Korean Job Discussion Forums

[lolacatessan]

what are the advantages and disadvantages of working at a school in the country (or a more rural area) vs. working at a school in a larger city such as seoul, busan or daegu?

[techno_the_cat]

Hey,

I'm not sure on the advantages or disadvantages as I've never worked in a city school but here are my two cents worth:

(BTW I worked in a city, teaching hakwons, for three years before this)

(1) I think this is a regional thing but Koreans in this part of Korea are probably the most uptight and unflexible people I've ever dealt with during my time here.
(2) Deeply ingrained xenophobia cultural arrogance, nationalist to the extreme.
(3) Total inability to actually treat you like a teacher and total inability to actually relate to your problems.

On the flip side, however, the job is probably the easiest I've ever worked in my time in Korea. Plus there are always possibilites for extra income, both legal and illegal.

Anyway, those are my experiences working in a rural public school. Hope you find it useful.

[lolacatessan]

[Gamecock]

I spent the last 3 years in the city and now live in a tiny town and work at 2 rural public schools...

City life is convenient. Lots of good shopping, availablity of all the western goods and food you want, movie theaters, etc. If you like to drink and party and have a circle of Western friends, the city is for you. It's also a good place for newbies to get used to Korea and still be able to get away for greasy fast food to remind you of home. The downside is the overpopulation and pollution. I found going shopping on the weekend is similar to going shopping the week before Christmas in the States. You can hardly walk around in the stores.

I love the small town I live in and the countryside. I'm the only foreigner at my schools and a celebrity since most of my kids have never known any foreigners. Like small town life back home, life moves slower, I find people incredibly friendly and curious. They lack bad experiences with foreigners, so they are much more open to you and less xenophobic than in the city, in my opinion. I don't have to deal with obnoxious Westerners everyday, which is a bonus for me. But I don't really drink or party, so I enjoy the quiet life. I am pretty remote, but can still hop on a bus on the weekend and go to the cinema or find an E-mart or the like. I find learning Korean much easier in the rural setting as I don't hang out with foreigners and I have more free time for various reasons. There is clean air and the mountains are amazing. The downside is obvious. No movie theaters, no Mcdonald's, no western-style bars, not many other foreigners. Oh, and no boneless chicken breastts!

To repeat, I think the city is a good place to start for first-timers to Korea. But if you are independent, adventurous, mature, and like a quieter life, the rural parts of Korea can be a fantastic experience.

[the eye]

If you're a newbie, with no experience in, or knowledge of, living in Asia, I'd suggest living in a major city.

Once you get familiar with the customs, culture and language, you will be able to decide whether or not you want to immerse yourself in it.
Such is life in a small town.

[lolacatessan]

Dear Gamecock:

Thank you very much for the info! What is the name and population of your city? Which big city is it near?

Also- I'd like to know specifically what the working life is like in the country versus the city - do you find it less hectic, pressured and money-centered?

My husband and I spent some time teaching at a hagwon in a big city and are thinking of returning to Korea so we're trying to find out more information about different people's experiences.

[techno_the_cat]

lolacatessin,

In saying I had never worked in a city school before I meant exactly that. I have never worked in any public schools located in a city. Hakwons and public schools are very different. As to comparisons to hakwons and public schools, I think that topic has been covered many many times before.
Yes, the job has some negative aspects. In saying, however, that I found the job easy I was talking about the teaching its self. I walk in, I teach from a book and a CD rom, play some games and then scoot to my next class. The teaching load is very light.
Workwise, teaching at a hakwon can wear you down. Attitude wise, working at a rural public school can sh!t you to tears. But then it can only annoy you as much as you let it and I do have some wonderful students. When I'm not teaching I listen to my MP3 player, read a book, surf the net, and tune out. Also, as I mentioned before, there are certain financial benfits as well. Lots of over time, plus (surprisingly) quite few chances for private teaching.

Perhaps I was overly negative in my first post. Anyway, sorry if I confused you, I had just woken up, and I hope this helps you out more.

[ttompatz]

I would just like to add here that the "rural school" designation can be and often is misleading.

I work in a rural designated school and commute 20 minutes from home. I live in a nice officetel next to Seohyun station in Bundang and have ALL the amenities within an 8 minute walk of my apartment door (and that time frame includes the 24 floor elevator ride).

Our school has all the resources one could ask for and is actually better equipped than most of the schools located right n Kwangju city. Many of them are more like small country schools than the one I work in.

The point I am trying to make here is ask instead of assume. Then you will know for sure.

[Gamecock]

check your PM

[kiwiliz]

I lived in Daegu for 2 weeks before moving to Jecheon, a more rural city with a population of 145,000.

I totally agree with everything Gamecock wrote. I much prefer the small city and love teaching at my 4 schools where I am a minor celebrity. The people int he city are very friendly and I don't think..apart from being stared at..that I have experienced any rudeness here.

I think the isolation may be more in a big city..here you smile and are smiled at in return..everyday..makes a difference.
OK, it's shops do not have the selection..so I make a thing out of a trip to Wonju or Seoul every now and then.

Its a good place to be.

[Bear256]

It depends on what you are looking for as far as your personal life. I taught my first year in a hagwon in Pyungtaek, a city of 386,000, and lived in a big apartment complex. I made many foreigner friends that will be my friends for the rest of my life. I was invited to a Koreans house for dinner once in one year.

Now I live out in the country about 16ks, NW of Kimpo City near Ganghwa Island. I am 3kms from a really small town and 5kms from a small town. I teach in a public elementary school with about 100 students. Here I have many Korean friends and not many foreigner friends. I am regularly invited to peoples homes for dinner or barbecues. When I walk down the street people wave and say Hi because they know who I am. Strange people pick me up at the bus stop and drop me off in town as they know who I am even if I don't know them. People in the stores I shop at are always friendly and the old ladies in the produce section will take stuff out of my basket and replace it with better stuff.

So, I guess I agree with an earlier poster. If you want the night life and partying the big cities are where it's at. If you want more of a cultural experience then the rural schools are friendlier and way more relaxed and the community will adopt you to the extent you let them.

If you are only here for the money, rural public schools pay a little more and the cost of living is cheaper.

I hope this helps.....

[lolacatessan]

[Bear256]

I know some do. There is a couple placed in a school about 10kms from me. The husband works three days a week at the same school as his wife and two days a week at two other small schools. It can be done but will probably take more looking on your part.