Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Sophocles]

Now, I'm pretty new to this real life thing. I've been out of University 2 years and been in Korea the whole time. However, this is what I've found about living here:

I'm selfish. It's always about me and how much money I can make and save. I feel I don't benefit anyone since my hogwan sucks and I've become apathetic about the whole situation. My bosses use me and I fight them all I can on everything - selfishness breeds more selfishness, I guess.

I don't remember feeling like this in Canada. Anyone else feel this way since being here? Maybe that's just how life is...? Man, I hope not.

In any case, this life is not going to last much longer... I'm certainly going to change lines of work, REAL SOON.

I just wanna know if other people feel the same way.

[Sine qua non]

[PeterDragon]

Well, the money is inevitably one of the biggest appeals of coming to Korea over other countries--- even the crapwons pay better than Thailand, China's or even Taiwan's best schools, and the cost of living is lower than Japan or the States.

And I don't see anything wrong with coming here at least in part for the money.

I will also say that the selfishness you're describing is something I felt MUCH MORE in college than in the real world. I was kind of a cutthroat b@st@rd in college actually, and softened quickly once I got out, because I personally find the real world to be much more honest and fair than academia.

It sounds like you're feeling guilty, Soph. Could you describe your attitude a little more, and why it makes you feel bad about yourself? Or what seems different about the world now that you're out of college and in another country?

[Sophocles]

[jdog2050]

[Sophocles]

Yeah, I'll be out here soon enough. Nice to know there are people who sympathize. Or empathize. Or, whatever.

[venus]

[Sophocles]

[Axl Rose]

[kermo]

I don't blame you for feeling mercenary about the whole thing, feeling disillusioned and disconnected.

However, I want to encourage you to make the most of the time you have, because despite the idiocy of your cynical bosses and the hideousness of the pushy parents, there are a bunch of unwitting participants in the boat with you: your students. Even if you're being sabotaged by the textbooks, school policies, etc., etc., do what you can to make a difference for your students. They may just as frustrated as you are (it probaby isn't their idea to be there), hence their bratty behaviour. However, your paycheque only comes once a month, and is soon gone. The satisfaction of helping a kid understand, encouraging them or just enjoying them is something you'll always be proud of.

[unknown9398]

[Satori]

Nothing wrong with being here for money, but you will enjoy your time here more if you put forward your best effort to do good teaching, even if that is DESPITE poor management from your boss. Teaching a good class just feels like the time goes so much quicker than teaching a dull unprepared class, so you can think of it as part of the selfishness thing anyway!

[jay-shi]

[luvnpeas]

Why are you blaming your negative feeling on Korea, rather than on a lousy job? If you had a lousy job in Canada, would you feel much better?

I like my teaching gig. The other teachers are friendly. I like what I learn when learn from teaching.

Maybe you just need a better workplace.

I don't like the isolation--I've gone this whole weekend saying nothing but "'nyang 'aseo" to store clerks.

[4 months left]

Did you ever stop to think that maybe you feel that way because of the hagwon culture in Korea? I think many people believe they can come here and make a difference in their student's lives and we do make a difference to some students. Other students, whether they be adults or children, don't really care about learning English and only do it because they are forced by their bosses or parents.

The vast majority of hagwons are there to make money. They are greedy and generally don't care about their students (yes some do.) I wouldn't be too concerned about, if you have at least tried to teach well then you have done your job.

Coming out of University, you are just starting to experience the "real world." It was an experience, take the good and learn what you can do to change the bad. It's a cliche but it is very true - it's not the mistakes or bad experiences in life you have, it's how you correct or learn from them.

Good luck, I guarantee you'll look back on this experienc and see you are a better person for going through it. Not many people in the world had the opportunity to experience what you did.