|
Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
crazylemongirl
Joined: 23 Mar 2003
Location: almost there...
|
 Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 10:20 pm Post subject: 'just a teacher' |
 |
|
| I was out at a function last night, and it amazed me how the sprinkling of english teachers introduced themselves as being 'just an english teacher.' I realize that our job isn't the best paid or glamourous of jobs for expats here but perhaps spending so much time in confucian korea has got to us in terms of how we view our relationships, even with other westerners. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
gang ah jee
Joined: 14 Jan 2003
Location: city of paper
|
| Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 10:27 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Who wants to brag about having a job that requires a degree and a pulse? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
crazylemongirl
Joined: 23 Mar 2003
Location: almost there...
|
| Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 10:28 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| gang ah jee wrote: |
| Who wants to brag about having a job that requires a degree and a pulse? |
Where did I say that you should brag? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
gang ah jee
Joined: 14 Jan 2003
Location: city of paper
|
| Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 10:39 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| crazylemongirl wrote: |
| perhaps spending so much time in confucian korea has got to us in terms of how we view our relationships, even with other westerners |
Fine, so not bragging, but what do you mean by this? Are you suggesting that everyone is in the grip of Confucian false modesty because of how well regarded their profession is in society?
People who say 'just a teacher' are self-conscious of the fact that they have a job that is available to anyone with a modicum of education and enough motivation/sobriety to not miss the plane. People who don't say 'just a teacher' feel like they're in the right line of work, or at least in a job that doesn't embarrass them. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Smee
Joined: 24 Dec 2004
Location: Jeollanam-do
|
| Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 10:45 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Did you ever introduce yourself as "just a student"?
Have some pride in your work, even if others don't. And if a few---or a lot---of dumbasses parade around Korea living as "just a teacher," that's their loss. Many people are working toward something at the same time: gaining teaching experience, learning Korean, experiencing a new culture, etc. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Yo!Chingo
Joined: 06 Dec 2005
Location: Seoul Korea
|
| Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 10:51 pm Post subject: |
|
|
When I introduce myself I can't say that I'm embarrased to say that I'm a teacher; it's a good job that pays ok, but like Hang ah jee said it's," a job that requires a degree and a pulse." I can't say that I'm extemely proud of the fact that I'm a teacher because we're a dime a dozen here. Now if I was a scientist or doctor here in S.K, then I'd be yellin' it to the moon  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
oldfatfarang
Joined: 19 May 2005
Location: On the road to somewhere.
|
| Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 10:54 pm Post subject: |
|
|
"Just a teacher." Yes, that is all I am to ALL of the Koreans on the street who have stopped me for a bit of a chat.
The conversation goes something like this: Hi, where are you from? How old are you? What is your job. Where do you teach? (insert reply about private academy), my new friend smiles and walks away.
Apparently, Hakwon teachers are definately not respected here. I get this response all over Korea. So, now I tell them I'm a 'businessman'. Surpise, many stay and chat. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
John Henry
Joined: 24 Sep 2004
|
| Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 10:59 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Yeah, c'mon.
When I talk to engineers who make more in a few days than I make all month, I feel like "just and English teacher."
But when I talk to G.I. Jerk, I feel like "An English teacher." And sometimes like "A F'ING English teacher, man!!!" |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
crazylemongirl
Joined: 23 Mar 2003
Location: almost there...
|
| Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 11:12 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| For me it doesn't matter whether you are doing a job that requires a PHd or just a pair of working hands... you are doing a job. You can say 'I'm a teacher' and leave it at that. Why the degradation? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
byunhosa
Joined: 18 Jan 2006
Location: Center Ice
|
| Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 11:17 pm Post subject: |
|
|
This post brings to mind an issue I have long wondered about.
I am a former GI who is now in Korea as a civilian expat. Do the ESL teachers in Korea look down on the military folks here?
If so, why?
I hope you do not subscribe to misinformed stereotypes about military personnel being uneducated louts. This is far from the truth. Many of the jobs in the military today require intensive, and quite academically rigorous, training. All officers must have at least a bachelor's degree, and many have advanced degrees, often from top schools in the U.S.
If it is a wealth issue, I would urge you to visit the nicer areas of Ichon-dong and Hannam-dong. Who lives in those apartments? Wealthy Korean businessmen, white collar professionals, and...yup...military officers. The housing allowance they receive here is staggering.
Almost every active duty serviceman here in Korea (even a relatively junior enlisted soldier) makes more $$ than the starting, or even avg, salary for ESL teachers.
Not slamming anyone, just providing a reminder not to be quick to judge that which you do not understand. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Guri Guy
Joined: 07 Sep 2003
Location: Bamboo Island
|
| Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 11:20 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Exactly correct. If you look down upon your job, why should others respect you? Granted, English teachers are not super high up on the social status list but take pride in what you do. It is job where you are helping people and you can actually see tangible results from your efforts. The pay isn't bad either. There are worse jobs out there...
World's Worst Jobs Listed
Submitted by B&P
Worst Jobs Listed. Ass-gas Sniffer Ranked Tops
NEW YORK-- Do you think your job stinks? You could be a Flatus Odor Judge.
That's just one of several of the Worst Jobs in Science according to the editors of "Popular Science" magazine, who just compiled the list for the latest issue.
Topping the chart for worst jobs are the odor judges at a Minneapolis gastroenterologist -- they're are paid to smell people's farts to determine potentially critical medical symptoms.
The second crappiest science job is being a Dysentery Stool-Sample Analyzer. That's a person who opens stool canisters and analyzes feces to test the effectiveness of the kit.
Meanwhile, the Barnyard Masturbator, a researcher who collects semen for insemination purposes, comes in third, beating out jobs like Prison Rape Researcher, Carcass Cleaner and Fish Counter.
http://www.strangecosmos.com/content/item/25076.html |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
khyber
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Compunction Junction
|
| Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 11:21 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| People who say 'just a teacher' are self-conscious of the fact that they have a job that is available to anyone with a modicum of education and enough motivation/sobriety to not miss the plane. People who don't say 'just a teacher' feel like they're in the right line of work |
I disagree.
I think people have that attitude because people come on here and keep saying crap like:
| Quote: |
Who wants to brag about having a job that requires a degree and a pulse?
|
Eventually, people just fall into the "blah blah boring trap".
Compared to working in a freakin' office back in Canada, this job has WAY more character and it's possible to get more out of it. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
crazylemongirl
Joined: 23 Mar 2003
Location: almost there...
|
| Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 11:22 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| Do the ESL teachers in Korea look down on the military folks here? |
I've always judged people on how they act rather than what they do. I've met jerks here who have dropped more in one evening than most of us make in 6 months. OTOH, I know some great students in my Korean class who don't make much.
But I'm not sure how representative my view is. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
gang ah jee
Joined: 14 Jan 2003
Location: city of paper
|
| Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 11:25 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Guri Guy wrote: |
| Granted, English teachers are not super high up on the social status list but take pride in what you do. ] |
Although it's probably misleading to lump the Wonderland employee in with the SKY departmental professor here. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
krats1976
Joined: 14 May 2003
|
| Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 11:25 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| crazylemongirl wrote: |
| For me it doesn't matter whether you are doing a job that requires a PHd or just a pair of working hands... you are doing a job. You can say 'I'm a teacher' and leave it at that. Why the degradation? |
This goes along with a train of thought that's been running through my head ever since I started teaching at a foreign school.
Basically, in the West, we don't respect teachers. Maybe I'm speaking too generally...I guess I haven't lived in other Western nations. So, I should say that in America, we don't respect teachers. I would go so far as to say that if people were honest with themselves, they'd admit that they don't even think of teachers are real professionals.
Teachers in America buy into it to! I did. I found myself thinking, "I'm only a teacher," (though maybe not in those exact words). I didn't truly come to think of myself as a professional until my second year of teaching at a foreign school in Korea... 3 years into my career.
How many people in the West truly think of teachers as professionals, on par with, say, a CEO or an architect? Let's contrast this with Korea where there's an old saying something along the lines of, "Whether the king, father or teacher says it, it's the same." Asians respect scholarship, and teachers hold a very high status in this society.
OK, so that's a little off topic (since I'm not even an ESL/EFL teacher), but I'm thinking that one reason English teachers introduce themselves as "just a teacher" could be a general lack of respect for the profession that pervades our cultures.
Just a thought... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
