Job Discussion Forums

[ipswich]

I'm past my 4th year in Korea and will finish my present contract at the 4.5 year mark. I'm fairly certain I will be changing countries but am not sure where to go. I currently work at a university so I'll have a month off in the winter to do a CELTA (probably in Thailand). Then in March my uni is giving all of us humble BA holders the shaft and we have to walk.

I hate to give up here but it seems like a good chance to take a breather. The economy here has performed so badly lately too.

What's a decent market these days? I'm a bit intrigued by Khermit's (sp?) constant praise of Cambodia. I want to learn Mandarin or at least more Chinese characters than are available to me in Dae Han Min Guk, so Japan might be an option (as would Taiwan). Mainland China is still a bit too dirty for me. Hong Kong would be cool but I doubt that my qualifications will get me much a position and it seems that the general market is in decline.

I want to live in Asia still. In a big, yet civilized city, with good public transportation and very little horn blaring. Tidy streets and nice parks would be a bonus too.

I have a little dog that I rescued also and was wondering what countries might be easiest to bring a pet too?

Any input is much appreciated.

(MODS: Again, this isn't about Korea. It's my attempt to get advice from posters who may or may not have worked in Korea but have lived, worked and traveled to other parts of Asia that I have yet to see.)

[Mr. Kalgukshi]

In line with what the OP wrote above, this thread must stay focused on his/her desire to benefit from the experiences and insight of other teachers who have lived, worked and traveled in other parts of Asia.

This thread will not become a repository for stories or anecdotes about living, working and traveling in Korea. They belong on the Korean Job Forums and are not permitted here.

Members who choose to violate what is written above should expect to be sanctioned.

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

Honestly, my advice if you want to live in Asia is to try to stick it out in Korea until the job situation in other countries is more secure. Not as many people are moving around, people are trying to hold on to what they've got right now and going to another country would put you right at the bottom again. After four years in Korea, you probably have pretty good Korean language. That, plus your university experience might get you a high school job that is better than starting over in another country (I've never been to Korea, I'm basing it on the situation in Japan), or at another university in Korea.

Four years experience in Korea when you just arrive in Japan equals zero experience for some employers.

You could probably continue to work at the university level in China with just a degree. There would be no chance of that in Japan. There are people with masters degrees working at high schools in Japan, and with it being swamped most of the people who are staying, are people who speak Japanese at least to the level where they are self-sufficient (many still need help reading things the government sends them because of the kanji).

So basically my advice: you should really try to stay in Korea, but if you feel you have to leave, then Japan would probably not be a good choice because the market is swamped and you have no experience in Japan.

[Deicide]

Leave. End of Thread.

[JZer]

I second that. Move to Taiwan, Japan, Mexico, wherever!

[Glenski]