Re: Re: GEPIK is Finished

 "I think Korea wants to obtain the (perceived) luxurious lifestyles of Westerners, and perhaps impress the West with their success, but they want to remain culturally isolated."

I agree!

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Almost all of what I have said came straight from the mouth of my Korean co-teacher yesterday-- which is also almost completely identical to what my LAST co-teacher used to tell me, and also identical to what a lot of STRANGERS have said to me while out drinking. After you hear it a few times, you start to believe it.

This has nothing to do with anyone hating me or me hating anyone-- the person who told me this is someone who is a very good friend and I think the world of her, and she seems to like me too... but yeah, surprise surprise at the same time she also thinks that NETs are a huge waste of money and would probably vote to get rid of me if she could. And for some extremely strange reason I don't think she's completely alone... mostly because she has a mouth and a brain and can communicate with other people and share opinions... oh, and it's in the newspapers-- not just the ones you can read either.

Caring about or having an opinion about my future in Korea definitely doesn't mean I have any less right to be here than you. So next time before you decide that you need to add the most cliched and brainless love-it-or-leave-it redneck response in the history of humans everywhere to a discussion that you've put zero thought into, ask yourself 'does ANYONE actually need to hear this comment for the millionth time'? Or for god's sake, put some sort of humorous or interesting spin on it so at least it would be somewhat worth reading. Or actually don't, because you probably couldn't do it right anyway, DUDE.

Korean teachers with even perfect English skills, robots and people on Skype can't provide the sort of cross-cultural experience Korea needs if it wants to grow into a respected global player.  But honestly, beyond perhaps a few ideological politicians, I don't really think that's what Korea wants at all.  I think Korea wants to obtain the (perceived) luxurious lifestyles of Westerners, and perhaps impress the West with their success, but they want to remain culturally isolated.  That's their right, ultimately, and they seem to pull off a sort of self-contained yet thriving economy pretty well for now.  I still think the isolation is going to be detrimental to their future in the long run though.

This is the crux of the matter right here. Many of us here have a few Korean friends or boyfriends/girlfriends who have a more globalized perspective and with whom we enjoy true connections with but these kinds of people unfortunately represent a very small minority of the Korean populace. Most Koreans find us a curiosity and want to learn our language for their own benefit but they don't really want us to stay or care about the cultural exchange aspect. The truth is that isolation is very much a part of their culture and we see that manifested in the education system as well.

I think this situation with GEPIK should serve as a warning to all teachers in Korea of the realities of our working here. What we should take away from it is this:  Enjoy yourselves, go out and meet as much people as you can while you're here and try to immerse yourself in Korean culture from time to time but know that our time here is ticking away so start working on some backup plans or alternate career paths for the future if you haven't already done so.

I just read in the Korean article that the reason behind the cuts is to make room for the "free lunch program" every student, rich or poor, will not have to pay for lunch starting next year and that's a big budget.

The budget cut is not only affecting NETs but the KETs (contract teachers like us).  The Office is cutting contact English teachers as well to make room for the "free lunch program".

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Almost all of what I have said came straight from the mouth of my Korean co-teacher yesterday-- which is also almost completely identical to what my LAST co-teacher used to tell me, and also identical to what a lot of STRANGERS have said to me while out drinking. After you hear it a few times, you start to believe it.

This has nothing to do with anyone hating me or me hating anyone-- the person who told me this is someone who is a very good friend and I think the world of her, and she seems to like me too... but yeah, surprise surprise at the same time she also thinks that NETs are a huge waste of money and would probably vote to get rid of me if she could. And for some extremely strange reason I don't think she's completely alone... mostly because she has a mouth and a brain and can communicate with other people and share opinions... oh, and it's in the newspapers-- not just the ones you can read either.

Caring about or having an opinion about my future in Korea definitely doesn't mean I have any less right to be here than you. So next time before you decide that you need to add the most cliched and brainless love-it-or-leave-it redneck response in the history of humans everywhere to a discussion that you've put zero thought into, ask yourself 'does ANYONE actually need to hear this comment for the millionth time'? Or for god's sake, put some sort of humorous or interesting spin on it so at least it would be somewhat worth reading. Or actually don't, because you probably couldn't do it right anyway, DUDE.

[mod edit - insulting another user]

Did Gepik ever start? Did they ever start with  a thought out policy of what they wanted to do with their native teachers?  The level of English here is appalling for a country which has employed so many foreign teachers and thrown so much money at learning English.

Adam

I just read in the Korean article that the reason behind the cuts is to make room for the "free lunch program" every student, rich or poor, will not have to pay for lunch starting next year and that's a big budget.

The 'free lunch' story is last year's news in Gyeonggi-Do and has nothing to do with the GPC's decision to block the budget request by the GPOE.

Did Gepik ever start? Did they ever start with  a thought out policy of what they wanted to do with their native teachers?  The level of English here is appalling for a country which has employed so many foreign teachers and thrown so much money at learning English.

Adam

GEPIK isn't responsible for the whole of Korea...and a program that's only been around for eight years is hardly going to increase the level of English to a huge and noticeable extent!  I think that the English level of 20 year olds in Korea is much better now than it was ten years ago.  Increasing proficiency in a second language is NOT something that can be achieved overnight.

I just read in the Korean article that the reason behind the cuts is to make room for the "free lunch program" every student, rich or poor, will not have to pay for lunch starting next year and that's a big budget.

The 'free lunch' story is last year's news in Gyeonggi-Do and has nothing to do with the GPC's decision to block the budget request by the GPOE.

Did Gepik ever start? Did they ever start with  a thought out policy of what they wanted to do with their native teachers?  The level of English here is appalling for a country which has employed so many foreign teachers and thrown so much money at learning English.

Adam

GEPIK isn't responsible for the whole of Korea...and a program that's only been around for eight years is hardly going to increase the level of English to a huge and noticeable extent!  I think that the English level of 20 year olds in Korea is much better now than it was ten years ago.  Increasing proficiency in a second language is NOT something that can be achieved overnight.

Yeah, NETs need to stop name-blaming GEPIK in this and actually read the article, especially the quotes from the GPC representative, to understand what's actually going on here..  GEPIK has been fighting to keep this cut from going through.  Of course I'm sure they're largely motivated by wanting to keep their own jobs--but what's wrong with that?  It doesn't make them any greedier than any of us who are also, after all, fighting to keep jobs.  My own coordinator has been really prompt in answering questions and been up-front about things as far as I can tell.  I've thanked her for her hard work in a frustrating, uncertain situation.  B*tching about GEPIK doesn't really strengthen our position that we're valuable within the Korean education system.

I feel like it has a lot to do with "country personality type". Of course there are tons of exceptions but it sometimes is helpful to see whole cultures through the lens of "MBTI". Korea seems to be very much a Sensing culture (in general, of course) which would mean that when making decisions 'leadership' would start from the 'practical' (we need to learn English) and work step-by-step to reach the big picture instead of seeing the big picture first and implementing steps afterwards.

There's plenty of evidence from the history of Korea until today to see how it may possibly be skewed to the "Sensing" side (such as a long period where Buddhism was discouraged by leadership b/c monks shouldn't be meditating or thinking about deeper things in life and instead everyone should focus on the practical here and now) so that may explain why many things in Korea often seem "short-sighted" to those who are iNtuitive -- kind of like the walkway near our apt that they just started and finished building and has been washed away yesterday by the rains.

The opposite problem of having a predominately "iNtuitive culture" would be that 'leadership' would come up with awesome, revolutionary plans for raising their people's standard of living (and teaching English would probably be a part of that) but would fail to implement a successful step-by-step detailed approach and almost nothing would end up getting done.

It seems, at least to me, that whenever there is unbalance on either side then things don't work. Korea may need a heavy dose of iNtuitive people who can see patterns and somewhat predict the future just like other nations may need to move towards involving more Sensing people in their decision-making processes that can help them successfully implement the "big ideas".

Everyone says that the free lunch program is what is "breaking the budget" in GPOE. Ask your co-teacher and they will confirm this.

Everyone says that the free lunch program is what is "breaking the budget" in GPOE. Ask your co-teacher and they will confirm this.

I don't need to ask my co-teacher.  Just because a co-teacher can repeat an old fact, doesn't make it new.  The current problem has NOTHING to do with school lunches, and everything to do with the GPC deciding not to approve the section of the GPOE budget that funds us.  Did you read any of the articles about this from last week?  Yes...the free lunch issue was a relevant issue with the LAST round of cuts in March...but they have NOTHING to do with the current situation. 

My co-teacher is wonderful...but I don't think that she reads newspapers.

Then what is the problem?

Then what is the problem?

I think that if you look through the thread here there are a lot of links and explanations.

The current problem has NOTHING to do with school lunches, and everything to do with the GPC deciding not to approve the section of the GPOE budget that funds us.

This is the crux of the matter right here. Many of us here have a few Korean friends or boyfriends/girlfriends who have a more globalized perspective and with whom we enjoy true connections with but these kinds of people unfortunately represent a very small minority of the Korean populace. Most Koreans find us a curiosity and want to learn our language for their own benefit but they don't really want us to stay or care about the cultural exchange aspect. The truth is that isolation is very much a part of their culture and we see that manifested in the education system as well.

Well to be fair, that happens in every country and every culture hence the debate about "multiculturalism".  Koreans are not the only ones who are not too interested about foreigners.

That is too bad about GEPIK. Has anyone heard, if they are downsizing EPIK at all? I am in Incheon and have heard a few things, but they have only been rumors.

The current problem has NOTHING to do with school lunches, and everything to do with the GPC deciding not to approve the section of the GPOE budget that funds us.

I am inclined to agree with regard to the school lunches. It wouldn't make much sense to dump teachers in the middle of the school year and implement free school lunches. Though, I'm not sure the GPC's decision makes much sense anyway. :)

Once the contract is signed and your ARC extended they are bound (by contract and labor law (civil service act)) to keep you unless they acquire legitimate grounds to terminate your employment.

Once the contract is signed and your ARC extended they are bound (by contract and labor law (civil service act)) to keep you unless they acquire legitimate grounds to terminate your employment.

Yeah...but the article was full of poo about that side of things anyway.  Both GEPIK and the GPOE have released statements about this situation...and both have been clear on their intention to honour existing contracts.  I believe there was a follow up article that mentioned this...and it's linked above somewhere.

Once the contract is signed and your ARC extended they are bound (by contract and labor law (civil service act)) to keep you unless they acquire legitimate grounds to terminate your employment.

Yeah...but the article was full of poo about that side of things anyway.  Both GEPIK and the GPOE have released statements about this situation...and both have been clear on their intention to honour existing contracts.  I believe there was a follow up article that mentioned this...and it's linked above somewhere.

Looked but couldn't find it, which one were you talking about?