Sunday, August 30, 2009

The Hopefuls

In this post, i am not about to have tact. It's not for the weak, and definitely not for the patriotic.

The women i encountered...

I had to endure two weeks in this place. To have an intelligent conversation is wishful thinking. The place is swarming with matchmaking made in some places. There were three cases that were not: Mine, a 30-something woman who is doing a matchmaking business, and another one who used to work with her now-husband (aka office romance). The others in this place, disliked me heartily. They thought i was showing off by asking questions.

Like i cared.

First day: the first thing that i have noticed is that these women cannot speak English. Some of them can understand Korean better than English, and it was painful to listen to them. I have encountered my share of bad speakers, but this particular group takes the cake. I mean, COME ON! They're all aspiring teachers and they cannot even make a structured sentence! The older woman who used to clean my dorm room five years ago speaks better English than most of these women. My father-in-law, who has no idea when it comes to English speaks BETTER than most of these aspiring teachers.

Never mind the accent. That we can work with.

Much like a high school classroom, you would be able to identify who's who and what's what. The class clown, the eager, the quiet, the diligent, the ones who are there because of the ride, the weirdo (me), and the show offs. There was a woman there who wanted to show off. She was sitting in front and she wanted to make an impression that she is (was) a teacher, she taught high school (i did too), and that she knows what she needs to do.

Till i spoke (bwahahahaha!!). That put her into her place. One thing about reijene is that you can't strut your stuff if it ain't better than hers. Teaching had always been my passion. It's not just something i do for a living. It's something i do with my whole soul poured into. It's not to brandish to the whole world that i am smart. It's not something to boast about. It requires humility, to a T.

Keeping in mind that these were all on the first day. I was planning to shut up and listen (and i failed miserably), but because of that show off parading what she used to be (before marrying her old korean husband) to the whole class, and bringing up archaic and phased out teaching styles, i couldn't resist it.

Anyway...

I was observing these women. I went full blast friendly without them noticing what i was trying to hide (my annoyance about their tastes, for one). They thought i was just a clown. Course some of them would still be called pretentious, but i was able to make the class laugh at my antics.

reijene says... I have a knack of knowing a person just by looking. I don't need to ask questions. My speculations are usually accurate. These girls (I'm not to call them women) are not ambitious enough for anything, but to get married, have kids and get it over with. They're married because... maybe one of these things would be their reason, but I'd go for the most obvious: they want a greener pasture without any effort but their own vaginas. They're there because they need to earn money, they don't have any working experience, and their idiot Korean husbands who cannot speak English had given up on Korean women. But 45% of these women are promising.. very promising indeed. An intensive personality training and they'd be more powerful than i am.

And no, they cannot speak English properly. Some could, but most of them can't. My 6:00 student can speak better than 85% of the class! Not to mention wrong pronunciation of simple words (i.e pear, sheep vs ship or bitch vs beach). Wrong usage of words, wrong sentence formation, wrong grammar terminologies, wrong.. wrong.. WRONG!! Needless to say, i am eating my words: I want us to have jobs, i want the migrant women to have jobs. I want us to compete with the NS society when it comes to teaching. Now i just can't wish for it. Because i really am for quality, not quantity.

How can they compete if they can't even be up to that level? How can they teach without a good command of English? How CAN they teach with their sucky pronunciation and their crappy disposition? WHAT CAN WE SHOW THE ENTIRE NATION other than we can understand English better than Koreans, and yet we cannot even express it?

To be a teacher you have to look and DRESS the part.We can't be teachers with stereotype stamped on our foreheads and dressed like some wrinkled sluts after a night job, or a house maid for that matter.

After hearing (rather reading) the news that SMOE and GEPIK dropped 100 (or more?) NS who were supposed to do a lower level English, and the news that migrant women are about to be placed in schools, or charity cases, or house to house halfway through the course, i felt awful. Awful as i was a jobhunter not too long ago, and i know how it feels to be dropped like a hot potato to make way for someone you think cannot be better than you.

And with those thoughts, my sincerest apologies to the NS society. As much as i hate to admit it, most of these women cannot teach. They cannot do the part. They lack everything necessary to be effective in teaching.

**i just wish this photo was taken in a 180 degree angle, it'd have looked much better! i look like i have cankles, and had added an extra 5 kg to my 47 kg disposition!!!**

16 comments:

Cher@SurvivingKorea said...

i heard a rumor that filipinas are supposed to be placed as ASSISTANTS of Korean Teachers and not actually teachers ater they complete this crash course...that's what the government meant when they said they will hire non-native speakers...sad but true

reijene said...

oh that's good news.

because if placed to handle an actual class... i think i'd be hibernating for another four years.

Anonymous said...

"Like i cared."

-- cool. I like that attitude :)

"One thing about reijene is that you can't strut your stuff if it ain't better than hers."

-- Im used to criticizing a lot of people for their shortcomings, and i think im doing the right thing. That is because im also open for criticisms, and i always believe there's room for improvement and that over sensitivity is rubbish. Also, i know when to praise a person, and im sure you deserve one. You are better than most netizens i know, (as far as the writing and way of thinking).

"These girls (I'm not to call them women) are not ambitious enough for anything, but to get married, have kids and get it over with."

-- Isn't that pathetic? Well let them enjoy their choices in life

"And no, they cannot speak English properly. Some could, but most of them can't. My 6:00 student can speak better than 85% of the class! Not to mention wrong pronunciation of simple words (i.e pear, sheep vs ship or bitch vs beach)"

-- This is true, i agree. Being a Filipino does not guarantee proficiency in English. Ive been saying this for a million times already. But of course, proficiency in English doesnt guarantee also intelligence in general

"As much as i hate to admit it, most of these women cannot teach"

-- But lets not forget too that a fraction of the NS population are like bad apples too, maybe its just that the defect is greater on the non-NS group

reijene said...

But lets not forget too that a fraction of the NS population are like bad apples too, maybe its just that the defect is greater on the non-NS group

agreed.

jhn316 said...

Hello blogger(sorry I didn't meant to say that^^)..just for a little opinion what was going on lately about this training maybe there was a connection I made last August 5 from the Seoul Ministry of Edu. and Human Rights Protection to reduce discrimination against Filipina migrant wives. I am sure that I made 3 or 4 complaints about being discriminated in my area..so I think here are the results that are coming surprisingly..(^^ and I really agree about your blog..^^

Nhemskie said...

Hello~ came here from Cher's blog.

What you wrote here is a sad truth for most Flipino women who just married Koreans for financial reasons. I agree with arvinsign too that not all Filipinos are proficient in the language, let alone to pronounce the language correctly.

On the other hand, I've also met a lot of filipinas who are very deserving to be teachers and are born leaders.

I guess in any part of the world, you'll always see the good and the bad ones.

Anonymous said...

"And even though we share the same country, we do not share nor possess the same skills"

-- Of course. And this doesnt apply only to Filipinas married to Koreans. Its applicable to everyone whether they are students, teachers, other professionals or whatever.

-- Actually im a little skeptical about your figure of 45%. I think its roughly 15-20% or maybe lower. Or lets just say my experience is different from that of yours.

-- Im not underestimating their skills (referring to the whole group in general), but since they are aspiring teachers, then i need to set my bars high. What irks me, is that most of them doesnt do anything at all to improve themselves.


"To be a teacher you have to look and DRESS the part.We can't be teachers with stereotype stamped on our foreheads and dressed like some wrinkled sluts after a night job, or a house maid for that matter."

-- The bottom line is if you cant take care of yourself (you dont dress well, you are not neat, you are overweight), its a sign of mental weakness (im not referring to academic skills, and to dress well is not about fashion or trend). This has been a topic in BIJ blog and i fully agree.


@ Nhemskie

I saw your blog. You have a lovely family, and a good looking hubby. And i think you are cute :)

Cheers,

A

reijene said...

45%

out of 23 people, there were 10 that i can honestly say have potentials to be warm blooded bitches (my adjective).

i guess it counts as... 45% right, A? and your standards are really WAY up there. i know i CAN'T reach it, what makes you think that these girls can? someone even asked me where she could buy ADRENALINE (because i was trying to lower my adrenaline level as i just finished my morning shift). apparenlt she had no idea what it was, and i had to explain it. you think you could have the PATIENCE for that?

but i enjoy having you around.

Nhemskie and JHN316, welcome to my blog.

On the other hand, I've also met a lot of filipinas who are very deserving to be teachers and are born leaders.

applicable to all nationalities, just like what A said.

i was supposed to say something rather horrid, but i have to restrain myself or i might start obsessing.

i'll save it for my next entry.

Anonymous said...

hi..
san ka dito sa gwangju?
willing ka ba mag
work sa mga hagwon's?
i'm willing to help kung
may magagawa ako.
hope you don't mind..

Anonymous said...

Hi Bitch, your blog is really not for the weak-hearted nor for the patriotic.. But I agree on all you said, I've seen a lot like that..

But what to do? I wouldn't personally care because they need a job, but then all of us get affected since we're from the same country, though of course, as you said, we don't have the same talents, skills, and caliber...

cheers!
Vitchie- just another bitch

Anonymous said...

hello bitchy bitch!,
sad to say, you honestly had the point...but who the hells care about their own pronounciation,and as far i know english is not filipinos mothers tounge so if you feel that you're the best, be proud! but dont criticize anyone.
if you less you're 99% baostful attitude it will be nice..hehehe!

Anonymous said...

hello bitchy bitch!,
sad to say, you honestly had the point...but who the hells care about their own pronounciation,and as far i know english is not filipinos mothers tounge so if you feel that you're the best, be proud! but dont criticize anyone.
if you less you're 99% baostful attitude it will be nice..hehehe!

reijene said...

did i say i'm the best? i said no one can strut their stuff in front of ME if it aint better. and sadly, few people can do that.

i'm boastful because i can. and humility is not part of my vocabulary. if you can tell me i'm wrong, then looking forward to it. i welcome criticism as i know it could change me to something (or someone) better.

sometimes, i just want to shut up and listen, but i have low tolerance with filipino people who try to talk to me in english, and are missing the important STUFF to make sense.

tagalugin na lng ako. i'd appreciate that one better.

Anonymous said...

I had the same experience with you, Reijene. I attended the crash course. I was so disappointed and ashamed... What I mean is that there are Filipinas who are really good at teaching but most of them are not. It was so embarassing that they're more proficient in KOREAN than ENGLISH.

So, I decided to stop and look forward for another chance where I could be proud of myself and start afresh.

I feel bad about my teacher on the crash course everytime she laughed at somebody while demostrating in front... I just feel so down...

So, I decided to put away my embarrasment. Instead find another way...not like that... Sorry but I really hate the crash course...

reijene said...

not like that...

not like what? like my straightforwardness here? FYI: It's my blog, and i own the password to open this page.

If i would really want to take down this crash course, i know how to, where to take this controversy.

But it's just here.

Unknown said...

aLLor, last anonymous. why are you people hiding anyway?

my apologies for my rather sharp response, i was kinda worked up with the Institute (they called, really!) asking me to remove absolutely EVERYTHING that will connect their name to my blog, and was asking why i did this.

I get that you also want something meatier (like me) but we're hardpressed for that. I mean, for one: IT'S FREE. notice that every "free course" offered here, it's always something that ANYBODY WITH COMMON SENSE can do easily.