Korean Job Discussion Forums

Arthur Fonzerelli · Joined: 22 Jan 2003 Location: Suwon

I've noticed Indians, Filipinos, Africans, Koreans, and other non-native speakers are trying to get jobs as English Teachers. Looks like many are being hired..

What's going on? Don't you actually have to speak English fairly well to teach it?

Rolling Eyes

Zyzyfer · Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2003 6:47 pm Post subject:

Who says they don't speak English well?

JackSarang · Joined: 28 Jan 2003

Where are they getting hired? I simply cannot fathom any hogwon Director hiring a black African or an Indian/Pakistani or any other asian to teach English.

It simply doesn't sell. Heck, white South-Africans have a tough enough time finding work in Korea teaching English.

eamo · Joined: 08 Mar 2003 Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.

rapier · Joined: 16 Feb 2003

sounds kinda wierd...where exactly have you noticed this? If its true, it may be that struggling hagwons are settling for employing these nationalities because they're cheaper than native speakers.
Strange...coz it seems to me that hagwons are closing left right and center. If anything, there's probably an excess of suddenly unemployed native speakers roaming the country looking for a handful of new jobs.

lala · Joined: 20 May 2003 Location: Canada

it's not weird at all....I sat on a flight the other day with a Canadian woman of Fillipino ancestry who was being hired to work at a hagwon in Daegu. Very nice girl, spoke perfect English....doesn't seem like a problem to me.

JackSarang · Joined: 28 Jan 2003

Mody Ba · Joined: 22 May 2003

Given the chance,most hakwon owners probably prefer to hire Barbie and Ken clones.After all, that is good business.It is what a lot of the "students" and their parent expect.Hey,I am not saying that is right or advocate they only hire Aryan,WASP types.But it HAPPENS,nevertheless.
Unfortunately( Rolling Eyes

and for other reasons,too),there are one helluva lot of hakwons,and maybe not all of them can latch onto the Barbie and Ken types.In desperation,they compromise their "principles" Laughing

and hire somebody who does not really meet their ideals of age,beauty and skin color.
And hell,almost ANYBODY can get hired at some hakwon somewhere(if not,the person can always go on over to Taiwan and try their "schools").
And I have even met a few hakwon teachers who do NOT really speak fluent Emglish.However,they can always fake it.After all,who will know the diff if their English is not up to par?Probably not the "students" and maybe the hakwon owner will not even catch on.If the teacher is young,blonde and "American" looking...it will not really matter much if he or she speaks good English,anyway.
It's a ....joke...guys. Laughing

Mody Ba · Joined: 22 May 2003

Before someone gets upset. Smile

Zyzyfer · Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2003 5:01 am Post subject:

chi-chi · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

mods you may delete

Arthur Fonzerelli · Joined: 22 Jan 2003 Location: Suwon

CanKorea · Joined: 23 Jun 2003 Location: Pyeongchon

I've heard some schools prefer gyopo or the like. It seems that most of you are saying people like me are going to be the reason that the schools shut down. Or at the least make the directors and parents upset.

If that's the reality in Korea, why hire non-obvious foreigners?

itaewonguy · Joined: 25 Mar 2003

some hakwons only care about ONE THING! money in their pocket!
so he thinks buy paying a philipino or a African who does speak English fluently but with a strong accent.. can save him money...

have to pay us 2 million., pay them 1.2 or something..
good for him,, bad for business. especially in this racial & xenophobic society...
the foreigners that they do want, are usually of white color and from..
well , you all know...
my point is.. I guess to save money..

Mody Ba · Joined: 22 May 2003

"Zyzyfer" says "S---w the director,s---w the parents".Only thing,Z.,who do you think controls the money? Not the hakwon teachers, that is for damned sure!