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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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creeper1
Joined: 30 Jan 2007
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 Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2010 10:49 pm Post subject: |
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You shouldn't blame everything on the "system". If you know what you are doing then argue your case to your coteacher and maybe you will get some of the freedom that you want.
Do the job the way YOU want to. |
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winterfall
Joined: 21 May 2009
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| Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2010 11:32 pm Post subject: |
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| superNET wrote: |
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| I simply no longer want to be a part of this broken system |
The system isn't broken and if you compared this one with the western ones, you would see that the Korean system is absent of so many problems that come with the so-called unbroken western systems. You would also see that many westerners are saying that their educational systems are broken as well so in reality, you have nothing to replace this, as you claim, 'broken system'.
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It's an open secret that the families that can afford to go to hagwons wind up in the best schools. Because kids don't learn their core subjects in public schools anymore. And the great majority of underprivileged families wind up sending their kids to technical high schools. Where the goal is to not go to college.
Visit any technical high school and you'll know what I'm saying is true. Where 90% of the students are on welfare and government subsidized lunches. Where the college entrance rate is 70% but of that 70% almost 80% drop out. And the 20% that do survive, 95% of them can't get white collar jobs because their English abilities are too low.
You don't replace one broken system with another. But you also don't glaze over the gaping chasms and hold it as the definition of perfection |
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superNET
Joined: 08 Dec 2010
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| Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2010 12:23 am Post subject: |
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| Because kids don't learn their core subjects in public schools anymore. |
Yes they do.
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And the great majority of underprivileged families wind up sending their kids to technical high schools. Where the goal is to not go to college.
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you have some kind of false idealism where you think everyone shoul dbe in university and upon graduation make it as a white collar worker. Life isn't that way as who would pick up the garbage? Tend the small shops? Wait tables?
The system here isn't broken, it is the westerners' thinking that is warped. Korea actually has it right and they are going wrong because they are listening to westerners. |
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OculisOrbis
Joined: 17 Jul 2006
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| Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2010 12:37 am Post subject: |
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| superNET wrote: |
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| Because kids don't learn their core subjects in public schools anymore. |
Yes they do.
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And the great majority of underprivileged families wind up sending their kids to technical high schools. Where the goal is to not go to college.
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you have some kind of false idealism where you think everyone shoul dbe in university and upon graduation make it as a white collar worker. Life isn't that way as who would pick up the garbage? Tend the small shops? Wait tables?
The system here isn't broken, it is the westerners' thinking that is warped. Korea actually has it right and they are going wrong because they are listening to westerners. |
Everyone should have the choice and the opportunity to go to university. Your fate in life shouldnt be decided by standardized test scores when youre 15 years old and just finishing middle school. |
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superNET
Joined: 08 Dec 2010
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| Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2010 1:09 am Post subject: |
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| Everyone should have the choice and the opportunity to go to university. Your fate in life shouldnt be decided by standardized test scores when youre 15 years old and just finishing middle school. |
As usual you are wrong and ignore the fact that not everyone is suited for univeristy. Some people like working with their hands and do not need a university degree.
For some people, their lives are determined by the time they reach 8. Who are you that you think you get to decide who gets to go where and what job they can or cannot do?
Your posts show such an ignorance about people, their interests and life in general, and so little about Korea as in this country every student can go to university if they want to. it is their choice to stick it out or not. |
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OculisOrbis
Joined: 17 Jul 2006
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| Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2010 1:17 am Post subject: |
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I said everyone should have the opportunity.....Suitability for university can't be judged by standardized academic tests scores when a person is still an early adolescent. That was my entire point - I shouldnt, nor should anyone else, limit their opportunities in life when they havent even matured enough to make their own decisions about what's best for them. Just because the standardized test at 15 indicates that they MIGHT be a candidate for manual labor doesnt mean that they actually are, or that they want to take that path in life. They might be bored in school and not achieving because they arent challenged. It's an INDICATOR, something to consider. It shouldn't be a life sentence.
How many korean world changers were sent to technical school because of their standardized scores and never had the chance to realize any of their potential?....While the others, who were spoon fed the two answers of twenty five that they didnt want to work for, got into an academic HS, graduating to a SKY Uni and were caught plagiarizing (or not but did it anyway and graduated) their thesis and took the prestigious job, contributed nothing to society except perpetuating the farce of the system that got them where they are?
By your argument, phrenology could just as easily decide someone's path in life......Yes, let's start doing that.
"Sorry, your head shape says, 'trash collector'. Unfortunately, physicist is not an option for you. Now go play with your blocks with the other trash collector kindergarten students." |
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earthquakez
Joined: 10 Nov 2010
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| Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2010 4:33 am Post subject: |
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Actually many of us who work outside our home country see our life as an ongoing adventure and that's good. In fact I see life as an adventure so experiencing different countries and their cultures through teaching English is part of that adventure.
I think non Koreans teaching English who tell E-2 ers that they are only in Korea to work are foreigners who feel stuck in Korea because they're married to a Korean. Hence working is about providing and they resent others who are more free.
I see those Koreans who are also resentful of foreign English teachers regardless of how well they do their job, do things for students that they don't have to but do out of generosity, obey the law, etc, in the same way. It's interesting to hear it straight from the horse's mouth as I have at times.
I tell them that as a Brit I know there are many people who have come to my country and received all sorts of free payments and services without working for it and it doesn't worry me so why are they worried by foreigners working for their money and paying taxes in Korea?  |
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Troglodyte
Joined: 06 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2010 5:51 am Post subject: |
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| OculisOrbis wrote: |
| If your letter of release is dated for the last day in your contract and your new contract starts the next day, you can transfer to a new employer and extend for another year if you go to immi a week or two before the contract ends with the necessary paperwork. 90 000won total, 15 minutes at immi and you dont have to leave korea or apply for a new visa. Seamless transition. I've done it twice. |
In fact, the new job can start up to 15 days after the current one finishes. If schools gave the LOR at the end of a contract, it would make life a lot easier. There isn't really any extra paperwork to do. The teacher can easily print up a LOR and the director can sign and stamp it. They don't need to go with you to immigration or such. It only takes them a minute to read the few lines of the LOR and sign/stamp it. I would agree that with TUM that it's more likely disinterest in the teacher, but you can be sure that many of them want to make it more difficult for the teacher to work for a potential competitor. |
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Troglodyte
Joined: 06 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2010 9:09 am Post subject: |
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| superNET wrote: |
You signed the contract on your own free will and choice, you are not a slave if you keep your word and finish it.
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Whether or not you finish your contract, you're still not a slave. You are free to leave your job at any time. If you give notice, the employer has to accept that. The law allows for it. Korean culture allows for it. Koreans do it all the time. Why do you take such offence to foreigners doing it? Why would you even encourage someone (foreign or local) to stick with a job that they don't like or an employer who breaks the law, cheats employees, mentally abuses employees, or shows outright disrespect for an employee? Why? What's the motivation?
| superNET wrote: |
| The system here isn't broken, it is the westerners' thinking that is warped. Korea actually has it right and they are going wrong because they are listening to westerners. |
Based on what you've written already, I can definitely say that someone's thinking is warped.
Do you also tell your co-workers and student that they shouldn't listen to you because your thinking is warped? Or do you just say that all other westerners are incompetent? |
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superNET
Joined: 08 Dec 2010
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| Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2010 12:11 pm Post subject: |
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| Like I said, you all need to learn what the word committment means. |
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superNET
Joined: 08 Dec 2010
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| Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2010 12:35 pm Post subject: |
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| Why would you even encourage someone (foreign or local) to stick with a job that they don't like |
Ask your parents and grandparents about that.
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| an employer who breaks the law, cheats employees, mentally abuses employees, or shows outright disrespect for an employee |
Is that why you came to Korea, to get away from western employers?
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| Actually many of us who work outside our home country see our life as an ongoing adventure and that's good |
No it is not. Teaching isn't an adventure and has some grave responsibilities that come with it.
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| I see those Koreans who are also resentful of foreign English teachers regardless of how well they do their job, |
Never had this problem but then I am sure you would feel the same way if you were teaching Korean in your home country and your government decided to bring in Korean native speakers to teach it and take your class time.
When you all learn to see things from the other side of the fence, maybe then you will appreciate things a lot more.
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| I said everyone should have the opportunity |
In this country, everyone does have an opportunity unlike the west, which by the way does use standardized test scores plus grades to get into university. Not everyone can go to Harvard, some have to go to Podunk U because of their lack of achievement. So you are reaslly complaining about your own country not Korea.
Korea is fine and doesn't need your interference.
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| By your argument, phrenology could just as easily decide someone's path in life.. |
Not at all but your comment shows you do not understand the simple things that takeplace in life. I grew up with a boy who knew from a very young age that he wanted to be a scientist, in middle school he had all the science equipment he could get in his home.
You just are too limited in your thinking and because it is not done your way, you think it is wrong or there is a problem. Well there are always going to be problems and for Korea it starts with Westerners. |
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oldfatfarang
Joined: 19 May 2005
Location: On the road to somewhere.
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| Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2010 3:48 pm Post subject: |
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| superNET wrote: |
Well there are always going to be problems and for Korea it starts with Westerners. |
SuperNET. I find the tone of your posts offensive. This post reeks of race baiting. I have reported it to the mods. |
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OculisOrbis
Joined: 17 Jul 2006
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| Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2010 3:48 pm Post subject: |
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| superNET wrote: |
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| I said everyone should have the opportunity |
In this country, everyone does have an opportunity unlike the west, which by the way does use standardized test scores plus grades to get into university. Not everyone can go to Harvard, some have to go to Podunk U because of their lack of achievement. So you are reaslly complaining about your own country not Korea.
Korea is fine and doesn't need your interference.
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| By your argument, phrenology could just as easily decide someone's path in life.. |
Not at all but your comment shows you do not understand the simple things that takeplace in life. I grew up with a boy who knew from a very young age that he wanted to be a scientist, in middle school he had all the science equipment he could get in his home.
You just are too limited in your thinking and because it is not done your way, you think it is wrong or there is a problem. Well there are always going to be problems and for Korea it starts with Westerners. |
Was that child you, superNUT? Sorry your dream of being a scientist didnt work out. Sitting alone in your room playing with beakers and test tubes must have been very lonely for you, but it does explain a lot. It must come as some consolation to you that you ended up being the world's only perfect teacher, in the only perfect country with its perfect culture and perfect education system. If only you had grown up here in this perfect country with their perfect ways, you would have made an excellent garbage collector. |
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TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired
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| Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2010 4:02 pm Post subject: |
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| superNET wrote: |
| [. Well there are always going to be problems and for Korea it starts with Westerners. |
So when are you going to leave and reduce Korea's problems by one? |
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winterfall
Joined: 21 May 2009
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| Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2010 7:29 pm Post subject: |
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| superNET wrote: |
For some people, their lives are determined by the time they reach 8. Who are you that you think you get to decide who gets to go where and what job they can or cannot do?
Your posts show such an ignorance about people, their interests and life in general, and so little about Korea as in this country every student can go to university if they want to. it is their choice to stick it out or not. |
So your saying it's okay to have your future determined by what your background is? A son of a doctor is automatically more worthy to have a better life than a garbage man's kid?
Take away all the privlege. Hagwons and overseas trips, study abroads, and foreign home stays. There is no difference between a rich kid and poor kid. Add on the kudos and the difference is just money.
Supernet. Since you obviously know Korea, then you'd also know the more prestigious the university, the higher your social standing. And if you want a promotion beyond the middle ranks you need a degree from a top ranked school. It's not only the school's prestige that matters but also the alumni connections. Don't have either and your stuck under a glass ceiling. Likewise, you'd also know Blue collar jobs do not pay well in Korea. The starting salary for a mechanic at small to medium sized buisiness is less than 1,000,000 Won a month. They don't hit 2,000,000 until they've gotten at least 5 years of experience and that's still a big MAYBE
| Supernet wrote: |
I said everyone should have the opportunity
In this country, everyone does have an opportunity unlike the west, which by the way does use standardized test scores plus grades to get into university. Not everyone can go to Harvard, some have to go to Podunk U because of their lack of achievement. So you are reaslly complaining about your own country not Korea.
Korea is fine and doesn't need your interference. |
By the way in the states I got a scholarship to a near ivy. I didn't have the best grades or the best test scores. I got in through my work experience, extra curriculars, personal statement and recommendations. Had I lived in korea that would have never been possible.
I would have been progressively sent off to lower tier schools and eventually a technical high school where my future would be permanently closed off. It's your life you have choice. It's society's job to honor that. Like Orb said, me, you or anyone else doesn't have a right to tell anyone what you can and cannot do with your life. |
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