Job Discussion Forums

[elliot_spencer]

Hey, I am wanting to do a survey on Teachers in Asia, I was wondering, how Japan compares to Taiwan and Korea, in the sense of retaining teachers. Which country retains teachers for longer and which has the shortest 'sell-by' date for English teachers, where do people stay longer?

Thanks

[Glenski]

You're going to get this information from what reliable source? The ESL Cafe is good, but for a survey like that, I wouldn't trust people's answers.

[elliot_spencer]

Well, I just wana see what people have to say, etc,

you not going to answer?

[canuck]

[Gordon]

I've been here too long...

[Neongene]

[Scruffy]

Here's the low-down:

(Gleaned from my own experiences, numerous conversations with career teachers as well as short-timers, three years of casual 'research,' and perhaps a tinge of opinion.)

Of the three countries Japan tends to be the most preferred. It's clean, beautiful, the people are polite, and things - schools/businesses - are generally well organized. Every country/school has potential problems, but compared to other Asian countries Japan seems to have a higher retention rate. I really get the impression that it's not uncommon for teachers to extend their contracts.

Without a doubt Korea has the worst reputation. Just visit the discussion board and you'll immediately get a feel for what many people experience there. Lots of teachers end up breaking their contracts and leaving for Japan, which is often viewed as being quite the opposite experience. People I've spoken to have told me that while there are your usual workplace problems where ever you go, once you've spent some time in Korea these problems elsewhere in the world seem manageable and tolerable.

That said, there are plenty of people whose personalities are well suited for Korea, or who get lucky and end up in a nice school, or who simply figure out how to make it work for the duration of their contract. You'll find teachers who have been there for years, but I get the distinct feeling that these are people who either arrived with a spouse or who married a local Korean. Even for those who have been there a long time I get the feeling that they don't love life in Korea; rather they have learned to appreciate/tolerate/accept life there.

Korea does get knocked around a fair amount, and like I said there are lots of people who are enjoying themselves there. So while I and many others have had disappointing experiences in Korea, you might be one of the exceptions. The money is good there, the benefits good, they pay to fly you there and give you an apartment. That right there gives plenty of teachers motivation to focus on having a positive experience, and for many they do!

Taiwan seems to be a different bag of worms. First, it's perhaps the least desirable country to work in of the three. It's crammed to the seams, just bursting with people. And schools can be very similar to Korean hakwons ... dirty, poorly managed, numerous changes made to your schedule and curriculum (usually without warning). But the food is good, better than Korea - and I didn't mind Korean food! People I know who have been there have found it almost impossible to learn the language, but otherwise have found people to be friendly and generous when it comes to helping foreigners. Living conditions, however, has been described as one of the biggest challenges.

As far as teachers staying on for any length of time in Taiwan, from what I can tell it happens. People find their niche, marry a local, fall in love with the country/culture, etc. But of the three countries, I get the following impression: teachers in Japan - even when in difficult schools, and despite how expensive Japan is - are more likely to finish their contracts and either sign on for another year at their school or switch to another school. Teachers in Korea often don't finish their contracts, or if they do it's by the skin on their teeth. The teachers that hang in there have a good support network (women's lunches in Seoul, etc) and get some sense of satisfaction at their job. The ones who quit often leave for Japan. Taiwan - it's kind of a mixed bag.

I hope I answered your questions and didn't ruffle any feathers in the process.

[Gypsy Rose Kim]

I've been in "Aisa" for eight years, which makes me neither a lifer nor a newbie. Here you go:

The number one reason why Korea has the worst reputation is because of the large percentage of people who come here just for the money. They cast a black cloud over the whole industry.

Koreans in general have this huge inferiority complex and so they tend to not hold out for the best teachers. For those who think Japanese schools will hire anyone with a pulse, I recommend you venture out for a Saturday night in the Hongdae area of Seoul, where you will see the world's least fashionable and most retarded teachers on parade. DORKS!!!

You'll often hear Koreans say shit like, "English teachers only come here because they can't get a job back in their own countries." I mean, Koreans don't even think their own country has much to offer.

On the other hand, Japan is full of people (native and foreign) who couldn't hack it anywhere else in the world. They'd have a breakdown if they had to wait five minutes for a train, cry if anyone calls them fat or unfashionable even though they are, need endless rules and boundaries because they have no discipline of their own.

Whereas the teachers in Korea have an inferiority complex (which they've no doubt caught from the Koreans themselves), the teachers in Japan think they're gods and most quickly lose touch with reality. Of course they renew their contracts. They'd never go back home because then they'd have to pay import prices on manga and nobody would ever bow to them. Boo, hoo.

[JimDunlop2]

I just might die on a a tatami mat.

[Scruffy]

Well, at least tatami mats are easy to replace. Just no bleeding on the carpet, please. It's a fitch to clean.

[TokyoLiz]

My sempai, an Englishman who has since moved from Japan to Europe, was married to a Japanese and lived here for more than 10 years teaching English in high schools, refers to the country as Japancatraz.

I can't compare with other countries in Asia as I have not worked in any Asian countries other than Japan.

I've been here off an on for 7 years, and for the most part, enjoy my life here.

[southofreality]

[cornishmuppet]

If the pay was better I'd still be in Italy. Not that I don't like Japan, its very nice and all, I love onsen, snowboarding, karaoke and sake, but I also like beautiful old cities, and there simply aren't any in Japan. My parent's house is as old as about 90% of the temples ( 100 years). Still, I'm lumping it until I've paid off a few student debts (two and a half years and counting).

[Gypsy Rose Kim]

[User N. Ame]