Comments on: The ‘Blonde Hair, Blue-eyed Paradise’ continues http://www.rjkoehler.com/2005/04/12/the-blonde-hair-blue-eyed-paradise-continues/ Korea... in Blog Format Sat, 11 Oct 2008 23:28:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Scott http://www.rjkoehler.com/2005/04/12/the-blonde-hair-blue-eyed-paradise-continues/#comment-14021 Scott Fri, 15 Apr 2005 05:42:56 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=1547#comment-14021 Ask a hogwan directore what kind of "qualifications" he cares about, and he won't really give two squirts about a fancey degree (although the moms like to see it mentioned in the brochures). In many cases, the greener the better. My old director got sick of hiring teachers with B.Eds, because they came here expecting to actually "teach" and all they do is fight the system and complain. What a director really wants is a happy go lucky anything goes kind of person who adapts to Korea and keeps a smile...and most importantly gets along with kids. You can't teach that at a university. I think for teaching adults maybe it is good to have an English or Business Degree. But teaching kids in Korea is a joke. Once Korean realise that they will save themselves heaps of money and import as many highschool dropouts as possible who will be happy to work for less so long as its more than they would otherwise earn at a 7-11. Ask a hogwan directore what kind of “qualifications” he cares about, and he won’t really give two squirts about a fancey degree (although the moms like to see it mentioned in the brochures). In many cases, the greener the better. My old director got sick of hiring teachers with B.Eds, because they came here expecting to actually “teach” and all they do is fight the system and complain. What a director really wants is a happy go lucky anything goes kind of person who adapts to Korea and keeps a smile…and most importantly gets along with kids. You can’t teach that at a university. I think for teaching adults maybe it is good to have an English or Business Degree. But teaching kids in Korea is a joke. Once Korean realise that they will save themselves heaps of money and import as many highschool dropouts as possible who will be happy to work for less so long as its more than they would otherwise earn at a 7-11.

]]> By: Brendon Carr http://www.rjkoehler.com/2005/04/12/the-blonde-hair-blue-eyed-paradise-continues/#comment-14020 Brendon Carr Fri, 15 Apr 2005 01:51:01 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=1547#comment-14020 Why the heck is lying to an employer a criminal offense? Obviously people should get fired for lying about their credentials but criminal charges? Are these guys just getting taken into custody for deportation purposes or are they actually being charged with a crime? Well, obviously I don't know what the charge is, but it seems possible to me that because a diploma is a required document for the teachers' E-2 work visa application, submission of a forged diploma to the authorities is considered to be "making a false official statement". Which is, of course, a crime just about anywhere. So there you have it. I want this guy ariwrong to call me at my office just to say hello. Why the heck is lying to an employer a criminal offense? Obviously people should get fired for lying about their credentials but criminal charges? Are these guys just getting taken into custody for deportation purposes or are they actually being charged with a crime?

Well, obviously I don’t know what the charge is, but it seems possible to me that because a diploma is a required document for the teachers’ E-2 work visa application, submission of a forged diploma to the authorities is considered to be “making a false official statement”. Which is, of course, a crime just about anywhere.

So there you have it. I want this guy ariwrong to call me at my office just to say hello.

]]> By: nathaniel http://www.rjkoehler.com/2005/04/12/the-blonde-hair-blue-eyed-paradise-continues/#comment-14019 nathaniel Thu, 14 Apr 2005 11:59:15 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=1547#comment-14019 To the person who said why not do JET, my answer is simple, you can't save as much money if you want to go out and have a good time. Also with JET you are at the whims of the system as to where you get placed. I for one would not want to end up in the mountains as a couple of my friends have. Also the application process is a bit of a pain versus the simplicity of Korea. To the person who said why not do JET, my answer is simple, you can’t save as much money if you want to go out and have a good time. Also with JET you are at the whims of the system as to where you get placed. I for one would not want to end up in the mountains as a couple of my friends have. Also the application process is a bit of a pain versus the simplicity of Korea.

]]> By: nora sumi park http://www.rjkoehler.com/2005/04/12/the-blonde-hair-blue-eyed-paradise-continues/#comment-14018 nora sumi park Thu, 14 Apr 2005 08:19:11 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=1547#comment-14018 mike, immigration might have been tipped off. there's a reward out for turning in people like this. it's a good way to clear out the a-holes from one's workplace, if the a-holes are using doctored docs. mike,
immigration might have been tipped off. there’s a reward out for turning in people like this. it’s a good way to clear out the a-holes from one’s workplace, if the a-holes are using doctored docs.

]]> By: Mike http://www.rjkoehler.com/2005/04/12/the-blonde-hair-blue-eyed-paradise-continues/#comment-14017 Mike Thu, 14 Apr 2005 07:37:37 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=1547#comment-14017 I wondering if these guys were doing a good job? Did the schools have anything bad to say about these guys... Did they do a good job? Were the children happy? Were the parents happy? I am so happy I am no longer teaching English in Korea... I just wonder what made the Korean government hunt these guys down? Were they going to work drunk... After 5 years of teaching English you might think these guys had enough experience to do the job they are required to do...^^ Mike I wondering if these guys were doing a good job? Did the schools have anything bad to say about these guys… Did they do a good job? Were the children happy? Were the parents happy?

I am so happy I am no longer teaching English in Korea… I just wonder what made the Korean government hunt these guys down? Were they going to work drunk…

After 5 years of teaching English you might think these guys had enough experience to do the job they are required to do…^^

Mike

]]> By: ariwrong http://www.rjkoehler.com/2005/04/12/the-blonde-hair-blue-eyed-paradise-continues/#comment-14016 ariwrong Thu, 14 Apr 2005 05:10:38 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=1547#comment-14016 Brendon you out there? Why the heck is lying to an employer a criminal offense? Obviously people should get fired for lying about their credentials but criminal charges? Are these guys just getting taken into custody for deportation purposes or are they actually being charged with a crime? Anyway what the heck are you guys that are teaching English in Korea thinking? Assuming you've got a college degree and are under 40, come to Japan and teach in the JET program. As far as I can tell, it's alot better deal than what the Korean hagwons give out. FYI the girs here also tend to be alot more into foreign guys ... <a href="http://www.chicago.us.emb-japan.go.jp/jic/JET.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.chicago.us.emb-japan.go.jp/jic/JET.html</a> Brendon you out there?

Why the heck is lying to an employer a criminal offense? Obviously people should get fired for lying about their credentials but criminal charges? Are these guys just getting taken into custody for deportation purposes or are they actually being charged with a crime?

Anyway what the heck are you guys that are teaching English in Korea thinking? Assuming you’ve got a college degree and are under 40, come to Japan and teach in the JET program. As far as I can tell, it’s alot better deal than what the Korean hagwons give out. FYI the girs here also tend to be alot more into foreign guys …

http://www.chicago.us.emb-japan.go.jp/jic/JET.html

]]> By: snow http://www.rjkoehler.com/2005/04/12/the-blonde-hair-blue-eyed-paradise-continues/#comment-14015 snow Wed, 13 Apr 2005 21:23:32 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=1547#comment-14015 If Korea is such a paradise for english teachers, how come so many of them hate it here? For the record, I do like it here and know a number of other foreigners who also like it, but it seems I've met alot who don't. Paradise? The girls are pretty and it's easy to get dates (free english lessons), but the work hours are usually slave hours at most hogwans. I agree there are lots of unqualified teachers here, but how are you going to get qualified ones to come over? Pay them well and give them a decent teaching schedule. Not willing to do that? Well, expect the unqualified types then. If Korea is such a paradise for english teachers, how come so many of them hate it here? For the record, I do like it here and know a number of other foreigners who also like it, but it seems I’ve met alot who don’t. Paradise? The girls are pretty and it’s easy to get dates (free english lessons), but the work hours are usually slave hours at most hogwans. I agree there are lots of unqualified teachers here, but how are you going to get qualified ones to come over? Pay them well and give them a decent teaching schedule. Not willing to do that? Well, expect the unqualified types then.

]]> By: candu http://www.rjkoehler.com/2005/04/12/the-blonde-hair-blue-eyed-paradise-continues/#comment-14014 candu Wed, 13 Apr 2005 16:23:29 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=1547#comment-14014 Usually both diplomas and transcripts are needed, but for anyone who has dealt with Immigration, the story can change from year-to-year, officer-to-officer, etc. Sometimes the transcript requirement is waived by the authorities, often when an employer "pushes" for a visa to be issued (I have a pretty good idea what that might involve). I'm not sure that I'd agree with the police about the demand for English teachers growing so rapidly at the moment, so much as the supply of teachers - qualified or not - being lower than it was back in '96 or '97 - back in the days of $US = W 800 - when I would argue the demand was also higher than it is now. There may be some truth to the belief that Korea can be a Western teacher's "paradise", but I've met numerous people on visits back to Canada over the years who have stories about a friend or friends who didn't enjoy their Korean experience all that much, often because they got shafted by their employer. Both sides of the secret are out... Usually both diplomas and transcripts are needed, but for anyone who has dealt with Immigration, the story can change from year-to-year, officer-to-officer, etc. Sometimes the transcript requirement is waived by the authorities, often when an employer “pushes” for a visa to be issued (I have a pretty good idea what that might involve).

I’m not sure that I’d agree with the police about the demand for English teachers growing so rapidly at the moment, so much as the supply of teachers - qualified or not - being lower than it was back in ‘96 or ‘97 - back in the days of $US = W 800 - when I would argue the demand was also higher than it is now.

There may be some truth to the belief that Korea can be a Western teacher’s “paradise”, but I’ve met numerous people on visits back to Canada over the years who have stories about a friend or friends who didn’t enjoy their Korean experience all that much, often because they got shafted by their employer. Both sides of the secret are out…

]]> By: cjunk74 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2005/04/12/the-blonde-hair-blue-eyed-paradise-continues/#comment-14013 cjunk74 Wed, 13 Apr 2005 15:50:32 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=1547#comment-14013 What suprises me is the insistance on Diplomas. In the US employers often require Transcrips instead of Diplomas. A Transcript is much more difficult to forge and is easier to verify. But hey, what do I know. What suprises me is the insistance on Diplomas. In the US employers often require Transcrips instead of Diplomas. A Transcript is much more difficult to forge and is easier to verify. But hey, what do I know.

]]> By: william G http://www.rjkoehler.com/2005/04/12/the-blonde-hair-blue-eyed-paradise-continues/#comment-14012 william G Wed, 13 Apr 2005 09:32:29 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=1547#comment-14012 The blackmailer needs to have his nutsack stepped on a few times. The blackmailer needs to have his nutsack stepped on a few times.

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