Unqualified teachers etc..

I read a post over at Brian in Jeollanam-do that got me and a couple of other TaLK scholars a wee bit fumed (easy to do with some of the crap we’re currently dealing with from Jeonnam POE)

Link to the post here

The letter he was writing about was ‘normal’ (as in I’ve heard it before) but is still rubbish.  Some of his comments at the end, though, really got my back up. So I’ve cross posted my comment below..

--Rant warning--
Did you have to bag TaLK?
I realise there is an impression that most of the TaLK scholars are gyopo on a free ride who are completely unqualified to teach (if they even speak English). But if you apply that to all the TaLK scholars you are just presenting them the same way the Korean media presents native English teachers. Sure, there are bound to be some who are not concerned about working and who wouldn't otherwise stand a snowballs chance of being qualified. But, the majority actually enjoy there jobs and do them well enough.
Are they unqualified? They get a month of 8hrs-a-day training in classroom management and English teaching method. Some have even finished degrees and are taking time out from post-graduate study.
Are they all Gyopo? Most are..about a third aren't, and of those who are a good portion have graduated and are doing what Mummy or Daddy told them to.
In Jeonnam about half are non ethnic Korean. Many of us teach regular English classes instead of after-school as we were told we would (TIK). We get help from university student volunteers for, at most, 9hrs a week. If they turn up. TIK.
I'm not saying that there aren't problems with TaLK, I hear complaints regularly. But the majority of the teachers, like those in JLP or EPIK, do their best and do it well enough.
I'm in TaLK. I teach 400 kids in Damyang. I have my degree (in a TESOL related field). I'm a native english speaker. Am I unqualified?

Now, I realise that its not my best writing but it does echo things I’ve heard too many times before from English teachers here. Bagging TaLK is easy, I do it all the time. The difference is I’m actually in the program and try to do something about the things that come up (like our, currently missing, cultural experience money). I follow a few of the larger blogs run by ESL teachers in Korea and I have yet to see someone look further into TaLK before running it down. I know I come from a very different background to many TaLK scholars (and any other English teachers) in Korea. But, we all recieve the same training deal..and we are all ‘theoretically’ qualified. Much moreso than the average first time English teacher in Korea.

 

Thats it..I’m done. If someone wants to call me on anything I’ve said..sweet as.

 

[my background is BA from University of Auckland, not much, I know,  but my majors were Linguistics and English Language Teaching AND Korean studies. Plus a long relationship with Koreans in general and 5 years ongoing with one special lady. Not the typical background for a first time English teacher in Korea.]