So here’s the deal: I’m tired, just tired of the way trashy Korean journalists keep dumping on English teachers: it happened again just on Thursday, and these irresponsible jokers are going to keep on doing it.
Others have had enough, too: we’re tired of taking this crap lying down. You might have seen this already: Mike Hurt pointed it out, and it’s time to fight back. (This guy agrees.) It’s time to draw attention to the way this endless scapegoating is not just hurting us: it’s hurting Korea. A country that claims to want to promote itself as a globalized, international hub achieves exactly the opposite when it craps on English teachers. Former English teachers have a lot to say about Korea once we move on, but whether we have good or bad things to say depends on our experience while in Korea.
To bring home the way former English teachers spread all over the world, and from there, influence the way people all over think about Korea, I’ve put together a small survey: something that shows how many places former English teachers end up in positions to influence the way people think about Korea. There’s no contact information: nobody’s going to be e-mailing or phoning anyone for an interview or something — just a name, certification if applicable, where they are now, and (optional) what company they work for. It helps if they’re doing well, working for well-known companies, getting higher degrees at awesome schools, or working in the international arena – embassies and such — but it’s by no means necessary. This is serious, too. I’m gonna be bloody choked if it turns out Wayne Gretzky used to be an English teacher: don’t waste my time that way, readers. I trust you.
I’ll use the results in a blog post, an article, and a dramatic little video that I’ll be youtubing, and sending the article to some key, connected places (news agencies in Korea or abroad, those concerned with promoting Korea, and some of the groups around the world who pay attention to irresponsible media behavior — this is not just a blog post, friends. I’m sending it out). Anyway, it only takes about a minute to fill out the form, and if you agree that it’s time to call Korea’s yellow media to account, it doesn’t take much time or effort to help: if you know a former English teacher, or are one, just let us know where they (or you) are, and it’ll help me put together something to remind interested parties what a negative effect all the media scapegoating has.
Surveymonkey only lets you put in a maximum of three names, so pick your best three if you have a lot of connections. Or go to another computer and put in the others.
12/06/2009 at 9:27 am Permalink
Hey Rob,
Is the three person limit because you have a limited account? I have unlimited Survey Monky if there is ever a need for it..
Charles
12/06/2009 at 9:49 am Permalink
That’s right, charles. Thanks for the offer: if I need to gather more info to make a more convincing case, and 100 responses is not enough, I’ll definitely ask you.
12/06/2009 at 3:38 pm Permalink
Has anyone thought of making a long list of present teachers and their backgrounds then taking out an ad in one of those filthy rags? I have a law degree from a very old and respected university and many years of teaching experience at the middle school, high school and university level. I could have done other things but I choose to teach.
17/06/2009 at 6:49 pm Permalink
The real problem is that these schools (private evening schoools) aren’t interested in teaching the kids themselves, it’s all about money. After working in a Hagwon for a year I couldn’t face a second year. The director was only interested in keeping the kids ‘happy’ and maintaining them as paying customers. Whenever I tried to make more effort with teaching and the kids found it a bit tougher I was told to cut back again as they were not ‘happy’.
Although the Hagwons will never admit it, I think they aren’t about education, their about money and don’t like having to pay foreigners to be there but know they have to, in order to attract business.
I also agree with the ‘fight back’ attitude. So many of my friends would not recommend a year in Korea teaching to anyone else because of the way our directors treated us.