Korean Job Discussion Forums

[kiknkorea]

Didn't see this posted anywhere, but it's a good read (for KT anyway!)

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2009/05/117_44191.html

I couldn't believe the stuff in the comments section here. I'll go ahead and nominate ProudCorean for Tool of the Month for May!

[superacidjax]

Funny thing, the commenters just assume we're all Americans. (I happen to be an American) but that ignorant attitude by those commenters pretty much encapsulates the reasons for us allegedly being "unhappy." The "AmeriKKKa" nomenclature is also pretty telling. It's absolutely hilarious when Koreans talk about American racism.

This is coming from a land in which there was a caste system as late as the 20th century (and continues, albeit less obviously to this day.) Korea even had slavery until the 20th century! Called nobi 노비(奴婢), slaves in Korea were owned as property by the elite Yangban class and could be bought, sold, given away as gifts, and left to one�s descendants. These slaves were either public slaves who served in the royal court or other arms of the state�s bureaucracy at the central and local level, or were privately owned slaves that worked in the household or worked the fields.

While the �emancipation� of the government or �official� slaves happened in the apparently oft-mentioned year of 1801 under the rule of King Sunjo, private slavery continued until hereditary slavery was banned in 1886 and the whole institution was legally banned in 1894 in the kabo reforms. Apparently cases of slaves still serving in that capacity exist through the Japanese colonial period as well.

So, I would invite the "AmeriKKKa" crowd to simply STFU.

[Gaber]

Good read. Some pretty grose things being said in the comments section though. It really doesn't befit a news sight, having a comment section for any internet rascist to spew his bile all over.

[andz22]

Some of those "myths" are infact true

"we're unqualified"
"we don't care about teaching"
"we're sexual predators"
"we're here for the money"

I have taught in my home country for many years now but unable to teach in korea because i don't have a university degree, yet someone who has a degree no matter whether its sports studies or design or something in that nature, can go and teach english to children, when they have never taught before, whilst I have. now im probably going to have alot of yanky doodles whinging at me but so what, you are there teaching the kids nothings whilst im here willing to give up my �20,000 per annum to get a couple of million won a month for just a year.. all i want to do is be closer to my korean girlfriend..

**rant over **

[Milwaukiedave]

Actually it has been, but in a different forum:

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=154301

[GwangjuParents]

Out of curiosity, who, other than expats, read the English Korean Times?

I can't imagine many Koreans reading it...

[TheUrbanMyth]

[Adventurer]

[ESL Milk "Everyday]

Looks like this article has, surprise surprise, led to yet another round of nastiness by everyone who cares (check the comments section).

I don't know if all of those stereotypes are outright lies, but I think it would be a better help if we compared KTs to FTs, to see who is more useful. I mean, this is all about the job, isn't it?? I don't see how anyone's personal life is the slightest bit relevant as long as they can do the job.

And there are heaps of reasons why native speakers can do this job better than Korean English teachers. I mean, which is better for the students-- someone who uses correct English in an unprofessional way, or someone who uses incorrect English in a professional way?

[Frankly Mr Shankly]

[andz22]

[Illysook]

Oooooh, we're uppity!

Isn't that the word that they used for pre-civil rights, African-Americans who wanted to be treated like the regular (usually white) middle-to-lower class wage slaves?

[cj1976]

I think the EFL bubble is starting to burst in Korea. The money it requires for us to be here is not worth it in many cases. Too many foreigners come here and are woefully mismanaged by their employers.
If Korea actually knew how to properly utilize their native speakers in a professional and efficient way, instead of just having a token waygook to keep parents happy, then maybe they wouldn't bitch so much.
The truth is that Korea needs to grow up and stop blaming everyone else for their shortcomings.