Bits and pieces in the news about foreign teachers

A few stories regarding English teachers from the past few weeks:

A handful of news outlets (including Yonhap) reported over a week ago that Sarah Graydon (who I mentioned here and here) was making strides in recovering from ulcerative colitis in Gwangju, and that after spending 94 days in the hospital, was released and receiving outpatient treatment while being cared for by volunteers. NoCut News reported on June 9th that she had returned to England to continue treatment and be reunited with her family.

An SBS article titled "Sharp-eyed police officer catches man who sexually assaulted foreign instructor" revealed that Seoul's Seocho Police Station had arrested a 43 year-old Mr. Hong for sexually assaulting a Canadian hagwon instructor. Hong is suspected of sexually assaulting her on the stairs of a villa in Banpo-dong at 4am on May 9 .

Police were dispatched to the scene after the crime was reported by A but were unable to find clear evidence. Because the CCTV cameras picked up only a faint image of a man wearing a suit and tie, the investigation proceeded with difficulty.

The investigation had proceeded without progress for over a week when on May 16 Banpo police officer Choi Byeong-ha, who was out on patrol in the early morning on Gangnam-daero, noticed a man who resembled the suspect. Police then caught Hong while he was at work at a plastic surgery clinic on May 20.

The police investigation found that Mr. Hong had no doctor's license but had been made director of the hospital only because he had invested in it. They also discovered that he had been convicted of seven crimes in the past, including sexual assault. He was found to have been drunk at the time of the assault.

A News 1 article states that due to a large increase in the number of foreign hagwon instructors in Daejeon (an increase which isn't actually occurring), a local education office had released information on which Visa holders could work as instructors. The chart in the article reveals that D-2 (students) and F-3 (wives and grown children of other residents) holders can work as hagwon instructors with permission from immigration, while E-2 holders can work in foreign language hagwons. E-6 (entertainers), F-2, F-4, F-5, and F-6 visa holders, on the other hand, can not only work as hagwon instructors but also establish hagwons or teach private lessons.

Also, according to Yonhap, Incheon Office of Education announced last Tuesday that native speaking teachers there would go through a three step evaluation to improve their competency in class. The evaluation is aimed at 187 NSETs placed in elementary, middle and high schools in second semester last year. The first step involves their co-teachers, vice principal and principal evaluating their lesson plans, classes and teaching methods. The second step involves evaluating video of their classes. The third step will see the lowest 10% having to consult with specialist teachers and the highest 17 teachers (11 from elementary schools, 6 from middle schools) being recommended for evaluation by their city's office of education. An Incheon Office of Education said that this would help improve the skills of NSETs and uncover the best teachers.