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sojusucks
Joined: 31 May 2008
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 Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2011 10:29 pm Post subject: |
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| Most of my friends were in their 20's when we were in GEPIK orientation in 2008 in Suwon, and most of the other GEPIK teachers there were in their 20's. But, as I have told many of my friends, I used to feel old teaching in Korea, then GEPIK had an event for all of its teachers at Everland in December 2008. All of the GEPIK teachers were there, with Dain Bae, in one auditorium, and almost all of the long-term teachers were in their 40's or 50's. That was shocking to me and many of my friends. Was anyone else there? Did it surprise you? |
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Carbon
Joined: 28 Jan 2011
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| Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2011 10:38 pm Post subject: |
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| Public school teaching in Korea is not a career. A step, sure, but... |
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sojusucks
Joined: 31 May 2008
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| Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2011 10:44 pm Post subject: |
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| Carbon wrote: |
| Public school teaching in Korea is not a career. A step, sure, but... |
Yes, but, as long as you are realistic about what is being presented, it can be money in the bank, benefits accrued, and a sense of satisfaction about helping the students. |
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ZIFA
Joined: 23 Feb 2011
Location: Dici che il fiume..Trova la via al mare
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| Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2011 12:29 am Post subject: |
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| Carbon wrote: |
| Public school teaching in Korea is not a career. A step, sure, but... |
Define career.
Because the traditional job-for-life has long gone in the west. Things are more complicated now.
There are plenty of people teaching esl well into their 50's and 60's. I don't see anything sad about that per se, if that is what they want to do.
What would be sad is to succumb to pressure of other people's opinions of how you should run your life. |
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Hotpants
Joined: 27 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2011 12:43 am Post subject: |
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| ...but no one cared because there were a couple really old people kicking around (40s - 50s). |
Aww, ouch ...
If you think 27 is too 'old', where is the optimism for the next 50 years of your life?
Grow up.
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Charriere
Joined: 01 May 2008
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| Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2011 5:14 am Post subject: |
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Dude, seriously, don't get bogged down with what other people think. If you don't enjoy spending time with your colleagues, make other friends. If you don't enjoy your job, find another one. There are plenty about. You could even try another country. From what you have written it doesn't sound like you have anything keeping you here, if you arent happy (Korean partner, kids etc...).
Too many westerners in Korea forget what opportunities they have open to them, which the vast majority of people from around the world simply do not have.
I mean, come on, to be able to go to virtually any country and get paid more than the median worker, for speaking your native language. Try to keep your situation in perspective, otherwise you risk sounding like whinging ***!
If you want to make a real go of teaching, I suggest you try and get some additional qualifications. Alternatively, if you aren't happy teaching maybe it's time to start thinking about your next move.. |
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edwardcatflap
Joined: 22 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2011 6:19 am Post subject: |
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| I mean, come on, to be able to go to virtually any country and get paid more than the median worker, for speaking your native language |
I take your point about opportunities but don't cheapen the teaching profession by coming out with sentences like this. If you don't think there's anything more to teaching than speaking your own language, check out this thread for example
http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=201968
Anyone who thinks TEFL is just speaking your own language will almost certainly be thought of in a similar way to how this poster rates his Korean teacher
Or if you're talking about teaching kids, who may not have the capacity to spot a poor teacher or complain about him, read what most experts in kids teaching are saying these days - It's better to be taught by a non-native speaker trained in methodology than a native speaker who hasn't been. |
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Charriere
Joined: 01 May 2008
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| Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2011 7:01 am Post subject: |
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Fair point. By that I was referring to entry level positions specifically. People come direct from college with no prior experience or teaching qualifications. They are shoved into a classroom and told to teach.
Of course, many of these same people decide they like it, invest in themselves, gain additional experience and become better teachers as a result. |
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ZIFA
Joined: 23 Feb 2011
Location: Dici che il fiume..Trova la via al mare
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| Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2011 7:05 am Post subject: |
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| edwardcatflap wrote: |
| Quote: |
| I mean, come on, to be able to go to virtually any country and get paid more than the median worker, for speaking your native language |
I take your point about opportunities but don't cheapen the teaching profession by coming out with sentences like this. If you don't think there's anything more to teaching than speaking your own language, check out this thread for example
http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=201968
Anyone who thinks TEFL is just speaking your own language will almost certainly be thought of in a similar way to how this poster rates his Korean teacher
Or if you're talking about teaching kids, who may not have the capacity to spot a poor teacher or complain about him, read what most experts in kids teaching are saying these days - It's better to be taught by a non-native speaker trained in methodology than a native speaker who hasn't been. |
Good points Edward but it is Korea, not FT's, that has been mostly responsible for cheapening and demoralising the english-teaching profession.They have never taken it seriously.
If Korea really wanted to get serious about forming a good english education system, they might do the following:
a) Raise the visa requirement to include e.g. a TEFL certificate at least. Or even a relevant degree.
b) Raise the pay!
c) Pay experienced/ qualified people more than brand new grads.
d) Try to retain proven good teachers in the country rather than driving them away. You might also find that they provoke less cultural friction than newbies.
e) Hire teachers based on their credentials and merit. Beauty-pageant mug shots should not really be necessary in applications. |
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West Coast Tatterdemalion
Joined: 31 Aug 2010
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| Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2011 8:27 am Post subject: |
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Yeah, you're 27 years old, grandpa. Don't come to Korea. You are too old. Korea only wants people that are 22. You are too old. Life is ending soon. You are 27 years old. If you were 26, you might have an outside shot. But you are 27 and your life downhill from this point on. Sorry to have to tell you.  |
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edwardcatflap
Joined: 22 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2011 5:22 pm Post subject: |
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Good points Edward but it is Korea, not FT's, that has been mostly responsible for cheapening and demoralising the english-teaching profession.They have never taken it seriously.
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I think it's a combination of the two. At a lower level of the profession you get comments like these from teachers
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| I'm glad you put "career" in inverted commas becsaue it isn't really one |
Which also contribute towards the general feeling among less experienced teachers that TEFL is just a young person's 'gig' or a dead end. Certain jobs may be but there are loads of opportunities and career paths in the field. |
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myenglishisno
Joined: 08 Mar 2011
Location: Geumchon
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| Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 3:29 am Post subject: |
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| West Coast Tatterdemalion wrote: |
| Yeah, you're 27 years old, grandpa. Don't come to Korea. You are too old. Korea only wants people that are 22. You are too old. Life is ending soon. You are 27 years old. If you were 26, you might have an outside shot. But you are 27 and your life downhill from this point on. Sorry to have to tell you. |
Haha, well if you put it that way...
It feels different when you're out with a bunch of co-workers and they're like, "27? Mannnn that's old. You're sooooo olllldddd..." etc. |
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ZIFA
Joined: 23 Feb 2011
Location: Dici che il fiume..Trova la via al mare
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| Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 5:30 am Post subject: |
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| myenglishisno wrote: |
| It feels different when you're out with a bunch of co-workers and they're like, "27? Mannnn that's old. You're sooooo olllldddd..." etc. |
They're just being stupid twentysomethings.
So glad I'm over 30. |
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ESL Milk "Everyday
Joined: 12 Sep 2007
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| Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 8:36 am Post subject: |
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| myenglishisno wrote: |
| It feels different when you're out with a bunch of co-workers and they're like, "27? Mannnn that's old. You're sooooo olllldddd..." etc. |
Stop spending all of your time with children. |
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mgafunnell
Joined: 11 Apr 2007
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| Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 11:31 am Post subject: |
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| I'm 36 years old and all I have to say is, "hey you damned kids! get off my lawn! go to the malt shop and listen to your justin beiber records for a while" |
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