Comments on: Soldiers, English Teachers and Frenchmen Behaving Badly http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/07/03/soldiers-english-teachers-and-frenchmen-behaving-badly/ Korea... in Blog Format Thu, 24 Jul 2008 05:08:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: gbnhj http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/07/03/soldiers-english-teachers-and-frenchmen-behaving-badly/#comment-94829 gbnhj Wed, 04 Jul 2007 05:11:48 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/07/03/soldiers-english-teachers-and-frenchmen-behaving-badly/#comment-94829 Any organization which hires someone without first verifying that person's offered credentials deserves what it gets. Applicants provide diplomas, professional licenses, and professional and personal references in addition to a list and short description of work history. If employers fail to perform the vetting process, then they have only themselves to blame when employees are not what they claim. These days, E-2 visa applicants must provide sealed academic transcripts which have been sent directly from the academic institution to the employer. The employer is supposed to work on submitting the application. If this step is avoided by the employer, however, then it has abrogated any usefulness this practice was set up to insure that applicants meet the qualifications. There have always been individuals who lie about their backgrounds, whatever the profession, but the real criticism/culpability should rest with those institutes and schools which fail to act responsibly, for they have the ability to stop these liars from reaching the classrooms. Any organization which hires someone without first verifying that person’s offered credentials deserves what it gets. Applicants provide diplomas, professional licenses, and professional and personal references in addition to a list and short description of work history. If employers fail to perform the vetting process, then they have only themselves to blame when employees are not what they claim.

These days, E-2 visa applicants must provide sealed academic transcripts which have been sent directly from the academic institution to the employer. The employer is supposed to work on submitting the application. If this step is avoided by the employer, however, then it has abrogated any usefulness this practice was set up to insure that applicants meet the qualifications.

There have always been individuals who lie about their backgrounds, whatever the profession, but the real criticism/culpability should rest with those institutes and schools which fail to act responsibly, for they have the ability to stop these liars from reaching the classrooms.

]]> By: globalvillageidiot http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/07/03/soldiers-english-teachers-and-frenchmen-behaving-badly/#comment-94768 globalvillageidiot Tue, 03 Jul 2007 20:47:32 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/07/03/soldiers-english-teachers-and-frenchmen-behaving-badly/#comment-94768 "Is the arrest of a couple of foreigners with fake degrees really newsworthy?" The Korean media would appear to think so. "Weren’t 25 Korean hagwon teachers arrested for the same thing in Seoul just a couple of months ago? What about the 120 Koreans who were found last year to have bought fake Russian music degrees that they used to land positions at universities and orchestras?" Yes, totally true. But seemingly they weren't as titillating stories as one involving foreign teachers, Korean women, stalking, etc. The fake degree angle is a means for some of these reports to jump to juicier parts - details not at all related to the original subject of academic qualifications/certifications - of the story. I'm not sure that the fake degree angle is what elicits the strongest emotional reaction from viewers, netizens, etc. “Is the arrest of a couple of foreigners with fake degrees really newsworthy?”

The Korean media would appear to think so.

“Weren’t 25 Korean hagwon teachers arrested for the same thing in Seoul just a couple of months ago? What about the 120 Koreans who were found last year to have bought fake Russian music degrees that they used to land positions at universities and orchestras?”

Yes, totally true. But seemingly they weren’t as titillating stories as one involving foreign teachers, Korean women, stalking, etc. The fake degree angle is a means for some of these reports to jump to juicier parts - details not at all related to the original subject of academic qualifications/certifications - of the story. I’m not sure that the fake degree angle is what elicits the strongest emotional reaction from viewers, netizens, etc.

]]> By: Paul H. http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/07/03/soldiers-english-teachers-and-frenchmen-behaving-badly/#comment-94766 Paul H. Tue, 03 Jul 2007 20:02:24 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/07/03/soldiers-english-teachers-and-frenchmen-behaving-badly/#comment-94766 First the female GI, then Canadian English teachers, and now even a FRENCH teacher? The example set by USFK males appears to be contagious. Most distressing (except for the French teacher -- in his case it's merely helping him to rediscover his inner Napoleon). And that thought calls for a drink of Courvoisier or maybe even Hennessy, to celebrate the 4th and the French role in gaining our independence. And isn't it almost time for another round of fireworks from the North to mark the celebration? First the female GI, then Canadian English teachers, and now even a FRENCH teacher? The example set by USFK males appears to be contagious.

Most distressing (except for the French teacher — in his case it’s merely helping him to rediscover his inner Napoleon).

And that thought calls for a drink of Courvoisier or maybe even Hennessy, to celebrate the 4th and the French role in gaining our independence. And isn’t it almost time for another round of fireworks from the North to mark the celebration?

]]> By: SomeguyinKorea http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/07/03/soldiers-english-teachers-and-frenchmen-behaving-badly/#comment-94752 SomeguyinKorea Tue, 03 Jul 2007 16:42:27 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/07/03/soldiers-english-teachers-and-frenchmen-behaving-badly/#comment-94752 Is the arrest of a couple of foreigners with fake degrees really newsworthy? Weren't 25 Korean hagwon teachers arrested for the same thing in Seoul just a couple of months ago? What about the 120 Koreans who were found last year to have bought fake Russian music degrees that they used to land positions at universities and orchestras? Is the arrest of a couple of foreigners with fake degrees really newsworthy? Weren’t 25 Korean hagwon teachers arrested for the same thing in Seoul just a couple of months ago? What about the 120 Koreans who were found last year to have bought fake Russian music degrees that they used to land positions at universities and orchestras?

]]> By: Bipolar Mindscrew http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/07/03/soldiers-english-teachers-and-frenchmen-behaving-badly/#comment-94746 Bipolar Mindscrew Tue, 03 Jul 2007 15:49:29 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/07/03/soldiers-english-teachers-and-frenchmen-behaving-badly/#comment-94746 Arg, I meant to post this in the previous Yates-related post... Firefox or Marmot's ate my post that day so I gave up, thinking "what're the chances this guy'll come up again?" Ha... well, someone at eslcafe noticed too. Check the blacklist over at http://www.kftra.co.kr/ and you'll see Yates listed in July 2006... I guess the list isn't very effective, eh? I wonder what he did then? And exactly who is this guy? I doubt the authenticity of the previous response claiming to be Yates... anybody feel like making up another? Arg, I meant to post this in the previous Yates-related post… Firefox or Marmot’s ate my post that day so I gave up, thinking “what’re the chances this guy’ll come up again?” Ha… well, someone at eslcafe noticed too.

Check the blacklist over at http://www.kftra.co.kr/ and you’ll see Yates listed in July 2006… I guess the list isn’t very effective, eh? I wonder what he did then? And exactly who is this guy? I doubt the authenticity of the previous response claiming to be Yates… anybody feel like making up another?

]]> By: dda http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/07/03/soldiers-english-teachers-and-frenchmen-behaving-badly/#comment-94741 dda Tue, 03 Jul 2007 12:40:51 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/07/03/soldiers-english-teachers-and-frenchmen-behaving-badly/#comment-94741 I'd like to see that Frenchman try the same thing back home... slap slap slap slap I’d like to see that Frenchman try the same thing back home… slap slap slap slap

]]> By: kkachi http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/07/03/soldiers-english-teachers-and-frenchmen-behaving-badly/#comment-94740 kkachi Tue, 03 Jul 2007 12:28:44 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/07/03/soldiers-english-teachers-and-frenchmen-behaving-badly/#comment-94740 I saw an MBC news report on teachers with forged degrees yesterday, and they made a big point of showing a tattered university degree and slowly scanning the name for the home viewers--Angus Yates (the aformentioned Australian friend). Is he now in trouble for having a false degree as well, or is it just sloppy journalism? I saw an MBC news report on teachers with forged degrees yesterday, and they made a big point of showing a tattered university degree and slowly scanning the name for the home viewers–Angus Yates (the aformentioned Australian friend). Is he now in trouble for having a false degree as well, or is it just sloppy journalism?

]]> By: Latest English Teacher Scandal at ROK Drop http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/07/03/soldiers-english-teachers-and-frenchmen-behaving-badly/#comment-94724 Latest English Teacher Scandal at ROK Drop Tue, 03 Jul 2007 08:45:09 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/07/03/soldiers-english-teachers-and-frenchmen-behaving-badly/#comment-94724 [...] that it should make headlines in the Chosun Ilbo, but heck at least it doesn’t involve GIs.  Marmot has a whole lot [...] [...] that it should make headlines in the Chosun Ilbo, but heck at least it doesn’t involve GIs.  Marmot has a whole lot [...]

]]> By: michael http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/07/03/soldiers-english-teachers-and-frenchmen-behaving-badly/#comment-94710 michael Tue, 03 Jul 2007 05:23:26 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/07/03/soldiers-english-teachers-and-frenchmen-behaving-badly/#comment-94710 "She also told police that she was an English teacher" so the cops gave her an extra beating.... “She also told police that she was an English teacher” so the cops gave her an extra beating….

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