Korea: T.A.L.K. Program Reached Goal
Earlier this month ESL Daily published an article about the restrictions being lifted on the E2 visa (Original E2 visa requires teachers to go through a vigorous hiring procedure that requires several checks on a 4 year -only- university degree) in order to recruit more foreign language instructors. The “Teach Learn in Korea program” intended to hire students with 2 years or more university education, however recently this was dropped to one year (article). More than 800 teachers were recruited for the program and 400 will be selected the Korean Times reports:
Despite the doubts that were raised among the foreign teacher community in Korea, the program successfully found more than enough for the job. The new recruits will be sent to rural schools throughout the country where it is difficult to find native English speaking teachers. Unlike the original idea that the teachers would only go to public schools, they will also be sent to work at local “hogwons” or private English academies with a government approved curriculum (very few “hogwons” are expected to be part of the program). Controversies are expected to rise among teachers and schools.
“The ministry has stopped accepting applications and announced Tuesday that a total of 836 people applied for the program. Approximately 400 will be selected for English teaching positions at elementary schools in rural areas. Among the applicants, some 73 percent are ethnic Koreans.
The largest group of applicants was from the U.S. with 588, followed by Canada with 145, Australia with 40 and the U.K with 17. Regarding age, 679 were younger than 25, while 103 were aged between 26 and 30 and the rest older than 30.” - Korean Times
The largest group of applicants was from the U.S. with 588, followed by Canada with 145, Australia with 40 and the U.K with 17. Regarding age, 679 were younger than 25, while 103 were aged between 26 and 30 and the rest older than 30.” - Korean Times
Despite the doubts that were raised among the foreign teacher community in Korea, the program successfully found more than enough for the job. The new recruits will be sent to rural schools throughout the country where it is difficult to find native English speaking teachers. Unlike the original idea that the teachers would only go to public schools, they will also be sent to work at local “hogwons” or private English academies with a government approved curriculum (very few “hogwons” are expected to be part of the program). Controversies are expected to rise among teachers and schools.
interesting..thanks for sharing..
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It was bad enough before that koreans thought that foreign teachers were over paid and not educated enough. Now the TALK program has made sure that foreign teachers will get a bad reputation.
Typical of the Korean government to bring in unqualified teachers but at the same time kick well respected and qualified teachers out. It all comes down to money. The government doesn't want to pay teachers what they are worth so they get others with less skills at half the cost. It hurts the teachers already here and it hurts education in Korea.
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The principle or purpose behind going to the boonies of a far off country (hopefully to teach kids, but any dedicated people is fine) has nothing to do with how much money they pay, or how much they pay you in the big city. If you left your family and your home nation just to get paid a lot of money via the Korean tax dollars from Koreans who are busting their ass 2X as hard as you are, then I suggest looking inward and asking yourself what you are doing with your life.
I am going to rural Korea to give my time to help others achieve whatever goal they have set for themselves (in this case, to learn a language). I couldn't care less about your deluded notions of how that is bad for eduction in Korea or how it is bad for your over-bloated pocketbook. Look at it through the eyes of a rural Korean who just wants to learn English like the city people can...
"Don't pay us what we're worth"... Ah yes, the woes of the "entitlement generation" that we are so afflicted with in the Western world. give me a break. Do you have any idea how much money Korean taxpayers are sinking into these efforts to pay you at an American standard to teach them English?!?!? 50 yrs ago, even educated people in America usually had to join the military if they wanted to experience far off places. You are incredibly lucky to have whatever opportunity you have. Enough said.
"Unqualified?" I am OVER qualified and happy to dedicate my intellect to help others. Enough said.
"Kick qualified teachers out?" Last time I checked, no "qualified" teachers wanted to teach in Rural areas, and last time I checked there was still a massive demand for regular paid positions working for private companies in all the major cities... so who is getting kicked out? I rest my case.
"Half the cost?" I wish they would let me do it for 1/4 the cost. Oh well, I'll just take the huge amounts of money they are going to throw at me while I live there rent free, having gotten there via a $1,000 airfare that they also paid for! HA!
What does what I do in the Korean boonies (where the so-called "qualified" people like you would probably never work anyway) have to do with your income in the big city?
"A bad reputation for foreign teachers?" You're providing that yourself with posts like that. It is exactly your self serving entitlement attitude that makes it difficult. If Koreans think I'm under educated & over paid, that's their problem and I won't take it to heart; I'm just there to experience a different culture and dedicate my time to help others. The very rare Korean who just might look past such details as my education level or my pay and look at the real person underneath that nonsense - that's the one that I'll befriend. If I don't find them where I am staying, so what - it was never really the reason I went there anyway.
You couldn't buy a clue - even with the 2X more money that you make than I will.
Signed,
A Person who is exited to go teach in the TaLK program
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I dislike the attitude towards the TALK program. I have just been accepted, let me tell you how unqualifid I am. I have studied 2 years at University, not 3, my big floor, and I have been teaching English in South East Asia for the last 3 years. But make no mistake. I am sure a parent would rather have their son study with somone who has a geology degree. A lot more qualified.
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I am not sure where you get the ideas of other foreign teachers calling you "unqualified." The fact of the matter, most Koreans call all us teachers as "unqualified." The real issue is what is qualified to teach in Korea. If you are legally teaching in Korea and the school went through a proper means to hire you... then you are "qualified."
The thing that I am most concerned about with the TALK program is simple... your contracts are sketchy and I am concerned for your well being (TALK applicants). First, you work at a public school like most other GEPIK or SMOE but you teach more hours and get paid less. You have almost identical working conditions... Two, I believe there was a statement in the contract about being hired (or shared) out to other schools (public and private)... this comes into travel problems and over work related issues. Three, and I think the most important issue, living arrangements. Not sure if it has changed or not, but the schools have the decision to hold you at your own place or hold you with another teacher or family at the school... this can lead to a whole pile of issues.
You have made the decision to leave your home country, sign a contract, and work more than anyone else for one year... for less than anybody in the country.
Are you qualified... That has never crossed my mind... take care of yourself and protect yourself.
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