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BrianInSuwon
Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Location: Korea
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 Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 5:27 pm Post subject: ATEK: Association for Teachers of English in Korea |
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I came across an article in the Korea Times
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2009/02/117_38955.html
that mentioned an association of 20,000 English teachers.
Has anyone else heard about ATEK? I checked their website and they seem to still be in development; they haven't yet started taking membership. So, how does the Korea Times report them at having 20,000 teachers already?
On a more general note, what are your views on ATEK? Will they provide the official blacklist of hagwons in the future? Will they be able to help new teachers avoid the pitfalls of pension and pay?
After learning more about ATEK, it seems like they can't host an official blacklist since they are Korean based. |
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Bibbitybop
Joined: 22 Feb 2006
Location: Seoul
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sobriquet
Joined: 16 Feb 2007
Location: Nakatomi Plaza
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| Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 7:11 pm Post subject: |
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| I don't require or want any unionized body standing up for me. |
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livinginkunsan
Joined: 02 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 7:15 pm Post subject: |
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| sobriquet wrote: |
| I don't require or want any unionized body standing up for me. |
Yet they seem to at portray they speak for English teachers.
do they really have 20,000 English teachers in their "union" |
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egrog1717
Joined: 12 Mar 2008
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| Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 7:27 pm Post subject: |
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| Considering that doing anything political - including being a member of a union - while holding a E2 visa is illegal... I highly doubt they have a membership of 20k.... |
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livinginkunsan
Joined: 02 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 7:29 pm Post subject: |
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| egrog1717 wrote: |
| Considering that doing anything political - including being a member of a union - while holding a E2 visa is illegal... I highly doubt they have a membership of 20k.... |
Maybe they will all be deported  |
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Jandar
Joined: 11 Jun 2008
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| Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 7:30 pm Post subject: |
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| I suggest that F2 and others petition immigration and complain a bout ATEK trying to organize teacher illegal and also about their political activity. |
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lifeinkorea
Joined: 24 Jan 2009
Location: somewhere in China
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| Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 7:34 pm Post subject: |
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| Why should we be against this? And if you are against it, is it better to fight them or start up your own group? Or, are you a nihilist and don't want any group? |
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sobriquet
Joined: 16 Feb 2007
Location: Nakatomi Plaza
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| Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 7:49 pm Post subject: |
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| lifeinkorea wrote: |
| Why should we be against this? And if you are against it, is it better to fight them or start up your own group? Or, are you a nihilist and don't want any group? |
I don't want or need any group.
What do I care about Jimmy from BC and his working conditions or salary?
Only person that matters is me.
I don't require a group of people to meddle with prospective salaries or conditions. I am quite capable of negotiating myself and walking away from a deal that I don't like. |
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Milwaukiedave
Joined: 02 Oct 2004
Location: Goseong
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| Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 7:59 pm Post subject: |
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First off, I bet anything they are full of hot air and it's more like 2,000. If any of those are F2, F4, or F5 we can only hope they wise up and distance themselves from ATEK.
Second, who would you complain to. I'd be concerned you'd get the typical, "uhuh, I see and what do you want us to do about it" reaction.
My thinking is you'd have to get a court order to get ATEK to release the names. |
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BrianInSuwon
Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 8:05 pm Post subject: |
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I think that ATEK has some good aims but overall, I think they are going about it wrong.
There is no need to form a Korean based association to help foreign teachers. They can accomplish most of their goals by creating a US based website. They can provide contact information for the pension office and update information about current immigration law.
What benefit can they provide by creating a Korean based association?
No foreign association can have political weight; the association can't influence legislative decisions.
In my opinion, providing information and sharing information is what is needed. But posting a negative review of a hagwon or recruiter on Dave's would negatively effect Dave's ad revenue so, it seems that a separate website is needed to address such issues. |
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Bibbitybop
Joined: 22 Feb 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 8:20 pm Post subject: |
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And most of these comments and attitudes are the reason why foreigners get screwed by hogwans, get screwed by police, get screwed by judges, are discriminated against and why Korea is taking so long to become multi-cultural: There is no strong cooperation among foreigners. Westerners don't look out for one another.
I'm not in ATEK, but I should be. Even if I don't agree with everything they do, they are helping minorities (us) and working for fairness and justice for foreigners in Korea. |
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Ramen
Joined: 15 Apr 2008
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| Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 8:33 pm Post subject: |
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| Bibbitybop wrote: |
And most of these comments and attitudes are the reason why foreigners get screwed by hogwans, get screwed by police, get screwed by judges, are discriminated against and why Korea is taking so long to become multi-cultural: There is no strong cooperation among foreigners. Westerners don't look out for one another.
I'm not in ATEK, but I should be. Even if I don't agree with everything they do, they are helping minorities (us) and working for fairness and justice for foreigners in Korea. |
Why should Westerners look out for one another? We are from different countries with different situation and objectives.
If you feel things are unfair and you are being screwed in anyway, you should pack your bags and leave. If thinking about coming to Korea, don't come. When Koreans feel deseparate enough, Koreans will ease up on immigration rules, maybe. |
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NoExplode
Joined: 15 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 8:40 pm Post subject: |
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| livinginkunsan wrote: |
| sobriquet wrote: |
| I don't require or want any unionized body standing up for me. |
Yet they seem to at portray they speak for English teachers.
do they really have 20,000 English teachers in their "union" |
I believe the idea is that they represent the teachers that want to be a part of ATEK.
I'm quite glad it's there. If Immi and the politicians know there is an organized body of some sort, they are less apt to f&*k with that group simply for political points. It makes us a bit less of "fish in a barrel." |
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dmbfan
Joined: 09 Mar 2006
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| Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 10:39 pm Post subject: |
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I don't want or need any group.
What do I care about Jimmy from BC and his working conditions or salary?
Only person that matters is me.
I don't require a group of people to meddle with prospective salaries or conditions. I am quite capable of negotiating myself and walking away from a deal that I don't like
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That's why Korea gets away with so many things.
Apathy amongst the victimized group(s).
There is nothing wrong with taking a stand for the sake of helping other people.
dmbfan |
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