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just another day
Joined: 12 Jul 2007
Location: Living with the Alaskan Inuits!!
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 Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 1:34 pm Post subject: Seoul to Hire More Asian English Teachers i.e. Phillipines |
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Seoul Schools May Hire Asian English Teachers
By Kang Shin-who
Staff Reporter
Seoul�s top educator said he will take diverse steps to upgrade English classes at schools. Kong Jeong-taek, superintendent of Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (SMOE), said primary and secondary schools in Seoul will have at least an assistant teacher specialized in helping students improve English communication in two or three years.
Under the plan, the top educator will invite more foreign teachers, not only native English speakers but also foreigners who are skilled in the use of English.
``With the growing number of mixed-nationality families, it is not desirable to restrict selection of English teachers to English speaking nations,�� Kong said in an interview with The Korea Times.
Mindful of possible opposition from parents against such plans, the introduction of non-native English teachers will be taken step-by-step.
``We need to gradually open the teaching jobs to foreigners from Asian countries that use English as an official language,�� he added.
Currently, the Korean immigration authority doesn�t issue English teaching visas (E-2 visa) to those from Asian countries such as India, Pakistan, Singapore and the Philippines where English is used as an official language. However, some of them who are married to Koreans are teaching English at schools with their residence visa.
Moreover, the requirement for securing an E-2 visa turns many native English speaking teachers to other countries resulting in schools and private language institutions having difficulties in securing foreign teachers.
More Native English Teachers
Kong was confident about the quality of foreign teachers selected by the education office. ``Our foreign teachers are better than those of private language schools and those from other regional education offices because of our strict screening process.��
He said the Seoul education office is strengthening ties with foreign universities to pick qualified teachers.
``We have maintained close ties with foreign universities for the selection of quality teachers,�� he added.
SMOE plans to increase its number of foreign English teachers up to 480 this year.
Use of Koreans
Despite growing demand for professional English teachers, more than half of schools in Seoul don�t have foreign English teachers.
To make up for the shortfall, the education office plans to use university students or Koreans who can speak English fluently.
Related to this, the superintendent said that there will be a big-scale recruitment for assistant teachers to improve students� conversation skills in English.
``It is better for children to learn English as early as possible. I believe elementary students need English education from the first grade,�� Kong said. The top educator, who had been an English teacher, also expressed his support for implementing English as the country�s second official language.
SMOE also plans to introduce English immersion programs that teach mathematics and science in English. Kwangnam Elementary School will run pilot programs from this year and a state-run Global High School slated to open this March will do the programs.
Along the same lines of the commitment of President-elect Lee, Kong will strengthen training programs for English teachers. Lee proposed to train at least 3,000 new English teachers qualified to give lessons speaking only in English.
Above all, the superintendent emphasized the roles of headmasters of elementary and secondary schools to build an English-friendly education environment.
``School heads should be global-minded and interested in English education to improve English skills of students,�� he said.
More ``Global Schools�� Planned
SMOE plans to set up two more ``global middle schools�� that provide all classes in English. Once the authority for establishing elementary and secondary schools is handed over to the education office from the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development, the project will start.
``I faced strong opposition last year when I pushed forward to establish global middle schools. But today�s schools need global education. We need global middle schools like the global high school we already have,�� Kong said.
Young Hoon Educational Foundation and Daewon Educational Foundation want to set up specialized global middle schools. Kong pledged that he would carry out the project step by step to prevent any possible side effects.
Korea currently has two international middle schools, the Cheongshim International Academy in Gapyong, Gyeonggi Province, and the Busan International Middle School in the southern port city of Busan.
Kong is positive about the incoming government�s move to set up more autonomous private elite schools.
``I am not sure how many independent private schools or autonomous private schools will be built in Seoul. But I believe it�s a right step for the development of education,�� Kong said. ``Those schools will offer various scholarship programs supported by the government. In the long run, this movement will reduce private education fees.��
Educator for World Peace
Kong is also known as an educator dedicated to help the unprivileged. ``I believe I have lived over the last 50 years only for education and sacrificed myself for the development of Korean education. Specifically, I have tried to open the ways for vocational high school students to learn more,�� he said.
His devotion to education has reached other countries as well. He has invited children of Koreans residing in China, Russia, Mongolia and Uzbekistan for technology education. Particularly, Kong conducted a computer donation campaign to implant ``IT Learning Programs�� in Uzbekistan and trained teachers from the country.
Kong also arranged for paper to be sent to North Korea to produce textbooks. With these efforts, Kong was last year recognized by the International Association of Educators for World Peace, an international NGO, dedicated to United Nation�s goals of peace education, environmental protection human rights and disarmament.
The top educator pledged that Seoul schools will also care for children of mixed-nationality families. Under his leadership, SMOE will continue to develop various programs to adapt those children to Korean schools. |
http://koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/special/2008/01/181_17379.html |
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TheChickenLover
Joined: 17 Dec 2007
Location: The Chicken Coop
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| Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 1:56 pm Post subject: |
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That wrecks of desperation under the guise of "globalization". Keep in mind only SMOE wants this. I can just imagine the reaction of employers when their candidates start talking with a heavy fillipino accent & are rejected for jobs that require a different accent. The N.A. is the desired accent (brits, aussies, kiwis have some more difficulty than those from Can, US)
Now imagine what the parents will think. 
It may be a nice way to fulfill "cheap labour" as this guy is trying to fill is program, but I don't think the gov't is going to allow this.
Chicken |
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Rapacious Mr. Batstove
Joined: 26 Jan 2007
Location: Central Areola
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| Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 2:06 pm Post subject: |
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The article reeks of corporate education buzz words, but generally the intent is good. SMOE are brilliant at dictating well intended plans but when said plans must flow down to inefficient district offices run by supervisors (failed Korean teachers), and then to schools where the principal old boy network has the last say of everything, very little gets achieved.
The article is nothing but grandstanding.
This part would have to be the worst idea ever:
| Quote: |
| To make up for the shortfall, the education office plans to use university students or Koreans who can speak English fluently |
Although I shudder to think how a Chinese/Philipino/Indian FT would be treated in a public school, hopefully the move would inspire Koreans to stop feeling embarrassed by using English around other Koreans or feel like they are showing off. |
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Unposter
Joined: 04 Jun 2006
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| Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 2:58 pm Post subject: |
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| Good. They should hire Philipinos/as. They should also pay them a fair and equal wage and not treat them like 3-D workers. Same goes for English teachers from other countries. End of story in my opinion. |
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Captain Corea
Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 3:17 pm Post subject: |
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In my trips to the Philippines I found many friendly people... but I also found that not everyone could speak english. Heck, a lot had troubles communicating in it.
So, how would SMOE or anyone else find out who is and ho isn't qualified? Are they going to test them? |
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maddog
Joined: 08 Dec 2005
Location: Daegu
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| Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 4:58 pm Post subject: |
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I don't understand this government. On the one hand, they're imposing ridiculous restrictions/obstacles on E2 visas. On the other hand, they're talking about recruiting teachers from the Philippines.
I've been to the Philippines, and while their English is OK (better than that of most Koreans), it's nowhere near the level of a native speaker. This is a huge backwards step IMO.
Maybe government officials have grown tired of going to the Philippines to get their jollies, and have decided it'd be more efficient to bring the Filipino women up here.
So, in ten years Korean kids will be learning English from our students and Filipino girls who moonlight at the UN club in Itaewon. Outstanding!!
MD |
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Suwoner10
Joined: 10 Dec 2007
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| Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 5:07 pm Post subject: |
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| Gotta admit, Koreans would deserve the "Inkelish"accent they'd end up with. A Phillipine + Korean accent. Too hilarious. |
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Yaya
Joined: 25 Feb 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 6:19 pm Post subject: |
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The Philippines stopped education in English more than 20 years ago. I visited the country three times last year, and while many could speak English, they did so with a heavy accent.
I'm not sure the new visa regulations will go through since the new government will take over from Feb. 25. Anyway, the LAST THING Korea needs is for people from India, Pakistan and the Philippines to come teach English. Granted, some non-native speakers do fine but considering the native speaker pool out there, it makes no sense to settle for non-native speakers. |
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pugwall
Joined: 22 Oct 2006
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| Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 6:32 pm Post subject: |
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| I don't think they are talking about any old Fillipinas but those with proper teaching qualifications and tefl certificates. I have met them working in China and they are regarded as pretty hard working and decent teachers. I think it will provide a good option for families in Korea who cant afford exorbiant hagwon fees to study English. |
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Paul_Zerzan
Joined: 26 Sep 2007
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| Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 6:33 pm Post subject: |
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...
Last edited by Paul_Zerzan on Thu Jan 17, 2008 5:53 pm; edited 6 times in total |
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Captain Corea
Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 6:38 pm Post subject: |
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| pugwall wrote: |
| I don't think they are talking about any old Fillipinas but those with proper teaching qualifications and tefl certificates. I have met them working in China and they are regarded as pretty hard working and decent teachers. I think it will provide a good option for families in Korea who cant afford exorbiant hagwon fees to study English. |
They are having a hard enough time finding 'qualified' Native english speakers from E2 countries, I seriously wonder how they are going to find ones from the Philippines that are fluent.
I know there are a fair bit in the Philippines, but is the K-Government going to test heir english ability?
Getting a tesl certificate does not cut it IMO. |
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GoldMember
Joined: 24 Oct 2006
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| Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 6:46 pm Post subject: |
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| Unfortunatey in Korea the preference is usually for cheap and low quality. Usually the low quality option ends up being more expensive. |
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Octavius Hite
Joined: 28 Jan 2004
Location: Househunting, looking for a new bunker from which to convert the world to homosexuality.
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| Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 6:48 pm Post subject: |
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I will bet my entire paycheque on the fact that we will never see an Indian or Pakistani English teacher. Maybe Filipino, but thats about it.
Never underestimate the power of racism! |
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matthews_world
Joined: 15 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 6:54 pm Post subject: |
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| Rapacious Mr. Batstove wrote: |
Although I shudder to think how a Chinese/Philipino/Indian FT would be treated in a public school, hopefully the move would inspire Koreans to stop feeling embarrassed by using English around other Koreans or feel like they are showing off. |
Are you a bigot?
Why couldn't a these groups do a better job than a "whitey", or hell, when will Korea stop being so xenophobic and start hiring those with African heritage.
| Quote: |
| I will bet my entire paycheque on the fact that we will never see an Indian or Pakistani English teacher. Maybe Filipino, but thats about it. |
Believe me, there are Indian and Pakistanis teaching in SMOE.
Take off your blinders, people.
With all these new regulations, the Korean government will need to become more inclusive in terms of geography. |
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marlow
Joined: 06 Feb 2005
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| Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 8:28 pm Post subject: Re: Seoul to Hire More Asian English Teachers i.e. Phillipin |
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| article wrote: |
| To make up for the shortfall, the education office plans to use university students or Koreans who can speak English fluently. |
I don't understand this part. The current problem is that Korean teachers don't speak English well enough, so they want to put foreigners in the schools to solve this.
They are not so happy with the foreigners or the number of foreigners available, so the new solution is to get Koreans who speak English well?
Yet there are none-- at least not any that have teaching licenses.... AH! I GET IT! Prop up old inept English teachers with young cheap fluent English teachers. |
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