Job Discussion Forums

[Yawarakaijin]

Just a question to throw out for you guys. I sometimes find myself checking out the other forums just to see what's going on. The Korean one gets quite heated at moments as do a few of the other ones. What is the reason for this? Any opinions? Are the poster here a little on the more professional side? More often lifers who have mellowed over the years?

[Gordon]

I don't know about lifers, a few are, but many of us are not 23 and out to get drunk and laid as our life's ambitions much like in Korea. Not to stereotype or anything, there are professionals everywhere, but from what I saw when I taught in Korea it is different here.

[kdynamic]

Hahahah sorry to say it gordon but most of the English teachers I have meet in Japan for your description of a 23 year old just out to get drunk and laid to a T.

[Gordon]

[Yawarakaijin]

Not that peoples sexual habits and tendencies are'nt interesting but I was also thinking along a few other lines. Other forums tend to have current event forums, discussion on religion and other topics as well. I am very glad to see that " I hate Japan and all Japanese are racists" threads are few and far between.

[lalalateda]

I'm 23 and I enjoy drinking and such. But I came here to teach and that's what's most important to me. It's not about age!

I do agree that there seem to be more serious and helpful responses and this forum and I am very thankful for that.

[abufletcher]

It's tougher getting a job in Japan than it is in Korea and that alone acts as a screening mechanism. Also with the sort of abuse one regularly finds in Korean hogwans only the drunk, skirt-chasing types are likely to stick it out. Professionals will move on.

Still, I'd be willing to believe that some aspects of whatever a "national psyche" might be gets reflected in a forum dedicated to that culture. From all I've heard (and the Koreans I've taught) Japanese are a bit more sedate.

Actually judging from my students this morning, I'd say they're not just sedate, they're almost comatose!

[Yawarakaijin]

On my first day of the week..I get Mondays off Every single of my morning students has cancelled ( I work in-house for at an engineering firm) I doubt anyone could find less interested students than 25-40 year old engineers who rarely have to speak to anyone in English or travel to any of our subsidary locations overseas. On the other hand my morning is entirely free and I only have 2 afternoon classes and will be home by 3:30

[Glenski]

It may have to do with the difference in who gets hired in Korea vs. Japan. Or the work ethics of the employers in either country. From what I've heard, Korean employers are often fairly unscrupulous. Moreover, your visa is tied to your employer there, so that probably puts people more on edge than in Japan.

I could be wrong, but I think the xenophobia in Korea is stronger than in Japan, and the people are generally more outspoken, so feelings from those two things could rub off on foreign teachers. Who knows?

If you think all Japan forums are sedate, try JAPANic or www.bigdaikon.com and see what you find. Big difference. Even on www.gaijinpot.com where there is a ton of useful information on more subjects than just teaching, there are a lot of flamers and trolls and juveniles. Same for http://forum.japantoday.com .

[JimDunlop2]

It IS more mellow here than some of the other forums. Not that it's a bad thing though. When I was moderator (for a short time), on other forums it was virtually impossible to get through a single day without threads being pulled for various reasons -- usually people acting like idiots. Rarely on the Japan forum though. Maybe certain countries draw certain kinds of people -- I dunno. If you want to go to where the excitement is, check out Taiwan or Turkey. There ARE topics which will get ppl hot & bothered here too -- and I won't mention what those are because those who spend any time here know well enough...

I prefer it this way -- you can generally ask a question without getting flamed (you may get a snide remark or two) but ppl here are more tolerant to n00bs I think. I'm also a wee bit older than the stereotypical "1st job out of college" crowd who come here to get international experience. I'm also married and look forward to staying in Japan for a few more years yet (it's been three so far). The religious, political, and otherwise "interesting" topics are usually ones that I discuss in person with friends at the local -- much like I would back in Canada... I even have a few fellow Canadians to do it with here... So like what others have said, my group of friends and ppl I hang out with are usually of a similar ilk.

[Yawarakaijin]

I get where everyone is coming from. Perhaps the word timid lends people to believe I find the forum boring or lacking in some regards. I personally enjoy the level of civility on this thread. I was just wondering if anyone had specific reasons as to why it does not seem to be as confrontational as other boards. I'm personally of the opinion that most people I know teaching here in Japan tend to be quite happy and therefore less likely to get bent out of shape and flame away.

[JimDunlop2]

I do think that aside from general satisfaction level, average age really does have something to do with it...

In my old age (heh) I've taken up playing WoW (World of Warcraft) as a pastime, as I have some friends who are into that too.... And believe me, there is a HUGE difference between playing with someone who's 16 and someone who's 30... Even if all you're doing is killing monsters, peoples' personalities come out quite prominently.

BTW, I don't suppose there are any WoW players here? If so, PM me and I can tell you what server I play on (in case you wanna share some quests)...

[Synne]

[Brooks]

yet on the Korean board, anything goes.
Or seems to.

[hamel]

since the separating of countries on the dave's board a long time ago, korean esl teachers don't really have any place on daves anymore. so i am helped by reading the japan forum. not as different (the two countries) as the japan esl teachers would like to think.



hamel