your mug via email etc.
Sign-on with EPIK. There's less BS with EPIK (there's also GEPIK I have no experience with them to comment) and without the BS you could get with private schools even after they hire you.
There are jobs. Don't quit trying. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
ChinaBoy
Joined: 17 Feb 2007
|
Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 6:08 pm Post subject: |
|
|
champagne@caviar wrote: |
PigeonFart wrote: |
I've deliberatly had interviews with schools that had racist job adverts just so i could get to that magic moment when i'm offered the job. I then question the employer about their racist job advert and tell them that their narrow-minded selection policy left a bad impression on me, and i then go on to decline their job offer. It's a sweet moment of silence on the other end of the phone let me tell you. |
that.is.awesome.  |
Awesome? What a complete waste of time. There are plenty of teachers who would take that job and the school should feel grateful that they narrowly missed hiring someone who's only going to cause trouble for them. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
rationality
Joined: 05 Jul 2007 Location: Some where in S. Korea
|
Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2009 6:27 am Post subject: Re: teaching job for a non-white teacher? |
|
|

Last edited by rationality on Mon Jan 19, 2009 2:46 am; edited 1 time in total |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired
|
Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2009 7:47 pm Post subject: |
|
|
PigeonFart wrote: |
I on the otherhand have a different opinion. I have no problem with white north american females (in fact i dabble in a few now and again, he he), but a school that is only comprised of employees of that profile is doing their students a great disservice. What is needed are more teachers of different race, age, nationality, and academic backgrounds.
. |
And why is that? How do you know that these white North American teachers would not be better teachers then their potential replacements of "different race, age, nationality and academic backgrounds".
The best teachers should get the job REGARDLESS of race or age or nationality.
And if in this PARTICULAR situation if white North American females turned out to be the best teachers out of all the people who applied..then it should be they who get the job(s). And if the reverse were true, some of the other applicants should be hired instead.
Diversity for diversity's sake alone is not a good policy. |
|
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
|
|