Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bgreenster]

Combination. The main reason was money, since I didn't have much desire to live specifically in Korea... I just promised myself that I wouldn't take a "standard" job right out of college, and that I would do whatever I could to live abroad for awhile.

So I traveled to Central America to volunteer for awhile, ran out of money, talked to people that were on these huge trips, and found out that they had saved up from teaching in Asia. Sooo I got back to the States, came onto Dave's, saw that you make the most money in Korea, and had a job by the following week.

If it were purely for traveling purposes, there's no way in hell I would have chosen Korea (so expensive to fly in/out, and I prefer Latin American or African... or European... to Asian culture any day)... but this money will lead to travel.

If I stop spending it.

[WanderingDolphin]

Because I want to have a dramatic and profound impact on the youth of Korea by teaching them the wonders of the English language.

Uh...right.

Real reasons: Mostly living in SE Asia and having an interesting life experience. But I realize there's a thing called reality too. So also to make/save money, live rent free, pay back student loans, travel, etc.

It's just so hard these days in North America with the current situation to find a decent job with benefits and health care. I refuse to become fat and unhappy living paycheck to paycheck like so many people. Therefore, I'm looking abroad. Looking forward to the upcoming adventures!

[HighTreason]

ooo... it looks like the fraction of English teachers in Korea who went there to teach English has raised to 1/4!! (as of this writing) woohoo I pretty much expected this, and don't think I am in any way bad-mouthing those who went for other reasons. I just think this is a little funny in a way.

[kiwiduncan]

In complete honesty, money is the main attraction (first time round to pay off student loans, this time round to buy land in NZ).

But it is more than that. If it was only money I'd go to the Middle East, but Korea offers a nice balance of financial and lifestyle attractions. From my experience Koreans are generally decent, funny, friendly people, no better or worse than Kiwis, Brits or all the other nationalities in the world. The food is good, it's a cheap place to live and there are a lot of good people here. Right now I am teaching English in the UK and feeling crap about my inabilility to speak any European languages. But it's really rewarding to learn Korean, get to know the country and show some respect and interest in Koreans. The teaching is pretty satisfying too. Admittedly I like studying Korean more than teaching English, but studying Korean in turn helps you teach.

Also, British mountain biking sucks, and I have a lot of memories of great cycling in Korea. I can't believe that people complain about life in Korea being boring - it's a great place for the outfdoors.

[HighTreason]

[nicholas_chiasson]

-I'm going to Korea, because
1)ESL teaching in America pays badly and requires a masters, or at least a B.Ed.
2)Korea pays better than Russia or Thailand or even Taiwan
3)I don't like Japanese culture. And Japanese culture doesn't like me.
4)I can't stand living in the second smallest state in the US.
-So really the biggest reason I'm going to Korea is because its the easist country to escape to.
Actually shouldn't 'escapism' be a poll choice?

[kiwiduncan]

[Fishead soup]

After doing the cross Canada Welfare cheque tour.
One Emergency cheque from evey office from Newfoundland to Victoria.
Now thats easy cash. Spent it all in one week in Pattaya.

[fromtheuk]

This is my first teaching job abroad. I'm 34, I worked in a dead end job in England for 3 years.

I hadn't been abroad for 9 years and I wanted a good job. I've been here nearly 2 months.

I was surfing the net when I found out about teaching in Korea. I couldn't believe this was for real e.g. they pay your airfare, give fully furnished free accommodation etc.

After a few weeks of research I decided to go for it. I can honestly say I don't regret my decision.

Another reason for coming was the atmosphere in Britain. I'm Muslim and because of the threat of terrorism and all of the hostility which comes with it, living in the U.K. right now is pretty awful for the Muslim community.

I felt I was always under suspicion and reading/viewing nasty media coverage definitely harms community relations, there are places in the north of England where there is virtual segregation. This existed before the war on terror, but now things are even worse than before.

Anyway, I am not a native Brit, so in a way I have always felt like a foreigner, so I knew that living in Korea wouldn't be impossible. In Korea, I get some people who try to ridicule me, some who are respectful, some are inquisitive, and others simply ignore me.

I've learned people are pretty similar wherever you go. If you're a foreigner or of foreign descent, you'll always be an outsider in some way.

One thing I can say though is in the U.K. right up to this very day, there are places where non-whites cannot live because they will get bricks thrown at their windows etc. just for being foreign, whereas here in Korea I've never felt under physical threat. I think it's sad that in a period of a couple of months I have a got a better job here in Korea, better than any job I've ever had back in my 'own' country, the U.K.

[Eloras]

I think I want to be a teacher in Canada, but I have no experience with children. The best way to find out if you want to do a job for the rest of your life is to do it. However, I do not have my BEd yet. I don't want to waste the time going to school for something that I don't want to do.

Also, I want to find out who I am. My whole life has been shaped by what my parents want me to do. (I know what you're thinking - grow a backbone!!) I took the university program they wanted me to take (instead of going to college), I live my life the way they want me to, I would probably have gotten the job they want me to have. I can't do this anymore. I have to find out who I am, and what I want to do with my life.

Korea will give me the job experience I need to decide if teacher's college is for me (and the money for tuition), and give me the life experience to help me discover who I really am.

If I wasn't going to go to Korea I would have gone to work in the business sector, bought a house, and ended up pregnant in 2 years. Not that there is anything wrong with that, it's just not for me.

[OiGirl]

[MissSeoul]

[kiwiduncan]