Job Discussion Forums

[daveeslcafe888]

Hi Everyone,

I'm interested to gauge your experiences as to what was the best teaching abroad experience for you guys.

Feel free to tell me the place, and the reasons why.

Example:

Korea, as the living conditions are good, internet is plentiful, and saving money is done

Saudi Arabia, because of different cultural experience and good pay

Argentina, because nice people.

[artemisia]

There have been quite a few threads on this theme from time to time.

For me, it was the teaching (and location) in Germany. It was satisfyingly challenging and I think I developed a lot as a teacher there. I certainly had to be resourceful and I liked the great variety I had with classes. I also saved, but then I'm used to living frugally! That's not to say I'm tight with money, but being a big spender doesn't come 'naturally' to me, as I didn't grow up with a lot of it.

I don't think I could be somewhere in the world just for the money, though I've considered it at times. I think it might kill off any creativity I had as a teacher, indeed as a person. Not to say I think there's anything wrong with doing that - quite sensible in fact - but I doubt I'd last long if the salary were the only reason to be in a particular place.

[contented]

Seoul, South Korea

It was my best experience. Travel around the city was easy, efficient and quick. My social life was great, I had many Korean friends and we were always doing something fun: stayed in a cabin in the mountains, went for hikes, visited palaces and museums, went to an arboretum, had a bowling club, etc.

The school I worked at was nice. Children were respectful and the Korean teachers were helpful and friendly. I felt like I made a difference and could see the progress my students made. The money was neither low nor high, but I was able to live fine, pay off some bills and save.

[posh]

Prague in the early 90s.

[Hod]

Morocco, Casablanca

After twelve months there, I appreciate what I have now.

[Sashadroogie]

Here. Now.

[contented]

[littlelauren86]

[contented]

@littlelauren86

I understand what you mean about the buses. I took a couple of buses in northern Seoul and it was okay for me, but I can see how it could be difficult. The metro system was great for me and got me where I needed to go with ease. Trains stopping at midnight wasn't a problem for me since I always got to where I needed to go before then. There's a nifty Seoul metro map online where you can plug in your departing location/station and your arrival destination. It'll tell you how long it takes to get there, which route is the quickest and how much it'll cost.

I hope things turn around for you in Korea.

[Hod]

[contented]

[johnslat]

Dear Hod,

But don't you love the way those adages contradict one another:

Look before you leap

but

He who hesitates is lost



Regards,
John

[Sashadroogie]

Dear John

I have heard people putting these adages into opposition before. But why should hesitating be conflated with looking and checking? I think 'hesitate' here means unable to make up one's mind, and checking certainly helps one to do this. I see no conflict here.

Regards

Resolute Sasha

[johnslat]

Dear Sasha,

You could be right. How about these:

Actions speak louder than words.
The pen is mightier than the sword.

Knowledge is power.
Ignorance is bliss.

A silent man is a wise one.
A man without words is a man without thoughts


Beware of Greeks bearing gifts.
Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.

Clothes make the man.
Don't judge a book by its cover.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Better safe than sorry.

Money talks.
Talk is cheap.

The only thing constant is change.
The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Two heads are better than one.
If you want something done right, do it yourself.

Many hands make light work.
Too many cooks spoil the broth.

Great minds think alike.
Fools seldom differ.

Birds of a feather flock together.
Opposites attract.

The bigger, the better.
The best things come in small packages.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Out of sight, out of mind.

What will be, will be.
Life is what you make it.

Cross your bridges when you come to them.
Forewarned is forearmed.

What's good for the goose is good for the gander.
One man's meat is another man's poison.

With age comes wisdom.
Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings come all wise sayings.

The more, the merrier.
Two's company; three's a crowd.

Regards,
John

[Sashadroogie]

Dear Johnslat

I am ALWAYS right. How can historical inevitability be wrong? Such false consciousness!

The use of a pen is an action too, more powerful than the spoken word because it travels faster and reaches through history, thus undoing any work of a mere sword.

Power and bliss are usually opposites, so where's the conflict? I should know. It's tough being a Vozhd.

A silent man is not per se without words. He simply knows when not to use them. Quite thoughtful actually.

Differing horses. One didn't have a mouth, the others do.

Clothes do make the man think he is the man, but we shouldn't always agree with his own self image, based on his coverings.

Nothing ventured without being smart and looking before you leap. Again.

Money has absolutely no value. This is a fact. Apart from the value we believe, i.e. credit it with.


Shall I go on? My mastery of dialectics and synthesis of irreconcilable ideas is what has got me to where I am today! Leader of the free and socialist camp!