According data submitted by the Seoul Office of Education to Seoul councilman Nam Jae-gyeong (Grand National Party), only 166 of the 810 foreign English teachers (20.5%) in city schools were certified teachers.
Only 303, or 37.4%, had TESOL certifications, while 44 (5.4%) had both teaching and TESOL certifications.
Only 136 (16.8%) had majors related to English education, and only 102 (12.6%) were education majors.
Meanwhile, 385 teachers — 48% — had neither teacher certifications or TESOL certifications.
Given the salary and benefits offered us native speakers, they're lucky they can still import teachers at all.
3 comments:
Brian, the word "unqualified" is a broad term, and can encompass many different kinds of shortcomings, including professional and criminal shortcomings. What's wrong with using a broad term to describe a broad range of problems?
Moreover, from the translation provided at The Marmot's Hole, it seems like the article is using "unqualified" to refer specifically to professional qualifications to teach (or lack thereof). Does the article "conflate" the term with other problems?
If not, then wouldn't this article be a perfect example of how someone SHOULD use the word "unqualified"? It appears they're referring to a specific type of qualification (professional credentialing), and discussing how common that qualification is among foreigners teaching English in Korea.
It's tricky because as you probably know the only "qualifications" one needs to teach is a passport, a degree, a health check, and a background check (though these aren't consistant). Thus a person without any credentials or certifications is perfectly qualified to be an English teacher in Korea if they possess these things.
a specific type of qualification (professional credentialing)
But you don't need a teaching credential to teach in Korea. If they aren't qualified, how did they get hired BY THE GOVERNMENT? They have to agree what qualified means, even this article isn't clear about whether a TESOL, a B.Ed., a teaching qualification, two of the above or all three of the above is required to teach English for SMOE. The article doesn't define what qualified means, so it will continue to be used irresponsibly. Isn't this really the government publically announcing, "We are a bunch of fools?" Then again, it's just some hotshot Councilman trying to get famous and make money. Which he will then spend on hookers in room salons. Ah, corruption.
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