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silkhighway
Joined: 24 Oct 2010
Location: Canada
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 Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2011 10:54 am Post subject: Myths about ESL |
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1. Teaching ESL is easy - There is a steep learning curve and it's hard to make your students have sustained interest. People mistake their lack of accountability for an easy job.
2. Teaching ESL is hard - It may not be easy but it's not rocket science either. Nobody dies if you make mistakes. There is room for experimentation and learning through experience, and attitude counts for a lot.
3. There's a difference between ESL and EFL -Yes, there's a difference between how you approach a classroom of immersed language learners and a classroom of foreign language learners, but EFL is a technocratic term not used by industry outsiders.
4. Native speakers are necessary - They're helpful for sure, but necessary? No, you're icing on the cake. If Korean teachers install the right attitudes in their students, then intelligent people who need to learn English will learn it with or without the help of native speakers.
5. English teachers are seen "back home" as deadbeats who couldn't get a real job - Despite everyone having a cousin Tom or neighbor Jane who taught in Korea for a year, people are not that worldly or concerned to form opinions about ESL teachers or ESL-teaching. If they're curious about it all they'll wonder about two things. 1) Why are Koreans so concerned about learning English and 2) How do you teach English without speaking Korean? They'll promptly forget they were curious about this 0.2 seconds after finishing a conversation with you about teaching in Korea.
6. Overseas experience looks good on a resume - Well 90% myth, some people may make something out of it. For the majority of people returning home it will be completely non-relevant though, and it doesn't open anymore opportunities than it does for the planeloads of immigrants arriving in your home country. |
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litebear
Joined: 12 Sep 2009
Location: Holland
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| Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2011 11:21 am Post subject: Re: Myths about ESL |
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| silkhighway wrote: |
6. Overseas experience looks good on a resume - Well 90% myth, some people may make something out of it. For the majority of people returning home it will be completely non-relevant though, and it doesn't open anymore opportunities than it does for the planeloads of immigrants arriving in your home country. |
Does anyone really believe this though? I was lucky enough to fall into the other 10% but I was worried about how it'd look before applying. |
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ren546
Joined: 17 Dec 2010
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| Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2011 4:50 pm Post subject: Re: Myths about ESL |
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| silkhighway wrote: |
| 6. Overseas experience looks good on a resume - Well 90% myth, some people may make something out of it. For the majority of people returning home it will be completely non-relevant though, and it doesn't open anymore opportunities than it does for the planeloads of immigrants arriving in your home country. |
Yeah, 6 is bull. It totally depends on what kind of job you apply for, and how well you're able to market yourself. |
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silkhighway
Joined: 24 Oct 2010
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2011 5:45 pm Post subject: Re: Myths about ESL |
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| ren546 wrote: |
| silkhighway wrote: |
| 6. Overseas experience looks good on a resume - Well 90% myth, some people may make something out of it. For the majority of people returning home it will be completely non-relevant though, and it doesn't open anymore opportunities than it does for the planeloads of immigrants arriving in your home country. |
Yeah, 6 is bull. It totally depends on what kind of job you apply for, and how well you're able to market yourself. |
Of the dozens of people I know who repatriated, the only evidence I see for this is that people want it to be true. I work for a multinational company where employees need to travel and cross borders frequently. The reality is they could care less if you lived abroad or you like to travel.
Some people before mentioned the State department likes to see overseas experience, but that's awfully specialized and not a job that's going to fall into your lap by accident. |
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thegadfly
Joined: 01 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2011 5:54 pm Post subject: Re: Myths about ESL |
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| silkhighway wrote: |
| 6. Overseas experience looks good on a resume - Well 90% myth, some people may make something out of it. For the majority of people returning home it will be completely non-relevant though, and it doesn't open anymore opportunities than it does for the planeloads of immigrants arriving in your home country. |
Well, if one continues as a teacher, some districts and places count teaching experience, even in hakwons -- my time in Korea, including my time at Wonderland, counted as years of teaching on the step system at every school I have worked at in the US, up to the cut-off point for out-of-state experience.
Of course, if teaching isn't your chosen profession, time in Korea may not count for much -- but then again, time as a chef doesn't count for much when applying for a teaching job, either.
If you are working outside of your chosen field, it really doesn't matter that much WHERE you get the experience...it is out-of-field, and so counts for nothing, other than a talking point in the interview (which may actually be quite a bit. My first teaching gig in the US was landed because I had installed swimming pools in Michigan...and the interviewer couldn't believe there was much call for that...and we talked for quite a bit longer than the other interviews she had done before me while I waited outside). |
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TECO
Joined: 20 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 5:08 am Post subject: Re: Myths about ESL |
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| silkhighway wrote: |
1. Teaching ESL is easy - There is a steep learning curve and it's hard to make your students have sustained interest. People mistake their lack of accountability for an easy job.
2. Teaching ESL is hard - It may not be easy but it's not rocket science either. Nobody dies if you make mistakes. There is room for experimentation and learning through experience, and attitude counts for a lot.
3. There's a difference between ESL and EFL -Yes, there's a difference between how you approach a classroom of immersed language learners and a classroom of foreign language learners, but EFL is a technocratic term not used by industry outsiders.
4. Native speakers are necessary - They're helpful for sure, but necessary? No, you're icing on the cake. If Korean teachers install the right attitudes in their students, then intelligent people who need to learn English will learn it with or without the help of native speakers.
5. English teachers are seen "back home" as deadbeats who couldn't get a real job - Despite everyone having a cousin Tom or neighbor Jane who taught in Korea for a year, people are not that worldly or concerned to form opinions about ESL teachers or ESL-teaching. If they're curious about it all they'll wonder about two things. 1) Why are Koreans so concerned about learning English and 2) How do you teach English without speaking Korean? They'll promptly forget they were curious about this 0.2 seconds after finishing a conversation with you about teaching in Korea.
6. Overseas experience looks good on a resume - Well 90% myth, some people may make something out of it. For the majority of people returning home it will be completely non-relevant though, and it doesn't open anymore opportunities than it does for the planeloads of immigrants arriving in your home country. |
I've seen this before. Did you post this somewhere else or take it from another site like GEPIC or JET? |
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Kwangjuchicken
Joined: 01 Sep 2003
Location: I was abducted by aliens on my way to Korea and forced to be an EFL teacher on this crazy planet.
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| Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 2:59 am Post subject: |
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You only need to know three letters of the alphabet. E, S, and L.
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PatrickGHBusan
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: Busan (1997-2008) Canada 2008 -
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| Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 4:38 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| 6. Overseas experience looks good on a resume - Well 90% myth, some people may make something out of it. For the majority of people returning home it will be completely non-relevant though, and it doesn't open anymore opportunities than it does for the planeloads of immigrants arriving in your home country. |
Actually this holds true if the person DOES nothing to MAKE this experience useful, relevant and an added bonus to his employability.
A person who plays his cards right can make overseas experience work for him and open quite a few doors.
This of course will require more than sitting in a job doing the minimum to get by and an outlook that goes beyond taking a "year off" to go to asia.
Everyone makes these choices. |
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silkhighway
Joined: 24 Oct 2010
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 4:40 am Post subject: Re: Myths about ESL |
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| TECO wrote: |
I've seen this before. Did you post this somewhere else or take it from
another site like GEPIC or JET? |
Nahh, just looking for an argument, haha. |
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silkhighway
Joined: 24 Oct 2010
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 4:42 am Post subject: |
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| PatrickGHBusan wrote: |
| Quote: |
| 6. Overseas experience looks good on a resume - Well 90% myth, some people may make something out of it. For the majority of people returning home it will be completely non-relevant though, and it doesn't open anymore opportunities than it does for the planeloads of immigrants arriving in your home country. |
Actually this holds true if the person DOES nothing to MAKE this experience useful, relevant and an added bonus to his employability.
A person who plays his cards right can make overseas experience work for him and open quite a few doors.
This of course will require more than sitting in a job doing the minimum to get by and an outlook that goes beyond taking a "year off" to go to asia.
Everyone makes these choices. |
Patrick, that statement is so generic it's meaningless. Again, it's "what you make of it" which can be said of any job or life situation. It's the equivalent of putting on a resume "I am hardworking and reliable". It's cute, and completely meaningless unless it's backed up by something. |
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shifty
Joined: 21 Jun 2004
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| Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 7:38 am Post subject: |
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| PatrickGHBusan wrote: |
| Quote: |
| 6. Overseas experience looks good on a resume - Well 90% myth, some people may make something out of it. For the majority of people returning home it will be completely non-relevant though, and it doesn't open anymore opportunities than it does for the planeloads of immigrants arriving in your home country. |
Actually this holds true if the person DOES nothing to MAKE this experience useful, relevant and an added bonus to his employability.
A person who plays his cards right can make overseas experience work for him and open quite a few doors.
This of course will require more than sitting in a job doing the minimum to get by and an outlook that goes beyond taking a "year off" to go to asia.
Everyone makes these choices. |
I don't think this is good advice. If a current teacher takes it up, he/she would be apt to waste time, shmoozing about all for nought. Isn't it better to see teaching in Korea for what its worth: a temporary adjustment and saving as much money as possible?
I know that you, Paddy, are an exception. You were proactive and didn't sit on your thumbs, in consequence have reaped a plum govt job.
If, as I say, Korea is seen in proper context, better decisions can be made, which in turn leads to a purer concentration of the next step, where energies can be brought most to bear.
We should realise that many youngsters and newbies read these forums and we have a responsibility to not mislead them.
For example, Paddy, I find the final line in your post "Everyone makes these choices" to be mischievous. It implies that those who don't follow your path are somehow lackadaisical. |
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silkhighway
Joined: 24 Oct 2010
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 7:54 am Post subject: |
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| shifty wrote: |
...Isn't it better to see teaching in Korea for what its worth: a temporary adjustment and saving as much money as possible?
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I think this is the most realistic way of looking at it, and nobody will begrudge you for it either. |
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PatrickGHBusan
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: Busan (1997-2008) Canada 2008 -
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| Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 2:27 pm Post subject: |
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| silkhighway wrote: |
| PatrickGHBusan wrote: |
| Quote: |
| 6. Overseas experience looks good on a resume - Well 90% myth, some people may make something out of it. For the majority of people returning home it will be completely non-relevant though, and it doesn't open anymore opportunities than it does for the planeloads of immigrants arriving in your home country. |
Actually this holds true if the person DOES nothing to MAKE this experience useful, relevant and an added bonus to his employability.
A person who plays his cards right can make overseas experience work for him and open quite a few doors.
This of course will require more than sitting in a job doing the minimum to get by and an outlook that goes beyond taking a "year off" to go to asia.
Everyone makes these choices. |
Patrick, that statement is so generic it's meaningless. Again, it's "what you make of it" which can be said of any job or life situation. It's the equivalent of putting on a resume "I am hardworking and reliable". It's cute, and completely meaningless unless it's backed up by something. |
It was meant to be general in tone but if you want specifics, lots of people here can provide them, including me if that is your wish.
However as a basis for discussion:
Your experience will work for you if it is in a relevant field (as was stated earlier in this thread by someone else).
Overseas experienced coupled with improvements in your credentials (courses, language skills) can open many doors in many work fields.
Of course, if John Doe over there plays bingo form 12 months at a hakwon and does nothing more with his time than show up at work, collect his cheque and spend his weekends getting hammered...well guess what his "experience" will be near to worthless in ANY field.
John X however worked as a teacher, took some online courses, networked, picked up some language skills and did all sorts of creative things as a part of his work...well his experience stands a chance of being worth something in a related field back home or even in another field abroad.
There are heaps of other examples. |
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PatrickGHBusan
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: Busan (1997-2008) Canada 2008 -
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| Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 2:36 pm Post subject: |
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| shifty wrote: |
| PatrickGHBusan wrote: |
| Quote: |
| 6. Overseas experience looks good on a resume - Well 90% myth, some people may make something out of it. For the majority of people returning home it will be completely non-relevant though, and it doesn't open anymore opportunities than it does for the planeloads of immigrants arriving in your home country. |
Actually this holds true if the person DOES nothing to MAKE this experience useful, relevant and an added bonus to his employability.
A person who plays his cards right can make overseas experience work for him and open quite a few doors.
This of course will require more than sitting in a job doing the minimum to get by and an outlook that goes beyond taking a "year off" to go to asia.
Everyone makes these choices. |
I don't think this is good advice. If a current teacher takes it up, he/she would be apt to waste time, shmoozing about all for nought. Isn't it better to see teaching in Korea for what its worth: a temporary adjustment and saving as much money as possible?
I know that you, Paddy, are an exception. You were proactive and didn't sit on your thumbs, in consequence have reaped a plum govt job.
If, as I say, Korea is seen in proper context, better decisions can be made, which in turn leads to a purer concentration of the next step, where energies can be brought most to bear.
We should realise that many youngsters and newbies read these forums and we have a responsibility to not mislead them.
For example, Paddy, I find the final line in your post "Everyone makes these choices" to be mischievous. It implies that those who don't follow your path are somehow lackadaisical. |
My path is my own...I sure was not advocating that others should follow it nor that those who do not are lacking in effort.
Thats you trying to warp what I am saying.
So in clear: you want your time in Korea to WORK FOR YOU down the road?
Make it work for you by establishing some goals while in Korea. Then work towards those goals you feel are worthwile professionally. Usually this tends to include professional development of some sort, a bit of networking in your chosen field, making sure your experience is referenced.
Lets take a very concrete example that has the added bonus of being simple.
Joe arrives in Korea as a newbie with a fresh bachelors degree in hand. He has no experience to speak of in the field of education. He decides he wants to teach as a career after a couple of months in Korea.
What can joe do?
Lets see...he needs to get into Teachers College somewhere if he wants certification or to get higherr quals if he wants better teaching jobs internationally.
Bingo...here comes online education where he can get a leg up and improve. He can also USE his time as a teacher in Korea to learn some valuable classroom management skills that he can use later on as a teacher.
Now his experience as a teacher can help him get into teachers college in some way as these types of experiences tend to be looked on favorably by colleges (experienced teacher...ya know).
If he then applies for a teaching position back home, his experience (again if referenced) along with some curriculum activities he developed can boost his employability in a competitive market.
Not a guarantee of employment but not a wasted year either....
Another simple example: language skills.
These tend to open doors in many places from the private sector (companies) to the public sector (certain governmental departments).
Again, common denominator here: making your time work for you.
I am not saying it will happen for everyone (thats unrealistic) nor that it is some sort of magic formulae either. It is just something I noticed in those people who did prosper in Korea professionally. |
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oldtrafford
Joined: 12 Jan 2011
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| Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 4:26 pm Post subject: |
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Kwangjuchicken wrote only need to know three letters of the alphabet. E, S, and L.
It's EFL for those teaching in Korea you fool!! Good god, get to grips with the basics!!!
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