We recently read that 12 percent of native speaker English teachers in Ulsan were "expelled" from their jobs. The report said that the teachers were let go because they had "methods ... inappropriate for teaching students in English." It is certainly the district's or the school's prerogative to hire or fire whomever they please, and there is no doubt some that deserve to go. However, the information and the way it was reported reveal two big problems frequently seen in media coverage of teachers. It is consistent with a trend to portray foreign English teachers in an unfairly negative way, and it begs the question why Korean teachers' methods are, as a whole, not under similar scrutiny.
The article, titled "The media bias against foreign teachers," looks at the issues I raised on two earlier posts: "12% of native speaker teachers in Ulsan not retained" and "Ethically unqualified teachers talk about corporal punishment." The chief point in the column, which you've no doubt already read by now, is that a few asshole foreigners call into question the methods and qualifications of the entire group, while the well-documented cases of excessive corporal punishment and, we can infer, other teaching styles among Korean teachers, do not bring about similar investigations of improper methodology or behavior to the group.
When judging the performance of native speaker English teachers, one needs to be a little more sophisticated than making generalizations about methodology or culture. And as a teacher myself, I am bothered that as a group our methods are constantly questioned while the frequent stories of Korean teachers behaving badly do not warrant judgments on the group as a whole.
I will be a regular contributor over there, and have some interesting ideas on deck, so stay tuned. I'm sure I'll get more cold shoulders in the office for trying to create public discussion on these topics but, well, somebody should do it.
I also turned up in the Joongang Ilbo today, and my latest column is finally online. The formatting is messed up, though, so there's no need to rush over there and read it. It's based on the post about the riots in Seoul on the one-year anniversary of the initial protests against the import of American beef. Again, if you're wondering what the point of the column is, read the introductory remarks I made here and here.
7 comments:
Good piece, though you should have your girlfriend translate it into Korean and send it to the Korean newspapers. I'd be interested to see what type of feedback you'd get from that.
For online articles, especially those discussing blogs or quoting bloggers, it would be nice if they can hotlink the blog/blogger name to the blog itself.
And I'd be saying that even if I weren't one of the bloggers you quoted (and I think you do a good job of picking and presenting other bloggers' comments, by the way).
"The point is that media focuses on foreign teacher misdeeds, while not offering a proportional level of scrutiny to Korean teachers' misdeeds"
-- This is true. And its quite unfortunate.
-- However in your case, your blog is ALSO focusing only in defending native speakers (ESL teachers) in general against anything that society throws at them (primarily because you are part of it and it hurts your ego), instead of being neutral or providing a different perspective with regards to the issues.
"In the paper again talking about methodology, media bias."
-- Yes, because you keep on sending on low rated, biased, poorly edited, poorly formatted Korean newspapers (published in English, that accepts articles from ANYONE or ANYWHERE as long as its written in English ) that you will bash later on should they refuse to publish your submitted article.
--Aim HIGH.
I appreciate your comments on this and other posts about articles I've written, but I think you're being unfair. I don't think I've been impartial, and I've certainly done nothing to suggest that we're all top-notch. I've just tried to get us spared from the wide brush-strokes that ultimately hurt what we can do in the classroom.
I think I've been pretty hard on English teachers on my site, but have also questioned why all the talk about "qualifications" when most of us have met the qualifications set out by the government. Does that mean we're necessarily good teachers? No, but that's a different story. A lot of the things we criticize I think are unfair targets. Are we actually "teachers" if we're simpy hired as native speakers? No, and I don't like hearing people bitch about what their schools "should" be doing with them unless they've paid their dues in Korea or in the classroom. I think a little patience and understanding (on both sides) would go a long way.
I'm also critical of drug users and frat guys. I hate being around them, I hate the way they treat Korea(ns), I hate the way they approach their jobs, and I hate what they do to our image. Should I write a piece about them? Yeah, probably, and maybe I'll work on one. I think something coming from my perspective will be a little more sophisticated than the typical tripe we find.
I also don't think what I write is low-rated or poorly-edited, and while we may look down on the English-language papers---and that they do print a lot of what's accepted---the fact remains that it's the only way for us to reach a Korean audience in English. Yeah, I could just write pieces in Korean and in Korean papers, but my Korean sucks. Does that bar me from commenting? Does that bar me from making sound judgements?
If I had fluent Korean would I be having some of the same problems? Hmm, that's something to consider. Do those NSETs in public schools who are fluent in Korean face similar issues? If they do, are they inclined to lump themselves in with the rest of us?
I don't find anything wrong with taking papers to task for not providing balance in their coverage of NSETs. Sure, we're not a target demographic, and how many of us actually subscribe to these papers? But if they're going to take such an interest in us, they deserve to also get our take on things.
"I appreciate your comments on this and other posts about articles I've written, but I think you're being unfair."
-- In many ways we are on the same boat. I am as angry as you are about many things here in Korea (ok you are the angriest). Maybe im unfair, maybe im not in judging you with regards to what i thought of as your prejudices. If you think im the only one having that observation (outside the sphere of people who will always say YES to whatever writings you will do as long as it favors them), then ok ill accept that im unfair. Being a non-teacher and non-Korean as well, i have no conflict of interest on the matter.
"I'm also critical of drug users and frat guys............Should I write a piece about them? ...Yeah, probably, and maybe I'll work on one."
--If you will, then that will show you are NOT one sided. Thats good i think. Since you tend to give your opinions (through your writings) as to how the Korean public should perceive NSETs in general, then you can target also those NSETs behaving badly and shower them with "friendly" advices. That will help you in your objective.
You should weigh the contributions of the effect of the deeds of these rotten tomatoes vis a vis the inherent xenophobia among Koreans as a factor regarding the widespread negative stereotyping against foreigners or NSETs in general.
And as ive said before, instead of being defensive, how about writing articles that focuses on the positive activities of NSETs as opposed to the negative perception about them. Set examples.
"I also don't think what I write is low-rated or poorly-edited, and while we may look down on the English-language papers---and that they do print a lot of what's accepted---the fact remains that it's the only way for us to reach a Korean audience in English."
-- Of course your articles are fine, the reason why i pointed that out (poorly edited journals) is 1) its obviously poorly edited 2) you yourself is critical about them (writers, editors, newspaper itself etc) or to any articles or blog posted that DOES NOT reflect your own views.
""Yeah, I could just write pieces in Korean and in Korean papers, but my Korean sucks. Does that bar me from commenting? Does that bar me from making sound judgements?""
- Thats not my point. Write in English thats fine. But then, statistically, which group of people comprises the most number among the readers? Its a fact that Koreans sucks in English, and that there is a big likelihood that whatever you are writing will not be conveyed 100 pct on its exact context to a Korean brain as compared to a brain that can process English well. Yet, you yourself is very sensitive when Korean columnists write news in English and make mistakes regarding their choice of words especially on their catchy titles and phrases.
"I don't find anything wrong with taking papers to task for not providing balance in their coverage of NSETs"
-- Nothing wrong. If its a personal blog, fine. Providing balance is the right thing to do i agree. But what worries me is your neutrality, especially that you are sending your articles to these newspapers that makes the argument now accessible by a larger audience.
Good luck
@brian
If the K-herald or K-Times won't run anything "positive" about NSETs, why don't you supply it? That will go a lot farther than playing defense.
Again, as I mentioned in another thread: use refutation.
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