* Update: I put this up yesterday evening and noticed today that the latest article was already being discussed. Kushibo has linked the guy's blog, and has a good post on this here. His videos have been posted on Dave's ESL Cafe a few times, and even the scholars there don't like him. Said one commenter in January, 2008:
This dumbass will be responsible for the next hammer dropping on all of you. Good luck dealing with the fallout.
The guy's clearly a real scumbag, and assholes like that really have no business in the classroom.
I don't sit here and pretend we're all upstanding citizens nor do I stand up for guys like this, although some disagree. "[Brian] lives in a happy world where we're all halo-crowned cherubs," is how one guy put it. I'm offended by news coverage like this, it's true, but I'm also offended by the people who feed it. What bothers me is that one of the largest papers in the country picks up a blog that Robert Koehler says averages two hits a day, and uses it as part of an effort to disparage the entire group. I like what kushibo has to say, and will include an excerpt:
Tell me why you should give a rat's ass about the press highlighting [the blogger] Colonel Fernandez. Not only is he breaking the law, he's making all kinds of English teachers look suspect because, realistically, it's plausible that any of them could have a fake diploma. And yeah, he is reinforcing the meme that Korea is a place for dishonest people to come and make money. This is not a meme Koreans collectively pulled out of their ass.
And in the end, if you're an English teacher, isn't this guy affecting your livelihood? Is it better for you if anyone can come in and throw some money his way and get a degree?
And will go on to say that as long as we're being vigilant about negative coverage, how about investing as much effort into cleaning up our own image? (The debate about who actually controls the English industry is for another time.) But clearly this reporter is on a mission, one that isn't simply thinking about the children.
18 comments:
I wonder if Chosun Ilbo did a background check when they got a reference letter for this kid from some guy named Lee Eun-eung.
While I think some of your concerns have merit, do you really want to defend fake diploma-making guy?
You know, sometimes the Korean media writes about these foreign aßßholes because their aßßholes and not because they're foreign.
Is he REALLY fake diploma guy, or is he taking the piss? Seriously, with all the diploma checking, transcript checking, etc etc and re-sumbitting of all these documents year after year after job after job... really, how is some schlub going to get so many past Immigration?
I suppose it COULD happen, but what are the odds that this guy did it so OFTEN without either he or his customers getting caught? I'll keep open the possibility that he is what he (stupidly) said he was, but I remain skeptical.
It's entirely possible he's taking the piss. And if he is, that's really pretty stupid also, because while the authorities wouldn't be able to actually gather evidence to convict him, the trouble they would cause while trying to find it would make life very uncomfortable for a while.
And if he were taking the piss, does this kind of thing help NSET image at all?
And even if he is faking his own fakery, I know for a fact there are people like that operating out there.
I inadvertently made a fake diploma for someone, but that's another story for another time.
The old saying 'one rotten apple spoils the barrel' seems appropriate here.
Firstly - I really do think that those of us who are in Korea because we are teachers, love teaching, and like Korea should somehow start regulating our own industry and get people like this out of it.
Secondly - even if 'faking it' is a joke, it's a bad one, with bad consequences for all of us.
Finally - the proof of any pudding is in the eating (I know, I'm wallowing in metaphors today) - and I would hope that people operating on fakes would be caught out by how badly they do their jobs...oh, wait, a lot of teachers in Korea are being paid to be human tape recorders, not something you really need qualifications for. LOL
I find it odd that an man who claims to help teachers come here illegal, would say say this(from a post dated November, 2007):
"Citizens angry by the nakedly sexual talk and actions of those kinds of white foreign teachers are voluntarily trying to improve things. The 14,419-member strong Anti-English Spectrum (cafe.naver.com/englishpectrum.cafe) is actively organizing a “citizen’s movement to toss out illegal English teachers”, requesting police and prosecution action. Site manager Lee (ID 엠투) said, “this year, too, we are focused on the issue of low-quality, lecherous, unqualified foreign teachers."
Its my feeling, after going through this as*holes blog, that he's worse then somebody merely, "taking the piss" and that he's trying to stir up hatred. I'd wager money (But only if doing so was legal in this jurisdiction ....) that this guy isn't white, nor an English teacher, but rather someone with quite a grudge against those of us who are. Every post seems to further at least one of the stereotypes you here Anti-English Spectrum people rally against.
I've seen that idea circulated. It's also interesting to note that, if you go back a little further, when he was teaching in CHeonan he wasn't getting paid. I just find it ironic that on one blog we have a case of a shoddy teacher and a shoddy school.
However, it's hard to explain the videos, unless he had a willing Caucasian accomplice. If this guy does actually live in HBC I'm sure he'll some explaining to do to his friends and barmates this weekend.
Is the guy really even in Korea?
Jeffery Hodges
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How does he keep up his comments on youtube if he's in Korea? I thought comments were turned off in Korea.
"willing Caucasian accomplice"?
There is evidence (though certainly not conclusive) to suggest this guy is working with Anti-English Spectrum.
He's certainly aware of them, mentions them by name saying: "The people at anti-English spectrum do have some good points."
The entire blog is clearly written to provoke a government response:
"Im an illegal English teacher in South Korea, here to provide insight into the real teaching community. I call haebangchon my home/homeaway from home/brothel."
"I also like meeting other English teachers that are despicable expat scum. Welcome to the gutter teacher. Oh, and I would like to thank the Korean government for being very lazy. Thank you."
"Welcome to the gutter teacher"??
A bit Engrishy, isn't it?
If he really hangs out at the Seoul Pub as he says, someone should just ask him what his deal is. Somehow I doubt he is even in Korea.
His post always seem like someone trying to sound like there are somewhere they aren't. Conspicuous naming of landmarks, etc.
But who knows for sure?
“this year, too, we are focused on the issue of low-quality, lecherous, unqualified foreign teachers."
What's wrong with being a lecher? so I can't jerk off to Korean porn now either?
"How does he keep up his comments on youtube if he's in Korea? I thought comments were turned off in Korea."
It's easy enough to click on the region and change it. My YouTube settings are currently set for Japan. I have zero problems uploading videos and leaving comments.
It's a 5-second fix.
ROK Hound - oh, thanx.
So what does it mean that his blogger comments show Vancouver time? Is that also just a settings choice?
The conspicuous placement of the Taegukgi in the background of his videos is one red flag that fella has been trying to manufacture a hoax. He's most likely back in Vancouver.
A lot of wet-diaper expats get burned in Korea and look for revenge on the Internet, the difference here being that the guy is pretending to still be in Korea. It's a masterful stroke of genius, really, like a WWE heel working the crowd.
A lesson in IRONY:
While I think some of your concerns have merit, do you really want to defend fake diploma-making guy?
You know, sometimes the Korean media writes about these foreign aßßholes because their aßßholes and not because they're foreign.
This coming from the guy who believes that the media has fabricated all these stories of Korean teachers dishing out corporal punishment and says that teachers sexually molesting their students is part of "slacker culture".
I think this post explains who this guy really is.
This Is Me Posting wrote:
This coming from the guy who believes that the media has fabricated all these stories of Korean teachers dishing out corporal punishment and says that teachers sexually molesting their students is part of "slacker culture".
I never said either of those things.
JSK wrote:
So what does it mean that his blogger comments show Vancouver time? Is that also just a settings choice?
Doesn't necessarily mean a thing. My blog is set up on Seoul time even though I spend most of my time in Hawaii.
Colonel Fernandez has left his calling card at my blog, in case anyone wishes to go over there and engage him.
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