American Teachin in Korea
Hihi everyone:
Well i can swear i wasn't like this few mouths ago! But i don't know the blog attitude, made me look deeper in the web, and above all, make me wanna have a more critical point of view of what others say about things interesting me. In comparison, before i was just, letting the thing go: "well, he thinks like this it is his right", now i am more 'React' in french, just : "Well, i mostly disagree, but the point of view is interesting. Then the point i disagree is...". Yes, growing older (not yet that much), i kind of accumulate the experience, and especially because of my grade, not so low in the education path (without behind too proud, cause i am aware that i am far from the top!!), well you head is getting plenty of things, and time give the sense to it! Being a completely standard human-island native, i know that time is to be my best friend, and i think from now i was right to be patient.
To come back at the hot spot of the conversation, Korea, i just found on the net two interesting pages, one blog from a British guy, and another one from a quite experienced and, seams to be, well informed north American , i am not fully sure, whether it is American or not.
If you have the time to read the lastest cited post, quite long, but very interesting and the style is quite attracting too, you should see there painted a dark picture of Korea, and this made me jump off my french retired 'REACT' mood! To be specific, this post explain to some kind of very newbies to be clear, how to get hired or to have a position of teacher in Korea, and how to survive!!! The point of view, is too declarative in the sense that the basic European will feel a allergic 'north American' orientation of the audience, and somehow this is also bad for their own image. I mean by this, that if they could be so stupid to get hired in a country without considering so basic points, well this ain't about the country, i would quote: "you should read the contract before any signature", "Don't trust anyone before you are sure you can", "Don't disagree in public with your boss", and so on... of course these quote are out of context so you should see why i use them.
What made me more react is the way he could describe the first impression perceived by the new arriving teacher in Korea, which was categorized from the beginning of the perfect conquerant, why? because if a guy arrives, in a new country with the simple thoughts: "adventure in a new country i never heard about" or else, and expected to always be comfortable, enjoying the place like "home", not "missing his food", having no "cultural shocks", no "isolation", no "xenophobia".... well, that means this guys will arrive like a king in his country!
Personally i had few prejudices about Korea, except that i tried to live it when i was in France to get used to it. At that time i had a lots of Korean friends, food, and experiences provided. In addition to a, quite 'exaggerated' description of one friend of mine (well he doesn't have to take it bad, but i was right not to think things like he says to me sometimes).
So, the post of EmptyBottle is more like a north American guide line to go teaching in Korea. But why teaching in Korea, and why teacher are more like slaves than real teacher in his essay. Well it is not clear in his words, from my own experiences, and by asking to the bunch of every-Wednesday meeting native speakers i can see, one thing is clear, English speaker are called by Korea to come and teach. And they are called with or without any vocation for that job, like you can see in the website, he explains the problem for people how probably never thought of teaching!! But why do they come if they do not like or do not know about teaching. The answer is simple, the recruiting system of Korea is very very, attracting, and if you focus on the good spot very very lucrative, i quote his essay: "after 5 years some can offer to buy their own house" quite good!! Yes money rule the western world, don't blind yourself. Then so well paid, a new 'teacher' will think that he will also have the grant of the people he will teach, since he made the travel for them. And no... teaching is not that piece of cake, but this is not my point.
I have to admit i really liked to read this, but i hated the conquerant point of view, and the darkness that will stain the naive mind of some guys reading that. What, most of cultural prejudice are often left the same, and probably get worse if you are too narrow minded! I mean if you are aware that you are about to go abroad, please be aware that different culture means so many things: different point of view, because of different education, different worth for same things, different behavior often at extreme! The eternal Western-Eastern difference is even bigger, since there so much fight between ideologies, between economies, and so on.
Being more specific, Korea has been influence a lot by USA, and against its will, against many people will, same for north Korea. I don't want to hear a north American say: "aren't you grateful we saved you!! with our lives!", see what they did with Korea, Iraq, Vietnam... ahhh yes you saved, but you also take possession now!! See if Korea are still xenophobic, in fact more with Americans, it is simply because they are still occupying the country, ruling commercial exchanges, and need Korea as a great strategic point to continue their cold war!!!
I hope the author of the post would understand my point of view. I am on the bright side (i mean love-Korea), but living more makes me stay in between, hate and love. Simply because of the hurt i could have with the conservative mood in Korea! However, i don't think that putting the thing like, "they are blind in Korea, see how is their education!!" well to me it means nothing that just intolerance. A different education brings probably different advantages and drawbacks, and intolerance in both side is just a lack of reflexion! I could say, by the way, "look US education, they are so individual that money and power rule they life, no more human considerations", actually it is also the point in Korea, but they are less obsessed, although pushed by the parents!
It is a very difficult problem i guess, i also got lots to say, then my argument is not complete, i hope you would understand such abstract monologue. I would advise to get more information about Korea before reading this, at least i hope i could give you such knowledge, then you could read this post again and fully understand my words!
best regards,
Charles
Well i can swear i wasn't like this few mouths ago! But i don't know the blog attitude, made me look deeper in the web, and above all, make me wanna have a more critical point of view of what others say about things interesting me. In comparison, before i was just, letting the thing go: "well, he thinks like this it is his right", now i am more 'React' in french, just : "Well, i mostly disagree, but the point of view is interesting. Then the point i disagree is...". Yes, growing older (not yet that much), i kind of accumulate the experience, and especially because of my grade, not so low in the education path (without behind too proud, cause i am aware that i am far from the top!!), well you head is getting plenty of things, and time give the sense to it! Being a completely standard human-island native, i know that time is to be my best friend, and i think from now i was right to be patient.
To come back at the hot spot of the conversation, Korea, i just found on the net two interesting pages, one blog from a British guy, and another one from a quite experienced and, seams to be, well informed north American , i am not fully sure, whether it is American or not.
If you have the time to read the lastest cited post, quite long, but very interesting and the style is quite attracting too, you should see there painted a dark picture of Korea, and this made me jump off my french retired 'REACT' mood! To be specific, this post explain to some kind of very newbies to be clear, how to get hired or to have a position of teacher in Korea, and how to survive!!! The point of view, is too declarative in the sense that the basic European will feel a allergic 'north American' orientation of the audience, and somehow this is also bad for their own image. I mean by this, that if they could be so stupid to get hired in a country without considering so basic points, well this ain't about the country, i would quote: "you should read the contract before any signature", "Don't trust anyone before you are sure you can", "Don't disagree in public with your boss", and so on... of course these quote are out of context so you should see why i use them.
What made me more react is the way he could describe the first impression perceived by the new arriving teacher in Korea, which was categorized from the beginning of the perfect conquerant, why? because if a guy arrives, in a new country with the simple thoughts: "adventure in a new country i never heard about" or else, and expected to always be comfortable, enjoying the place like "home", not "missing his food", having no "cultural shocks", no "isolation", no "xenophobia".... well, that means this guys will arrive like a king in his country!
Personally i had few prejudices about Korea, except that i tried to live it when i was in France to get used to it. At that time i had a lots of Korean friends, food, and experiences provided. In addition to a, quite 'exaggerated' description of one friend of mine (well he doesn't have to take it bad, but i was right not to think things like he says to me sometimes).
So, the post of EmptyBottle is more like a north American guide line to go teaching in Korea. But why teaching in Korea, and why teacher are more like slaves than real teacher in his essay. Well it is not clear in his words, from my own experiences, and by asking to the bunch of every-Wednesday meeting native speakers i can see, one thing is clear, English speaker are called by Korea to come and teach. And they are called with or without any vocation for that job, like you can see in the website, he explains the problem for people how probably never thought of teaching!! But why do they come if they do not like or do not know about teaching. The answer is simple, the recruiting system of Korea is very very, attracting, and if you focus on the good spot very very lucrative, i quote his essay: "after 5 years some can offer to buy their own house" quite good!! Yes money rule the western world, don't blind yourself. Then so well paid, a new 'teacher' will think that he will also have the grant of the people he will teach, since he made the travel for them. And no... teaching is not that piece of cake, but this is not my point.
I have to admit i really liked to read this, but i hated the conquerant point of view, and the darkness that will stain the naive mind of some guys reading that. What, most of cultural prejudice are often left the same, and probably get worse if you are too narrow minded! I mean if you are aware that you are about to go abroad, please be aware that different culture means so many things: different point of view, because of different education, different worth for same things, different behavior often at extreme! The eternal Western-Eastern difference is even bigger, since there so much fight between ideologies, between economies, and so on.
Being more specific, Korea has been influence a lot by USA, and against its will, against many people will, same for north Korea. I don't want to hear a north American say: "aren't you grateful we saved you!! with our lives!", see what they did with Korea, Iraq, Vietnam... ahhh yes you saved, but you also take possession now!! See if Korea are still xenophobic, in fact more with Americans, it is simply because they are still occupying the country, ruling commercial exchanges, and need Korea as a great strategic point to continue their cold war!!!
I hope the author of the post would understand my point of view. I am on the bright side (i mean love-Korea), but living more makes me stay in between, hate and love. Simply because of the hurt i could have with the conservative mood in Korea! However, i don't think that putting the thing like, "they are blind in Korea, see how is their education!!" well to me it means nothing that just intolerance. A different education brings probably different advantages and drawbacks, and intolerance in both side is just a lack of reflexion! I could say, by the way, "look US education, they are so individual that money and power rule they life, no more human considerations", actually it is also the point in Korea, but they are less obsessed, although pushed by the parents!
It is a very difficult problem i guess, i also got lots to say, then my argument is not complete, i hope you would understand such abstract monologue. I would advise to get more information about Korea before reading this, at least i hope i could give you such knowledge, then you could read this post again and fully understand my words!
best regards,
Charles
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