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fatboy
Joined: 18 May 2003
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Posted: Wed May 21, 2003 12:16 pm Post subject: How does Korea compare to other Asian countries? |
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I�m thinking about teaching in Korea, but frankly everything I�ve heard sounds pretty scary, crappy or both. The phrases "work you like a dog" and "English teaching factories" crop up a lot. How does working in Korea compare to working in other countries such as Thailand or Japan? |
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Squaffy
Joined: 25 Feb 2003 Location: All over the place
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Posted: Wed May 21, 2003 1:10 pm Post subject: |
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Simply put - in SoKo you can save alot of money. In Thailand you get paid in peanuts and LSD. In Japan you work to stay alive.
Fatboy - you must learn to take things with a pinch of salt - do what you want to, but have the conviction to do it.
Don't believe everything you read here - we're just a small minority of the bigger picture. The pleasantly happy teachers here don't even know this forum exists.
Nuff said. |
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teachernative
Joined: 04 Apr 2003
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Posted: Wed May 21, 2003 6:01 pm Post subject: |
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it's b*****ks!!! Go to Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, India, Nepal and get yourself a life. You must be mad or stupid or desperate to come here. |
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chi-chi
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
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Posted: Thu May 22, 2003 12:01 am Post subject: |
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mods you may delete
Last edited by chi-chi on Sat Jul 30, 2005 8:41 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Zyzyfer
Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Location: who, what, where, when, why, how?
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Posted: Thu May 22, 2003 4:23 am Post subject: |
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Squaffy wrote: |
The pleasantly happy teachers here don't even know this forum exists.
Nuff said. |
So that's what happened to me! Makes so much sense now...*tries to push further and further away from internet* |
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Homer Guest
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Posted: Thu May 22, 2003 5:54 am Post subject: |
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Must agree with the mouse here...
The content teachers in Korea are largely silent. What you hear more of is the discontented minority on boards. Its just normal.
As for you choices...squaffy the mouse explained them very well.
But Korea can be about more than money and teachernative's demented rant aside, it's a good place to live. You just have to put some effort into your job searching to void the bad schools... |
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desultude
Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Location: Dangling my toes in the Persian Gulf
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Posted: Thu May 22, 2003 4:48 pm Post subject: |
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I really think that one major difference in people's experiences here is the kind of job they have. I have had the fortune to not have worked in a hogwan- those jobs sometimes sound awful. I have also met people who liked their hogwan jobs and earn decent money. The university where I teach is great. The students are wonderful, if not hardworking, and most people in the city are warm and helpful.
Which brings me to the second major difference- the city you live in. I sometimes envy those who live in Seoul, because it seems more exciting and urbane. But I hear the biggest complaints from there. I'm in Daegu, and the people tend to be mostly warm and friendly, except for the occasional bitchy ajuma or drunk old man. The city is big and grey and not very interesting, but the campus is in the hills, with park-like grounds and good hiking trails, and it is easy to go to other cities from here. Sometimes people stare, but that doesn't really bother me- it mostly happens when I travel to places where there aren't white people. And there are rude people all over the world.
If I were working in a hogwan- split shift, long hours, abuse from the owner, abuse from moms and the little ones, and living in a place I didn't like, I might be on the board loudly complaining, like some other people. On the other hand, I would probably be looking for a better situation and moving on.
I save money, enjoy my students and my work, and feel well treated, in general. I suggest that you do your research, go to a city that meets your needs, and find a decent job. |
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