Korean Job Discussion Forums

[kengreen]

I have a feeling that these checks will severely reduce the number of English teachers in a year's time.

As an American, the entire process can take more than several months.

I just don't see people having the patience to jump through the hoops.

[shostahoosier]

I feel like it might screw over some initially...but I think if it becomes a big issue, Kimmi will allow some breathing room.

[marsavalanche]

I am actually for the FBI background check. The only difference is in other countries they get theirs in 2 weeks (FEDERAL) and we get ours a whopping 6-12 weeks later. It's not Korea's fault, it's our system.

[kengreen]

[Riker]

Why does an FBI check take so long? WTF is so hard about printing out a piece of paper?

It's not like they do any investigating. They just look your name up in a database and hit print.

[northway]

[millyfrend]

I think the FBI is probably doing a great job.

1. Budget cuts. They probably let people go in the fingerprinting department. Just an assumption.

2. There is only one processing center in the United States for FBI background check and they are getting the checks out in 3-4 weeks time at this time of year. Summer time is probably 8-12 weeks.

3. People have to understand that teachers teaching in South Korea are not the only people requesting for FBI background checks. All professionals have to such as Real Estate agents, teachers in the U.S., CPAs, EMTs, Doctors, Lawyers etc. The list goes on. Some professionals have to do the FBI background check twice. You have to do the check to take an exam, then you have to do the check again to become a professional and that can be within 6 months time. I guess they really want to know that you have not committed a crime since you've taken the exam.

Even if you have an automative system, I'm sure there are some prints that are borderline where it has to be manually look/compare/scrutinize. Last, print out the no record letter and mail it out. I think the mailing process probably take the longest 'cause that has to be manually done. I think some people send their own envelope (FedEx, UPS, USPS, EMS etc)

Also, I think if you do have a record it is manually looked at as well. They probably have to check with the courts to find out further details. For instance, just as a state background check, if you have no record it get process quicker, but if you have a record it takes 1-2 months because they check with the courts about the details.

In my opinion, 50 states and worldwide requests, professionals overseas requesting them, immigration purposes, they probably get 10,000+ a day.

I think to ease their requests, maybe each states should be able to access the FBI database and each state should be able to print them out.

[millyfrend]

As far as less teachers going to South Korea, I don't think that will happen simply because if there is a delay in paperwork, the teachers that graduated in the summer time will have their paperwork ready for winter hiring. Then the teachers finishing up their paperwork in the winter time will get hire in the summer time.

I think with the job market in the U.S., South Korea is having a great time picking and choosing the best teachers. I think it will be great for South Korea in the future because they are investing in their students.

In my opinion, China has come a long way, most of them come to the U.S. to learn how the American do things and then go back to China to do business. Now, the world is somewhat talking about China.

I don't think South Korea will be like China because they're a much smaller country, but it's good that they're letting American/British teachers teach their kids. It would only help their economy.

[Zackback]

northway,
Why would your friend not be allowed to teach in South Korea if the drag-racing arrest was later expunged?

[War Eagle]

[millyfrend]

I guess "investing" can mean a lot of things to different people. So, I'll just probably say in my opinion, if South Koreans are going to learn English, it's probably better to learn it from the British or Americans 'cause it's what they speak. It's like if I want to learn French, what better way to learn it than to go to France and learn it from the French. But in this case, they get to bring Americans to their country to teach them.

I just think a native South Korean teacher teaching South Korean students English, you really don't get the "true" English education whereas if you learn from Americans/British you get to learn English as well as other things. Like the students can ask the Americans teachers what is it like in America, how do they dress, what is the culture like. What they learn from an American teacher will "maybe" help them bridge to America.

It's just one example, I think that will help them see how Americans do things. I'm not saying South Koreans should copy Americans. I think with Americans there in their country, it just opens their eyes that you can do things differently.

Just like when we have Indians, French, Asians, Blacks etc in America. We learn from each other and I think it makes America great. It's just my opinion though, you don't have to agree.

[Riker]

[millyfrend]

I'm just trying to think what a day at the FBI processing center what would be like.

Lets say they get 10,000+ fingerprints a day (from 50 states and worldwide). It's probably easy to get 10,000+ applications a day from teachers, doctors, lawyers etc from 50 states, this is not including people from South Korea, Spain, Vietnam, Mexico sending in their applications.

1. Imagine you have 10,000+ fingerprint applications, a big stack.
2. Someone has to open the mail.
3. Then you take the fingerprint card out, payment, and application form.
Each one you take out, someone has to process the payment (money order or type in your credit card, they can't swipe your credit card, it has to be manually punch into their system for payment). Then someone has to put the fingerprint card through a machine, perhaps, I'm guessing. Lets say it takes 4 minutes to process payment. Then, another 4 minutes for the card to match up with the database. Another minute for something to print out. Then someone has to put the no record paper in the envelope and mail it out.

Say 10 minutes per application x that by 10,000 applications per day. I'm just saying, if I had to do that, I would probably only do 200 per day because I would be so tired of the routine.

[northway]

[northway]