Korean Job Discussion Forums

[SHANE02]

217 native English speakers recruited for public schools?

I'm confused. Didn't I read a while ago that all foreign teachers would be phased out of public schools by 2009? Maybe that was political rhetoric.


A government agency is recruiting 217 native English speakers to work as assistant teachers at public schools from March.
The National Institute for International Education Development, affiliated with the Education Ministry, operates the English Program In Korea to recruit, train and manage native speaking English teachers at schools.

In addition to pushing for more cooperation from 19 Korean embassies and consulates in the United States, Canada, Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland, EPIK seeks to expand recruitment channels to universities in these countries.

It plans to sign partnerships with overseas college departments of education, Korean studies, teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) and other overseas educational institutes for a stable supply of quality teachers.



EPIK is already supplied with native speaking teachers under agreements with Bloomfield College and the Korean Community Development Services Center, both in New York state.

The EPIK has focused on offering more training opportunities to native-speaking teachers, after being transferred from the Korea National University of Education to the NIIED in July.

In late August, 229 newly hired assistant teachers went through a weeklong workshop at Korea University's Seochang campus in South Chungcheong Province. An intensive two-day training course was provided to 500 assistant teachers and Korean co-teachers already working here. Their employers - 300 principals, deputy principals and administrative staff - also received training on professional management of native-speaking teachers.

"It was an excellent conference. There was good information and I feel more confident about teaching future lessons," wrote a native English teacher in a survey after completing the 2007 EPIK In-service Training held in Daejeon in November.

"This conference also motivated me to be a better teacher and make more effort to co-teach. I wish this conference was earlier in my contract, even though I intend to renew."

Once the 229 native speakers hired in September are reunited this month for a follow-up course, EPIK will have completed the training of a total of 1,000 people this year.

It's one thing to hire quality teachers and another to keep them. EPIK runs a council office which receives an average of 300 complaints a month to help them adapt to life in Korea. It also plans to organize an EPIK alumni or community to give the teachers a chance to contribute to the Korean society.

On top of its aim to improve the quality of English education in Korea, EPIK in the long run plans to make more foreigners favorable to Korea.

Recent news that pedophile suspect Christopher Paul Neil had worked in Korea has shocked the nation and has led the Justice Ministry to come up with tightened rules for English teachers.

In order to sift out unqualified teachers with fake diplomas and a history of drug use, the government believes the EPIK's role should be expanded.

The 3,809 native speakers currently working at public educational institutes have relatively verified qualifications and qualities as teachers, but there is no systematic tool to examine or even count those who work at local hagwon (private institutes).

The Justice Ministry said it will require all applicants for E-2 visas to pass an interview by Korean consuls abroad, and submit criminal background checks, medical checks like the public school teachers hired under EPIK do.

NIIED president Rhee Soo-taek who took office in October has worked as a diplomat for 30 years in the United States, Canada and the United Nations. Rhee's social network abroad and expertise are expected to help the EPIK bolster ties with diplomatic missions and expand the program on a state level next year.


By Kim So-hyun


([email protected])
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/

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Anyone here do the intensive week long traing?

[Bibbitybop]

Lee Myung Bak wants many school subjects taught in English in Korea. Phase out the native teachers and see how well that works.

I think the "phasing out" of foreign teachers, especially by 2009 or 2010, it the wishful thinking of xenophobic Koreans. Let's see what kind of bastardized English comes out of Korea by 2015 if that was the case.

[normalcyispasse]

[Dome Vans]

I have it on good authority that they are trying to get a native teacher in every middle school by 2009. So that means recruiting is on the increase. That's completely the opposite of the OP. Or maybe that's just for my province. Dunno. Ignore me. I'm gone.

[mikekim]

Why don't they fire the overpaid Korean English teachers and hire English English teachers.