Korean Job Discussion Forums

elicia · Joined: 09 Jun 2007

is it difficult or strange to be the only foreign teacher? is it easy to meet people? eep.

Pak Yu Man · Joined: 02 Jun 2005 Location: The Ida galaxy

Depends on what city you are in and what kind of a person you are?

Meeting other foreigners shouldn't be a problem if you know where they hang out. If you don't...post a question on here and I'm sure someone will help you out.

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

I enjoy it. If you don't thrive on isolation or you can't handle it, then certainly avoid it. But being the only foreigner, there's quiet. You're not aware of any office politics, no one is asking you to take sides against another teacher, etc. You go in, you do your job, and you leave.

Also if the other foreigner is a right loser, you're not viewed by the Koreans as answerable to his crimes.

xCustomx · Joined: 06 Jan 2006

I was the only foreign teacher for about a year and a half at my old hagwon. I felt isolated at times since there was nobody to talk to who could relate to living and working here, but I suppose that just helped me make the transition to the public school I'm at now.

Be prepared to take the majority of blame from your boss though if students withdraw from your class or parents complain. I felt as if my boss was never happy with the job that I did because of the constant criticism that I heard. I was thrilled to hear that the hagwon only has about 25 students enrolled now, but 75 at the time I quit.
I was never given any praise towards the job I did, but I hope she realizes my worth now that I'm gone

oneofthesarahs · Joined: 05 Nov 2006 Location: Sacheon City

mrsquirrel · Joined: 13 Dec 2006

It's ace.

I like the isolation and the not having to know everything that is going on. There can be inter office wars going on and I am oblivious to it all.

I am their first foreign teacher as well so I set the standard. I wouldn't want to be the person who comes after me. YOu have never met somebody who can look soe busy yet do nothing all day long.

If you really need to have people to talk to don't do it. Not for the isolation side of things but more for the fact that you will come across as a complete loon the first time you meet another foreigner after not having spoken to one for months.

wylies99 · Joined: 13 May 2006 Location: I'm one cool cat!

bosintang · Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 10:23 pm Post subject:

It depends on your personality and circumstances.

In my case: Well, I avoid the office politics I had when I worked with other foreigners (except the bit I create myself), but on the other hand, it's so monotonous and predictable without other foreign teachers. Korean teachers, are well, boring...that's why they're teachers.

mytime · Joined: 15 Oct 2006

I totally agree with the last post
It's really boring to speak with Korean teachers...the ones that can speak English
But thats often the case anyway with someone who speaks in their second language....they cant express themselves fully.....I envy the way the Koreans chat away all day while I only get a "hello-how-are-you"

I don't recommend working as the only foreigner unless you have a good circle of friends to go see after work

bosintang · Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 10:46 pm Post subject:

In my case I share an office with 5 other women. (I'm a man.) On days I have to spend lots of time in the office, listening to them yap away all day makes me want to go ballistic. I'd rather be teaching than sitting in the office with them.

mrsquirrel · Joined: 13 Dec 2006

trubadour · Joined: 03 Nov 2006

not sure I can really add to the above things. It's good if you are competitive - you're always number one!

bosintang · Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 8:06 pm Post subject:

JMO · Joined: 18 Jul 2006 Location: Daegu

I'm also the sole foreign teacher and I enjoy it. Depends alot on your co workers of course. I have nice ones so its good. I'm also the first foreign teacher at my place so the boss treats me with kid gloves. All round a nice deal.

lastat06513 · Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 3:32 pm Post subject:

The best jobs I ever had in Korea were ones where I was the sole english teacher (no popularity contests for the attention of the students) and if you like solitude, you will get alot of it because your Korean co-workers will most likely never bother you and you get most of the attention from your students.

The down side is that many of your coworkers would look to you mostly if they have any grammar-related or term/idiom related questions about English.