Korean Job Discussion Forums

Rather_Dashing · Joined: 07 Sep 2004

Illegal as in, doesn't even have a degree, or has a fake one.
Semi-illegal as in, has a degree but the school didn't print it yet so they had to make their own.

Just wondering how prevalent these people are Razz

Tiger Beer · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

Yeah, I've met a handful.

Couple of East Germans I knew taught telephone English.. they hardly knew English themselves.

My favorite was this 18-year-old Kiwi who came over and set himself up with tons of gigs.. (no college - direct from high school!). Shocked

They are rare, but around.

waggo · Joined: 18 May 2003 Location: pusan baby!

I dont think they are rare...I think they are common and becoming more so which is bad news.

turtlepi1 · Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE

fidel · Joined: 07 Feb 2003 Location: North Shore NZ

Well Gyeongsang University down in jinju is currently holding a winter camp. I have it from good sources that a bunch of instructors are from diverse places as Morrocco, India and Brazil. Got to be suss!

bosintang · Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2005 6:50 am Post subject:

I have one story, but I'm afraid of the off-chance that someone here might know this person and connect the dots and figure out who I'm talking about.

So to your question, yes, one person.

Tiger Beer · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

fidel · Joined: 07 Feb 2003 Location: North Shore NZ

Straight from the horses mouth, buddies with one of the teachers currently there.

Rather_Dashing · Joined: 07 Sep 2004

peppermint · Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2005 6:39 pm Post subject:

I used to work with a guy from Mauritius. He had a degree, and had lived in Canada for years, spoke english like a native, and was the most popular teacher at school. He had a visa and stuff but it was a fluke. The guy I replaced at the school was French Canadian, barely spoke English even when he was sober and even that was pretty rare.

Legalities are wierd.

Ihavenolips · Joined: 22 Sep 2004 Location: Korea

I have known several illegal workers. Most of them are non-native speakers that can still find work because they speak English better than their hagwon owners. I knew a Hungarian that taught in Korea for three years. I knew a German and and Indian who got a salary for a solid year before deportation. There are quite a few native-speaking teachers that work illegally on a tourist visa, while they shop around before signing an official contract. Canadians can live in Korea for six months on a tourist visa. It is no big secret that a few of them are getting paid under the counter to teach.