The TEFL Trap

Sadly, shocking as it is, this story doesn't altogether surprise me. Not everyone teaches abroad to make money, experience life in another country or broaden their cultural horizons. In South Korea the only special qualification you need to get a job with children is a university degree, and even that is easy enough to get around: a crooked boss; $30 to an internet site. There's no criminal record check, rarely any taking up of references, and often no control whatsoever over what happens in the classroom (the only advice anyone ever gave me was to stand up when teaching). Let's put it this way, I didn't need to read any newspapers to know that this kind of thing goes on.