Job Discussion Forums

William Beckerson · Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2003 12:10 pm Post subject: Japan vs Korea

I did a bit of poking around with the search function to see if this was covered before, but I didnt find it. Mind you I didnt look too hard.

Anyway, I was wondering if any of you have done both Korea and Japan. I'd like to PM you with some questions about the relative merits of each work location, if you're up to it.

Or just push the thread to the abysss of page 2, I'm cool with both. Wink

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Haven't done Korea, but this is what I have gleaned from numerous posts.

Korea has many more unscrupulous school managers.
Korea has a cheaper cost of living.
In Korea, your visa does not follow you when you leave an employer.
In Korea, they expect lesser qualifications of you as a teacher.
Koreans are more xenophobic.

Mosley · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 158

It HAS been done before- maybe the Job Information Journal has some comparisons, but there are threads out there comparing the merits of the two. It's a very worthwhile topic, but I'm sure there are already existing threads(probably on the Korean Forum) that deal w/this. I've read them in the past but certainly can't recall the exact thread titles off the top of my head. I hope they can be tracked down. A "sticky" needs to be posted on this important topic.

lajzar · Joined: 09 Feb 2003 Posts: 647 Location: Saitama-ken, Japan

I've done Korea, and Im now in Japan. If you have any questions, feel free to put them on the board.

You could probably try PMing me too, but being the interface-phobe I am, I probably wouldn't even realise someone had tried to do that until months later.

elizabeth · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 28

Feel free to email me, I've just recently came from Korea, now I'm in Japan.

my email is [email protected]

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

You might want to try this page

It has some good links on teaching in (mainly) Korea Taiwan and Japan

http://seamonkey.ed.asu.edu/~jonb/

Hope this helps

William Beckerson · Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2003 5:46 am Post subject:

Thanks guys. Since some of you seem up to discussing this, I'll toss a few questions out. I had some specifics, but I cant remember them right off.

1)Ageism: The rumour is that if you're over 30, dont bother looking in Japan unless you've had previous experience. How true is this?

2) How image oriented is it in Japan? I mean, here in Korea, they want Aryan Nation poster children, fat can be ignored. I heard skin color means little in Japan, but fat is a no-no. Also, is it "Suit and Tie or Die" like I've heard?

3) Warm bodies: Do they want more from you in Japan than white skin, American accent, and a BA? These are my particular skills. Wink

4) Bosses: Are they less evil/ clueless than in Korea?

5) Ex-pats: Do you get less psychos there?

Mosley: It gets discussed on the Korean board, but not to many people there are currently working in Japan, so not too often.

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

I assume you are talking about jobs at a conversation school or hagwon in Korea? I am at a university so the hiring criteria in Japan are a little different but here is my perspective

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Hi William,
I have taught in both countries, still in Japan so I'll try to answer your questions. You can email me if you have more. You said:

1)Ageism: The rumour is that if you're over 30, dont bother looking in Japan unless you've had previous experience. How true is this?

I am 32, work in a uni and the other foreign teachers are 15-25 years older than me.

2) How image oriented is it in Japan? I mean, here in Korea, they want Aryan Nation poster children, fat can be ignored. I heard skin color means little in Japan, but fat is a no-no. Also, is it "Suit and Tie or Die" like I've heard?

The Japanese are not as xenophobic as the Koreans, mind you they prefer white teachers. There are way more foreigners here than in Korea and unlike Korea, when a foreigner walks past they don't yell "meeguk seram"!!! It's a little more formal here, fortunately I don't have to wear a tie, but most teachers here do.

3) Warm bodies: Do they want more from you in Japan than white skin, American accent, and a BA? These are my particular skills.

No you pretty well fill the gap. TEFL qualifications are helpful, for various reasons.

4) Bosses: Are they less evil/ clueless than in Korea?

Bosses seem better here, at least on the surface, but that is a whole new thread.

5) Ex-pats: Do you get less psychos there?

Yes. The ex-pats in Korea were about as neurotic as I've ever seen. Korea kind of does that to a person. Have to admit, I degenerated about as far as I have ever gone when I was there.

I have a family here and I wouldn't want to have one in Korea, not that it was so bad, but it is much easier having them in Japan.