Korean Job Discussion Forums

vaticanhotline · Posted: Sat May 01, 2010 4:09 am Post subject: Only Americans?

I've heard that elementary schools have a new policy of only hiring Americans, particularly female ones. I know that this was unofficial before, but apparently it's "official" now, due to the influx of teachers. Is it true, and is ut just for elementary, or is it across the board?

lukas · Joined: 22 Aug 2009 Location: Bucheon

I haven't heard this. Where do you get your info beyond the grapevine?

Also, I find it humorous you put official in quotes.

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

vaticanhotline · Posted: Sat May 01, 2010 5:03 pm Post subject:

Thanks Tom, I know you have your ear to the ground. I heard it off a person from NZ who's not getting their contract renewed; they were complaining after being told about this new "policy". Thought I'd run it up, see if it was true (not being American myself).

air76 · Joined: 13 Nov 2007

That's definitely rubbish.

AsiaESLbound · Joined: 07 Jan 2010 Location: Truck Stop Missouri

I was hired specifically for being American and they regularly demand I teach American culture. Anyone asking you to teach American culture will always be disappointed and down on you as this is too vague and subjective to base your performance on. Only reason why they may not hire a female is there must be much fewer of them to choose from in the candidacy pool recruiters produce.

Feedsam · Joined: 01 Nov 2009

No it's true, I am from NZ and the recruiter told me that it would be hard for me to get a job in Seoul because I am not American. I think if you are white and American you go up the pecking order.

vaticanhotline · Posted: Sun May 02, 2010 5:17 pm Post subject:

It's been true for a long time that there's a preference for white American women (after all, who doesn't want one?), but this talk about it being "official" is news to me. And it isn't confined to Seoul from what I've heard; we're talking out in the provinces here.

Burndog · Joined: 17 Feb 2008

Not true with GEPIK. I'm an Australian male and just renewed with my school. I also know plenty of Brits, South Africans and Canadians who renewed recently.

Senior · Joined: 31 Jan 2010

I live in a largish provincial town (700K). I'm a Kiwi and I just re-signed at my public school. Two of my Kiwi buddies are leaving their PSs, and they were both asked to stay.

Adobe · Joined: 02 Jul 2007 Location: SK

I think the OP might be misuderstanding something. I'm in the same town as him and at least one teacher(one certified teacher) isn't having her contract renewed. That said, it maybe more to do with her age(mid 50's) than her nationality. Time will tell...

Adobe.

kwokman · Joined: 09 Aug 2009

Seeing that it is Korea, I wouldn't doubt it if certain recruiters were told that the preference for new teachers were White American females. If your school likes you to begin with, I doubt that they would actually refuse to resign you in hopes of landing a WAF teacher. Chances are, they'll end up getting a gyopo male. I do however believe that age might be the determining factor, sadly.

Murakano · Joined: 10 Sep 2009

It's the first I had heard of this....I know North Americans are the "preference" but I doubt it's official policy. I wouldn't put it past recruiters to spin that line though. Rolling Eyes

I know a few non North Americans hired recently for public schools for EPIK/SMOE and GEPIK.

AustSaint · Joined: 26 Jun 2003 Location: Yongmun