Korean Job Discussion Forums

Real Reality · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul

In 2001, fate took me to one of the southern tips of the country as an elementary school teacher. The local educational office provided some elementary school teachers with opportunities to practice English conversation with a native speaker every Thursday afternoon. One day he gave a handout to each teacher present. On it scores of words were written. He went on explaining each word one after another, focusing on its meaning and pronunciation. I asked him intermittently if a word he had described is used as a verb or as a noun. Surprisingly, I noticed that he did not know what a verb or noun was.

Another native speaker came to occupy his position. He was a little better than his predecessor. However, he was not a qualified teacher whatsoever. All he did was talk inarticulately with us, occasionally giving a handout. He lacked experience and knowledge of English education as well.

I am not saying that grammar is the most important aspect of teaching English; I am just showing the contrast between well-trained teachers and those that are not.

Therefore, public as well as private institutes need to be very careful when they hire native speakers. The primary criterion should not be that a native speaker is a university graduate. Native speakers must be thoroughly examined before hired so as to ensure their teaching skills and relevant knowledge. It is waste of national wealth to employ unqualified English teachers, who, otherwise, would be jobless people in their own countries.
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/opinion/200403/kt2004033119393744470.htm

Sojuman99 · Joined: 30 Nov 2003 Location: Leaning Right

The best part of the story:

Mosley · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

I can't disagree w/this guy's basic argument-it's all been said a 1000 times here by native speakers themselves. Nonetheless, it seems there are some sour grapes involved here as well, i.e. his dismay at the "adulation" foreign teachers receive.

Korea Newfie · Joined: 27 Mar 2003 Location: Newfoundland and Labrador

Korea Newfie · Joined: 27 Mar 2003 Location: Newfoundland and Labrador

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

Yes, EXAMINED:

ftp://ftp.ets.org/pub/tandl/0360.pdf
http://www.nbpts.org/candidates/acob/nextgen/n09.html

Saxiif · Joined: 15 May 2003 Location: Seongnam

You have hagwon bosses (in at least some cases) hiring people based off their photo and while not even bothering to look at their resumes and people are surprised that stuff like this happens?

Korea Newfie · Joined: 27 Mar 2003 Location: Newfoundland and Labrador

Mosley · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

Newfie: I'm guessing that you didn't slap your boss but...didn't you feel like it?

Kristsoy · Joined: 23 Mar 2004

hogwans will never examine teachers becasue they wouldnt have any to hire. If it was that hard to get a job we wouldnt come here in the first place. Im not a qualified teacher either but ive never been fired so I think im at least a half decent one. Ans sometimes it's not the person's fault that they cant find a job in their own country.

Korea Newfie · Joined: 27 Mar 2003 Location: Newfoundland and Labrador

Kristsoy · Joined: 23 Mar 2004

hogwans will never examine teachers becasue they wouldnt have any to hire. If it was that hard to get a job we wouldnt come here in the first place. Im not a qualified teacher either but ive never been fired so I think im at least a half decent one. Ans sometimes it's not the person's fault that they cant find a job in their own country.

Mr. Pink · Joined: 21 Oct 2003 Location: China

I'd say 90% of native speakers are crap at explaining grammar. If it was required to be an expert in all things grammar, very few of us would be here.

My degree is in English Lit. I know how to write. I sometimes know how to spell. However, when I stepped off the plane, I couldn't tell you was an independent clause or dependent clause was. I probaby couldn't give much besides verb/adjective/noun and even that was sketchy. However I always want to do the best I can, so I study grammar, so that I can in turn teach it better. I think in the past 7yrs I have learned a ton about grammar.

As native speakers, you learn grammar patterns naturally when you learn the language. At my school we didn't learn the "fancy titles" for grammar, we learned how to apply things...how to make better sentences. Not why the verb/noun etc work like they do.

So it isn't surprising from the OP's post that Koreans will have a much stronger grasp of grammar over a native speaker.

Anyone here study Korean? Ever try to ask a Korean a complex grammar question? You'd be surprised how they have a hard time explainin it...

weatherman · Joined: 14 Jan 2003 Location: Korea

He does have his points to make, but he does it in such a pompous ass fashion that it holds little value. It is true, some teachers need to be better trained, but the system itself usually gets these teachers out, if the system works. Maybe he should look at his nation and ask if the system is working? That might be better than to castigate a whole group of people.

Wishmaster · Joined: 06 Feb 2003

Yes, I think it is a safe bet to say that standardized testing of teachers will never occur here. Why? As another poster said, nobody would come here. I mean, of all the countries that you could go to, Korea would be pretty far down on the totem pole. The only reason that people come here is because it is sooooooooo easy to get a job. Free airfare. Free apartment. Put it this way: Would you come to Korea if you had to go through the hassle of being tested, had to pay your airfare and had to pay for your apartment. Didn't think so.