Korean Job Discussion Forums

lastat06513 · Posted: Thu Jun 17, 2004 3:59 am Post subject:

I wasn't prepared for my first trip.
Actually, I had no choice but to come here since I was a soldier at the time. But like many countless others, it grew on me.
But I would say that the 2 and half years as a soldier in Korea and chatting with ESL teachers at the time, that is what prepared me to come back here as a civilian and stay here as a teacher.

rapier · Joined: 16 Feb 2003

I suppose I learned the necessary qualities for life in Korea previously from my various customer service jobs. Patience, controlling your temper, dealing with several difficult people at the same time, etc. A London barman serving hundreds of drunk people every night is a good training for life out here, in the classroom and out of it.

Dalton · Joined: 26 Mar 2003

Well said Rapier.

skinhead · Joined: 11 Jun 2004

I'd known Korean students as close friends since 1996. Took a holiday with some of them to Korea in 1998. That drew me right in.

It's amazing the difference in response I got as a tourist from what I received as a teacher from 1999-2001. When I came on hols in '98 I had all walks of Korean life asking me welcome to Korea questions on the subways, groups of school kids wanted to take my picture in Lotte World, etc, etc...

When I started working as a teacher in '99, I got nothin'. Apart from the usual scowls and glares, schoolgirls jumpin' outta their skin as soon as they found a waygook standing near them on the subways, and none of my old buddies wanted a bar of me. WTF??? I even took to wearing my backpack, camera on my belt, bumbag around the waste and "I Love Seoul" t-shirt to try to rekindle the old flame. No love...

Wha'appen? Shocked

Love to you all, Skinny

Dalton · Joined: 26 Mar 2003

LOL Your state of mind as a tourist is different. This is only half an answer I know. The other half is what happened to them? Can they really smell a teacher coming? That is the question.

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

skinhead · Joined: 11 Jun 2004

Yeah. It's all of that I reckon. They can smell an innocent from a hard-bitten know-it-all. I'm sure many like me began to carry that 'back off!' vibe after a certain period of time. I did like playing the waygook spy and standing in the corner of the subway door pretending I was Bond. What a creep I must've looked. No wonder. It was a rather dramatic contrast, but looking back at how I was, don't blame 'em really.

Love to you all, Skinny

schwa · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap

A couple things helped make my transition to life in Korea easy.

I've held a decades-long affinity with I Ching, the Book of Changes (known as Chu-Yeok here), Wilhelm-Baynes translation. I've worn out several copies over the years. Confucius had honest intentions & there is wisdom to be gleaned there. Insight into the mindset here too.

As a teacher my most valuable preparation was raising kids of my own. Knowing how kids think. Largely the same the world over.

Sorry, neither is a quick fix for a new graduate thinking about coming to Korea. But never did it cross my mind Korea might lie in my future -- it just sprang up, later on, & has worked out well for me.

My best advice to anyone -- follow your interests & be sincere.

Bowden_PSM · Joined: 22 Jun 2004 Location: United Arab Emirates

Taking in a first year university student when I was in fourth year. His parents worked in Yongsan, Seoul as English teachers. He had a lot to say about his 9 years growing up in Korea as an ex-pat. Enlightening and got me on the path to open my eyes. After what he said, I expected everthing and anything at the same time. I agree with some posters; Baptism of fire is the best route to take.

Sleepy in Seoul · Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2004 10:32 pm Post subject:

I spent 8 years as a Police Officer, which gave me invaluable experience at dealing with deranged people (very good for working in hakwons).

Also, I had 10 Korean flatmates (not all at once) over 2.5 years while I was at Uni. They were great and are now back in Korea and we're all still good friends. Having lots of Korean friends has made life in Korea sooooooo much easier.

royjones · Joined: 26 Mar 2004 Location: post count: 512

working with mentally ill individuals in a clinical setting.

johnriley007 · Joined: 25 Jun 2004

the best way to prepare is, if you can, take some korean language course at your college. i know that during my senior year i had a lot of time in my schedule for something like that...and it would have been free.

secondly, don't sign a contract before you come here. you can't trust what you read online. seriously, it's risky putting your trust in someone who doesn't give a f**k about you.

the best thing is to come here on a tourist visa and take a language course at Yonsei, Sogang, or ewha university. they are all good programs and will help you adjust to korean culture more than anything else. also, you can learn the ins and outs of working here from other foreigners in your classes.

good luck.

skinhead · Joined: 11 Jun 2004

mnhnhyouh · Joined: 21 Nov 2006 Location: The Middle Kingdom

Three months in India and a month in Cambodia. After India, I expect all will be easy.

Two years teaching in an Australian high school, dealing with mostly low level students helped my teaching skills and classroom management.

h

goodgood · Joined: 22 Nov 2006 Location: seoul

I don't think I'm alone in being prepared for Korea by Shawn's Korea Life Blog. Now that I've been here a while, I realize how amazing it was that he kept that first month here naive/excited feeling about the place for all the years he was here. It was an excellent intro to Korea.

It's really sad what happened with him. Without ever speaking to me, he helped me decide to come here. Thanks, Shawn.