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MoneyMike
Joined: 03 Dec 2008
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 Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 10:05 am Post subject: General attitude towards teachers |
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Hey guys n gals! I've been hired on to teach with the EPIK program for this year, most likely going to be ending up in Gwangju from what I've heard thus far, and cant wait!
Anyways, just a quick question. A friend of a friend who spent a few years living in South Korea also teaching English recently told me that when he was out at bars or clubs over there, when someone would ask him what he did he would not tell me them he was an English teacher because they would usually react negatively towards him because of that. Is there some kind of a negative stereotype in regards to English teachers in Korea, or do certain segments of the population have some kind of a hate on for them? Just kind of curious how much of this I'll come across as I'm checking out the nightlife.
Thanks for any info! |
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digsydinner
Joined: 24 May 2009
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| Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 2:26 pm Post subject: Re: General attitude towards teachers |
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| MoneyMike wrote: |
Hey guys n gals! I've been hired on to teach with the EPIK program for this year, most likely going to be ending up in Gwangju from what I've heard thus far, and cant wait!
Anyways, just a quick question. A friend of a friend who spent a few years living in South Korea also teaching English recently told me that when he was out at bars or clubs over there, when someone would ask him what he did he would not tell me them he was an English teacher because they would usually react negatively towards him because of that. Is there some kind of a negative stereotype in regards to English teachers in Korea, or do certain segments of the population have some kind of a hate on for them? Just kind of curious how much of this I'll come across as I'm checking out the nightlife.
Thanks for any info! |
if you're white and hanging out at the bars...and not sporting an army buzz cut...people will just assume you're an english teacher...as 99% of the foreign population that aren't GI's are....they won't bother asking.
as far as stereotypes...just read some threads on this board and you'll find out. |
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Fishead soup
Joined: 24 Jun 2007
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 4:21 pm Post subject: |
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I live out in the sticks I don't mind telling people I am an English teacher.
If you are in Iteawon or Hongdea it's no problem telling people you are an English teacher. The only people who would look down upon it would be snotty CEO type people and I don't really care what they think.
In Korea being a teacher is generally a respectable job unless your meeting someone who is stupid enough to believe a lot of the negative stereotypes we get than it's no problem. If you meet Mrs Kim who sends letters to the Korea Herald about how bad foreign teachers are it is most likely she will put on her kind nice face for you. |
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Sergio Stefanuto
Joined: 14 May 2009
Location: UK
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| Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 4:43 pm Post subject: |
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| usually react negatively towards him because of that |
Never experienced that myself.
Frankly, before you've experienced Korea yourself, be very skeptical about others' claims about it, for many fallacies lie therein. |
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Ukon
Joined: 29 Jan 2008
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| Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 4:56 pm Post subject: Re: General attitude towards teachers |
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| MoneyMike wrote: |
Hey guys n gals! I've been hired on to teach with the EPIK program for this year, most likely going to be ending up in Gwangju from what I've heard thus far, and cant wait!
Anyways, just a quick question. A friend of a friend who spent a few years living in South Korea also teaching English recently told me that when he was out at bars or clubs over there, when someone would ask him what he did he would not tell me them he was an English teacher because they would usually react negatively towards him because of that. Is there some kind of a negative stereotype in regards to English teachers in Korea, or do certain segments of the population have some kind of a hate on for them? Just kind of curious how much of this I'll come across as I'm checking out the nightlife.
Thanks for any info! |
They don't hold soldiers and hagwon teacher in a super high regard....however other types of english teachers and people working corporate type jobs, they do think better of... |
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Zulethe
Joined: 04 Jul 2008
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| Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 5:11 pm Post subject: |
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You know it's funny, when I was in the Army, I was embarrassed to tell people that. Now that I'm an English teacher, I'm even more embarrassed so when people ask, I usually lie.
When I can't lie, I quickly tell them I am but then emphasize I spent 10 years in the Army.
It really depends where you are in life. If you're a 22 year old meat head straight out of college, I wouldn't be embarrassed to say I am an English teacher because that's all you got. |
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Yu_Bum_suk
Joined: 25 Dec 2004
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| Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 10:11 pm Post subject: |
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In a small town being a teacher still garners a fair bit of respect, especially if it's at a public school. For hagwon teachers it really varies - some make far more than PS teachers, some far less. However if you're young, being a PS teacher probably gets you a little bit more respect.
That said, to 99% of the people who don't know you, you're just waegook-saram, whether you're in a suit or beachwear. |
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