Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ajosshi]

Korean teachers preferred

Academic research has established that Koreans have a clear preference for Korean teachers and professors, followed by a slightly lower preference for Caucasian teaching staff.

Negative preference values, however, were found for Chinese and Indian teachers. Our study extends testing the �country of origin� effect previously found for products such as cars or cosmetics to the services sector.

Korea has long employed foreigners as English assistant teachers in an attempt to improve the next generation�s English skills. Australians, Americans, Brits and Canadians, in some cases Filipinos, were employed as native speakers to teach at Korean elementary, middle and high schools.

Recently, however, education employment practice has undergone changes in Korea�s major capitals. In Seoul, native English-speaking assistant teachers will be replaced by Korean teachers with a stronger focus on comprehension and grammar rather than speaking and playing games.

In Busan, the education authorities monitor foreign teachers more closely, evaluating their teaching ability, work attitude and manners, indicating that there must have been issues in this respect in the past.

While generally Korean teachers demand more respect and enforce stricter discipline, Korean students and their parents in fact prefer Korean teachers. Local teachers working attitude and manners reflect the Korean culture, whereas in English conversation classes led by foreigners the teaching style may deviate from the traditional Korean approach.

Our study found significant preferences by Koreans for their own teaching staff (teachers and professors), followed by a slightly lower preference for Caucasians. The study measured these preferences on a scale from one to seven, where values above four indicated a preference, four itself indicated no preference either way, while values below four indicated dislike.

Values for Chinese and Indian teaching staff were found to be slightly negative, indicating that when Koreans do have a choice, they prefer a Korean or Caucasian teacher. The chart below visualizes the Koreans ethnicity preferences for educational services.

Our study is based on the theoretical foundations of country of origin, homophily (love of the same) and animosity (negative emotions toward a nation) that seem to explain our findings.

We have identified and measured three explanatory factors visualized in the figure below: country image, perception of service quality, and trust. The Koreans in this study, sampled in Australia, view their home country in a positive light, and generally also view Caucasians (represented by Australians in this study) positively. Values for Chinese and Indians revolve around the neutral zero mark.

Education is one of the four distinct service industries as identified by the academic Christopher Lovelock�s classification of services but our study also looked at ethnicity preferences for financial, medical and cleaning services to ensure we cover all types of services.

The strong preferences found in our study for Korean and Caucasian teaching staff seem to be explained by country of origin effects, or the overall positive or negative country image, also reflected in varying levels found for trust and service quality.

Education is not only about transferring knowledge but also about passing on inspiration and cultural values such as etiquette and behavioral standards. The Koreans seem to trust their own teachers most in keeping up high standards in education and passing on cultural values.

Foreign teaching staff needs to better understand the level of competitiveness in Korea with its unique blend of traditional Confucian values and a modern, pragmatic and dynamic approach to the economy and education.

The Korean education sector can continue to employ Westerners where native English skills are required but besides scrutinizing their academic credentials, Korea must evaluate their teaching ability, work attitude and manners to ensure they are in line with the Confucian heritage of the country.

Koreans with their preference for their own teaching staff want to protect the Korean education and economic miracle and foreigners need to be able to demonstrate the same spirit if they want to teach in Korea.

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/special/2012/10/181_121963.html

[Airborne9]

Another article saying Korean parents prefer Koreans to foreigners in schools.
I'm fairly there have been other surveys in the past that say the opposite and there have been surveys that agree with the above article. Nothing new.

[Dodge7]

This is a public smear campaign against foreign teachers in Korea, some of it justified, some of it not. I definitely do not like the road ESL is headed. Why be surprised though? They said from the start that they were bringing us in not to be permanent replacements and that we would be phased out.

With so many people being denied jobs and the competition among available jobs, I'd say Korea is nearly a done deal. Seek employment elsewhere. In 5-10 years or so you won't even recognize this place. Even I'm concerned, and I'm even a F6.

[edwardcatflap]

The survey was carried out among kids and parents from what I can gather. The majority of parents are probably slightly prejudiced against foreigners and worry about their little Bum Suk being corrupted, while the vast majority of kids would prefer to have their English lessons conducted in Korean. It'd be interesting to see what a survey of adult students would show. Also it kind of goes against the story I heard in the news the other day about rich CEOs and the like trying to change their wives' nationality so their kids could qualify to attend international schools.

Of course the correct answer to the survey should be 'I don't care where my or my kid's teacher comes from as long as he/she's an effective English teacher' but it's not clear whether 'no preference' was an option for the respondants or not. If not, then the survey is skewed anyway.

[orosee]

Quality piece of scientific writing

[Seoulman69]

Koreans are finally accepting that the majority of them only learn English to pass tests and get into a good uni. That's why their communicative skills are sub par compared to most other countries. The article itself specifies that they will be focusing on grammar instead of speaking.
Korea consistently goes against the grain regarding language learning. That may be to their detriment in the future.

Also of interest is the fact that the surveyed qualities are country image, service quality, and trust. It's no surprise that Koreans will rate other Koreans higher for these traits.

[orosee]

[Weigookin74]

I would say that the country is already changing because of moderitity. As Seoul is becoming the replacement for Tokyo, a lot of Confucianism will have to go out the window. It cannot be a cloak for being obnoxious and treating others as inferior. It is good exposure for the children to meet us. We alone will not change their culture. The Koreans are doing that themselves. It's good for the kids, because they will understand the behaviour of western people and be able to communicate with them effectively. Listening and speaking are still important, whether it's tested for or not. If Korea has poor English, there will be other nations with better English that will do more business with foriegn countries instead. Living through translators has worked so well for the Japanese? For a nation that wants to trade and increase its tourism, these are essential things. Its not just in the class, but during lunch time and for breaks, the kids will often come and speak to me and practice their English.

Some of the older folks still resent us and are learning to cloak it better than before. They use "respect Korean culture" as a means to block change. I have respect for many things Korean from Hanbok, to Korean food, to some traditional arts, and older mud housing. But no one should use culture as an excuse to be hostile to outsiders, sexist against women, or want to keep Korea the same as 100 years ago unless they truly want to live the poorer lifestyle they lived back then. My culture is different now than it was when my grandmother was growing up. All cultures have changes as they come into contact with each other and the world. North Korea protects it's traditional culture but at what cost?

The majority of the time, the kids do mostly interact with Koreans. When they meet with us, it's very brief and a chance to gain exposure to other ways. Creates open mindedness, while still being Korean. Korean ethics classes are still taught in Korean by Koreans. I do try to blend in somewhat, but am still a western person. Many parents send their kids abroad and to English kindergardens and the like. So, many would still disagree with the survey in question.

[dairyairy]

[Dodge7]

[edwardcatflap]

[orosee]

[quote="edwardcatflap"]

[Yaya]

When you have Korean teachers of English who "puhronounseh Engrish rike dis," well...

[The Cosmic Hum]

I stopped reading at www.koreatimes...

[jvalmer]