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cubanlord
Joined: 08 Jul 2005
Location: In Japan!
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 Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 4:10 pm Post subject: Are English Teachers unhappy in Korea? |
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Are English Teachers Unhappy Here?
By Jon Huer
Korea Times columnist
Through this business of column writing for The Korea Times, I have gotten to know some foreigners, mostly through correspondence and reading their entries in response to my columns. This is an interesting experience that has raised some questions and insights about those who live in Korea as ``foreigners." For the sake of focus, I will limit my discussion to those ``English-speaking foreigners," say, Americans, Canadians, and the group called "gyopos" who may be American citizens but are in Korea as returning natives.
I am most impressed by some of these foreigners saying the nastiest possible things about their experiences in Korea. Their violent loathing of everything about Korea is in some ways quite shocking.
To read their descriptions of life here is to read some of the most negative and unhappiest of human evaluations and social experiences.
The degree of their bitterness and rancor is, on first encounter, quite incomprehensible.
Extreme Unhappiness?
Most thinking people would say the experience is molded by the foreigner's own personality, expectations and interpretations. This approach puts the emphasis on the foreigner himself or herself as an individual. It is the individual's unique background as a human being that determines how he is going to view his or her experiences in Korea, according to this approach.
I agree with this view, as common sense dictates that if one is open to exotic, alien experiences with a positive outlook and an affirmative, non-judgmental framework, the experience tends to come out positive and affirmative.
On the other hand, if one already possesses an ugly, negative outlook on life, then perhaps every encounter he or she experiences will be negative and nasty. According to this theory, Ebenezer Scrooge, before the Christmas conversion, would have hated everything about Korea, but, after the conversion, would have loved everything.
Although I like this personality model to explain why some, perhaps many, foreigners are happy in Korea and some, perhaps not many, are unhappy, this essentially ``psychological" model does not satisfy my ``sociological" way of looking at things. I want something based on social factors and conditions, not just individual personality typologies.
After some thinking about the issue, I came up with the following conclusion: Their unhappy recollection of life in Korea as English teachers has to do with the economics of their jobs.
The English teachers come to Korea to find work. This category makes up the absolute majority of those English-speaking foreigners who regularly inhabit the cyber community in a relatively tight circle and network.
For all economic intents and purposes, they are like ordinary Koreans. They just happen to look differently or speak English as their native tongue; their most compelling feature is that they are workers in Korea.
Some work for corporate clientele, some for public schools, many others at hagwon of various sizes and levels. They are freelance teachers who work for Korean employers and organizations, and thus come under the same conditions of life that all working men and women must endure.
Some of them marry Korean women and settle in the country for the long haul. Many of them live a transient life, moving from country to country, from one locale to another, from one place of teaching to another. Mostly, they are young and prone to wanderlust, generally carefree and adventurous. Many are, of course, compelled by economic imperatives to work in a foreign country.
How does this fact help to explain why some are extremely unhappy with their experience in Korea?
I've found the life experiences of those who come to Korea to be English teachers, although they think of themselves as ``foreigners" and expect to be treated as ``foreigners" by the Koreans they encounter, are really closer to being ordinary working Koreans. They happen to teach English, a somewhat exotic subject to most Koreans, but are workers and employees.
Now, Korea is not exactly the most wonderful host to foreign workers. Koreans can be pretty harsh to their workers, as all employers the world over tend to be. After all, they hire people for profit, not for love.
When foreigners come to Korea as workers and employees, working under Korean bosses, they subtly lose the ``foreignness" of visitors from wonderful English-speaking, superior foreign countries like the United States or Canada.
Korea's treatment of foreign workers from poorer countries is legendary, and those from the United States and Canada gradually lose their visitors privilege and rank. As they say in many countries, fish and visitors start stinking after three days. This naturally conflicts with the somewhat grandiose expectations of superiority that some of these Americans, Canadians and others similar to them may have prior to their arrival in Korea.
This perhaps explains, aside from having to teach mostly unmotivated, unresponsive kids, why many of these working foreigners are almost uniformly unhappy with their experiences in Korea. Did I hear that over 65 percent of them leave after one tour? Some gyopos, because of their obviously different connections and situations, and those foreigners who marry Koreans and settle down, tend to be more positive about their encounters with Korea.
Most of our human disappointments occur when our expectations and results do not match. Poverty is bearable if one doesn't expect to get rich. But third-class treatment is painful if a first-class reception was expected.
The would-be English-teaching foreigners hear about the legendary Korean hospitality to foreigners. But for most working foreigners, including English teachers, life in Korea can be Hell on Earth once the protective shield of being a "Western foreigner" is withdrawn under the imperatives of the working poor.
Koreans, for their part, face basically two kinds of ``foreigners:" those from rich, advanced countries like the United States and those in Europe and those from poor Third World countries like Bangladesh and the Philippines.
The first type comes to Korea to spend money and be treated as precious guests. The second kind comes to earn money as workers. This conventional classification used in Korea puts the English-teaching foreigners, many of whom come to Korea expecting a Shangri-La, in a peculiar position. They come to Korea to find work, not too different from the Bangladeshis or Filipinos, but they nominally bear the brand of their wealthier national origins.
The Korean employer, quite ready to exploit anyone for his or her profit, still thinks of all Western foreigners as basically wealthier, more civilized, and superior in all ways.
However, when he sees this ordinary foreigner, mostly a backpacked unemployed job seeker at his doorstep, looking for work in Korea, it is not the same Western visitor that he has admired and respected.
It's a totally different ball game that both the Korean employer and the ordinary working foreigner now face. From here on, it's nothing but a struggle for survival and advantage for both of them. The resulting feeling is naturally nasty, brutish, solitary and short for the foreign worker who expected to be treated with admiration and respect.
The extent of bitterness and the depth of rancor among some of the English-teaching foreigners in Korea toward things Korean are quite striking. With the few who find happiness in Korea, either due to their own sunny, modest and realistic outlook on life or lucky breaks with good employment, or, not uncommonly, happy romance with Koreans, the bitterness and rancor among this group can only be explained by the cold sociological factor of expectations vis-a-vis results.
I feel better now after having come to this discovery and understand the source of so many peculiarly unhappy English-teaching foreigners in Korea. From the manpower perspective of Korea, the unhappy English-teaching foreigners' population in Korea is insignificant, for happy ones far outnumber them, but they sure make a lot of noise in the cyber community, where they seem to congregate to vent their unhappiness.
"The opinions expressed and the observations described in these articles are strictly the writer's own and do not represent any official position of the University of Maryland University College or the USFK.'' The writer can be contacted at [email protected]. |
Bolds:
"some of them marry Korean women" - I guess that there are no women here. 
"poor Third World countries like Bangladesh and the Philippines" - he should be careful and not be so quick to label countries "third world"
"when he sees this ordinary foreigner, mostly a backpacked unemployed job seeker at his doorstep, looking for work in Korea" I guess none of the foreigners come here for other reasons.
Interesting disclaimer from the university for which he works! |
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hockeyguy109
Joined: 22 Dec 2008
Location: Daegu
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| Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 4:20 pm Post subject: |
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| Wow, its the Korean equivalent of Bill O'Reilly! |
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harlowethrombey
Joined: 17 Mar 2009
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 4:28 pm Post subject: |
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The follow-up could be
"and some foreigners pretend to be intellectuals and publish articles in disreputable publications since they could never be a 'real' journalist in the west.'
Or is John a Korean talking head that couldnt hack it in a real publication? |
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Lonewolf
Joined: 02 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 4:28 pm Post subject: |
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| Another loser who doesn't know what he is talking about. I know quite a few people here whom like living here. It's all about respect not being where you are from. What is this guy A Korean Republican? |
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wylies99
Joined: 13 May 2006
Location: I'm one cool cat!
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| Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 4:35 pm Post subject: |
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More babblings from Huer.
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| The Korean employer, quite ready to exploit anyone for his or her profit, |
"EXPLOIT" is the correct word. 
| Quote: |
| "The opinions expressed and the observations described in these articles are strictly the writer's own and do not represent any official position of the University of Maryland University College or the USFK.'' |
USFK? He teaches on a military post? HE GOT A SECURITY CLEARANCE? |
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Kimchi Cha Cha
Joined: 15 May 2003
Location: was Suncheon, now Brisbane
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| Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 4:39 pm Post subject: |
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Jon Huer's showed himself to be a fool of the highest order with his previous 'insightful' snippets into Korean culture which were according rebutted and ridiculed by expats, particularly English teachers. So, in order to get back he's written this drivel. The guy's a fool, pay no attention and walk away ...
The more he writes, the more foolish he is shown to be. |
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superacidjax
Joined: 17 Oct 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 4:50 pm Post subject: |
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| hockeyguy109 wrote: |
| Wow, its the Korean equivalent of Bill O'Reilly! |
Except that O'Reilly at least will have a dissenting viewpoint on his show. One poster referred to this writer as a "Korean Republican." What is that supposed to mean? Republicans don't expect things to be handed to them on a platter, like many foreign teachers in Korea. The alleged discord mentioned in the article seems to stem from SOME Western teachers' own superiority complexes -- they expect things to fit their idea of how things should be, rather than just working hard and adapting. If anything, it seems like the problem isn't this writer as much as it's the attitudes that some teachers have. The backpacking teacher stereotype is there for a reason. How many FTs have we encountered who arrive in Korea thinking that teaching is a "blow-off" job or just an "easy" way to pay off bills back home.
When teachers start acting as the professionals that expect to be treated as, only then will the backpacking stereotype fade away. While I personally enjoy new cultures and countries, it seems like there is a preponderance of cry-baby-ism among many FTs.
I admit, that during my first tour to Korea, I was among that group. Maturity and also spending some time slogging through the corporate world in the US has made me appreciate Korea much more than I did. |
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wylies99
Joined: 13 May 2006
Location: I'm one cool cat!
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| Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 5:01 pm Post subject: |
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| superacidjax wrote: |
| hockeyguy109 wrote: |
| Wow, its the Korean equivalent of Bill O'Reilly! |
Except that O'Reilly at least will have a dissenting viewpoint on his show. One poster referred to this writer as a "Korean Republican." What is that supposed to mean? Republicans don't expect things to be handed to them on a platter, like many foreign teachers in Korea. The alleged discord mentioned in the article seems to stem from SOME Western teachers' own superiority complexes -- they expect things to fit their idea of how things should be, rather than just working hard and adapting. If anything, it seems like the problem isn't this writer as much as it's the attitudes that some teachers have. The backpacking teacher stereotype is there for a reason. How many FTs have we encountered who arrive in Korea thinking that teaching is a "blow-off" job or just an "easy" way to pay off bills back home.
When teachers start acting as the professionals that expect to be treated as, only then will the backpacking stereotype fade away. While I personally enjoy new cultures and countries, it seems like there is a preponderance of cry-baby-ism among many FTs.
I admit, that during my first tour to Korea, I was among that group. Maturity and also spending some time slogging through the corporate world in the US has made me appreciate Korea much more than I did. |
You have to understand that Huer has written a series of articles in the Korea Times that has been little more than insults hurled at kyopos, foreigners in Korea, and Koreans who support the US military.
Example? He flatly stated that the USA shouldn't trust kyopos and that all kyopos are potential traitors to the USA.
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/opinon/2009/03/137_42162.html
This latest "article" is his response to his critics. |
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superacidjax
Joined: 17 Oct 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 5:12 pm Post subject: |
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| wylies99 wrote: |
You have to understand that Huer has written a series of articles in the Korea Times that has been little more than insults hurled at kyopos, foreigners in Korea, and Koreans who support the US military.
Example? He flatly stated that the USA shouldn't trust kyopos and that all kyopos are potential traitors to the USA.
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/opinon/2009/03/137_42162.html
This latest "article" is his response to his critics. |
That being the case, Huer is an idiot. His thinking, especially about "potential traitors" is exactly the problem that has plagued our intelligence services. They've tried to get rid of that line of logic in their recruitment, but in the 1990s, that was the prevailing thought about Arab-Americans among other groups that could have potentially been very helpful in our national security. If Huer actually believes that rot, it's probably good he's parked in some outpost teaching at the on-post Uni as opposed to actually being a decision-maker within the Community.
I apologize to anyone I've offended, I was simply judging based on the single article, I didn't realize that there was a body of work with which to contend. |
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wylies99
Joined: 13 May 2006
Location: I'm one cool cat!
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| Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 5:24 pm Post subject: |
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It's okay. Someone like Huer throws in a couple of "truisms" and then adds other "factoids" and draws a flawed conclusion that matches his own prejudices. You may read some points that sound logical, but his overall message is truly scary.
Last edited by wylies99 on Fri Apr 17, 2009 5:26 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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JongnoGuru
Joined: 25 May 2004
Location: peeing on your doorstep
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| Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 5:25 pm Post subject: |
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| wylies99 wrote: |
| superacidjax wrote: |
... The backpacking teacher stereotype is there for a reason. How many FTs have we encountered who arrive in Korea thinking that teaching is a "blow-off" job or just an "easy" way to pay off bills back home.
When teachers start acting as the professionals that expect to be treated as, only then will the backpacking stereotype fade away. |
You have to understand that Huer has written a series of articles in the Korea Times that has been little more than insults hurled at [...] |
No, I don't think one even has to understand that, because...
| Kimchi Cha Cha wrote: |
| So, in order to get back he's written this drivel. |
Yeah, that is exactly how it looked to me, and until reading this thread, I had no idea who this columnist was or what anyone has said about him. Reading it thinking "hm... this smells like payback... some ESLers effed with him somehow, and this is his payback" Pity such personal quarrels & cyber-bickering gets air space in any newspaper op-ed page, even the joke ones.
Last edited by JongnoGuru on Fri Apr 17, 2009 5:31 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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madoka
Joined: 27 Mar 2008
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| Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 5:26 pm Post subject: |
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| wylies99 wrote: |
| Someone like Huer throws in a couple of "truisms" and then adds other "factoids" and draws a flawed conclusion that matches his own prejudices. |
Dude, you just described 95% of your posts b1tching about Korea.  |
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wylies99
Joined: 13 May 2006
Location: I'm one cool cat!
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| Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 5:28 pm Post subject: |
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| madoka wrote: |
| wylies99 wrote: |
| Someone like Huer throws in a couple of "truisms" and then adds other "factoids" and draws a flawed conclusion that matches his own prejudices. |
Dude, you just described 95% of your posts b1tching about Korea. |
Madoka, you sure seem to buzz around the threads about Korea Times articles. Are you sure you don't work for the KT's? Just curious.  |
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superacidjax
Joined: 17 Oct 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 5:34 pm Post subject: |
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So, why the obvious dismissal of the KTimes by many posters here? It seemed like, at least a few years ago when I was last in Korea, that the Herald was the mouthpiece for the Kim Dae-Jung crowd. I always thought that the Herald was the bigger joke.. The Herald seemed to be the one pushing the anti-FTA/ protectionism crap.
But, it's been awhile since I've read either one..
I prefer the IHT/Joog Ang Ilbo. (Is THAT still available in Korea?) |
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giraffe
Joined: 07 Apr 2009
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| Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 5:52 pm Post subject: |
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| superacidjax wrote: |
So, why the obvious dismissal of the KTimes by many posters here? It seemed like, at least a few years ago when I was last in Korea, that the Herald was the mouthpiece for the Kim Dae-Jung crowd. I always thought that the Herald was the bigger joke.. The Herald seemed to be the one pushing the anti-FTA/ protectionism crap.
But, it's been awhile since I've read either one..
I prefer the IHT/Joog Ang Ilbo. (Is THAT still available in Korea?) |
My korean GF tells me the Korean Times is a joke and that no one should read it or take it seriously. I dont have an opinion in the matter i dont even live in korea I wouldnt know =p. I do like the Joon Ang Ilbo though anda few of the other ones. |
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