Discrimination in the Korean ESL industry?
The Korea Times reported last week that teachers are being refused jobs in private language schools in Korea because of their skin colour.
An American college graduate of mixed-race was, according to the article, told by a potential employer “I’m sorry but we only want white people. We want a native speaker that parents approve of”. The article highlights the similar case of a black American teacher who was told by 10 schools that he could not be hired because he was not white.
The owner of one English language school is quoted as saying that the parents are to blame, because they only want their children to be taught by white native speakers. The American teacher mentioned above says that “not only are [the parents and directors] racist, but they lie about it, deny it…”
According to the article, there is no legislation to protect against this discrimination, which means that skin colour often takes precedence over qualifications or experience when it comes to hiring teachers.
So, have you taught in Korea? Is this article a true reflection of the situation, or do you think it exaggerates the problem? Post a comment below…
February 7th, 2007 at 8:23 am
Dear Reader,
I can vouched that there lies discrimination in Korea, especially anyone who perceives to be “black”. As a Black American, now in Kuwait, I spent 14 years in Korea and part of those years were in ELT.
I somewhat disagree with the argument of ignorant Korean school owners who claim parents only want “white skin.”
In 1995 when I first started, I also had a Korean female director tell me the same story. I challenged her belief and told her directly ‘that the problem was not with the students (who never knew me), but it was her personal racist attitude toward blacks. Her eyes consented that it was true of her.
The next day I met Mr. Kim, who with great understanding and educated employed me for 2 years. I have taught at such companies as Samsung, LG, Bando Fashions etc. I taught a class of housewives (lovel)and never had any problems since then.
My friend at that time was also black, tall, educated in engineering and a pilot taught private lessons and math and kept those classes for over a year.
Now, back to the issue. Korean parents are not looking for white teachers. The ignorant directors, who know nothing about ELT has brainwashed them into thinking that white teachers speak “standard English” (NOT DEFINED. The directors have been brainwashed by the egocentric American and British Anglo Saxons and have told them story after story about “blacks” in general.
So, the bottom line is that if you tell people a lie long enough, they of course will believe it.
I had had some great times in Korea from 1987 - 2003. I have many pictures of my private home classes where Koreans (middle,upper class)welcomed me. In fact I taught five private classes in one complex averaging 3K a month.
Good news gets around.
Currently, in Kuwait, its the same story. Not by Arabs, but by British and American Anglo Saxon permeating the region with the same lies.
The best thing to do is to realize that ignorance lies with insecurity.
My fellow brothers and sisters or anyone with skin other than “white”, I can only say don’t give up. For every door that is close through ignorance, many will open for you with the hope and dignity you deserve.
Well, back to working on my Diploma in TESOL - Accredidated by the College of Teacher. Ooooh!
Don’t Believe the Hype!
DJJ-Kuwait
February 11th, 2007 at 2:36 pm
Dear readers,
My last posted comment on the Korean discrimination issue had a few typos(vouched - vouche; lovel -lovely.I stand corrected on those few or more. I am new to the blog and will find out how to go back and edit.
February 21st, 2008 at 7:45 am
I had a bad experience with racism in Japan. It isn’t that common though. I was leaving a kindergarden and had a friend lined up to take my job. My wasn’t happy about me leaving but she was relieved that I had a replacement. That was until she saw him. He was interviewed by a girl that works there and she wanted to hire him. The boss took one look at him and said ‘no’.
To top things off she was mad at me for setting him up for the job. Although he was a native speaker (we went to the same high school in America) he didn’t ‘look like a native speaker’.
If he had been black or white (the ‘native speakers’ you see in movies) he would have got the job. She just felt that a non-white or non-black face would have hurt business. I’ve heard similar stories from Japanese Americans so I wouldn’t pin it on her dislike for my friends group.
I was incensed that she didn’t have the principles to hire someone well qualified and stand by him. My friend just arrived in Japan so it wasn’t a warm welcome. They have an image here of the typical Enlish speaker here.
The vast majority of places don’t have such practices though. It does happen every once in a while.