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ChooChooPongPong
Joined: 15 Jun 2003
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 Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2004 8:16 am Post subject: I get mistaken for a missionary all the time... |
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| I'm a clean cut young white male who has to wear a shirt and tie to work....so after work, while heading off to do privates, I often get stopped by someone who wayts to ask if I am serving the lord. I just smile and nod if its convenient and continue on. One of my students moms says that the missionaries will visit apartments and teach english for free through the bible, so I guess many parents see it as a free ride. And why not? On a side note....I'm sure immigration can't touch missionaries for teaching privates if they dont really get paid. Hence....I dont mind being mistaken for one in my get up. I just have to say "���" if anyone ever asked and that would be the end of it....probably maybe. |
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marista99
Joined: 05 Jun 2004
Location: Incheon
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| Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2004 9:24 am Post subject: |
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I think some peace corps volunteers teach English on an unpaid, humanitarian basis. However, they at least have their living expenses paid, even if they don't get lots of benefits or big salaries. To teach in another country with no pay at all (not even a living stipend) you would pretty much have to be independently wealthy.
But I can see wanting to teach English as sort of a community service thing. In fact my community has had a huge influx of Brazilian immigrants in the last 5 years or so, and I teach ESL as a volunteer to them. A lot of churches, libraries, etc. offer free ESL classes to immigrants and depend on volunteer teachers to keep it free. It is a community service in this context especially because these Brazilians are living in the US now and they don't just want to learn English, they need to learn it if they're going to be successful in their new lives in the US. And hardly any of them have the money to pay for lessons.
I still wouldn't teach full time for no pay though. A girl's gotta eat (and drive, and be entertained, and pay her bills), after all. |
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Teufelswacht
Joined: 06 Sep 2004
Location: Land Of The Not Quite Right
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| Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 6:02 pm Post subject: |
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Well, since no one else has, I guess I'll volunteer. When I came to Korea in 2000 I had what others would describe as a "missionary" attitude. If asked, I would do things and help others for no charge, just to help them with their English. Some, not all, of the things I did included:
* Judging English speaking contests for a local middle school (x2)
* Constructed an hour long audio tape for a city English contest
* Proofread/Edited academic papers for teachers
* Offered to teach police officers 3x a week in prep for the World Cup
* Taught a 3 hour seminar on pronunciation teaching techniques to 75 Korean English teachers from around the province
Mind you, all of the above was free of charge. I was an idiot (and still am some would say).
Thankfully, all of this changed during the fall and winter of 2002. Watching the anti-American/anti-foreigner orgy unfold in Korea changed my attitude towards providing anything for free. I must admit I did enjoy turning down requests to do things free of charge. I did not hesitate to inform the teachers/college professors/company managers/city officials exactly why I refused to work for free any longer.
The most important lesson I took away from my bout of temporary insanity is that the mindset that providing free services will "get you in good" with the locals or that you can expect some "reciprocity" or the locals will "respect" you is incorrect. Generally speaking, the willingness to spend endless hours helping will not be of benefit to you in any way, shape, or form. You may be led to believe it does, but in the end it definitely does not. You are just another foreign idiot that can be squeezed for freebies. Don't ever fall for the "Oh, we don't have enough money..." line. I can tell you from experience it is absolute crap.
My life changed for the better once I realized that English is a commodity to be bought and sold like any other. I am much happier now that I changed from being a "missionary" to being a "mercenary."
For what it's worth.........
Take care
T |
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Juregen
Joined: 30 May 2006
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| Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 6:06 pm Post subject: |
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| VanIslander wrote: |
| I wonder if the parents know they are paying a lot of money to have their children preached to almost daily by the authority figure of a teacher. The parents should know, otherwise their real agenda is hidden and their efforts insidious. |
My childrens' parents want me to teach European etiquette, so that they have the benefit of understanding the foreigner not only thrue language but also thrue their actions.
Yes, i stressed European, not Western. |
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Real Reality
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 6:23 pm Post subject: |
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| Teufelswacht wrote: |
The most important lesson I took away from my bout of temporary insanity is that the mindset that providing free services will "get you in good" with the locals or that you can expect some "reciprocity" or the locals will "respect" you is incorrect. Generally speaking, the willingness to spend endless hours helping will not be of benefit to you in any way, shape, or form. You may be led to believe it does, but in the end it definitely does not. You are just another foreign idiot that can be squeezed for freebies. Don't ever fall for the "Oh, we don't have enough money..." line. I can tell you from experience it is absolute crap.
My life changed for the better once I realized that English is a commodity to be bought and sold like any other. I am much happier now that I changed from being a "missionary" to being a "mercenary."
For what it's worth.........
Take care
T |
Some things are worth quoting and repeating.
Generally speaking, the willingness to spend endless hours helping will not be of benefit to you in any way, shape, or form. You may be led to believe it does, but in the end it definitely does not. You are just another foreign idiot that can be squeezed for freebies. Don't ever fall for the "Oh, we don't have enough money..." line. I can tell you from experience it is absolute crap. |
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laogaiguk
Joined: 06 Dec 2005
Location: somewhere in Korea
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| Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 7:22 pm Post subject: |
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| I did some of that in China. After finding out little liuliu and the rest get more in their allowance than my monthly pay, I put a stop to it real quick |
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EdInstead
Joined: 20 Jul 2006
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| Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 8:28 pm Post subject: |
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| kiwiboy_nz_99 wrote: |
| They are a cancer on the bowels of any society which they infest ... |
An old, yet interesting comment from this bloke.
Tell me what's more of a cancer on the bowels of society:
A mormon missionary giving English lessons for free, and trying to spread his/her version of religion along the way, or a teacher fired for coming on to his university students?
Some people just can't handle anyone else doing something that makes them think about how truly empty, selfish, and devoid of purpose their lives are. |
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laogaiguk
Joined: 06 Dec 2005
Location: somewhere in Korea
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| Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 10:02 pm Post subject: |
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| EdInstead wrote: |
| kiwiboy_nz_99 wrote: |
| They are a cancer on the bowels of any society which they infest ... |
An old, yet interesting comment from this bloke.
Tell me what's more of a cancer on the bowels of society:
A mormon missionary giving English lessons for free, and trying to spread his/her version of religion along the way, or a teacher fired for coming on to his university students?
Some people just can't handle anyone else doing something that makes them think about how truly empty, selfish, and devoid of purpose their lives are. |
Really, the answer to your question is both are bad, doesn't matter which is worse. Most teachers don't even teach university, so that example is extreme, not to mention, unlike the missionaries who tend to target little, naive children to spread their 2000 year old silly superstitions, the university profs are atleast screwing around with adults who can make their own decisions (though both are bad). Your example sucks, both are unprofessional and bad.
By the way, I have always wondered how it is the non-Christians who are devoid of purpose and empty. They don't need to follow some 2000 year old story book and fill whatever empty hole they have with a mythical God. |
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Yu_Bum_suk
Joined: 25 Dec 2004
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| Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 10:24 pm Post subject: |
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It's also worth noting that some 'missionaries' are really only in Korea to make money by teaching illegally - this is especially the case with ones who speak English adequately but aren't from one of the seven right countries.
In a country that's 30% Christian with people proselytising everywhere it's amazing that there would even be such a thing as a missionary visa. |
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EdInstead
Joined: 20 Jul 2006
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| Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 11:44 pm Post subject: |
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| laogaiguk wrote: |
| EdInstead wrote: |
| kiwiboy_nz_99 wrote: |
| They are a cancer on the bowels of any society which they infest ... |
An old, yet interesting comment from this bloke.
Tell me what's more of a cancer on the bowels of society:
A mormon missionary giving English lessons for free, and trying to spread his/her version of religion along the way, or a teacher fired for coming on to his university students?
Some people just can't handle anyone else doing something that makes them think about how truly empty, selfish, and devoid of purpose their lives are. |
Really, the answer to your question is both are bad, doesn't matter which is worse. Most teachers don't even teach university, so that example is extreme, not to mention, unlike the missionaries who tend to target little, naive children to spread their 2000 year old silly superstitions, the university profs are atleast screwing around with adults who can make their own decisions (though both are bad). Your example sucks, both are unprofessional and bad.
By the way, I have always wondered how it is the non-Christians who are devoid of purpose and empty. They don't need to follow some 2000 year old story book and fill whatever empty hole they have with a mythical God. |
Trust me, this story is very relevant. It is the perfect example, in this case. |
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Novernae
Joined: 02 Mar 2005
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| Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2006 3:40 am Post subject: |
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| EdInstead wrote: |
| laogaiguk wrote: |
| EdInstead wrote: |
| kiwiboy_nz_99 wrote: |
| They are a cancer on the bowels of any society which they infest ... |
An old, yet interesting comment from this bloke.
Tell me what's more of a cancer on the bowels of society:
A mormon missionary giving English lessons for free, and trying to spread his/her version of religion along the way, or a teacher fired for coming on to his university students?
Some people just can't handle anyone else doing something that makes them think about how truly empty, selfish, and devoid of purpose their lives are. |
Really, the answer to your question is both are bad, doesn't matter which is worse. Most teachers don't even teach university, so that example is extreme, not to mention, unlike the missionaries who tend to target little, naive children to spread their 2000 year old silly superstitions, the university profs are atleast screwing around with adults who can make their own decisions (though both are bad). Your example sucks, both are unprofessional and bad.
By the way, I have always wondered how it is the non-Christians who are devoid of purpose and empty. They don't need to follow some 2000 year old story book and fill whatever empty hole they have with a mythical God. |
Trust me, this story is very relevant. It is the perfect example, in this case. |
OK then, I would say the missionary is worse. They are trying to bribe people into believing their own view of the world by pretending to be selfless and good. They generally prey on the ignorant, poor, or sick. Then they take people they've endoctrinated into their cult and have them try to change the world into a more friendly place for their messed up views. |
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Francis-Pax
Joined: 20 Nov 2005
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| Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2006 4:22 pm Post subject: Re: What do you think about "missionary" teachers? |
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| Real Reality wrote: |
What do you think about "missionary" teachers? What do you say to them when they will work for anything.
Missionary teacher says,
"Money, housing, and benefits are not important. Teaching is the only important thing. Besides, most Koreans are not as wealthy as Canadians."
They will work for any kind of salary and benefits. The boss refers to them as the model to follow. |
In my opinion, it really depends. If these so-called 'missionary teachers' are working for a normal hogwon and are telling the boss that compensation doesn't matter, then I think it is damaging other teachers that teach EFL for a living and are trying to increase their benefits. In the public sector, such as public schools and universities, I don't think it matters as much since pay scales are set to some standard and not really open to negotiation.
I think that a lot of 'missionaries' in Korea are misguided by a perception that Korea is a very poor country that needs a bunch of NGOs to help people keep rice on their plate. They have type of messiah complex that is immature.
It is important to point out that, at least in my experience, most of these 'missionary teachers' are working at churches or other religious affiliated institutions. |
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MorgolKing
Joined: 18 May 2006
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| Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2006 4:54 pm Post subject: |
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| laogaiguk wrote: |
| EdInstead wrote: |
| kiwiboy_nz_99 wrote: |
| They are a cancer on the bowels of any society which they infest ... |
An old, yet interesting comment from this bloke.
Tell me what's more of a cancer on the bowels of society:
A mormon missionary giving English lessons for free, and trying to spread his/her version of religion along the way, or a teacher fired for coming on to his university students?
Some people just can't handle anyone else doing something that makes them think about how truly empty, selfish, and devoid of purpose their lives are. |
Really, the answer to your question is both are bad, doesn't matter which is worse. Most teachers don't even teach university, so that example is extreme, not to mention, unlike the missionaries who tend to target little, naive children to spread their 2000 year old silly superstitions, the university profs are atleast screwing around with adults who can make their own decisions (though both are bad). Your example sucks, both are unprofessional and bad.
By the way, I have always wondered how it is the non-Christians who are devoid of purpose and empty. They don't need to follow some 2000 year old story book and fill whatever empty hole they have with a mythical God. |
I can't say for all missionaries, but Mormon missionaries are not allowed to meet with children unless they have expressed consent by their parents. Their english program works like this: They teach english to the someone, usually to someone's kids, and then share the religious message they want to share. During the religious portion the parents are asked to sit in. This is because they're not trying to "brain wash" little kids but share their message with those who can make decisions for themselves. That's important b/c Mormon missionaries are instructed to "share" (most people only know stereotypes and misinformation about Mormons) their message with others and "invite" those who learn about the Church to join. If they don't want to join--no problem, they go on to someone else to share and invite. I don't think there's a lot of brainwashing, bigotry, etc going on there. |
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alinkorea
Joined: 02 May 2005
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| Posted: Thu Aug 10, 2006 1:20 am Post subject: |
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My pet hate: missionary christians. The underlying purpose of their work, be they missionary teachers or whatever, is to spread 'the word.'
If they teach children it's wrong of them to attempt to push their ideology onto kids. If adults, then pure arrogance.
Why oh why, can't they just leave the world in peace. I'm certain in thousands of years time, when people look back upon christianity they'll view it the same way we now view people who once worshipped the sun. Absurd |
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MorgolKing
Joined: 18 May 2006
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| Posted: Thu Aug 10, 2006 2:03 am Post subject: |
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| alinkorea wrote: |
My pet hate: missionary christians. The underlying purpose of their work, be they missionary teachers or whatever, is to spread 'the word.'
If they teach children it's wrong of them to attempt to push their ideology onto kids. If adults, then pure arrogance.
Why oh why, can't they just leave the world in peace. I'm certain in thousands of years time, when people look back upon christianity they'll view it the same way we now view people who once worshipped the sun. Absurd |
sorry you feel that way |
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