Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Zackback]

After reading a thread about whether or not one should be called "professor" since they teach at the university level I was wondering since I teach at the hagwon level if it is appropriate to say that I am a professional.

[winterfall]

"Professor" refers to people who teach and have a Phd. It is not short hand for professional. These are 2 different words.

In any case I'd say no, you are not a professional at a hagwon. Because hagwons almost always do most of the grunt work: lesson planning, curriculum planning, discipline, etc etc etc. Meaning they can replace you at the drop of a hat. For the students it won't make much of a difference.

[RMNC]

It all depends on if you consider yourself professional or not. You could be a professional dishwasher if you take it seriously and take pride in it. It's up to you, so long as the job isn't biased against you.

[Epik_Teacher]

I've seen BA's who teach at a uni refer to themselves as "Professor." This is an industry where people come and go like flies, corrupt businessman dominate the market and uni's give those who legitimately fail their required English class a passing grade. Not to mention all the flakes who drift in and out of teaching ESL, scam artist recruiters, etc... I'd hardly call this a "profession" at all. It's more like the used car sales side of education.

Yes, a dishwasher can call himself "a professional," just like a garbage man can call himself a "sanitation engineer." But in the end, they're still dishwashers and garbage men. And a pretty word won't change it!

[olsanairbase]

[nathanrutledge]

[bbud656]

If you are on an E2 you are considered a professional by Korea. It is one of the requirements for getting the new professional f2 visa.

[lifeinkorea]

[superNET]

In my book, teaching is a profession thus all teachers should be professional. Don't care where you teach, hagwon, company, school.

[jonpurdy]

By the exact definition, professionals are certified by some sort of expert group. Lawyers, teachers, doctors are all professionals because of this. If they make a mistake or act poorly, they can have their status stripped by the expert group.

A more loose definition would apply to people who earn most of their income from their job. "Professional" photographers, for example, aren't part of an expert group that does certification, yet they make most or all of their income from photography.

I guess that someone who has done their TESOL or CELTA could be considered a professional teacher by some, but not by others. Someone who has no qualifications but tons of experience might be considered a professional by some, not by others.

It all comes down to definition. Though I'd personally go with the first definition, meaning that hagwon teachers are not professionals.

However, just because you're not a professional doesn't mean you shouldn't do your best. You can still get treated like one if you do a great job.

[stevieg4ever]

are you a chef if you work at Mcdonalds?

[superNET]

[languistic]

You perhaps should be professional, but the hagwons are pretty much unskilled labor.

[hogwonguy1979]

foreign hogwon teachers are not considered professionals by koreans, just look how many are treated. not getting paid on time, no health insurance, rat-trap apartments. is that being treated professionally?

likewise univ teachers who do not have PhD's are published etc should not be calling themselves "professors" I hate that!!! I dont even though my name cards says "professor" on them i highly doubt when you look at our records in univ admin our job title is "professor" in korean

[olsanairbase]

Anyone can talk there way into whatever job they want.

Hell even one lady lied her way back in 2007 to become the Dean of MIT until it was discovered she didn't even have a degree; let alone the ones she claimed she had
http://youtube.jimmyr.com/tutorials/xHZdQucq_AE.php

However, if you do have a degree in something BA, then MA, then PhD and its verified as such, then there is nothing to dispute about your qualifications as a professional.