View previous topic :: View next topic |
Author |
Message |
Gorgias
Joined: 27 Aug 2005
|
Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2005 10:15 am Post subject: Am I paranoid or... |
|
|
I asked a recruiter for a foreign teacher's e-mail to investigate an institute that had a job opening, I asked J_____ who is supposed to be from Montreal about the school and got this back, am I paranoid, or is this obviously written by a Korean:
Quote: |
i am writing to say that i am really glad to answer your questions and provide you with assistance as much as i can and be sure that your questions will top secret,so there is nothing to worry about.
here are the answers:
**yes i have always been and still paid on time and in full.
**i am the only foreign teacher so far and you will not be my substitute,so we are gonna work together as my boss told me that she wanna have at least two native English speaking teachers.
**as for the students i do not exactly how many kids are but i can imagine that there around 36 kids in the kindergarten and about 45 students in the afternoon classes,so you will supposed to teach from morning to evening<from 10:00 to 6:00 as far as i know>but i will just be teaching in the morning.
and there are 3 main korean teachers all of them are females.
**i have been working here<XX campus> for a year and i am planning to spend another whole year and i have never had any kind of problems.you know the korean poeple's mind!!you just have to tolerate and close an eye on things but the thing i like here is that nobody bothers your work,the boss just gives the schedule and lets you work freely and she never breaths on your neck,the only thing she likes to see is the good result of a good work and i think that's fair enough!
**well if you would like to know more about me....
i would say:
my nake is J_____,i am 30 years old and i am from Montreal.
anyways,if you have any other qustions,just let me know but the only thing i worry about is the housing as
i do not think they can afford it at the moment.anyways,before fixing anything with the boss you should see the accommodation first and then you may settle other stuff with her,just keep this in mind!
i wish you are having good holidays and take care.
feel free to call me anytime you like when you come back to Korea.
cheers and peace out...
J_______
|
Am I paranoid, or is this a total joke? Even if Joseph is a true French Canadienne, would he have such odd English and use so many Konglish expressions? By the way, the institute is called "XX" or something like that.
Last edited by Gorgias on Wed Dec 28, 2005 2:33 am; edited 1 time in total |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
jajdude
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
|
Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2005 10:31 am Post subject: |
|
|
Nobody who writes like that, on a formal reply, should be teaching English.
If you are really concerned, try a phone call |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
flint
Joined: 11 Apr 2004
|
Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2005 10:48 am Post subject: |
|
|
Quote: |
you know the korean poeple's mind |
That is a pretty Korean way of expressing "you know how they think". I can't recall ever hearing that used except by koreans.
I would say you aren't being paranoid. You have good reason to doubt. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
AbbeFaria
Joined: 17 May 2005 Location: Gangnam
|
Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2005 11:48 am Post subject: |
|
|
Insist on a phone call. Do be forewarned though, the phone calls are usually monitored by the boss. I sidestepped that issue by getting the teacher's email address during the phone conversation. If there is something to say away from listening ears an email or cell number is the best way to go.
Some things in that letter definately don't sound like they came from a native english speaker. And in the off chance they did, like the other guy said, he shouldn't be teaching.
But don't be shy about turning down the job if things don't feel right. I turned down nearly a dozen before finally taking one. And if you think your recruiter isn't being honest with you, there's nearly as many of them as their are hogwons. I can refer you to the one I used if you're interested. He was straight with me on every step.
-S- |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
fidel
Joined: 07 Feb 2003 Location: North Shore NZ
|
Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2005 3:09 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I would say he is a native speaker and quite probably a member of Daves. After reading these forums, you'll find there are a number of native English 'teachers' out there that have a poor grasp of the English language. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
ilovebdt

Joined: 03 Jun 2005 Location: Nr Seoul
|
Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2005 3:54 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Stinkin!!! Call em. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
some waygug-in
Joined: 25 Jan 2003
|
Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2005 5:43 pm Post subject: |
|
|
That was no native speaker. (unless it was some kind of sick joke)
I would think twice about working for a place that would try and pull this kind of stunt.
Call if you want to, but in my books I wouldn't even give the place a second thought. There are better jobs out there. Keep looking. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Hobophobic

Joined: 16 Aug 2004 Location: Sinjeong negorie mokdong oh ga ri samgyup sal fighting
|
Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2005 6:08 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Sounds to me - no insult here - like a Francophone...if it is infact a native speaker....but some of the wording did sound a bit like a Korean trying hard to pass as a native speaker...
...the bit about you working longer than the other teacher and maybe they can't afford to provide you with housing....hmm....I wouldn't consider it...but I am fond of living in some sort of shelter... |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Paddycakes
Joined: 05 May 2003 Location: Seoul
|
Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2005 7:12 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I think it's pretty obvious that that's a Korean trying to pass him or herself of as a native speaker.
The "gonna" phrase is a little too telling, as is the use of the word "mind."
A lot of French Canadians can speak perfect English, especially if they are from Montreal.
If the writer is a francophone whose English skills are that lacking, I doubt he or she would have survived very long in Korea.
Probably would have been fired the second he got of the airport bus and said: "Okay, were can I get da poutine 'ere?" |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
margaret

Joined: 14 Oct 2003
|
Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2005 8:01 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Definately sounds Korean. Insist on a phone call if you're really interested in the job or just curious as to who this person is.
Otherwise--pass. You can even give them the reason--that he sounds like a Korean, not a native speaker.
Margaret |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
K-in-C

Joined: 27 Mar 2003 Location: Heading somewhere
|
Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2005 8:04 pm Post subject: Re: Am I paranoid or... |
|
|
Gorgias wrote: |
Am I paranoid, or is this a total joke? Even if Joseph is a true French Canadienne, would he have such odd English and use so many Konglish expressions? By the way, the institute is called "Song and Story English Institute" or something like that. |
Is this hogwan in Youngtown/Suwon? If so I am familiar with the school and have met Joseph. If you like you can PM me and I will fill you in with some more details.
Regards,
K-in-C |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
TJ
Joined: 10 Mar 2003
|
Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2005 8:08 pm Post subject: Very suspicious |
|
|
I lived and worked in Korea for 4 years ..... That email definitely doesn't sound right. However, I must agree with some of the other replies where they said that some people teaching english have a poor command of their native language. So, there is a very slight possibility that the teacher really is a native speaker.
A phone call should clarify matters. Alternatively, reject that job and look for another. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
VanIslander

Joined: 18 Aug 2003 Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
|
Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2005 8:30 pm Post subject: |
|
|
There's no way a native speaker wrote that. And it has NOTHING to do with spelling mistakes, which lower level native speakers make too.
Koreans have alot of problems with the "to be" verb: "will [be] top secret"... "till [am] paid"... "there [is] around 36 kids"... "you will supposed to teach"...
And with indefinite and definite articles: "the good result of a good work"
And this IS typically Korean: "..."you know the korean poeple's mind"...
And the "gonna" sounds alright but the "wanna" is odd in that context, as a sort of forced parallelism or something...
"i do not exactly [know] how many
You are being deceived.
That's all the reason and warning you need to discontinue all negotiations with them and look elsewhere.
Seriously.
The director I have has never done anything underhanded. Those that do once will again and again.
Don't be a fool. Look elsewhere. But if you do take the position, realize you deserve whatever you get (or don't get). |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Jaygee

Joined: 03 Dec 2005 Location: Seoul
|
Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2005 8:42 pm Post subject: |
|
|
This email is obviously from someone who's a native french as translation patterns are easily spotted in the above text. I lived in Montreal most of my life. I used french at work and I can definitely see the french way in this. Or, an immigrant from another country (Quebec is really open on this matter) who's been in Montreal for X number of years. But certainly not native.
As for some of you natives, writting "definately" doesn't help the craft ... |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Yu_Bum_suk

Joined: 25 Dec 2004
|
Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2005 9:03 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I've lived and taught in Montreal and Joseph's first (and second and thrid) language could be anything. Definitely talk to him. He could be a Portuguese immigrant who went to French primary school, English CEGEP, and showed up at university (like some of my students) functionally illiterate in three languages.
Isn't it scary to think that the teachers with the worst English skills probably don't even post messages here? |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
|