Job Discussion Forums

renzobenzo1 · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 85

By the sound of it is the teaching side of things....It sounds from what I've read that you are treated like a piece of meat....I am all for good classroom management, efficient/effective teaching methods, having fun and all that but I don't like the idea of co-teachers wathching your every move and reporting back to base....having to brown-nose parents and having to keep the kids satisfied....

Now is it all like this? Is English seen as a novelty there...or is is there actually nitty gritty teaching where the kid needs to shut up and actually learn....

I am in South Korea now and it is somewhere in between what I have mentioned above but once your energy is sapped it is very difficult to put on that happy fun face and keep people happy if that is what is expected of you.

Mr. White · Joined: 09 Oct 2007 Posts: 36

buddy bradley · Joined: 14 Jul 2004 Posts: 89 Location: The Beyond

As mentioned previously, it depends on the job, although, after teaching in Korea for three years and Taiwan for just over two, I found Korean kids and adults to be easier to teach than their Taiwanese counterparts.

That being said, conditions outside the classroom were way better in Taiwan than in Korea.

Miyazaki · Joined: 12 Jul 2005 Posts: 635 Location: My Father's Yacht

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

Well Koreans are nice on the outside for the most part not counting shady hogwon owners but Korea is somewhat a closed society and dating can be difficult outside of Seoul.

StayingPower · Joined: 18 Aug 2006 Posts: 252

It's pretty much "all like this," no matter who or what may seem to smoothen things over.

Taiwan's not at all like Korea 'as far as business goes.' There is, in the terms of business men, "no business trust here." You're not really given the same credibility as a worker here as you are in Korea. At least in Korea, the contract is something substantial and you have autonomy in this regard. Here you have a half-dozen loopholes with which the employer can gain the upper hand and turn you into Yes, "a piece of meat."

The kids are much better though. Supposedly this is because of the CT's presence. Yet this is a bane to the industry here, and teaching, if you wish things to be efficient. It makes for more mistrust, sometimes dishonesty, disrespect, and disgrace.

If you wish to be recognized as a capable teacher, stay in Korea. As far as they being clannish, they are ten times more big-hearted than the Taiwanese and at least you'll have social support financially.

Little is it known we come from thousands of miles away and are easily discarded as if we're of no value because profit over-rides principal.

Miyazaki · Joined: 12 Jul 2005 Posts: 635 Location: My Father's Yacht