Born in New York City in the year 1941, Crawford grew up in Los Angeles and Mexico City. A wonderful teacher with 41 years of experience, loves to learn and impart knowledge. Crawford has worked as a teacher in China as well. He has contributed a lot by way of writing interesting books and journals. His current project includes a novel and articles for online journals. His other interests are politics, hiking, history, and environment.

A tool he recommends on the internet useful for English teaching would be the blog itself. “Ask the English Teacher http://crofsblogs.typepad.com/english is really a user-driven site: People sends him questions and quires and he tries to answer them. In the process, he says he often gets a chance to learn more about English before he gives a useful answer. In such a way he too gets benefited in a large way. He being not a trained ESL instructor gets to know about the problems faced by non-native English speakers and writers. That in turn gives him insight into the strange and wonderful language.

He find teaching to be an enjoyable profession , where each one, can bring in some surprises and challenges to the methods of teaching at any point of time —as well as the same old problems about I before E except after C, and subject-verb agreement.

The greatest attractions what he feels about learning and teaching English are that one never learn it all. The language changes before our eyes, and all one can do is to change with it.

Thanks a lot for your wonderful tips.

People interested can communicate with Crawford at http://crofsblogs.typepad.com/english and find solutions to problem related to English.

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Nik Peachey is an innovative man with many hats. He has an interesting take on how to teach English. His current project is developing an business English course inside Second Life, the Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game.

He teaches and has activities with his students in the virtual world of Second life. I think that is ingenious! It’s fun and educational- Just how education should be.

Another tool he recommends for interactive slide shows and presentations is Voice Thread.

You can always find Nik at his blog.

Thanks for the tips Nik and maybe we’ll see you around Second Life.

Nothing has been commented about the exact date of implementation of the plan. According to an official, at the Ministry of Justice “”The changed regulations will be implemented sometime in the month of December but the exact date has not been fixed as the ministry is still on the process of finalizing the details.”

“Hagwon and other employers of the foreign teachers will be informed as soon as the details have been finalized,” the official informed The Korea Herald.

A tightened control came into being with the wake of the news that said that a pedophile suspect worked in Korea on several occasions, and a number of fake diploma scandals occurred throughout the Korean society. The suspect has still not been convicted and more over there are no public link to any offences happening out in the Korean society.
The plans for the formation of such a regulation has been happening for quite some time but the issue came to the limelight with much effect with the recent case of Christopher Paul Neil as was said by the official.

Criminal activities including the use of Drugs by foreign English teachers has been a vital social issue and this has been built to dangerous levels in recent years. This could be a major cause for implementing of the current plan. The ministry officials added that they have no plans of strengthening the regulations concerning all the foreign nationals in Korea as it was unnecessary. They are mainly focusing on the foreigners holding E2 visas, and those seeking an E2 visa. The teachers are focused more as they are the ones who come in close contact with the innocent children and it is the duty off the Ministry to guarantee that the children are protected form unnecessary danger.

Discussions are happening among current teachers not about the validity of new rules but about the messy implementations. Teachers find the rules to be vague and unclear. The potential teachers are also put off by the uncertainty of the rules which some of the important government organizations seem to be unaware of.

The vague and unclear rules made the Koran Herald contact the Government for information regarding the Foreigners visa . When contacted to ask regarding the changes for the regulation planned for December the answer received from the help desk clerk’s were also too vague. He too was quite uncertain as to when the new rule would be implemented. Here the question arises as to “How are the people supposed to know of the new regulations without the Ministry publicizing their thoughts”. When the question was asked to the clerk he replied saying that he was aware of the changes but could not make a comment on them, they will have to wait and watch the changes.

They have been a lot of comments by teachers with regard to the newly constructed plan. According to Tricia Elliot, a teacher at a private institute in Seoul, the idea of having a check on the criminal records as well as the health check is a wonderful idea but she does not agree with the interview being conducted at the closest

Korean consulate as there arises a possibility of cutting off people from smaller areas of larger countries. In her view point the majority of teachers are from the East coast and their nearest consulate would be Montreal. This makes them too far a place to reach on short notice, for the interview where the job too is not guaranteed.

English teachers have been undergoing trouble to get information’s as to the new plan. Many have been told by their local immigration branch that there were no changes, or that the office was unaware of them. All this is in spite of a press release which came out last week.

More over if the plan is implemented from December the schools would have to face a serious problem of filling up vacancies as the applicants need to spend a huge amount of time performing the formalities. This would in a way, discourage hagwon from getting rid of underperforming teachers. Nobody doubts that hagwon would boot abusive teachers but it is always better to take preventive measures as the replacement of teachers would be costly difficult as well as time consuming.

Some people suspect that the extra time and expense for the visa application has a possibility to deter legitimate teachers. “A mass exodus of legitimate, qualified, native speaking ESL Teachers”. They will be replaced mostly by highly transient and unskilled backpackers who will work illegally on tourist visas at premium wages,” said one teacher who wished not to be named. Keeping all this in mind the Ministry intents to increase the severity of punishments for those hagwon employing illegal teachers. People who really want to work in Korea will be the ones who are ready for such a deal and once they are through the formalities they are sure to demand an extraordinarily high wage.

Source:

http://admin.koreaherald.co.kr:8080/servlet/cms.article.view?tpl=print&sname=Special&img=/img/pic/ico_spe_pic.gif&id=200711070026

Teaching Kimchi (TK): It seems you are fluent in Korean- How long did it take you to learn and how
did you learn it?

Jane: Actually, I’m not fluent. I’m not even at a conversational level. I’d say I’ve got survival Korean down but I need to focus on the grammar and vocabulary to get on the road to fluent. I’m taking classes right now, but, for me, it’s hard to motivate because even when you speak Korean here Koreans are so obsessed with English that they’ll talk to you in English. So you have these odd conversations where you’re speaking in Korean and they’re speaking in English. I’ve only seen one situation like that before. I was in Paris at a cafe in the Louvre and was seated next to a mother and daughter. The mother was speaking in German, and I speak a little, and the daughter was answering in English. It was funny to see, but when it happens here it’s rather insulting because you’re trying and it feels like Koreans are actively discouraging you to learn their language.

Teaching Kimchi (TK): What is your favorite Korean dish?

Jane:?? is my favorite fall/winter dish. I think??? is my favorite summer dish.

Teaching Kimchi (TK): Blogging is hard work what keeps you motivated?

Jane: It’s pretty simple. I like writing. If you like something, it’s easy to do.

Teaching Kimchi (TK): Do you have any tips for foreigners living in Korea?

Jane: Well, I just spent over 90 minutes having someone fairly new to Korea talk my ear off about how bad Korea and Koreans are. I had to point out to her that if she looks at Korea with a Western point of view and Western expectations she’s most definitely not going to “get it.” My approach is to really try to understand that I’m not in my home country. I’m a guest here. I try to keep that in mind when fundamental differences come up. I think the article they wrote about me in the Korea Times sums up my attitude: Make the Best in Life

Teaching Kimchi (TK): What do you think about Korean girls?

Jane: Honestly, that’s a stupid question to ask a Western woman. I actually think it’s a stupid question to ask Western men too. Honestly, one of the biggest issues is Western men getting hard times for dating Korean women, but the first question they’re asked is what they think. You can’t win if you answer it honestly or if you lie. Since I’m female and heterosexual, I’ll just skip it. It’s irrelevant what I think of them.

Teaching Kimchi (TK): What is your view of Korean people? (Stereotypes, thoughts, etc…)

Jane: Koreans are a bit too eager to prove themselves to Westerners. Also, Koreans are way too sensitive to criticism. They seem to forget that where they can level critiques at other nations and cultures those same critiques will be leveled at them. No culture or country is a perfect place with perfect people. So, basically, they need to get over it.

They can be very kind, but kind doesn’t make you perfect.

Teaching Kimchi (TK): An unforgettable moment, which you would like to share?

Jane: Well, I’ll share a sterile one. I remember my first time in Paris. I’d taken the overnight Orient Express from Vienna. I took a taxi across town to my hotel and, en route, there was a great view of the Tour de Eiffel. I completely geeked out, squealed and my cab driver got a big kick out of that. I really love Paris when I go and I’ve been lucky enough to go a couple of times and stay for a few weeks at a time.

Teaching Kimchi (TK): After hardwork where do you like to go for a vacation?

Jane: I just like to travel, either to some place new or some place familiar. Right now, I’d say Shanghai is one of my favorite cities.

Teaching Kimchi (TK): As for something fun- If you were an animal what would you be and why?

Jane: A pampered house cat. I get very jealous of my cat when I have to go to work and she’s taking another nap.

Teaching Kimchi (TK): If you had a billion dollars in the bank what would you be doing?

Jane: I’d give a big chunk of it away, in trust, for specific causes. I’m an insulin dependent diabetic so a lot would go to diabetes research. I’ve also got a thyroid disorder, Graves’ Disease, so I’d establish research trusts for both diseases. They’re both autoimmune disorders which basically means my white blood cells are overzealous and start attacking my organs. Maybe I’m too healthy and I need to go out and get a dirty job or something.

Education is also very important to me, so I’d establish scholarship funds and education trusts. I’d pour big money into my alma maters: UCLA, UC Hastings and now Ewha Womans University.

The rest would be for me. A nice home and a decent car (nothing too flashy). I’d go back to school to get my PhD (which is my plan anyway), write stuff no one would read and just enjoy my life.
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Put your sword to the best use at www.teachingkimchi.com. Gain exposure for your work as well as meet similar writers like you to discuss what foreign teachers should, shouldn’t could, and couldn’t do in Korea. Imagine the exposure to a whole new world of culture and variance! What else could a writer look for?

Think about everyday life and you can see your mind spinning through things that have happened to you and will happen for most people. Write about them and just about anything for that matter. Start your articles from the time you get out of bed to the time you get in. Hey! You could also write about your dreams. We are open to ideas and creativity. Please make sure it has some kind of interesting point of view of Korea.

Articles should be about 400-600 words.

Articles fall into one of two categories:

1. You are what you eat- style – These are most interesting as they can come from real life experiences in Korea. You can be the hero of your articles.

2. Pass the buck – style – These articles need to have a focused subject. Let’s say you talk about the nightlife, beaches, leisure, food, health, bath and beauty, etc…Activities that engage people would be very welcome. Do not get confused! Your experience eating live baby octopuses could fall into the “You are what you eat- style”. Try to be very specific so that your readers understand the essence of the article from the very start.

Before you begin you can ask yourself:

-What is it that I’m writing about and is my point clear enough?

-Have I put my opinions also in the article?

-Is my article easy to understand? Plain is clear and also helpful. (You should bear in mind that many people reading this site have learned English as a second language and it’s important to keep the words interesting, however too much of your country’s slang will not really help as your article might just miss the point)

-Is it catchy? First impression is the best, so start it at its best. People even gist through the article at times, so make sure your paragraphs start in an interesting manner. A clear Introduction, body and conclusion is vital to leave a lasting impression.

-Does this article talk of Korea?

Having taken all this into account, send us your submissions to Writer and Contributor Position.

This will be a volunteer position and can grow into potential part time / article basis paid position (5-15$/per article). If your submission is being considered for publication, we will contact you.

Lived in Pontiac/Clarkston/Detroit area all my life until 2001 when my son graduated high school. I went to China to teach English in a middle school, returned to Pontiac for 9 months, then went back to the same city in China to work at the local university, which I loved.
In 2003 I went back to Pontiac and lived until March 2007, when I came to Korea.

How long have you been in Korea?

3 1/2 months

Where have you worked in Korea?

Hamyang, Seosang, Anui high schools and middle schools

What is your fondest memory of Korea?

The 4th of July. We had a get together at my neighbor’s, had dinner, went to the local park and shot of fireworks, while singing patriotic songs

What is your worst of Korea?

Being sick and fighting with the system to get communication set up in my home.

Do you have any advice for future English teachers in Korea?

Be strong and insistent for what you know is right.

Well, my name is Angelo M.. I am a 4th generation Mexican-American. I was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. I am the first person in my immediate family, and third in my extended family to attend a university. I graduated from the University of Colorado-Boulder with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology. I’ve been working since I was 14 years old, so my work experience is quite vast. Ranging from a fast food worker, cashier at a toy store, clothing store, and K-mart, environmental assistant, electronic salesman, teaching assistant, resident advisor, secretary, computer teacher, and now an English teacher. Also, through a university program called “Semester at Sea” I was fortunate enough to travel to 12 countries around the world and begin considering myself a “global citizen”. As a result, I felt compelled to spend time living and working in another country to completely immerse myself in a foreign environment. However, Korea just happened to be the country that offered the best financial opportunities and since I’ve been here I haven’t genuinely regretted my decision to come here.

How long have you been in Korea?

I have been in Korea for a mere 6 months, but intend on being here for at least one more year. Maybe more if I enjoy my new teaching position, continue to learn the language and make lots of friends I will prolong my stay in Korea. Since I’ve been here I’ve managed to make Korean friends in quite a few cities, travel throughout the country, and grown to appreciate and understand Korean culture (something which I knew next to nothing about back home).

Where have you worked in Korea?

I spent my first 6 months in a small town of 40,000 people but it didn’t take long for me to realize that I would much rather live in a big city, which is how I ended up in Seoul. Soon I will be working at another private English institute in Apgujeong.

What is your fondest memory of Korea?

I have plenty of unique and interesting experiences but I will get back to you on this one….haha.

What is your worst of Korea?

During one of my weekend trips to escape my small town I went to Daegu (the fourth largest city in Korea). My friend and I were looking for something to do so we went into a place called “Kenzo” there was a speaker playing someone singing an English song…so we wandered downstairs into Karaoke bar and saw a large room full of Korean people (a few of which turned there heads towards us curiously) and the person on stage was singing the song we had heard from the speaker outside. It seemed like it was going to be a fun place to hang out so decided to stay. As we waited by the entrance to be seated, immediately one of the employees ran up to us. More people who were sitting and enjoying there drinks stared in our direction. The young Korean employee handed me a sign. I grabbed it from him curiously. In big black letters the sign stated “KOREAN PEOPLE ONLY!” and “ONLY KOREAN SONGS HERE.” (The irony was that the song being sang by the Korean guy on stage was an American song, in English). Needless, to say I didn’t respond in a respectful or appropriate way. But this was the only time I experienced such a blatant incident of xenophobia, racism, or discrimination since I’ve been here.

Do you have any advice for future English teachers in Korea?

Unless, you are a very independent, old, and willing to spend a lot of time bored and alone. Don’t move to a small town (just my opinion). Also, learn the language if you think you will be here for a while, not only does it show Korean people that you want to understand their culture (since language and culture are intertwined) but it is also a practical task to undertake. Research exactly where you will teach before you come so you don’t make a hasty decision about where you will live, work, and spend a year of your life. I guess most importantly, be open-minded, don’t limit yourself to the expatriate community, and prepare yourself to live in this little, but interesting, country named South Korea.

Rex K.: I’ve been better – my hagwon is currently under its summer intensive schedule so I’ve been inundated with classes.

TK: Oh, where and what is it that you teach?

RK: I work at a hagwon located in Poi-dong (near Yangjae) called International School Academy (ISA). ISA is catered for international students who are planning to matriculate into colleges abroad, primarily the US. I am currently teaching algebra, geometry, biology, chemistry, and physics.

TK: Interesting. Can you tell me some background information about yourself?

RK: Sure. I am a 22 year old gyopo. I was born in Texas, lived in Colorado, graduated from University of Colorado at Boulder (CU) with a biochemistry major, and came to Korea six months ago to teach.

TK: So I’m assuming you’re on a F4 visa? How do you like teaching in Korea?

RK: Yes, I am on a F4 visa. To your second question, that’s a complicated matter. I am having an internal conflict at the moment. You see, contrary to how most teachers think and act in Korea, teaching isn’t your regular 9-5 job. It’s not about leaving work as soon as you’re done; it’s not just about teaching what is written in the textbooks; it’s not only about having students use correct grammar. Teaching is much more than that. Educators should be opening the eyes of students, showing them the rest of the world. Instructors should be crafting students into human beings. Teachers should be encouraging students to gain knowledge, not information. The issue is that most people (students and teachers alike) treat learning in a frivolous manner (I believe society forces us to lack motivation and passion, but that’s another topic).  I’ve seen this especially with businessmen who are required to speak a certain level of English. They treat the classroom atmosphere with such levity that it is impossible to teach them. I do realize this is a generalization and that each situation differs with who is being taught. I want to be able to motivate students to learn, not regurgitate information (something Koreans seem to have mastered).

TK: Well, I wasn’t expecting that. You mentioned that you’ve taught English to businessmen, can you elaborate?

RK: I used to work at YBM in Jongno-3-ga. There I taught English to manifold students – from businessmen looking for that promotion to college students who believe that English is a burden. Though YBM provided a professional milieu, their textbooks require much improvement. You’d think based on the myriad students YBM enrolls, their curriculum would be a paradigm, but it seems as if YBM wants to hold back their clientele so they re-enroll and pay the ridiculous price for a class.

TK: I sense a bit of hostility. Did something happen?

RK: Nothing at all. The reason I may seem bitter is I actually befriended one of my students. After looking over the teaching materials from his past, I could not measure his improvement because it seems as if he did not improve at all. I can recognize that he is partially at fault, but from the textbooks that he showed me, it seems as the content was exact with a different label printed in the front.

TK: Let’s change gears. Where did you find your jobs?

RK: There is a glut of job openings for English teachers. Most people already know the big names. The websites that have attract the most attention are Dave’s ESL Café (www.eslcafe.com) and Work ‘N Play ( www.worknplay.co.kr). I do recommend teachers to browse through other websites such as www.okokokok.com, www.englishspectrum.com, www.hiteacher.com , and www.koreajoblink.co.kr.

TK: So how is the rest of Korean experience?

RK: Well, I’ve been here a number of times in the past, but the previous trips have always been for a personal hiatus. This time I’m here to work. Overall, this experience gave me perspective, augmented to my occupation experiences, and allowed me to mature (to a certain degree) so I guess the experience has been going well. Honestly though, I thought I’d enjoy myself much more than I actually am.

TK: Is there anything you can suggest to others that would improve their experience?

RK: If you’re not happy with what you’re doing, do something else (as cliche this sounds, it should be common sense – put your happiness first). I realize many English teachers are chained by their contracts (and E2 visas), but if you have one of the understanding bosses that are willing to supply you with a letter of release, find another job if you think it’ll ameliorate your stay in Korea. I have a proclivity to change jobs often. I fear commitment so I have a difficult time signing contracts (I do not even have a signed contract with where I’m working at now). So far, this has been keeping me relatively happy.

TK: What’s your worst experience you’ve had in Korea?

RK: Well, one of my “friends” ripped 800,000 Won out of my wallet, but I don’t contact him anymore (I don’t really want to re-type/re-live what happened). Other than this, I haven’t really had any bad experiences. One thing I absolutely detest is traveling in Korea. It takes too long to get anywhere because of the traffic and congestion. But I guess that’s all major cities.

TK: Well, thanks for your time and good luck with everything.

Hey everyone! It’s the one and only Gdog, author of The Daily Kimchi. I am from Victoria, BC. I came out to Korea with my girlfriend in July of 2006. During university I spent time working in the hospitality industry so you could call me an expert on the ins and outs of running a banquet of any sort. I enjoy traveling and also love playing tennis, golf, volleyball, and basketball. I am also addicted to the internet like the rest of you guys!

How long have you been in Korea?

I’ve been in Korea for almost a year now. My time is almost up…so crazy!

Where have you worked in Korea?

I’ve worked in Seoul with one of the largest hagwons in Korea. So far, the work has been relatively easy and the kids have been a lot of fun. I would recommend doing your homework when trying to find a job in Korea!

What is your fondest memory of Korea?

My fondest memory is eating endless amounts of food, in particular galbi and samgyeopsal. People say Korea is a highly homogenius society, so sometimes getting help from people might seem difficult. I have found that on the most part, if you ask politely they will help you. For example, our kitchen knives that were supplied to us were dull. I went to the crab shack downstairs and the owner happily sharpened our knives! I couldn’t speak any Korean, so I was pretty stoked that he was able to help us out.

What is your worst of Korea?

Hmmm…worst memories…well, I try not to think in a negative light when it comes to dealing with another culture. I think acceptance plays a huge role in adjusting to a new environment. Some days when people are pushing and shoving to get on the subway, that can be very annoying. Also, the pollution of a large city can definitely get to you and make you sick. Other than that, you just have to learn to live with what’s given to you and try not to complain.

Do you have any advice for future English teachers in Korea?

I would encourage people to remain open minded about Korea and living in a new culture. Also, it would be worth while to learn about children and educate yourself about what strategies you can use in the classroom in terms of management and teaching to different abilities. I’ve stayed positive throughout my experience (even when I was sick and had dreaded PINK EYE!) and that has helped keep me sane. Oh yeah, don’t forget to bring your camera!

Well, I was born in Seoul, South Korea but was adopted by an American family and brought to the U.S. when I was less than a year old. So, I’ve basically lived in the U.S. for most of my life, excluding my one and a half years teaching English in Korea. I was largely raised in suburban Denver; my family didn’t move around much. So, I had the typical American lifestyle and was completely clueless about all things Korean when I came here. Actually, that’s not entirely true. Since I majored in International Affairs and studied other countries, coming to Korea wasn’t as big of a culture shock as it could’ve been, but it was definitely very foreign, despite being born here.

How long have you been in Korea?

About a year and a half. I came here in February 2006 and am leaving in July 2007.

Where have you worked in Korea?

Since I have an F-4 (Korean ethnic) visa, I’ve had the opportunity to work at a variety of jobs and get experience teaching many different things. My first real job was teaching English to elementary and middle-school students at a popular language institute called CDI. After that I went to Daeil Foreign Language High School to teach TOEFL. And after my contract ended with them, I taught TOEFL for awhile at Columbia Language Institute, a smaller hagwon.

What is your fondest memory of Korea?

My best memories here are just hanging out with people and developing relationships with them. I really recommend building relationships here if you can, especially with Koreans that can speak English. If you just make friends with other foreigners, your hang-out times might only be comprised of complaining about Korea and why such and such isn’t as good as it is in your home country. Also, if you can’t speak or understand Korean, then it’s very easy to feel isolated and detached while living here, so making friendships (even with just your co-workers) is really important to keeping your sanity.

What is your worst of Korea?

My worst memory? I don’t know if I really have any horrible memories. I would say many times I felt really lonely, even when I was around other people (at a gathering for instance). I think because of the language and cultural differences, it can sometimes be difficult to connect with other people. I mean, I could sense the good intentions and fondness that others around me had for me, but it’s not quite the same as when someone can express it to you in words you understand and can go beyond just smiles. I’d say one of my biggest frustrations was that although I had a ton of relationships with many different people, most of my relationships were stuck at an immature phase because of the inability to communicate. So although I had a lot of genuine, good-hearted relationships with people, I had very few deep relationships where I could really know the other person and they could really know me. Luckily though, I did have a handful of close friends (both Korean and foreigners) and that helped me a lot while I was here. One thing I learned from all this though (from experience, not just a mental understanding), was the value of the bond between humans.

Do you have any advice for future English teachers in Korea?

I would say one of the most important things for living here is learning Korean. Unfortunately, that’s not an easy thing to do as far as time goes, and for some people, learning another language is just plain not easy. But it can help with making friends, exploring and having a more satisfying experience overall. Aside from that, try to get involved in things where you can meet people, whether that be church, university clubs or anything else. Seoul has a lot of big churches where you can get involved in bible groups and meet other foreigners. And if you find a university club, you’ll be very popular among the students, as most of them are very interested in improving their English.

Thank you so much for providing your experiences and advice to us.