| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Smee
Joined: 24 Dec 2004
Location: Jeollanam-do
|
 Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 10:36 am Post subject: Filipino English teacher challenges E-2 regs |
 |
|
From the Korea Times:
| Quote: |
With a degree in education, a teaching license and years of experience teaching English to Korean students in his homeland, Filipino teacher Angelie Sawyer thought it would be easy to find a job in Korea, the country where demand for English teachers outruns supply.
Sawyer came to Seoul last February, joining her husband, American lawyer Michael Sawyer, but has not been able to find a teaching job purely because of her nationality. She had applied for teaching positions at the programs run by education authorities in Seoul and Gyeonggi, but was rejected.
``When I saw some ads, I would send my resume. But they would call me and ask about my nationality, and if I said I�m Filipino, they would say it�s hard to get a visa,� Sawyer told The Korea Times. �I feel really bad about it. It�s unfair. Koreans go to the Philippines to learn English, but here in Korea, Filipinos can�t teach English.��
Sawyer has yet to get a teaching job. She and her husband are volunteering at the Seoul Global Center to teach English to underprivileged kids.
She says it�s obviously �racial discrimination� issuing English teaching (E-2) visas for the mere reason people are white rather than verifying their qualifications as a teacher. |
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2010/06/117_67219.html
http://briandeutsch.blogspot.com/2010/06/filipino-english-teacher-american.html |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
PatrickGHBusan
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: Busan (1997-2008) Canada 2008 -
|
| Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 11:06 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| She says it�s obviously �racial discrimination� issuing English teaching (E-2) visas for the mere reason people are white rather than verifying their qualifications as a teacher. |
While I understand her frustration, she is wrong on this part and will make a fool of herself if she tries to play the racism card that way.
The visa system is not based on skin color (even if most hired teachers are caucasians), it is based on a country having English as its native language. Under that rule, ANYONE, regardless of color or ethinicity can qualify for an E2 visa providing they are citizens of of the countries on that list and have the basic qualifications of a BA in anything from an accredited university.
I agree that she seems to be a qualified educator and should have access to a job in Korea just like many Indian Teachers should have access along with many other people who became fluent in English and have high qualifications as teachers. Being a native speaker is not a skill nor does it mean you are able to teach the language... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
sigmundsmith
Joined: 22 Nov 2007
|
| Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 12:28 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I don't know if it is racism but what it comes down to is Koreas narrow mindness when it comes to recruiting qualified English teachers. They obviously liked her qualifications but they judge her on the country she comes from. Also, Korean immigration has certain policies (although restrictive) stipulates a number of criteria for offering an E2 visa.
Many people don't realize that English in the Philippines is an official language and many educated philippines first language is English rather than Tagalog (spl?).
And it seems that her qualifications far outweigh most of the twats how come to this country and teach.
One final point will be Koreans narrow mindedness, especially for academies. Mommies believe that the best English teacher is a recent college graduate with no teaching experience, blond hair and blue eyes. Again, we all know that this is not the case and this lady would probably kick their butt in the classroom when it comes to being able to teach English.
But Korean mommies (credit cards) know best. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
languistic
Joined: 25 Nov 2009
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
madoka
Joined: 27 Mar 2008
|
| Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 2:19 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Just curious. . .
Has anybody run into an Indian or Filipino who was born in their native country and did NOT have a strong accent?
I have to admit that I have not yet. I live next to a very large Filipino-American community. I frequent their stores, markets and restaurants. I often find that I have to ask them to repeat themselves as I could not quite make out what they were saying. Same thing with first generation Indian-Americans. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
oldfatfarang
Joined: 19 May 2005
Location: On the road to somewhere.
|
| Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 3:28 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| madoka wrote: |
Just curious. . .
Has anybody run into an Indian or Filipino who was born in their native country and did NOT have a strong accent?
I have to admit that I have not yet. I live next to a very large Filipino-American community. I frequent their stores, markets and restaurants. I often find that I have to ask them to repeat themselves as I could not quite make out what they were saying. Same thing with first generation Indian-Americans. |
I lived in an office-tel in Seoul where a male Indian professor and a female Phillipino professor. They taught at a nearby uni, and their English was flawless, and their accents non-existent. I can't remember their majors, but I do remember them saying that they had been hired last minute, and that they got the feeling they weren't going to be re-signed (for various reasons). They were both well travelled, educated, and teaching their subjects in English. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
bobranger
Joined: 10 Jun 2008
Location: masan
|
| Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 3:52 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| ``When I saw some ads, I would send my resume. But they would call me and ask about my nationality, and if I said I�m Filipino, they would say it�s hard to get a visa,� Sawyer told The Korea Times. �I feel really bad about it. It�s unfair. Koreans go to the Philippines to learn English, but here in Korea, Filipinos can�t teach English.�� |
Do you really think she is this naive?
Gee her husband is a lawyer, go figure. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
nukeday
Joined: 13 May 2010
|
| Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 3:57 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| madoka wrote: |
Just curious. . .
Has anybody run into an Indian or Filipino who was born in their native country and did NOT have a strong accent?
I have to admit that I have not yet. I live next to a very large Filipino-American community. I frequent their stores, markets and restaurants. I often find that I have to ask them to repeat themselves as I could not quite make out what they were saying. Same thing with first generation Indian-Americans. |
I mostly agree with you, but those aren't really the people that come teach English. Their kids do, and their kids generally don't have any accents.
But like I always say to the teachers and the students: you need to be hearing funky English accents. The majority of people you run across and will speak English to in the world are not going to have a clear west coast USA accent, or any other "native" accent. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired
|
| Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 4:29 pm Post subject: Re: Filipino English teacher challenges E-2 regs |
|
|
| Smee wrote: |
F
She says it�s obviously �racial discrimination� issuing English teaching (E-2) visas for the mere reason people are white rather than verifying their qualifications as a teacher. |
hl[/quote]
I know plenty of non-white E-2 teachers here. African-Americans and black South Africans for starters. Some Korean-Americans as well. She may be a qualified teacher but she doesn't seem to have that much common sense. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Morticae
Joined: 06 May 2010
|
| Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 4:34 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| nukeday wrote: |
| madoka wrote: |
Just curious. . .
Has anybody run into an Indian or Filipino who was born in their native country and did NOT have a strong accent?
I have to admit that I have not yet. I live next to a very large Filipino-American community. I frequent their stores, markets and restaurants. I often find that I have to ask them to repeat themselves as I could not quite make out what they were saying. Same thing with first generation Indian-Americans. |
I mostly agree with you, but those aren't really the people that come teach English. Their kids do, and their kids generally don't have any accents.
But like I always say to the teachers and the students: you need to be hearing funky English accents. The majority of people you run across and will speak English to in the world are not going to have a clear west coast USA accent, or any other "native" accent. |
But my west coast accent is superior to all others. You will bow down! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
salgichawa
Joined: 18 Mar 2010
|
| Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 4:58 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| PatrickGHBusan wrote: |
| Quote: |
| She says it�s obviously �racial discrimination� issuing English teaching (E-2) visas for the mere reason people are white rather than verifying their qualifications as a teacher. |
While I understand her frustration, she is wrong on this part and will make a fool of herself if she tries to play the racism card that way.
The visa system is not based on skin color (even if most hired teachers are caucasians), it is based on a country having English as its native language. Under that rule, ANYONE, regardless of color or ethinicity can qualify for an E2 visa providing they are citizens of of the countries on that list and have the basic qualifications of a BA in anything from an accredited university.
I agree that she seems to be a qualified educator and should have access to a job in Korea just like many Indian Teachers should have access along with many other people who became fluent in English and have high qualifications as teachers. Being a native speaker is not a skill nor does it mean you are able to teach the language... |
Hi There,
I agree. One of the biggest reasons we are hired here is because of our native english speaking accent/ style/ intonation, from one of the main countries.
Well trained Korean ESL instructors can teach english and may have a degree as well. We have a different role to play. For Korea's part maybe it is time they found other various job roles for people to get into here, other then just the 'good egg, bad egg' english job pool basket.
If they were smart they would soon see other skills and hire people for, who knows, day care, english art teacher, english music...the list goes on. They learn english to use in other work for their own benefit unless they are at home where they have the benefit of two languages.
But it seems the government here are a bit set in their way and work through E2's. I hear the phillipines is working on cornering the online tuition english market anyway. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
T-dot
Joined: 16 May 2004
Location: bundang
|
| Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 5:35 pm Post subject: Re: Filipino English teacher challenges E-2 regs |
|
|
| Smee wrote: |
From the Korea Times:
| Quote: |
With a degree in education, a teaching license and years of experience teaching English to Korean students in his homeland, Filipino teacher Angelie Sawyer thought it would be easy to find a job in Korea, the country where demand for English teachers outruns supply.
Sawyer came to Seoul last February, joining her husband, American lawyer Michael Sawyer, but has not been able to find a teaching job purely because of her nationality. She had applied for teaching positions at the programs run by education authorities in Seoul and Gyeonggi, but was rejected.
``When I saw some ads, I would send my resume. But they would call me and ask about my nationality, and if I said I�m Filipino, they would say it�s hard to get a visa,� Sawyer told The Korea Times. �I feel really bad about it. It�s unfair. Koreans go to the Philippines to learn English, but here in Korea, Filipinos can�t teach English.��
Sawyer has yet to get a teaching job. She and her husband are volunteering at the Seoul Global Center to teach English to underprivileged kids.
She says it�s obviously �racial discrimination� issuing English teaching (E-2) visas for the mere reason people are white rather than verifying their qualifications as a teacher. |
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2010/06/117_67219.html
http://briandeutsch.blogspot.com/2010/06/filipino-english-teacher-american.html |
People have already mentioned this, but you would think she could come up with something better considering her husband is a lawyer. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Unposter
Joined: 04 Jun 2006
|
| Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 6:35 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I would not be surprised if it turned out that the Korea Times quoted her wrong. It is just far too odd of a statement.
I have had a number of students who have studies in the Philipeans and I have yet to have a student who said they did not like it or that it was not helpful. Of course, they also said that I was a much better teacher and I am inclined to believe them...but you should always take what your students say with a grain of salt.
The Philipeans is most definitely on the map as a destination for English study in Korea and I am sure its influence will continue to grow.
But I do think that an intelligent native speaker of English who basically knows their way around the classroom has significant advantages. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
CentralCali
Joined: 17 May 2007
|
| Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 6:45 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Just a note on spelling here: The country concerned is the Philippines. The citizens of that country are referred to as Filipinos or Pilipinos (both spellings are accepted). |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
BoholDiver
Joined: 03 Oct 2009
Location: Canada
|
| Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2010 12:14 am Post subject: |
|
|
When I previously worked for a large company here, I got the same resume and e-mail from some sassy Filipino lady. It might have been her, as her name rings a bell.
This lady complained in an application and said 'I am not a so-called native speaker' and this and that. At first I was mad then I laughed.
I replied to her and said something like 'I am one of these 'so called native speakers' and you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.'
About a month later, we were advertising again and I got the exact same e-mail from the same lady. If it is, in fact, the same lady, she has a lot more problems than her nationality. She needs an attitude transplant. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
