English Teachers in Korea
Korean teachers' union calls on Seoul to remove Native English Teachers, and they should if they are not going to pay, train or recruit good ones.
The Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union (KTU) has called on the Seoul government to remove all Native English Teachers from public schools. Given that I taught in Korea from 2003 to 2010, it is understandable why the Union should demand this. The fault lies not with the teachers but with the government for not setting up the NETs to help students learn English.
I currently teach in Hong Kong in a government Primary School (Grades 1-6). Hong Kong NETs teachers must have at least 5 years of experience teaching English before applying. NETs must have a Teaching English Certificate (TESOL) from a government-certified provider. They are through Trinity College or Cambridge. The TESOL cannot be done online and must include lesson observations. NETs need to graduate from a university that uses only English. Where they are from does not matter. These are the basic requirements. There is a pay restriction for those without a teaching degree.
NET Teachers must undergo a three-week training session before teaching in the class. There is a section of the Education Department tasked to help the NETs. It’s staffed by NETs with at least ten years of service, a Teaching Degree and a Master of Education in English. The section supports the development of professional development courses and workshops for NETs and local teachers. They also develop literacy programs for NETs and Local teachers.
At school, my rank is the same as that of a department head. I act as a consultant to look at ways to help the kids learn the language. Co-planning and co-teaching are mandatory. I also need to lead various professional development classes for my colleagues. My pay is the same as that of local teachers with nine years of experience. It increases every year, as with other local teachers. In short, I am treated like a teacher and have the same responsibilities.
My school is a small local school where 30% of the students come from single-parent families. The chances of our students mixing and mingling with a native speaker are less than zero.
The question of removing NETs from classrooms in Seoul is essential. I’d argue the discussion should also be about what the government is willing to pay, what they're willing to train, and who they will hire. It is necessary to have a Native Speaker in the classroom, provided they are trained and supported.