Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Gollum]

With all of the uproar about "unqualified" teachers lately, I was feeling a little bit down -- judging myself based on the qualifications of the West.

Let me mention that I'm qualified in the sense that I actually have a BA and a legal E-2 -- qualified in Korea, that is. So why would I feel "inferior" here, since I only need a BA?

Well, now I don't feel so bad after hearing what I did on Friday. I was discussing some new rules that have been placed on the Korean teachers at our school (not the foreingers). In chatting, one of the Korean teachers made mention of our Principal's "qualifications." Apparently, our school principal has no degree related to management or being a principal -- or even teaching, it sounds. Worse, it is widely known that the principal may have no teaching experience at all (the principal's claim of teaching at a University is in dispute, as apparently a teacher checked into it once and couldn't validate truth to it).

So why should I feel bad teaching with just a BA when our Principal has the job merely because of marrying into the family?

And some netizens are making an uproar about English Teacher qualifications?

[Ya-ta Boy]

I'm not saying you should feel bad, but it is more important for the teacher to be able to deliver the product to the students than it is for the owner to be able to manage things adequately.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Can you teach effectively to the kids who want to learn and get those who don't to learn at least something? Then consider yourself qualified.

[rapier]

My wonjangnim and his wife (partner manager) have zero teaching exp. They can't even speak english, and I doubt either have a degree or teaching/managerial qualifications.
And they're both pretty useless.

But everywhere its a similar story...lots of mangers/bosses even in the west, have no relevant qualifications and haven't a clue about how to run things effectively. it seems to be "who you know", even in the west.
"all the worlds a stage', as they say...

[Homer]