Korean Job Discussion Forums

[MollyBloom]

http://www.nocutnews.co.kr/show.asp?idx=1911388

My handler was very upset today by this article and showed it to me. I told her not to worry because the media always does this. She agreed. From the title, they seem to focus on only elem/middle school teachers. I feel bad for the guy in the photo!

[isisaredead]

can you give us the gist of the story? my korean isn't quite good enough to be able to read the entire article.

[MollyBloom]

[Unposter]

For years, hakwons told their customers that if you really want to learn English, all you have to do is attend the "foreigner" class until you could figure him or her out and in the meantime shell out big bucks for the opportunity (to the hakwon owner).

People believed.

So, parents clamored we want the "magic" foreigner in our school and we don't want to pay anything.

So, the public school systems hired foreigners, only to be shocked that they could not find the "magical" foreigner.

Teachers complained.

People are listening.

Soon, foreign teachers will be removed from the public schools and hakwons will start advertising that they have the "magical" foreigner.

Soon people will be clamoring to be in his or her class.

And, the whole cycle will repeat itself.

Lucky charms, anyone?

[cj1976]

This is basically saying we are all lazy, which is not true. I might write a letter of complaint after I finish my daily nap and 3 hour lunch break.

[blm]

I teach the most classes at my school and spend the most time lesson planning. I had less holidays than they did too and on average am paid about half as much (a lot of older teachers at our school).

It may be different at Elementary level but at my school the Korean teachers tend to teach as per the guide book and do little preparation. Kids can enjoy watching the back of the teachrs head while they write on the white board.

I don't really care because I prefer beeing busy as the day goes faster and I actually enjoy the teaching part with little office paper work.

I sometimes think one of the main reasons Korean teachers want the native speakers out is that we will spill the beans on how hard they really work and they will lose their status in Korean society. It's very hard to become a teacher here but once you do you have a job for life and it's nearly immposible to get fired.

[Kennyftw]

[Who's Your Daddy?]

A Korean teacher actually has to plan to teach "this is a chair."

This uses maybe 2% of our brain. It's so easy, we look lazy. Actually I think that's why teacher leave, they're bored out of their minds.

[MollyBloom]

[aq8knyus]

I am sure some teachers are rubbish just as I believe some co-teachers are pretty useless, this just seems like it is trying to paint the quality of teaching as the reason for reduction in native teachers. In reality it is because they want to cut costs and/or can�t afford the presence of natives in the class anymore.

That�s fine but its dishonest to make out they are doing it because of the concern over teacher quality, it�s simply because they haven�t got the money. The issue of cost came up frequently in the article, that alone could be used to justify reductions, not all this rubbish about the inferred dearth of unprepared teachers.

All PS teachers are assistants and the vast majority cannot speak Korean, if they are not being effectively used in class then the buck should stop with the qualified Korean teacher who has all the power.

Plus I found the comments by the middle school student quite funny, maybe if you shut up in class you might find it easier to understand.

[MollyBloom]

[isisaredead]

[rainism]

[isisaredead]

[Lonewolf]

As far as Korean teachers bitching here is my reply. Get over it. They get New books to teach with plus a curriculum they do not have to prepare. They have as much down time too if not more surfing shopping websites and cyworld. The don't have to live thousands of miles away from their families and friends. And they can come and go from work whenever they please. There really is nothing to whine about. They get paid triple what the foreign teacher makes and they get a raise every year, too. And the best part of being a Korean teacher is they have tenure. A job for life after the first year.