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Teufelswacht
Joined: 06 Sep 2004
Location: Land Of The Not Quite Right
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 Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 4:16 am Post subject: Korean Herald Article |
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From the LifeCommunity Section of the Korean Herald:
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Address the problem and find the solution
The creation of the community page in the Herald has been somewhat of a specter of what one might hope is an interest by the foreign and local community in what's happening here. It is a weekly glance at what is happening here albeit limited in scope. The recent string of articles and letters addressing what is right and wrong with English education has rolled on and I find that malapropisms and evidence of incompetence abound. Kim Chang-sun's ("A necessary reform of English education," ) pragmatic suggestion of a reformation was on the mark but kindly skirted naming the problem.
To begin, the malaise that pervades the foreign community here in relation to what's happening artistically and professionally is disheartening and tends to be contagious. This begs one to question the caliber of the individuals and the effect of the environment on those people.
Some weeks back a female writer opined about the root of the problem with individuals involved in education here. Following her assessment, several other contributors submitted their own analyses of the apparent conundrum that confounds many students, parents and teachers alike. Something was missing.
Not once have I read about people who are here to be educators. People who are here to travel, yes. Those who are seeking refuge from their foreign land, sure. Social misfits and deranged deviants who have come to infect an unknowing population, of course. Yet I have not heard about those who are here to teach, to make a difference and to dedicate themselves to the students and the classroom.
This is no more apparent than in the social milieu that eludes classroom discussion at all costs. Not once in my years here have I, in passing, heard a group of apparent "teachers" having an academic discussion about the fruits, follies and frustrations of the classroom. Furthermore, when the topic arises, it's as if dark clouds are gathering on the horizon. You want to talk about what? Let's get back to coition, consumption, criticism of the world and talk of travel.
Certainly, this is not to say the country is full of inept and disinterested teachers. But it is to say that a large percentage of the "teachers" here fall into that mix. Yes, there are war stories and reasons for dissent, but if one came here with the idea of teaching more than a few bullets down the list (if even on it), then opprobrious outcomes are a given.
Now I don't claim to have some sort of miraculous solution to the problem but I do think it makes sense to define the elements of the problem in order to address it appropriately. Being that the demand for English is ubiquitous it's going to be hard to weed out all of the maladroit and incompetent individuals that have already blighted the academic atmosphere. But it is high time that deeper assessment, evaluation and adjustment be applied to begin to correct the current pedantic pestilence.
([email protected])
By John M. Rodgers
2006.11.22 |
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/SITE/data/html_dir/2006/11/22/200611220011.asp |
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ajuma
Joined: 18 Feb 2003
Location: Anywere but Seoul!!
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| Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 5:13 am Post subject: |
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While I agree with the article in some respects, you have to admit that hagwon directors and the Korean government have brought this on themselves. "We only want young, attactive, blond Americans or Canadians". Did they think that they were REALLY going to get people who could teach AND wanted their students to learn? !!! 99% of hagwons don't care if you have a TEFL/CELTA certification or any experience. They just want white faces!
Parents and students are paying the price. |
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The Cosmic Hum
Joined: 09 May 2003
Location: Sonic Space
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| Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 6:38 am Post subject: hmm |
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hmm...geeze...an article criticizing foreign teachers...how novel...
me thinks John M Rodgers should get his head out of his thesaurass.... |
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Satin
Joined: 26 Oct 2006
Location: Texas
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| Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 6:49 am Post subject: |
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Definitely played on words. Could have written the article with two or three sentences.
And -- he did not address the "root" problem.
Obviously has his head stuck and eyes closed. Must not surf Dave's either. Lots of discussion about teaching, methods, cultural insights, etc. |
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cubanlord
Joined: 08 Jul 2005
Location: In Japan!
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| Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 3:15 pm Post subject: |
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Frankly, I'm glad that people are starting to voice their opinions through other mediums besides Dave's. At least now our sentiments can be disseminated throughout the English community faster than posting on an anonymous board.
If you ask me, it takes guts to speak your opinion without the comfort of anonymity. More power to him and those that are not afraid to speak up. |
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wylies99
Joined: 13 May 2006
Location: I'm one cool cat!
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| Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 3:32 pm Post subject: |
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The author of that "article" must be paid by the syllable- sounds like he's full of it.  |
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ChuckECheese
Joined: 20 Jul 2006
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| Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 3:40 pm Post subject: |
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What is he saying? Is he speaking English?
Sounds like something that a Korean would write. |
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ddeubel
Joined: 20 Jul 2005
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| Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 3:43 pm Post subject: |
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I quickly wrote a reply to Mr. Rogers......It just gets my goat when people seek to slander and bemoan from some high mountain, like Moses. Wish he'd stay in his high tower......
DD
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But it is high time that deeper assessment, evaluation and adjustment be applied to begin to correct the current pedantic pestilence.
Mr. Rogers,
This is in reply to your recent article.
I don't think you know your neighbourhood..... Blaming, castigating and labeling is not getting at the root of the problem. Also, as you know, believing the world IS - "as you see it", is the signpost of pretension and idiocy. You did no such "deeper" assessment and you have only contributed to "pedagogic pestilence" (and I can only suggest what you mean here??)
I suggest you start taking baby steps and getting involved with the MANY teachers who are professionally involved in Korea. Those who belong to professional organizations, communicate in fruitful discussions, care and are deeply commited to their career and doing a good job -- be it for a year or a lifetime.
Nor have you dealt with the root of the problem. The problem is never WHAT (people/books/programs) but HOW, the way things are done. What needs to be done, is for employers (public and private alike) to invest in basic boot camp training for their teachers (Korean/native speakers alike), to give them quick methods and classroom skills so that they are set up for success. Otherwise they remain teachers who want to teach but just don't know how or fumble along.......much like your attempt at analyzing the problems of English education in Korea from the few people you've sat down with along your road here....
I respectfully suggest you are wrong in suggesting the people here to teach English are the problem or even part of the problem. Look within.
Yours,
DD
--
Live Simply / Simply Live
www.ddd.batcave.net |
Mod Edit: Removed name. |
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wylies99
Joined: 13 May 2006
Location: I'm one cool cat!
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| Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 3:45 pm Post subject: |
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| Sounds like something that a Korean would write |
Sounds like someone who has one of those "word of the day" calendars, and they're going to use those L-O-N-G words- to try to impress others- even if the words don't really fit.  |
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Pak Yu Man
Joined: 02 Jun 2005
Location: The Ida galaxy
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| Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 3:53 pm Post subject: |
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Maybe he impressed some Koreans out there. Who is that guy kidding?
Who the hell talks like that?
Look at me!!!! I'm much more edumacated that all them other teachers out thar. |
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bosintang
Joined: 01 Dec 2003
Location: In the pot with the rest of the mutts
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| Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 4:01 pm Post subject: |
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| ddeubel wrote: |
Look within.
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Wise words DD. This whole debate continually fuelled by the useless Korean English media is boring.
Could you imagine a big multinational like Microsoft complaining about their "programmer problem"? Could you imagine Bill Gates complaining to the customers and shareholders that the latest version of Windows is buggy and delayed because of problems they are having with unreliable Indian and Chinese programmers? What a joke. |
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ChuckECheese
Joined: 20 Jul 2006
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| Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 4:05 pm Post subject: |
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I teach creative writing and speaking and if any of my students even attempt to write and speak like that I'll give them "F" for trying to be a �******* Idiot�.
Mod Edit: Edited for langauge. |
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cubanlord
Joined: 08 Jul 2005
Location: In Japan!
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| Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 4:09 pm Post subject: |
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| He did go a bit overboard in trying to be too verbose. |
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bosintang
Joined: 01 Dec 2003
Location: In the pot with the rest of the mutts
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| Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 4:15 pm Post subject: |
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Not once have I read about people who are here to be educators. People who are here to travel, yes. Those who are seeking refuge from their foreign land, sure. Social misfits and deranged deviants who have come to infect an unknowing population, of course. Yet I have not heard about those who are here to teach, to make a difference and to dedicate themselves to the students and the classroom.
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The man obviously doesn't use the internet. Think of all the free websites, advice, and job discussion forums that exist. All created and run by Western foreign teachers at the expense of their own free time and energy. It's a lot more than what the employers are providing.
Absolute nonsense. Only in Korea could an article like this be published. |
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mindmetoo
Joined: 02 Feb 2004
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| Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 4:33 pm Post subject: |
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| ajuma wrote: |
While I agree with the article in some respects, you have to admit that hagwon directors and the Korean government have brought this on themselves. "We only want young, attactive, blond Americans or Canadians". Did they think that they were REALLY going to get people who could teach AND wanted their students to learn? !!! 99% of hagwons don't care if you have a TEFL/CELTA certification or any experience. They just want white faces!
Parents and students are paying the price. |
It's like asking people who want to be airline pilots to self select themselves out if they're drunks. They won't. It's a great job, spiffy uniform, lots of airport bars you can lounge around in in your spiffy uniform. This is why there are laws and systems in place to keep drunks out of the cockpit.
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| But it is high time that deeper assessment, evaluation and adjustment be applied to begin to correct the current pedantic pestilence. |
Pedantic? He misuses that term.
Pedantic: Characterized by a narrow, often ostentatious concern for book learning and formal rules: a pedantic attention to details.
I thought the thrust of his argument is teachers are not concerned enough with book learning and rules. We're just here to drink 'n' travel 'n' coit like rabbits.
This whole letter is some dweeb patting himself on the back in public and being pedantic about it.
"Of course, I'm not one of those teachers. Look at me. I'm special."
What an ahole.
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Yet I have not heard about those who are here to teach, to make a difference and to dedicate themselves to the students and the classroom.
This is no more apparent than in the social milieu that eludes classroom discussion at all costs. Not once in my years here have I, in passing, heard a group of apparent "teachers" having an academic discussion about the fruits, follies and frustrations of the classroom. Furthermore, when the topic arises, it's as if dark clouds are gathering on the horizon. You want to talk about what? Let's get back to coition, consumption, criticism of the world and talk of travel. |
He might not hear any of this discussion simply because he doesn't actually hang out with anyone. It would not at all surprise me he has a hard time finding people to hoist a beer with him. Anytime I get together with fellow ESL teachers, the first things we talk about are our classrooms, our teaching techniques, things that work, how to deal with problem students, etc.
Last edited by mindmetoo on Tue Nov 28, 2006 4:44 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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