Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bundangbabo]

These labels get bandied around a bit too much by the Korean media when it comes to describing or reporting on our presence in their wonderful country. (no saracasm intended )

Our new friends who will be coming from the Philippines, India and Singapore to teach alongside us - how do you think they will be treated by the Korean media? Surely there will be a honeymoon period where they will be compared favourably to us but sooner or later - Korean racism will raise its ugly head but will they be labelled 'drug takers' 'paedophiles' 'fake degree holders' who can't get jobs in their own country? Seeing as they are all going to be certified teachers - I doubt they will be villified in the same way we are - but be sure they will be villified - how do you think the Korean media are going to portray the new teachers?

PS: I'm so happy they are coming here - just imagine the next GEPIK conference with all those pretty Filipina teachers! It will be worth going to for once!

[T-J]

[ppcg4]

The thing is that we're mostly young North Americans, where drug use is somewhat of a norm. Koreans generalize everything, so to them, we are all of these things.

The only drugs I take are from my doc.. but get this. I hurt my back a while ago, and the doctor wouldn't give me anything for the pain, just an anti inflammatory that destroyed my stomach.

I get a cough, and he gives me 20mg pure codeine pills to be taken 3 times per day. It just doesn't make sense.

[Robot_Teacher]

Are you serious? I sense that I'm being viewed and compared to movie actors; not pedophiles, bums, drug addicts, etc., but I'm in a small town and don't look like a grungy hippy. They wouldn't even know what a pot smoker is nor am I doing that here. Drinking beer is not looked down upon as even my main co-teacher admitted to staying up until 3AM drinking and wanted to sleep. I sense they have respect for me and see me as a professional, but they lack the English speaking abilities and confidence to talk to me and include me in their community so I'm given lots of time and space to myself.

Maybe in the cities, they're more people who view us negatively, but the only negative viewing of me I'm sensing is old retirees may not approve of me poisoning the kids minds with foreign ideas or are simply uncomfortable of my being here, but they can't say or do anything about it as they're not charge. What those old people think and say doesn't amount to a hill of beans. My town is nearly all retirees with the exception of civil service people.

[bundangbabo]

[harlowethrombey]

this is asia. everyone's perception of westerners come from movies and tv.

White people? Smoke pot, chase women.
Black people? will rob you at gun point
Hispanic people? probably here illegally (of course!)
Asian people? oh wait. . . they're ok (unless they're japanese)

[bundangbabo]

[bassexpander]

I was just speaking with a recruiter who has been trying very hard to recruit teachers from the Philippines and India, and he's having a terribly difficult time doing it. The problem isn't finding teachers from those countries -- it's convincing the Korean principals to accept them and hire them. Short answer: It's not happening by a longshot. He said that these schools would rather hire more Korean English teachers before they'd consider someone from one of the above-mentioned countries.

The Korean principals are flat-out rejecting the idea entirely.

If you are a recruiter reading this message, and actually have some positive placement experiences in this regard, please PM me. I'd like to do a podcast on it.

[ryoga013]

they'l just be labeled something else and have random racism directed at them. Move along there's nothing to see here

[indytrucks]

[harlowethrombey]

[Teelo]

All asians in our countries are non-english speaking nuisance ching chongs.

[hugekebab]

The racism people complain about has been keeping us in work.

[michaelambling]

[bundangbabo]