Korean Job Discussion Forums

lush72 · Joined: 18 Aug 2003 Location: I am Penalty Kick!

It seems any slaptard with 100 dollars and an internet connection can order one of these things, and then dupe a Korean into hiring him. Is this good? What do you think?

Alyallen · Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2004 2:58 am Post subject:

I've stated my opinion on this matter before, so I'll keep it simple.

Do I think it's ok for someone to use a fake degree to gain employment in Korea?

NO

Real Reality · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul

Korean University Degrees?

To my knowledge, there has never been a single case in Korea where a Ph.D. candidate has failed to obtain his or her degree. As a step toward a more competitive and world-renowned university system, Korean universities need to adhere to a moral or ethical code. It is time to eliminate irregularities and unjustness from Korean universities to achieve consistent growth in the Korean economy as a whole.
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/SITE/data/html_dir/2004/07/01/200407010011.asp

FUBAR · Joined: 21 Oct 2003 Location: The Y.C.

I choose

5. Sure, as long as they only work at a Hagwon.

schwa · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap

Fake degree-holders & unscrupulous hagwon owners kind of deserve each other, but I feel for the kids & unsuspecting parents.

I do think a legitimate BA is a reasonable requirement for an E2 -- indicates at least a modicum of smarts & dedication.

But if someone fakes their way into the system & does the job well, I'd never call them down.

Zed · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Shakedown Street

I didn't put all that time, money, and effort into getting my degree and doing well at it so some lazy bastard can pay $100 for one and compete on the same playing field that I am. I'll do what I can to kick those buggers in the balls.

ryleeys · Joined: 22 Dec 2003 Location: Columbia, MD

Agreed... in fact, I'm willing to host a meeting for anyone that wishes to find teachers with fake degrees and personally haul them onto a flight (paid for with the money they've "stolen" from their employer) to North Korea. Let them teach there if they don't want to do the work, yet reap the benefits.

Alias · Joined: 24 Jan 2003

prosodic · Joined: 21 Jun 2004 Location: ��

I have a completely different reason for voting against fake degrees. I don't care a whole lot about the legality per se, and I'm not about to preach anybody about morals, and I don't really care about other people getting to the same place as me with less effort. My concern is the reputation of foreigners in Korea.

Foreign hagwon teachers already get a bad rap in Korea. And I believe that people with fake degrees are more likely to reinforce negative stereotypes about foreigners. I don't want anybody making the situation worse for the good and honorable foreigners represented on Dave's Wink

. Every encounter between a Korean and a "bad" foreigner makes the Korean more suspicious about the next foreigner.

Don't get me wrong. I know that there are people without degrees who would make fantastic teachers. I also know that there are people with Masters and Ph.D.s who can't teach worth shit.

First of all, a person with a fake degree is more likely to teach incorrect English. I remember a situtation years back when I was walking through the halls of the hagwon and I overheard a guy (he was working illegally, but I don't know what his degree status was) teaching his class that the 48 contiguous states should be called the "continuous states." I peeked in the window and saw that he had written it that way on the board, so I hadn't misheard him. I can't even imagine how hard it would be to correct those students later. "But teacher, a white waygugin taught me that they're called the continuous united states. You're telling me that they're the contiguous united states. Which white waygugin should I believe?" I mean, it's hard enough to convince them that Koreans taught them incorrect English in elementary school. Keep in mind that I'm usually very flexible about what I consider to be correct English and I allow for regional as well as class differences, but there is a wide divide between colloquial English and uneducated English.

Second, a person who is willing to fake credentials is probably also willing to break the law in other, less innocuous, ways as well. Again, I know that this is not necessarily true. I'm just talking about probabilities. I don't think they're likely to rob a bank at gunpoint, but maybe embezzlement or something else that could get on headlines if the person is caught.