Korean Job Discussion Forums

alphalfa · Joined: 12 Feb 2003

"
The recent SBS broadcast criticizing foreign teachers for not being qualified,etc.. has made many Public schools in Metropolitan Seoul rethink the idea of employing a foreign teacher at this current time. Many schools who had requested a foreign teacher for the March 2005 period have now cancelled the request due to the recent protests of both Korean citizens and parents. Due to this problem, we have had to cancel many teachers until the current issues are resolved/forgotten. "

This was a message I received from Seoulschools who had been(still are?) advertising on this board.

Did anyone secure themselves a public school teaching position in Seoul prior to, during and/or following the SBS broadcast?

Have any of you with a BEd. and teacher certification been stymied?

Rock · Joined: 25 Feb 2005

I doubt anyone's really qualified to teach at an elementary, or highschool. You must realize it's probably illegal anyways. Of course there's going to be criticism.

Most Korean teachers got ousted after the 'corporal punishment' ordeal too. They're jealous. Might be back biting. And as if the parents really didn't know that most ESL teachers weren't really qualified? Is a real qualified teacher going to come here?

Come on. It's nonsense. The parents should be responsible, and that through the school's network of non-sensibly employing any Joe-six pack, something I'm sure they're quite aware of, but which makes you, and me, the culprit of.

Seoul. Come on. It's foolish.

peppermint · Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2005 2:16 am Post subject:

There are a lot of teachers working at public schools. Surely you've heard of either EPIK or GEPIK, programs by the federal and provincial governements to get foreign teachers into public schools.

In most cases, we're hired as co-teachers, working with a trained Korean teacher, which should adress your concerns about being qualified.

Plume D'ella Plumeria · Joined: 10 Jan 2005 Location: The Lost Horizon

What's your definition of "qualified," Rock? Would a B.Ed do it? If so, there are a number of certified teachers, myself among them, teaching in elementary schools here. Qualified teachers do come here for differing reasons.

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

Daechidong Waygookin · Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2005 7:36 pm Post subject:

chronicpride · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

hellofaniceguy · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: On your computer screen!

What is qualified anyway?!?!?!?!
What...because someone has a B.Ed...that makes them qualified to teach?!
I think all this being qualified B.S. is going way overboard.
Sure...it's just a piece of paper...but so is a drivers license, marriage certificate, death certificate, etc... So..if one has no death certificate...they are not dead?
Point being..yeah...that college degree paper is important...but it does not make one qualified to teach.
Teaching should be fun, enjoyable, rewarding, etc. it's a calling. And for many many ESL teacher's in korea...it is not a calling....it's just a....job.
Having said that...look around you at the korean university teachers who have degrees and are qualified to teach! Qualified hell! Same with hakwon korean teachers teaching English.
You have koreans teaching who should NOT be teaching also.
Too much being pointed at being qualifed. It's all a bunch of B.S. I think.
Good teaching comes from experience. Throughout history...many great teachers, leaders and scholars have not been college educated.
While modern day society requires one to have a degree....does that make them qualified?