After having trouble applying my undergrad medieval history degree to get a steady job in Dallas, Texas, I thought I could give it a try teaching English in South Korea.
I left Korea after only three months. I couldn't manage the job since I came in this tough economy ― with my weak qualification ― but I'm still glad I got out of that poisonous hagwon (cram school) atmosphere.
An especially embarrassing moment for the Times, if they even feel embarrassment at this point, and very fine work by the folks at Dokdo Is Ours. (HT to reader)
15 comments:
surely this is bogus~ didn't know Vanilla ice had a medievl history degree~?!
Of course it's bogus. That's why it's embarrassing. The blog "Dokdo Is Ours" sent it in.
is that huer's site?
Ha, no, I just made that comment on Facebook because their stuff is just as out there as Huer's. It's a site that parodies stuff going on in Korea. Personally I thought it was funnier when they didn't break kayfabe---didn't acknowledge that the whole thing was a joke---but they still turn in some good work from time to time. I love the picture they always use for the Korean Food Minister, or whatever his job is. http://dokdoisours.blogspot.com/2009/04/korea-to-change-spelling-of-instant.html
ah ok, silly me... thanks for the link~!
While I agree that this kind of thing shows how badly the KT needs to overhaul its editorial policies, I think it reflects just as badly on the Anglophone community. And to the extent that it is English teachers doing this, on them as well.
How can anybody expect to be taken seriously when they're engaging in frat boy pranks so long after they get out of college?
I LOLed at that one.
Why do a few jokesters reflect badly on the Anglophone community? The Korea Times needs to do some reflection and think about why they've become the butt of jokes among their readership. If you've lost the respect of your audience, the problem isn't the audience but you.
Kushibo:
how do you know I'm an English teacher?
Only an English teacher would delight in distorting Korean history and culture. Clearly you don't understand Korea people's mind.
"How can anybody expect to be taken seriously when they're engaging in frat boy pranks so long after they get out of college?"
Aw c'mon. Living, working, and (especially) trying to teach English to Teh Amazing Race is a pretty grim business. Something like this really makes my day/ week/ month/ year.
Dokdo is Ours rules. And thanks Brian for turning me on to that most excellent blog.
The full original text was far too over-the-top, hence the drastic culling by the KT editors. More subtlety would have insured the whole thing got in. Suggest leaving out hard-core references to "crystal meth" and the like next time in favor of droll irony, which the KT editors are simply unequipped to handle.
The KT editors are too naive. They are very hungry for any English articles, regardless of quality.
do we have any hard proof that Dokdoisours is not Robert Van Winkle himself? Prove to me, sir, that you are not Vanilla Ice and you will have my respect once again. I suggest a rap battle at dawn.
What I want to know, nay, what we ALL want to know, Dokdosaurus, is why you didn't include your picture in the article? I would have pooped my pants right off if there was a picture of Vanilla Ice on the opinion page.
I had forgotten to set this up to receive follow-up comments and I just assumed that the power of my original comment had been sufficient to end all discussion. Apparently I was wrong.
WeikuBoy wrote:
Aw c'mon. Living, working, and (especially) trying to teach English to Teh Amazing Race is a pretty grim business. Something like this really makes my day/ week/ month/ year.
Oh, how horrible for you. Do you want us to contact the authorities on your behalf and tell them that you're being held against your will? Type one emoticon blink for "yes" and two emoticon blinks for "no."
Sonagi wrote:
Why do a few jokesters reflect badly on the Anglophone community? The Korea Times needs to do some reflection and think about why they've become the butt of jokes among their readership. If you've lost the respect of your audience, the problem isn't the audience but you.
You're right. I also should have mentioned that the KT has a serious problem and badly needs to overhaul its editorial policies and clean up its act.
Oh, wait. I did.
Dokdo Is Ours wrote:
Kushibo: how do you know I'm an English teacher?
I targeted my comment at the Anglophone community, which includes lots of people who are not English-talking classroom monkeys™, and I only added English teachers with the conditional to the extent that it is English teachers doing this.
No, I don't know that you are an English teacher. At this point, I don't even suspect you of being a native English speaker.
Sorry if I'm not addressing the actual criticisms aimed at my comments, but it is so much more fun to respond with ridicule, sarcasm, and attempts at humor than to actually address any of the points being made with anything of substance.
Have a great weekend, everybody!
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