Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ghost]

Just curious to know how teachers who have taught in both countries would compare Korea with Taiwan? With regard to people (general friendliness, etc.) cost of living, culture, food, transport, salary and benefits.

Ghost taught in Taiwan in 2005-2006, and studied Mandarin.

What ghost liked about Taiwan:

1. Generally good people, although most Taiwanese are shy and distant with foreigners.

2. Surprisingly low cost of living outside Taipei. Ghost lived 1 hour from Taichung, and most of the prices for eating and living were not much higher than a third world Latin American country (e.g. meals for 1.5 dollars equivalent) and a nice 3 bedroom apartment for just $260 dollars U.S. equivalent.

3. Low cost of studying Chinese and easy to study and work at the same time.

Ghost did not like:

1. Very bad pollution, had to wear a mask, even when jogging!

2. Crazy scooter traffic. Ghost used a mountain bike and said a prayer of thanks every time it reached a destination, such was the danger (a fellow student from Providence University died in a scooter accident).

3. Did not enjoy working at a Private High School - listless, apathetic adolescents who had no desire or spark to learn English.

4. The fact that most Taiwanese simply ignore foreigners...nothing nasty, but we (foreigners) are just not of interest to most Taiwanese. They are not nasty to us, but they are not interested or inspired by us, either.

Thanks for your feedback on Korea.

ghost

[RACETRAITOR]

So how did Ghost die?

[Dev]

In Korea, your main difficulty will be language. Very very few people here can speak any English at all. Therefore, you will have to learn Korean fast or in many cases, limit your friends to the other foreigners in the country.

Many companies (such as cell phone companies) and services (such as 911 or in Korea 119) have no English speakers available to serve you.

Yes, unbelievable, but true. How well can the Taiwanese speak English? I've heard that the Chinese are pretty good because of similarities between Chinese & English in terms of grammatical structures.

[nautilus]

I was in Taiwan briefly before quitting my bushiban because of a personality conflict with the owner.

Your observations on Taiwan are similar to mine. The pollution really is bad. The people are a bit more easygoing and generally saner than Koreans.


basically though, East Asians don't vary that much.

[gypsyfish]

I like Korea because:
of the four seasons;
there's more to do than when I was in Taiwan;
I teach adults;
transportation is better;
it's easier to learn about local culture, customs and history;
there's less pollution;
I don't have to work Saturdays and;
the better salaries here.

I liked Taiwan because:
there was more diversity as far as restaurants was concerned (though now Seoul is as cosmopolitan as Taipei;
bookstores were better (though now Seoul's bookstores are as good as Taipei).

I like both because I don't know anyone who refers to himself in the third person.

[thesphinxxx]

Side note: Koreans refer to themselves in the third person! hehe. Anyway, I was also considering teaching in Taiwan after Korea to see a new country. I heard there is even surfing there in the south. The trocpcal climate appeals to me as well. I've only been in seoul for a few weeks, but so far I am finding it interesting, which i love. cheers!

[Muffin]

I taught in Korea but not Taiwan, although a close friend of mine did. I do however, have close friends from both countries. What I can tell you about Taiwanese and Koreans is that they each consider themselves superior to the other (although the Taiwanese seem more hung up about this). Therefore you need to be diplomatic when relating/comparing your experiences in their respective countries!

I think Korea is more expensive than Taiwan but the free housing deal may offset this.

I think you will find Korea cleaner although there is still air pollution.

When I taught both nationalities in the UK, I usually found the Koreans a bit more outgoing, although when Taiwanese people warm up they make very loyal friends. Oh yes, Koreans drink ALOT more.......

[RACETRAITOR]

[gypsyfish]

[jajdude]

I was in Taipei for one year (2001-2). Rent was about $300 for an OK place, and I spent about $600/month, not going out or drinking much. I like drinking, but in Taiwan the beer was so foul, I'd just have a bottle of wine or some booze sometimes.

Taiwanese are usually friendly towards foreigners, Koreans not as much. (Not a generalization.) Women were really nice, not all beauties but some just great. That alone makes it a more pleasant place to be, but damn it can be boring there.

Some good food there, some good restaurants, not so expensive. I found Taipei a bit cheaper than Seoul.

Teaching English was similar. Some great jobs, some crap. Some wonderful students and bosses, some jerks. My job was good, just saying generally. Probably easier to save more in Korea for most people? Some do quite well in Taiwan too though.

Humidity for most of the year there was not always pleasant. Roaches. It rains a lot more there, and quite a few typhoons per year wreak havoc.

Pollution was bad but I think it can be worse in Korea because of more "yellow dust"

Crowded as hell, but so is Seoul.

Bottom line: Either place can be good or bad.

[PimpofKorea]

The pimp thinks that Korea is better for increasing the size of his wallet. The pimp hears that there isn't as money to be made in Taiwan as Korea. The pimp also doesn't like the hot weather and prefers a cooler climate especially when the Pimp is giving his lil' pimp a good stroking.

[rhinocharge64]

Hey pimp, stroke this!!

[kimchi_pizza]

[regicide]

[ghost]

Thanks for the information.

Ghost is due to `touch down` in Korea March 28 at sundown.

The comments about Taiwanese being friendlier than Koreans is of interest, and is cause for concern, because ghost found the Taiwanese to be, in general, not particularly friendly - the word that most comes to mind is ``indifference`` and ghost had enough time in Taiwan to observe how Taiwanese appraised foreigners.....

In some countries when a foreigner sits down in a pubic place (cafeteria, restaurant, bus, park, etc...) said foreigner will have many natives approaching with queries about where the foreigner is from and other general chit chat. Not so in Taiwan, where foreigners are just generally ignored by the natives. The Taiwanese, in general, are not interested or intrigued by big-hairy foreigners, and this shows in their behaviour. The Taiwanese are certainly not hostile to foreigners, but to say that they are friendly is not accurate either - the best description would be `polite indifference` and so it will remain.

The only exceptions to the above rule are foreigners who have paired off with Taiwanese girlfriends, or others who have somehow managed to immerse themselves into a Taiwanese social circle, but those foreigners are in a minority, and will remain so.

Ghost

Men are so false, so insidious, so deceitful and cunning in their wiles, so avid in their own interest, and so oblivious to others` interests, that you cannot go wrong if you believe little and trust less. Guicciardini