Job Discussion Forums

[William.]

I am graduating in June and hope to teach english abroad by the summer/fall. I have some student loans to start paying back (not a ton) so it'd be awesome if I were able to SAVE. My first choice was to go to Spain (I speak spanish), but I have essentially decided not to go there as it seems there's not much money... I think I've narrowed my search down to Korea or Japan. I'd love to learn Japanese, but I'm not picky, I wouldn't mind living in Korea either. I've had lots of friends who did both, and had positive things to say about both countries. So the question is, where to go?

What are the pros cons of the two nations? Is one language more difficult to pick up? Is one more/less friendly to foreigners? Does one pay more in general? Or does it just depend on the individual jobs you find? If my primary goal is to save $$, should I consider countries OTHER THAN Korea and Japan??

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!
~william

[Glenski]

This gets asked a lot. Try using the Search function.

Japan seems less xenophobic.
Korean jobs pay for your rent, so the potential to make more is there.
Taking on private lessons to supplement your income seems more prohibited in Korea.

A biggie in my book is that in Japan, if you lose your job for any reason (you quit or you get fired), your work visa is still valid until it expires. In Korea, it is tied to your job.

Entry level jobs in Japan pay 220,000 to 270,000 yen/month. One (JET programme) pays 300,000 but the waiting list is long.

If you've had friends who have done both countries, I don't see the reason to post here.

[William.]

because it hurts to get testimonies from more people??

[spamghod]

[ghost]

I worked as a teacher trainer for one year in Korea (www.gifle.go.kr), but went to Japan twice for vacations and Japanese language courses (www.genkijacs.com).

You can save money in Korea. I saved about $20,000 in one year, on a salary of 2.7 million won.

Korean adult learners can be a problem. They will not hesitate to give you tough evaluations, and your job depends on evaluations, which, in my book, are subjective and little more than popularity contests.

I much prefer the quality of life and vibe in Japan, but Japanese can be shy and diffident, so the difference is not that dramatic. Once you get to know Japanese people, they can become good friends. The problem is getting to that stage.

You will be lucky to save $500 a month in Japan, but most teachers save at least $1000 a month in Korea, and that can compensate, somewhat, for the lower quality of life in Korea, in my opinion.

Japanese language is easier to learn thanks to Hiragana and Katakana and the hundreds of loan words in the Japanese language.

Japanese culture, imo, is also more interesting compared with Korean culture. I think Japanese are more receptive and open to foreigners in general. Japanese have been travelling overseas for decades, but that is only recently happening in Korea. You always see Jap. backpackers even in remote spots on the globe, but not many Koreans. Japanese are curious about foreign countries. I think Koreans are a little more ethnocentric, but someone may argue with me on that one....

Also for hobbies, Japan has a lot more choice.

If you live outside Tokyo central, the cost of living in Japan is not as high as people claim.

Ghost

[gajackson1]

Dear William ~

Another Korea looonnngg-timer here weighing in. Yep, the Korean & Japanese-related boards are better choices than here, really, but I can give you a 'do-over' opinion:

I will assume that you are male, decent-looking, relatively healthy, and not socially inept. it will help if you are travelled, and/or have been in multi-cultural communities or work environments. That flexibility is somewhat key to longer-term success over here.

I would suggest coming to Korea first, but really, REALLY grindstoning it to save money. Accept the fact that you will PROBABLY not be happy your first year - painful learning curve - but the experience can really well-equip you foir a 2nd-3rd year in Korea - with an easier job, greater savings potential, etc.

And then, go to Japan. The reason for this is because of the visa, plain & simple. In Japan, you can model, voice act, stand in as an extra in movies, freelance edit, do academic or other editing, etc. It is just a harder place to start from from the get-go.

I stayed in Korea because I had a great job, moved to Seoul, got another great job & fell in love. The past few years have been wonderful, but a lot of us are really, really tired/saddened by the governmental rigamarole of late.

We (fiancee & I) paid off loans, travelled a LOT, lived very comfortably, and saved a fair bit as well. But each time we go to vacation in Japan, we always talk about how we regret having NOT taken the jump & gone over to Fukuoka or Osaka a few years back.

By all means, do more research, and feel free to post here again or PM me if you have any questions. The Korean board *does* have a lot of bitter people on it, but there are also some very dedivcated, professional, helpful people there as well.

Best of luck, whatever you decide!

Regards from Seoul,

Glen

oh, duh - let me try to give some cursory answers for these -


What are the pros cons of the two nations? - That is a HUGE can of worms. As mentioned before, I think base salary is higher in Korea, cost of living generally less, and housing somewhat better. Japan, on the other hand, is more 'foreigner-friendly' in many senses. I also think it is a prettier country (that is having travelled extensively in both), although getting OUT of Japan generally more expensive.

Is one language more difficult to pick up? - I 'got' basic Korean down in 2 weeks of half-hearted effort (meaning I could read it, write it, pronounce correctly. Functionality came later, and the formailities are harder to master). By all accounts, it is the 'easiest' of the Asian languages to jump into. I never tried to learn Japanese, so I can't say there.

Is one more/less friendly to foreigners? - my opinion about that has changed slowly over the years. I used to believe that (from first few years experience) that Koreans were quick acquaintances, and slow to friendship. Japanese were initially very standoffish/formal, and NEVER would let you in past a point. I don't really want to go into it here (because I hate the flame wars on the Korean boards), but I also believe it is easier to date the local ladies in Japan's bigger cities than in Korea's. Again, that is my experience/opinion.

When it comes right down to it, you will NEVER be fully accepted in either Korean or Japanese culture generally; in fact, the more you do attempt to assimilate, the more strangely you will be viewed by both east and west! I have lifelong friends in both Korea and Japan now, but I accept that these countries are ethnocentric, to put it gently.

Does one pay more in general? Again, there are some VERY lucrative jobs in Korea. I have had months where I made more than USD $5,000 - and all that was legally. I could NEVER make that as a certified public school teacher back in the USA (with 10-15 years in the pay-scale ladder). There are people who make more - but most of those are very well established, and/or married to Koreans (which opens up other opportunities not available to 'normal' teachers).

Again, the big difference is in Japan, sideline work isn't a violation of your contract, so you have the very good prospect of networking towards making big money LEGALLY in your free time, should you choose to do so.

Or does it just depend on the individual jobs you find? - Absolutely If you are self-motivated, professional, outgoing (doesn't hurt to be youthful and attractive), you should be looking for a low number of hours at your 'job,' and maximizing your sideline earnings potential (referring to Japan; again, tutoring is ILLEGAL in Korea, and people are occasionally busted for it & sent packing).

If my primary goal is to save $$, should I consider countries OTHER THAN Korea and Japan?? - you didn't tell us about your educational background (majors, BA/MA, TESOL or other certif, education degree, what Uni, your GPA/AGPA, etc.) - with the right credentials, you might be able to secure a job in the Middle East. Also, there are danger/hardship posts that pay big, BIG money - difficult for someone fresh out of Uni, but NOT unheard of.

I hope this helps some. Just keep researching & asking questions, and best of luck!

[Tiger Beer]

Korea vs Japan

Language. Japanese is easier to speak, but Korean is SIGNIFICANTLY easier to read and write. Grammar-wise, they have about the same difficulties.

Money. They are similar paywise, but you can really have a lot more fun in Korea, as your spending money will go significantly further. If you stay home a lot, then its about the same in either country.

Foreigner-friendly. I've recently moved to Japan. But I'd say they are BOTH friendly to foreigners. Korea is legendary for xenophobia, but I never felt it that much having lived there for many years. In Korea, you are more likely to be chatted up by a stranger for conversation, regularly, mostly out of curiousity. If that is friendly, then Korea is friendlier. If you want very polite people who never do anything rude, than Japan is definetely that country.

Japan is much easier to live in, and the culture is really fascinating. Korea is more intense, more interaction, much 'in-your-face'. They are both real interesting for different reasons.

Obviously I made a move to Japan from Korea. I like it here so far. I miss Korean food and the expats in Korea are real interesting in my opinion.

I think I would recommend trying Japan first. It is much easier to get into Korea than Japan. You can pretty much ALWAYS go to Korea and teach and work. But Japan is a completely different ballgame.