I spent Saturday at an EFL conference in Busan and one of the speakers (Dr Li Minsheng) cited some research he had done on Chinese students satisfaction with foreign teachers, after 1 year 54% were satisfied (bad score for the teachers), after 2 years, even worse, only 42%, down to 36% after 3 years and only 8% of students satisfied with their foreign teacher after 4 years with a foreign teacher. He noted several reasons, but very importantly, unprepared, inexperienced and untrained teachers lacking in cultural awareness were his biggest target.

Sadly, the demand for English teachers in Korea and I imagine China ensures that schools will have to hire the ESL cowboys simply to have a "teacher" at the front of the room. My guess is that the high levels of dissatifaction will eventually lead to a realization that blonde hair + blue eyes does not automatically mean students will learn English, and a shift to more and more homegrown teachers for these markets.

I trust that I will either be my own school director before this happens, or have such a fabulous reputation I will not be replaced. I think most long-term teachers need not fear this change, if indeed it does ever happen.