Job Discussion Forums

Audentia · Posted: Tue Mar 28, 2006 6:34 am Post subject: Japan or korea?? dilemma dilemma

hey

i'm brand new on here and i think it's a great place to get advice and information. so i need advice and information.

i had an interview at GEOS this past weekend and am pretty confident that i'll get offered a job. i want to teach in japan because i think it's a beautiful culture and i've always wanted to go there. plus, my intuition tells me so (ya ya i know that's not a reason, but it's good enough reason for me)

so this is great. i'm on my way. and then...random thing happens. ok, bit of background first...i met this guy on a plane 2 years ago, we went for drinks in the airport as we both had a layover and we exchanged emails. we've kept in touch over time, random hey how's it going things. so then last week or so i find out that he's in korea and so i asked him tons of questions about where he is, what it's like and all that.

well, he told me all kinds off really great stuff about the school, his apartment that they pay for...which would be way bigger than those in japan..., the fact that they pay fight there and back and he's able to save a ton of cash because it's dirt cheap in korea. but....is it safe? is it friendly? is the language easy to learn??

i know that in the end this is a personal decision that i'm going to have to make and just focus on one or the other, japan or korea. and although money is a factor i don't like it to be the deciding factor. i'm also one to think that we meet ppl for a reason, so maybe this is why i met nick (plane guy). i trust him and he tells me they're a reputable company, treats him well and all that...it's avalon schools if anyone knows anything about them. but he says the culture is not very welcoming to foreigners. which may be an issue for me.

i've also heard both bad and good things about working for GEOS and the like....i must admit i'm a little skeptical, but reassured in that i felt they were honest in their work expectations and rigid dress codes and all that. but...they don't tell me where i'll be placed until after i sign the contract. i don't know how much i like that.

what to do what to do. it's a big decision and i have to make it quickly with GEOS, they give me a week to decide once i receive the contract.

i just want to travel and learn and experience, but where i go could make all the difference.

any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Doglover · Joined: 14 Dec 2004 Posts: 305 Location: Kansai

Ive never taught in Korea but heres a good link

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

Blacklist bof Korean schools (hogwon)

http://www.geocities.com/hagwonblacklist/list.html#a

One word of advice:

Never trust the word of someone you meet for ten minutes in airport lobby. He may be a nice guy but you dont know this guy from Santa Claus. Dont fly to Korea on a wing and a prayer on the word of one person. he may be a recruiter for all you know. Ask around.

Airfares are paid for in Korea and the employers provide accomodation. that said the visa belongs to your employer and its hard to get another job or visa if its a bomb, and they control the roof over your head as well. they dont do it because they like you but its a carrot to bring teachers in, so be careful.

Khyron · Joined: 10 Mar 2006 Posts: 291 Location: Tokyo Metro City

Audentia · Posted: Tue Mar 28, 2006 4:27 pm Post subject:

thanks for all the advice, much appreciated.

i had to laugh at myself after i read these responses because i did sound quite naive. and maybe i am and that's why i'm trying to educate myself as much as possible prior to heading overseas. but...it is possible to meet genuine, trustworthy people out there...even at the airport Embarassed

thanks again

Nismo · Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 520

RachaelRoo · Joined: 13 Jul 2005 Posts: 1

Hey there, I'm in Korea now. As far as saving money goes, it's good, but as far as quality of life, the consensus from everyone I've talked to is that Japan is the winner.

The Korean visa system is TERRIBLE. You can read about that on the Korean forum, but you're almost a slave. Most foreign teachers here are ripped off in one way or another - either their pension, medical, overtime, or something. Korea is also extremely xenophobic. I'd guess Japan is as well, but it can't be as bad as Korea (and it's not, from what I've seen and heard).

Now about this guy you met on the plane: he may actually be a nice guy, but even nice guys can be fooling themselves. I've met people who have convinced themselves that life here is fantastic. Instead of accepting the situation for what it really is - racism and xenophobia and dishonesty to name a few problems - some people instead choose to ignore that or they are simply too stupid to see it. This airplane guy you don't know very well could be one of these people.
Or, he could be lying to you to make himself look better. He wouldn't want you to think he makes bad decisions.

Korea is ok if you want to save a lot of money quickly or for an adventure, especially if you lack startup capital, but for overall quality of life and potential I'm hoping to go to Japan when my contract here is up.

seanmcginty · Joined: 27 Sep 2005 Posts: 203

I used to work with GEOS (I'm from Ottawa too), though it was from 1999-2000 so my info is probably pretty dated.

I'm kind of divided about whether they are a good or bad company to work for.
On the plus side:

- They are legit and you don't have any worries about them screwing you over.
- The pay is reasonable, though the bonuses are a bit less than when I worked there and the exchange rate has killed the yen.
- The apartments are small, but they are reasonably priced and no worse than most places.
- You have some freedom in the classroom and the textbooks aren't bad.
- Most schools have parties and events with students that are pretty fun to attend (assuming you like your co-workers and students of course)

On the negative side:

- There is a lot of sales work and a lot of pressure to perform as a salesperson.
- My co-workers were great but the head office staff are just awful.
- The hours aren't the best around. It was officially 45 hours per week when I worked there but we also put in another 7 or 8 hours of unpaid overtime in addition.
- There is alot of useless paperwork, though I understand this isn't as bad as it used to be.

All in all I'd say its not a bad way to come to Japan for the first time. Most people I know who've worked there hate the company but have no regrets about coming over, having enjoyed the experience regardless.

I can't offer much advice related to Korea, having never worked there. All I can say is that Japan is a pretty cool place to live.

Khyron · Joined: 10 Mar 2006 Posts: 291 Location: Tokyo Metro City

RachaelRoo, do you to go Ulsan Simin Gyohwae?

SEndrigo · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Posts: 437

To all you Ottawaites: GO SENS GO !!!!!!

Get ready to put the letters S-P-E-Z-Z-A on that cup !!!

gemini22 · Joined: 16 Mar 2006 Posts: 9

Hey all,
I have an interview with Nova and Geos coming up next month. I have a question. Is it possible to get my boyfriend into Japan legally,to live with me, without marrying him? He does have a degree Sad

But can't he just hang out in my apartment, am I going to be able to support both of us? I am not a big spender, but it would be nice to go out once a week and maybe do some hiking....

Sorry going off on a tangent, so could he just come hide out and live with me illegally as a last resort?

Can you work illegally in Japan?

Sorry, don't want to sound like a law breaker, but I am in love Smile

rai · Joined: 19 Jun 2005 Posts: 119 Location: Osaka

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

seanmcginty · Joined: 27 Sep 2005 Posts: 203

poof · Joined: 23 May 2005 Posts: 161

Not sure why this thread got split into completely separate topics. Pretty confusing.

What I think about the Korea vs Japan conundrum: It's always easier to be fickle and think the grass is greener on the otherside. It would be foolish to drop your current job option just cus you met someone on the plane who happened to like Korea. It could have easily have been someone who grumbled about Korea.

Personally, if I were you, not knowing anything about Japan or Korea, follow your first hunch for Japan, spend a year there, and if you want to change, go to Korea - it's close enough.

GEOS is not ideal, but we all have to start somewhere, and it's manageable for just a year.

Khyron · Joined: 10 Mar 2006 Posts: 291 Location: Tokyo Metro City