Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Justin Hale]

Excuse the crass and crude question. Obviously it's not right or nice to generalize about groups of people.....but sometimes I wonder, are people who do TEFL generally of dubious wits and character? And, in my experiences with TEFLers, have I disliked them more often than not? Ever read the questionably-titled "freakiest waygook contest" thread? And, frankly, reading some of the contributors to these message boards, one wonders "how in the name of Mighty Lucifer did that person graduate from high school, let alone college?". The Japanese are, I'm told, very condescending towards Western English teachers thanks to the many experiences of 'teachers' who can't spell, know nothing about grammar and, basically, can't teach and are absolutely useless.

Here's a funny story. I was part of an interview panel this morning and we were interviewing people for summer jobs in TEFL at my company (which I only intend to work for in the short term). It was a group interview and the interviewees introduced themselves. Guy 1 mentioned that amongst his interests was science. I said "excellent, me too! What specifically are you interested in?" and he replied "space, evolution, stuff like that..."

Then, after he'd finished speaking, Guy 2 said "oh, you're one of them are you?" (he was being jokey, admittedly)

Guy 1 said "excuse me?"

Guy 2 said "Adam and Eve and all that...."

Guy 1 (rightly of course) corrected him as politely as he could (given it was a formal situation) that Adam and Eve is to do with religion and has nothing whatsoever in the way of relation to an interest in evolution.

The point here is that Guy 2 (who has a degree from a Western university) is a total moron because of his lack of basic general knowledge and also for saying something so silly and unnecessary in one of the most formal situations one can find oneself - a job interview.

People in TEFL should be very grateful to our ancestors for making English the world lingua franca because otherwise God knows how they'd earn a living. Similar folks in France and Germany, for example, have considerably less scope for overseas travel and work, and despite their degrees must be screwed in the domestic market.

[Stormy]

[Justin Hale]

[Stormy]

I see. So you're asking a discussion board largely frequented by "TESLers" as you call them if they, in fact, actually like themselves?
Why do I get the impression that this is less a poll than it is an opportunity for you to lecture us all about our so-called shortcomings now that you have left Korea and are no longer a "TESLer" yourself?
BTW why do you exclude those that have done a TEFL course from the demographic? What differentiates them from the rest of the pack?

[Justin Hale]

[pkang0202]

I've met a lot of cool people that teach here, as well as dooshbags.

The requirement here is a University degree. A Rhodes Scholar that graduates from Oxford is the same as a guy that went to community college and took 8 years to graduate.

You will find people from all walks of life.

Due to the very small expat community here, the oddball-weirdo-freak will standout more.

[Young FRANKenstein]

[bovinerebel]

Let's see. I've been able to travel to countless countries , experienced various cultures , foods , sights , women all in return for doing a few eaay hours work a day.....oh and they pay me. Wow , and to think i could be home stressed out because of some deadline , or because i'm not meeting sales targets trying to tranquilise myself with television and sport. Just dreaming of one day being able to drop it all and see a bit of the world. Boy , do I feel like a loser.

It's not everyones life choice to live as we do , and maybe some of you feel like sad victims for your fates. I would suggest that's a lot more do with you than this career choice. The field is full of intersting , intelligent and cool people who would do nothing else.

But yes...I hate teflers. A lot , but just no more than anyone else.

[xingyiman]

TEFL'ers always seem to be the ones who don't have traching degree's but get on the soapbox and shout that S Korea and other countries should make a teaching degree a prereq for employment. Basically ending their chances at future employment should the advice be followed. I've never quite understood that.

[Fishead soup]

There's gotta be a lot of people who end up in tesl out of default.
Like you can't find a decent job in you're own country. Useless major.
No one will buy your paintings No one wants to read you're books. You never landed that acting job because you wouldn't strip nude in front of the camera. You didn't swear on The Bill Grundy Show.

[xingyiman]

[Justin Hale]

What I forgot to say in my OP was how badly dressed all but one of the interviewees were. One guy wore the typical fare of the TEFL chump - grubby sweatshirt, jeans and trainers (the latter two containing actual dirt).

That's something I noticed in Korea too though. A great many TEFL people did not wear attire to work. One guy (who lived in my apartment building and who I observed go to work on many mornings) even wore shorts, scruffy t-shirts and sneakers in summer....grotty and unshaven loser that he was.

[djsmnc]

[aarontendo]

Just the uppity Canucks who bash America day in and day out (not directed at the OP).

[Young FRANKenstein]