Korean Job Discussion Forums

[lush72]

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]

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]

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]

I choose

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

[schwa]

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]

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]

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]

[prosodic]

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 . 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.

[Gord]

[prosodic]

[Homer]

A degree should be the minimum requirement to teach.

A fake degree is just an indicator of the kind of person who has it.
Shortcuts for everything.

The ideal thing will be when Korea starts to focus on English or Education majors for teaching jobs (the Japan is doing these days).
All in good time.

[Gord]

[inkoreaforgood]

What I find to be really funny is that back in Canada, to teach English as a Second Language there in an academy, no uni degree is required. Just a Tesl degree, which can range from a 2 year course to a WEEK long one. A friend of mine works for an actual school (not an academy) where they teach esl to immigrants. Her coworkers there all have different levels of education and experience, including one teacher who has no education whatsoever past high school. Yet this teacher has more seniority than my friend (who has a uni degree and teaching experience overseas and in Canada), simply because the uneducated teacher started working there the week before.

A fake degree is not that big a deal, especially when the schools in Korea could check up on their teachers (but never do), IF they really wanted to!! In the end, in Korea, you always get what you pay/work for.

[The Man known as The Man]