You know what a little girl said to me today? Essentially: "My mother and father pay your wages, so I can sit and sleep here if I want to."
I don't think you can imagine the amount of rage I was feeling at that point in time. See, what she had said was offensive, but what was even more irritating is that her mother or father probably spouted off something similar for her to come to that conclusion.
There are people in Korea who support foreign teachers coming over, and there are people who don't. The people who don't consider us a waste of funding and I'm guessing because this particular little girl isn't good at English that her parents probably think along these lines. And while everyone is entitled to their opinion, perhaps they should consider that their child simply isn't interested in learning and instead uses their parents opinions to justify being lazy and rude, and that's why their English level is staying low. I don't like making excuses, but there is fuck-all I can do if a child simply says no to learning.
The thing with foreign teachers is that it is a hit or miss. Korea is desperately pushing English on the new generation so that they can become more international; "To get a high-paying job you must speak English," kind of thing. So the Korean government are desperately importing foreign people and giving them teaching jobs. As great as this is for westerners looking to come to Korea, this particular system isn't doing the country much good.
My program, for example - TaLK, Teach and Learn in Korea. All the program requires is that you have at least two years of a degree finished and that you "seem trustworthy." Of course they have a look into your background and criminal history too, but I feel this in itself isn't enough.
Now, don't get me wrong. The low entrance requirements were wonderful for me - before coming to Korea I had a degree in computer game art and virtually no teaching experience. I was in no way qualified to teach English to children, especially as a second language. I did and still feel that I am under-qualified to be here, but that's not the whole story. I am in no way saying that teachers who come here should all have degrees in English or linguistics or have a tonne of teaching experience - of course it would help, but I feel being a good teacher isn't really about whats on your resume. The problem is the people who travel here to teach and lack a personality that is suitable for being around children.
As the "foreign teacher" you usually take a second role. The school will already have an English teacher - a Korean person who has studied English until their soul died - and they have the task of teaching grammar and drilling vocabulary. As the foreign teacher, you are there to expose the students to a "native-English speaker." You are there to entertain. To inspire. To get them interested. You have to smile and joke with them. You have to encourage them. Your job is to get them to want to speak with you in English. So, if your native-English-speaking teacher is lazy or grumpy or boring, then this becomes a problem.
I've heard stories about teachers who just Google worksheets and print them because they are too lazy to plan their own classes. I've heard about teachers who have been argumentative and rude to their peers and employers (which, in Asia, in a big no no). I have also heard stories about teachers turning up to work drunk or hung-over. Or those who have gone out drinking and started fights, not realizing that their actions could badly affect their school's reputation. It is these kinds of people that give not only foreign teachers but foreign people in general a bad name. And sadly, it's these people that are remembered.
Teaching is something you can learn over time with experience. That's why I'm not berating all those without the related qualifications: if you are applying for Korea but have a degree in something else, bloody go for it, but only if you take it seriously.
When I first started at my school I had no idea if my students were learning anything. Nowadays, we repeat it until they can discuss the topic fully in a cute British accent. Learning how to teach comes with time and patience. The part you can't learn is how to be interesting. How to get children to want to eat with you and play soccer with you and tell you about their lives.
No, I don't have a teaching degree. But on Monday I taught a class the names of the months and on Thursday morning they were running up to me in the hallway to show me how fast they could say all twelve. A lot of the kids could spell them too.
Why? Because I actually care.
No, I didn't study English. But I'm studying it now. No, I didn't study linguistics, but I'm working my way through a TEFL course. No, I didn't study teaching, so I often sit in on the other teachers classes to observe. Yes, I did an art degree, so I use it to hand-make all my worksheets and draw comics in English for my students to read.
It's not about what you lack, it's about the time you're willing to put in. And it breaks my heart that some dickheads come over here and ruin what the rest of us are trying to achieve.
Anyway, back to my story.
A lot of my students are actually very good at English, so with their help translating I was able to reply to the girl:
"You think your parents pay my way? I'm working in a public school. If I cared about money I would have applied to a private academy. Your government pays me. I left my friends and my family to come to a country I didn't know with a language I couldn't speak. I live in a tiny apartment in the countryside getting paid much less then I would of had I stayed in England. I study hard to teach you, and I spend a lot of time and a lot of my own money preparing your classes. I try very hard to make English fun for you, the least you can do is listen."
Perhaps too much guilt to put on an elementary school child, but I was angry. And a small part of me hoped she would repeat some of this to her parents. Childish, right?
Korea defiantly has to re-organise the way they import foreign teachers, but you know, some of us actually do give a shit.
Needless to say, after school the girl came up and gave me a hug.
"Sorry teacher. I'm try hard tomorrow."
That's my girl.
No comments:
Post a Comment