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Do you feel you're a necessary evil?
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Do you feel Directors view foreigners as necessary evil?
Yes- very much
25%
 25%  [ 6 ]
I assume they do- but I don't feel it
29%
 29%  [ 7 ]
Yes- I feel it a little
4%
 4%  [ 1 ]
No- not at all
41%
 41%  [ 10 ]
Total Votes : 24

Author Message
humanuspneumos



Joined: 08 Jun 2003

PostPosted: Mon Feb 02, 2004 4:15 pm    Post subject: Do you feel you're a necessary evil? Reply with quote

I'm seeing from time to time posters saying something like, "This industry has really changed since when I first began bla, bla, bla years ago." Along with 911, Iraq, and other political issues- do you now feel that you- the foreigner- are viewed by your program director as a necessary evil in their country.
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Skarp



Joined: 22 Aug 2003

PostPosted: Mon Feb 02, 2004 5:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think all employers view all employees as a necessary evil. A cost in the profit loss equation.

We are expensive by Korean standards. We demand high pay and we demand fair treatment - two things directors resent.


I'm not sure about the 911 slant - are we talking xenophobia?

Skarp
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peppermint



Joined: 13 May 2003
Location: traversing the minefields of caddishness.

PostPosted: Mon Feb 02, 2004 5:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

They don't view us as a necessary evil- they see most of us as pawns in their moneymaking schemes.
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Gwangjuboy



Joined: 08 Jul 2003
Location: England

PostPosted: Mon Feb 02, 2004 5:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

peppermint wrote:
They don't view us as a necessary evil- they see most of us as pawns in their moneymaking schemes.


No more than any businessman back home.
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ryleeys



Joined: 22 Dec 2003
Location: Columbia, MD

PostPosted: Mon Feb 02, 2004 5:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Def... def... definitely evil...
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VanIslander



Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!

PostPosted: Mon Feb 02, 2004 6:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Directors make me feel like:

(i) the customers are always right (parents); and
(ii) humans are resources, like chairs and desks, to be bought and used at market rates; all the while
(iii) business costs are to be minimized.

Not good or evil, just capitalism.
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kangnamdragon



Joined: 17 Jan 2003
Location: Kangnam, Seoul, Korea

PostPosted: Mon Feb 02, 2004 6:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I don't think you should imply foreigners are evil to Koreans.
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Butterfly



Joined: 02 Mar 2003
Location: Kuwait

PostPosted: Mon Feb 02, 2004 6:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

VanIslander wrote:
Directors make me feel like:

(i) the customers are always right (parents); and


Well you got to take the good and the bad with that one, because if your Director didn't feel the customer was always right he would not have hired you [a foreigner] in the first place. you're expensive, thus a gamble and potentially a liability.

kangnamdragon wrote:
I don't think you should imply foreigners are evil to Koreans.


Yes, evil is the wrong word, they don't think we're evil, but if the din't absolutely have to hire, expensive, potentially sketchy foreigners, they wouldn't. Would you?
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humanuspneumos



Joined: 08 Jun 2003

PostPosted: Mon Feb 02, 2004 8:00 pm    Post subject: Necessary evil Reply with quote

"Necessary evil" is actually idiomatic, a broad expression, or coining a phrase. So- I'll stay with the term simply because it's broad and I've heard teachers using it in this context as they expressed their feelings. A flu shot can be coined as a necessary evil- however- is it really innately evil?- literally?

As for implying anything- well, what exactly?
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Butterfly



Joined: 02 Mar 2003
Location: Kuwait

PostPosted: Mon Feb 02, 2004 8:15 pm    Post subject: Re: Necessary evil Reply with quote

humanuspneumos wrote:
"Necessary evil" is actually idiomatic, a broad expression, or coining a phrase.


Yes I know, but it doesn't have very positive implications.
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schwa



Joined: 18 Jan 2003
Location: Yap

PostPosted: Mon Feb 02, 2004 8:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Maybe we shouldnt lump all hagwon owners together. Some might well have a genuine interest in education & view us as valuable assets. They set the bar for shadier owners who would probably prefer prefer to do without us ('necessary evils') but parents are justifiably sold on the benefits.
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waterbaby



Joined: 01 Feb 2003
Location: Baking Gord a Cheescake pie

PostPosted: Tue Feb 03, 2004 2:03 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Korea is the first time in my life I felt more like a commodity than a person. Well, that was my first year anyway. I've received much better treatment this past year & felt much more valued as a person. I don't feel like a necessary evil at all.
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kangnamdragon



Joined: 17 Jan 2003
Location: Kangnam, Seoul, Korea

PostPosted: Tue Feb 03, 2004 3:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Butterfly wrote:
kangnamdragon wrote:
I don't think you should imply foreigners are evil to Koreans.


Yes, evil is the wrong word, they don't think we're evil, but if the din't absolutely have to hire, expensive, potentially sketchy foreigners, they wouldn't. Would you?


Why not? We are the most qualified to teach English. Sorry, but I would not hire most anyone here to teach me Korean.
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OiGirl



Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Location: Hoke-y-gun

PostPosted: Tue Feb 03, 2004 4:04 am    Post subject: Re: Necessary evil Reply with quote

humanuspneumos wrote:
"Necessary evil" is actually idiomatic, a broad expression, or coining a phrase. So- I'll stay with the term simply because it's broad and I've heard teachers using it in this context as they expressed their feelings. A flu shot can be coined as a necessary evil- however- is it really innately evil?- literally?

As for implying anything- well, what exactly?

Some of the teachers here are literally evil. But I don't think it's necessary to hire an evil teacher.
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IconsFanatic



Joined: 19 Jan 2003

PostPosted: Tue Feb 03, 2004 4:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The only "evil" in a Korean's mind is Japan, somehow.

Even little children preach hatred of Japan!

Simply brainwashed....
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