Korean Job Discussion Forums

mithridates · Posted: Wed Mar 01, 2006 8:11 pm Post subject:

Four problems with the system:

1) Schools are able to demand a photograph from a teacher up front.
2) Any BA will do, no preference is given to those in humanities, and a BA in engineering trumps real certification and experience.
3) No school will ever ask the student up front "Why not just go abroad first if you want to learn English?" This should *always* be the first question in an interview. At the same time, the object of a school should be to get the students out of there as quick as possible, IOW to the level upon which they don't need the school any more. Though close to impossible in most cases, that should still be the ultimate objective.
4) No preference or difference in salary is given to teachers who can actually communicate with the students in their own language.

TheUrbanMyth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired

Homer · Guest

Flit,

I agree with canuckistan you seem to be a smart and well spoken person. You also seem dedicated to teaching. I also think you are doing yourself a disservice by not getting that B.A. Ed.

Another thing to avoid in my opinion is the anger/bitterness tendency about the fact that degrees are required and that many with degrees are not good teachers so you are getting the shaft because of the "man".

That won't help you. It will just make you waste your time.

You just have to accept that a B.A. requirement is there (for Korea) and will eventualy be there (for most ESL markets) so, since you wish to teach it makes perfect sense to go and get what you need: a B.A.
I agree that a B.A. Ed. may have many useless classes for you but it will also provide you with some useful knowledge.

About the fact that some teachers here do nothing to improve themselves as teachers. That is certainly true. However, most teachers here are short termers here to pay off loans and travel a bit. Some of course are just wankers with not one iota of profesionalism but they are a minority.

mithridates · Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 4:58 am Post subject:

Homer · Guest

mithridates · Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 5:35 am Post subject:

Flit · Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Location: UK

Hello again,

I can't believe this, but I am actually seriously contemplating going and getting that BA ed. And all because a couple of complete strangers suggested it off hand on an internet forum from the other side of the world.

What is the most desirable form of BA to have to put me in a position to teach adults? I imagine any is ok - but what do they 'really want' over there?

Thanks for any pointers.

P.S. I am a UK resident atm.

chronicpride · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

canuckistan · Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 8:59 am Post subject:

Flit wrote:

OCOKA Dude · Joined: 04 Oct 2004 Location: Seoul

Demophobe · Joined: 17 May 2004

Go flit! Get that sheepskin and never look back.

Having all of the skills that uni can bring, yet having gained them outside of a uni setting...yeah, I agree...I have met many an 'educated' fool and many an 'uneducated' person with great knowledge.

However, how can one acertain that a given person has these skills? The time and effort involved in screening people based on 'life experience' would be enormous; much more than any Korean employer would want to go through.

The degree just sets the bar for a certain type of person; a person who has enough fortitude to earn a degree shows a basic desire for self-improvement. I don't think it's unreasonable at all.

I could spend years studying neurology on my own, but that won't make me a neurologist.

Anyways, not to beat a very dead horse anymore...get the degree as it will open some doors for you. Good luck.

keithinkorea · Joined: 17 Mar 2004

Flit, don't take it personally. I have nothing against gyopos in general, it is just the ones who come over here without any qualifications to teach in any form whatsoever, and then proceed to sneer at teachers who have been here a while and pretty much learned what they need to teach.

I was not attaching all gypos as losers, it is ones who have no qualifications at all regarding even the basic degree requirement and expect to teach.

I do have a degree and slightly resent your suggestion that I bought it in Thailand, I worked hard for it. I'm not bitter, it is just a bit cheeky for ethnic Koreans (who are not Korean, but rather US, Can, UK, OZ etc) to come over here and claim to be a teacher. Back in their home countries they might not even get a half decent office job!

I'm glad that you're considering getting a degree, it's a good idea and I hope you apply yourself and get your degree. Good luck.

Flit, I have nothing against gyopos though a fair few (by no means all) seem to have problems here in Korea. A significant proportion of gyopos -25%- seem to have a great difficulty here and in many ways it is understandable:

+They identify with Koreans more than us weygookin folks do.
+They frequently get treated worse.
+Koreans are often very upset that they look Korean but can't speak the language properly.
+They think they deserve better treatment as they're in their homeland.
+Many Koreans have a negative view of Gyopo as their parent often got them a different citizenship because they didn't want their little darlings to have to do military service.
+After a few months many Gyopo get very frustrated, they expected to get treated like celebrities and often get treated far worse than weygookin English teachers here. As a result they hate everyone.

Anyway, I'm glad you're thinking about making an effort to better yourself.

Take care and do the degree thing. If you really like teaching a really good path would be a BA in linguistics followed by a year doing the PGCE. Hope it all works out for you.