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radcon
Joined: 23 May 2011
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 Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2014 3:01 am Post subject: |
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| schwa wrote: |
Its evident & frustrating to most Korean PS teachers (& yes, I know a lot of them) that the majority of epik teachers arent here primarily to teach.
Its about:
1) money
2) travel
3) partying
4) a few other things
5) & somewhere down the list, teaching
Some blame goes to the hiring practices of epik (green is good!) & some goes to recruiters (have an adventure & get paid!).
Some native speaker teachers are great, but others show up to work every monday worn out, download a generic lesson from waygook, go through the motions, & spend their desk time facebooking next weekend's plans.
I'm not accusing the OP of this, but I've seen it many times & it saddens me.
On topic: I really enjoyed Boracay several years ago, it was a nice getaway. Teachers need occasional getaways. But as others suggested, there are many other more compelling & less trodden destinations equally accessible from Incheon. |
No sympathy here. Age discrimination, lookism, sexual preferences and just general stupidity in thinking that completely inexperienced 22 year old kids overseas for the first time will make good employees- all of this contributes to a crappy pool of teachers. Korea gets the quality of teachers it hires,period. |
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2014 5:34 am Post subject: |
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| SeoulNate wrote: |
| northway wrote: |
What bothers me about this is that it kind of buys into the view that this is some kind of paid study abroad. You know what kind of vacations you get as an English teacher in Korea? Whichever kind you like during your time off, however much time that is and whenever it might be. Boracay? Make sure you check out Bali and Koh Phan Ngan too. With prices being what they are, maybe you can purchase some imagination during your travels. |
Pretty much this. I've watched a few of the videos hes posted here and they strike me in the same way. Not to mention the vast majority of NETs in their first year/two are here for one reason: sending money back to their homes to pay for uni loans. |
Hey, I can't judge too hard. I was only in Korea for two and a half years, from age 23 to 25. I drank way more than I should have, and often came into work pretty beat. I also had classes that really outperformed their peers, and put in maximum effort in the classroom even when exhausted. Either way, the idea of coming to Korea to get out of Korea, or to exist primarily on islands of foreignness - the local foreigner bar, Itaewon, Hongdae, Mud Fest - seems a real waste. Korea Sparkling may be a load of shit, but you have more to gain by embracing your time there, however long or short, than you do by waiting for your next tropical vacation. If you need the tropics that badly, get yourself a CELTA and teach in Vietnam. |
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Mr. BlackCat
Joined: 30 Nov 2005
Location: Insert witty remark HERE
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| Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2014 4:42 pm Post subject: |
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Just serious LOLZ at all these posts bemoaning people not caring enough about their jobs and looking forward to vacation. Guess what kids, 95% of people back in your home countries don't really care about their jobs and look forward to their vacations. I know it seems shocking that most people in the world don't actually love their jobs and do them for money instead of some innate dedication to filing papers since everyone on this forum is such an amazing and fantastic teacher.
As for Korean PS teachers being upset that so many foreigners just lazily download a lesson and go through the motions, I'll have to remember that the next time my CT is snoring away at the back of the class (if she bothers to show up). And if she thinks I have too much vacation, it's probably because she had time to think about it as she had this whole summer break off while I was here doing camps that I prepared and carried out all on my own.
Honestly guys, where is this magical land where everyone cares so deeply about their jobs and vacation is an afterthought, especially for 22 year olds? It certainly isn't anywhere I've been.
And before anyone goes on about how we should all be so dedicated to teaching because blah blah blah it's such an important role blah blah blah, just quit it. In Korea we're not real teachers. We're not paid like ones, we're not respected like ones by our employers, the students or society in general, we don't have the power as real teachers, and we don't have the security either. It's like comparing pilots to model plane enthusiasts, saying each one is just as responsible for the lives of hundreds. |
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le-paul
Joined: 07 Apr 2009
Location: dans la chambre
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| Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2014 5:51 pm Post subject: |
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| radcon wrote: |
| schwa wrote: |
Its evident & frustrating to most Korean PS teachers (& yes, I know a lot of them) that the majority of epik teachers arent here primarily to teach.
Its about:
1) money
2) travel
3) partying
4) a few other things
5) & somewhere down the list, teaching
Some blame goes to the hiring practices of epik (green is good!) & some goes to recruiters (have an adventure & get paid!).
Some native speaker teachers are great, but others show up to work every monday worn out, download a generic lesson from waygook, go through the motions, & spend their desk time facebooking next weekend's plans.
I'm not accusing the OP of this, but I've seen it many times & it saddens me.
On topic: I really enjoyed Boracay several years ago, it was a nice getaway. Teachers need occasional getaways. But as others suggested, there are many other more compelling & less trodden destinations equally accessible from Incheon. |
No sympathy here. Age discrimination, lookism, sexual preferences and just general stupidity in thinking that completely inexperienced 22 year old kids overseas for the first time will make good employees- all of this contributes to a crappy pool of teachers. Korea gets the quality of teachers it deserves, period. |
I edited it for you[/u] |
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atwood
Joined: 26 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2014 6:23 pm Post subject: |
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| Mr. BlackCat wrote: |
Just serious LOLZ at all these posts bemoaning people not caring enough about their jobs and looking forward to vacation. Guess what kids, 95% of people back in your home countries don't really care about their jobs and look forward to their vacations. I know it seems shocking that most people in the world don't actually love their jobs and do them for money instead of some innate dedication to filing papers since everyone on this forum is such an amazing and fantastic teacher.
As for Korean PS teachers being upset that so many foreigners just lazily download a lesson and go through the motions, I'll have to remember that the next time my CT is snoring away at the back of the class (if she bothers to show up). And if she thinks I have too much vacation, it's probably because she had time to think about it as she had this whole summer break off while I was here doing camps that I prepared and carried out all on my own.
Honestly guys, where is this magical land where everyone cares so deeply about their jobs and vacation is an afterthought, especially for 22 year olds? It certainly isn't anywhere I've been.
And before anyone goes on about how we should all be so dedicated to teaching because blah blah blah it's such an important role blah blah blah, just quit it. In Korea we're not real teachers. We're not paid like ones, we're not respected like ones by our employers, the students or society in general, we don't have the power as real teachers, and we don't have the security either. It's like comparing pilots to model plane enthusiasts, saying each one is just as responsible for the lives of hundreds. |
You want serious? Here you go: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/americans-only-take-half-of-their-paid-vacation-2014-04-03
You posted: "It certainly isn't anywhere I've been."
You should visit the U.S. if you ever get the chance. Great place!
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2014 6:55 pm Post subject: |
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| Mr. BlackCat wrote: |
Just serious LOLZ at all these posts bemoaning people not caring enough about their jobs and looking forward to vacation. Guess what kids, 95% of people back in your home countries don't really care about their jobs and look forward to their vacations. I know it seems shocking that most people in the world don't actually love their jobs and do them for money instead of some innate dedication to filing papers since everyone on this forum is such an amazing and fantastic teacher.
As for Korean PS teachers being upset that so many foreigners just lazily download a lesson and go through the motions, I'll have to remember that the next time my CT is snoring away at the back of the class (if she bothers to show up). And if she thinks I have too much vacation, it's probably because she had time to think about it as she had this whole summer break off while I was here doing camps that I prepared and carried out all on my own.
Honestly guys, where is this magical land where everyone cares so deeply about their jobs and vacation is an afterthought, especially for 22 year olds? It certainly isn't anywhere I've been.
And before anyone goes on about how we should all be so dedicated to teaching because blah blah blah it's such an important role blah blah blah, just quit it. In Korea we're not real teachers. We're not paid like ones, we're not respected like ones by our employers, the students or society in general, we don't have the power as real teachers, and we don't have the security either. It's like comparing pilots to model plane enthusiasts, saying each one is just as responsible for the lives of hundreds. |
Not arguing any of the above, I guess I just feel like there are important things to be learned as an expat, wherever you are, and that you miss out on those things if you don't stop to smell the roses. I also think that going to Boracay is like going to Cancun at this point, maybe worse, and his video only reinforced that point. If you want to make a point about having all of Asia at your fingertips, show me something that doesn't involve riding a gondola to a zip line. I spent nearly two weeks in Boracay, and I can tell you, it's one of the least imaginative places you can possibly go, and it looks like it's only gotten worse since I was there. Being completely serious, Khaosan Road has more to offer at this point. It's the "oh my God, you can go to this amazing place on the other side of the planet and do the same stuff you would do at home only cheaper" that I won't condone. I've had some amazing experiences in Southeast Asia, and I've woken up hungover in beach bungalows enough times to know when I'm wasting my time. |
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Chaparrastique
Joined: 01 Jan 2014
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| Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2014 7:04 pm Post subject: |
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| schwa wrote: |
ISome blame goes to the hiring practices of epik (green is good!) & some goes to recruiters (have an adventure & get paid!).
Some native speaker teachers are great, but others show up to work every monday worn out, download a generic lesson from waygook, go through the motions, & spend their desk time facebooking next weekend's social plans.
I'm not accusing the OP of this, but I've seen it many times & it saddens me. The kids deserve better. |
By and large they get the teachers they deserve.
They select for youth, american-ness and aryan appearance.
They eliminate candidates with experience, skill, qualifications or age. Or if by accident they get any, they seek to crush and inhibit them.
Hogwons and (some) govt schools provide only a negative, opressive, exploitative, hostile, unco-operative anti-foreign environment that is de- motivating.
Are koreans even aware that they are largely the cause of their problems? probably not.
Do koreans realize that there is much they could do to fix these problems, simply by taking responsibility for them instead of blaming outside forces/ probably not. |
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Mr. BlackCat
Joined: 30 Nov 2005
Location: Insert witty remark HERE
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| Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2014 7:04 pm Post subject: |
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| northway wrote: |
| Mr. BlackCat wrote: |
Just serious LOLZ at all these posts bemoaning people not caring enough about their jobs and looking forward to vacation. Guess what kids, 95% of people back in your home countries don't really care about their jobs and look forward to their vacations. I know it seems shocking that most people in the world don't actually love their jobs and do them for money instead of some innate dedication to filing papers since everyone on this forum is such an amazing and fantastic teacher.
As for Korean PS teachers being upset that so many foreigners just lazily download a lesson and go through the motions, I'll have to remember that the next time my CT is snoring away at the back of the class (if she bothers to show up). And if she thinks I have too much vacation, it's probably because she had time to think about it as she had this whole summer break off while I was here doing camps that I prepared and carried out all on my own.
Honestly guys, where is this magical land where everyone cares so deeply about their jobs and vacation is an afterthought, especially for 22 year olds? It certainly isn't anywhere I've been.
And before anyone goes on about how we should all be so dedicated to teaching because blah blah blah it's such an important role blah blah blah, just quit it. In Korea we're not real teachers. We're not paid like ones, we're not respected like ones by our employers, the students or society in general, we don't have the power as real teachers, and we don't have the security either. It's like comparing pilots to model plane enthusiasts, saying each one is just as responsible for the lives of hundreds. |
Not arguing any of the above, I guess I just feel like there are important things to be learned as an expat, wherever you are, and that you miss out on those things if you don't stop to smell the roses. I also think that going to Boracay is like going to Cancun at this point, maybe worse, and his video only reinforced that point. If you want to make a point about having all of Asia at your fingertips, show me something that doesn't involve riding a gondola to a zip line. I spent nearly two weeks in Boracay, and I can tell you, it's one of the least imaginative places you can possibly go, and it looks like it's only gotten worse since I was there. Being completely serious, Khaosan Road has more to offer at this point. It's the "oh my God, you can go to this amazing place on the other side of the planet and do the same stuff you would do at home only cheaper" that I won't condone. I've had some amazing experiences in Southeast Asia, and I've woken up hungover in beach bungalows enough times to know when I'm wasting my time. |
Fair enough, I was only talking about the responses that seemed to be aghast that people consider vacation time when looking for jobs, or don't take their McHagwon job as seriously as a heart attack. |
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