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sojusucks
Joined: 31 May 2008
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 Posted: Sun Oct 03, 2010 7:03 am Post subject: Are you qualified to teach English? |
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http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/opinon/2010/10/137_73841.html
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10-01-2010 17:17
How about a test for ESL teachers?
By Akli Hadid
ESL teachers in Korea are having a hard time. They have to be from one of the seven countries recognized by Korea as officially ``native English speaking countries.� They have to go through an extremely bureaucratic procedure to come to Korea. And for many of them, once they come to Korea, they never receive their paycheck and go back home empty-handed.
The ESL industry in Korea is a mess. Koreans complain about the quality of teachers present here in Korea. ESL teachers complain about the bureaucracy, as they do not ``own� their visas and cannot quit their job and get a new one if they are not satisfied. ESL teachers in Korea cannot even change their job if they have huge issues with their employers, such as not being paid at all.
Korea can put an end to these issues. Instead of hiring on a ``first come, first served, then we�ll see� procedure, they could hire by imposing nothing other than a test for teachers to determine if they are qualified. Forget the ``native speaker� concept, forget the HIV tests and criminal background tests. The test should be open to Koreans and foreigners alike, and should impose no limitations based on gender, race, nationality or any other criteria. If you pass the test, you are eligible to teach in Korea.
The test should also place no limits on where teachers can teach. The test should guarantee an E2 visa and allow teachers to leave and change jobs as frequently as they wish. That would limit malpractice among hagwon owners who do not pay teachers on time or practice different forms of what teachers perceive as harassment.
My Korean fianc�e has always told me that Korea was a fair country, because one could succeed as long as one passed the required tests. Indeed, Koreans have access to a variety of standardized and non-standardized tests in order to enter a university or get a job. Passing the test guarantees access to the university or the job.
I�m sure the Korean public opinion would agree with the idea that their English teachers are tested and certified before they come. They would not complain that their teachers speak with an ``Indian accent� or ``don�t look like a native speaker.� They would be certified. And I don�t think that teachers who took time to take a certification to come teach in Korea would bother with criminal behavior.
The test should evaluate the teachers� ability to teach English ― particularly in a Korean environment. It could be standardized or oral (held in Korean consulates or agencies abroad) and could test teachers� ability to teach grammar, vocabulary, conversation and other necessary skills. It could also contain a section regarding teaching ethics and what to do in certain circumstances inside a classroom.
It would then be up to teachers who were successful at the examination to come to Korea and look for a job. Teachers who successfully complete the examination should be guaranteed to come to Korea. They should not have to be sponsored by a hagwon or another institution to come to Korea.
I know that Korean authorities are scared of what is called ``long-term immigration�. Indeed, if teachers can come to Korea, get whatever teaching job they want and stay as long as they want, that might create what Koreans fear would be hoards of teachers from India, the Philippines or African countries who would stay in Korea indefinitely.
But let�s face it. There is a shortage of English teachers in Korea. Korean authorities are choosing ``white teachers� to fill that void, regardless of whether they are qualified or not. There are many hungry potential teachers, including myself, who have the degree, knowledge of applied linguistics and second language acquisition, teaching experience, but who can�t come teach in Korea because they are from the wrong country.
HIV tests and criminal record checks will not bring better teachers to Korea. They will have the opposite effect of scaring away the few qualified teachers who want to come to Korea, as they choose Japan, Taiwan or Europe, where they do not face such strict regulations.
If the Korean government decides to set its own standards of teacher qualification by testing teachers, then perhaps those teachers, students, Korean society, the Korean government and the English instruction industry could all benefit from that. Korea�s image abroad and among the diplomatic community would also improve, as so far, many believe Korea has an officially racist policy of keeping non-white people out of the English language teaching industry.
Then who knows. Korea could even sign a partnership to standardize the test with neighboring countries like China, Japan and Taiwan where qualified teachers can enjoy free circulation and teach in whatever country they please. Then, I would no longer have the existential question of whether the fact that I was born and raised in the U.S., but am not an American citizen, does or does not make me a ``native speaker.�
The writer has a B.A. in modern languages and international business from the University of Paris and an M.A. in international relations from Kyung Hee University. He speaks nine languages, including Korean, English, French, Spanish, Turkish and Arabic, and can be reached at [email protected]. |
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Radius
Joined: 20 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Sun Oct 03, 2010 7:13 am Post subject: |
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lol with all of the applicants from the 7 English native speaking counties, why in the world would they want to hire one with an accent from another country  |
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Sun Oct 03, 2010 7:51 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| The writer has a B.A. in modern languages and international business from the University of Paris and an M.A. in international relations from Kyung Hee University. He speaks nine languages, including Korean, English, French, Spanish, Turkish and Arabic, and can be reached at [email protected]. |
Then why in God's name would he have any interest in teaching English in Korea? I like it here and all, but he would seem a tad overqualified.
| Quote: |
| I�m sure the Korean public opinion would agree with the idea that their English teachers are tested and certified before they come. They would not complain that their teachers speak with an ``Indian accent� or ``don�t look like a native speaker.� They would be certified. And I don�t think that teachers who took time to take a certification to come teach in Korea would bother with criminal behavior. |
Has this guy actually been to Korea?
Last edited by northway on Sun Oct 03, 2010 8:06 am; edited 3 times in total |
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Radius
Joined: 20 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Sun Oct 03, 2010 7:53 am Post subject: |
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| northway wrote: |
[url]The writer has a B.A. in modern languages and international business from the University of Paris and an M.A. in international relations from Kyung Hee University. He speaks nine languages, including Korean, English, French, Spanish, Turkish and Arabic, and can be reached at [email protected].
[/url]
Then why in God's name would he have any interest in teaching English in Korea? I like it here and all, but he would seem a tad overqualified. |
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Wishmaster
Joined: 06 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Sun Oct 03, 2010 9:43 am Post subject: |
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| No, I'm not a "real" teacher. I'm a slacker and Korea is a slacker's paradise. Low hours, decent(although a bit crappish) pay, no rent, easy ass job. The beauty of the thing is that I get paid(probably more) than most of the so called "real" teachers here. It's greeeeeeeeeat! |
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Louis VI
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
Location: In my Kingdom
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| Posted: Sun Oct 03, 2010 10:11 am Post subject: |
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Passing a test would make one certified?
Consulates would administer such a test by asking questions and they'd have the knowledge and ability to judge from that what is and isn't good teaching? |
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hellofaniceguy
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Location: On your computer screen!
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| Posted: Sun Oct 03, 2010 2:13 pm Post subject: |
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Define qualified.
And if one is so called qualified...does that make them a good teacher? Doctor? Lawyer? Mother? Father? etc... |
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winterfall
Joined: 21 May 2009
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| Posted: Sun Oct 03, 2010 3:53 pm Post subject: |
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"The test should evaluate the teachers� ability to teach English ― particularly in a Korean environment."
If that's the first requirement before they measure ability in everything else. It'll wipe out 99.99% of the applicant pool. Only east asia. uses rote memorization And if you've never taught public school, you wouldn't experience it. (This includes every hagwon that hires NSETs) |
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Ramen
Joined: 15 Apr 2008
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| Posted: Sun Oct 03, 2010 4:24 pm Post subject: |
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Speaky Englishy? You qualifyed.  |
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edwardcatflap
Joined: 22 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Sun Oct 03, 2010 4:38 pm Post subject: |
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They've had a test like this in Europe for years. It's called the CELTA. Why bother to devise a new one that nobody would accept outside Korea?
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| The beauty of the thing is that I get paid(probably more) than most of the so called "real" teachers here. It's greeeeeeeeeat! |
Unless you're working illegally, you don't |
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liveinkorea316
Joined: 20 Aug 2010
Location: South Korea
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| Posted: Sun Oct 03, 2010 4:49 pm Post subject: |
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I read the article. The guy is a douche who knows nothing about what he is talking about. His points were weak and he had nothing useful to say.
Besides his agenda is obvious as he stated in the article that he is currently barred from teaching because....well just look at his name. |
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CentralCali
Joined: 17 May 2007
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| Posted: Sun Oct 03, 2010 5:09 pm Post subject: |
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| Well, maybe the guy's a bit upset that he's not considered qualified since his degrees aren't from a university in one of the "Big Seven" countries. I doubt it's his name that has him barred; it's his education resume. |
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Fox
Joined: 04 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Sun Oct 03, 2010 5:16 pm Post subject: |
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| CentralCali wrote: |
| Well, maybe the guy's a bit upset that he's not considered qualified since his degrees aren't from a university in one of the "Big Seven" countries. I doubt it's his name that has him barred; it's his education resume. |
This is how I read it as well. |
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bobbybigfoot
Joined: 05 May 2007
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sun Oct 03, 2010 5:24 pm Post subject: |
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If Korea were smart, it would offer its own certification program. Further, it should offer its own "certified teaching" degree. Why doesn't Seoul National University get a joint partnership with a Uni from each of the 7 countries, whereby successful completion of the program would allow candidates the ability to teach back in their own country.
Offer scholarships/grants.
For example: Teach in Korea for 5 years. Earn a recognized Teacher's Degree for free and earn a salary. Then have the option to return home and teach in your home country. Or remain in Korea.
Everyone wins.
A Teacher's degree in Australia runs about $15000. Amortize that over 5 years and Korea would be subsiding $3000 per year (of course, the real cost of providing the education would be lower). At $3000 per year, that is about 300,000 per month.
Year 1 salary: 1.8 million/mo + free education + apartment etc...
Year 2 salary: 2.0 million
Year 3 salary: 2.2
Year 4 : 2.4
Year 5 : 2.6
Droves of people would sign up for this. |
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southernman
Joined: 15 Jan 2010
Location: On the mainland again
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| Posted: Sun Oct 03, 2010 5:32 pm Post subject: |
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Some of the ideas are good in theory but
I'm up for any so called test that would increase my income but the reality if English teaching was open slather and everyone could apply, then the wages here would dramatically decrease. In reality Indian, Philippino and African teachers would work for half our salaries.
As a result, only the truly destitute among western teachers would remain.
I don't think Korean mothers would send their children to be taught by people from third world countries, racist sure, but the truth never the less.
The Hagwon industry which is huge, would bribe officials delegated to look into any feasibility study.
There is no way the Hagwon industry would survive in its current lucrative state without indentured western teachers (although, thats a good thing) as many dodgy employers would have people leaving after the first month or less.
Public schools would also have to treat their teacher with more respect, than many now show.
In short theres no way it will happen. The Korean Education system and social prejudices would have to change to much. |
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