Korean Job Discussion Forums

[duns0014]

For those who've taught in both, which is better? Include everything, pay, food, general conditions, dating, etc.

[jlb]

I've taught in Korea and traveled in Taiwan so my knowledge of Taiwan is pretty much second-hand in terms of teaching. Anyway, for living: Taiwan seems more enjoyable. However, free housing usually isn't provided so you may have to live in a hostel or share a ghetto with too many roomies. Or pay big bucks for your own place so in that regard it's a toss-up I'd say.

As for teaching: Korea seems to be where the $$$ is.

[Smee]

On the Taiwan forum there are 4 threads on the front page that address the same question: http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewforum.php?f=12 Also, there have been numerous threads on this same topic, and a bunch of posts on Taiwan and Taipei that hit on the same points.

[duns0014]

[Tiger Beer]

[Ya-ta Boy]

I spent 8 or 9 months teaching in Tainan, Taiwan and about 12 years teaching here in Korea. I think that expresses my preference well enough.

I've written several posts over the years on this topic, so I won't this time. I have nothing new to say. A search should turn up at least one of my previous posts, as well as others.

[jajdude]

Silly poll, bound to bias, like which girls are cuter. Respondents dwell here, not everyone knows the other.

[TECO]

how long is a piece of string?

Which colour is best - green or blue?

What kind of music is better - jazz or blues?

Everyone has different criteria that they use to judge. There are too many variables to consider - what kind of personality do you have?

You want free housing - go to Korea.

You don't want to have your housing tied to your employer and don't care - go to Taiwan.

You want to learn Mandarin Chinese - go to Taiwan

You want to be within 2 - 3 hours flight of other S.E. countries - go to Taiwan

You like drinking and going to bars - go to Seoul.

You want mild winters - go to Taiwan

You like riding a scooter through sub-tropical mountains - Taiwan

You like being surronded by well-dressed women / men - go to Seoul

You like wearing sandals and a T-shirt to class - go to Taiwan

You want to be able to buy fruit on every street corner - go to Taiwan

both places still have a lot of xenophobic, racisit, nationalistic, provincial locals who can be very ignorant towards outsiders. And there are also a lot of crap employers in both places.

To me Taipei is one of the most boring Asian cities I've lived in - but that's just me. I prefer Seoul to Taipei. And I prefer Tokyo to Seoul.

like the Thais say, same - same but different.

[dmbfan]

[yingwenlaoshi]

You want to meet women who have a mix of aborginal, Japanese, and Chinese who are so cute you'd fall off your chair? Go to Taiwan. You want to meet women who'd go home with you at the drop of a hat? Go to Taiwan.

You want to eat real dumplings and noodles? Go to Taiwan. The food? Taiwan. Hands down. They have hot chilli sauce and breakfast places open all night.

The night life? Taiwan. Hands down. The people are more friendly.

Downside to Taiwan is pay. Other than that, it's better. Much better. More laid back.

But they can fire you for a good reason, a bad reason, or no reason at all.

[TECO]

A lot of the negatives you experience in Korea - staring, xenophobia, dishonest bosses - you'll also experience in Taiwan.

This, I dug up on the Taiwan forum and was written in 2003

Best Reasons to EFL in Taiwan:

[yingwenlaoshi]

Really one thing you gotta keep in mindi. Teaching here is a cake walk compared to Taiwan.

Really.

[TECO]

English teacher,

I hear ya, man!

The grass isn't always greener is what I'm reading.

[yingwenlaoshi]

[TECO]

Here's how friendly Taiwanese people are

Indonesian Workers in Taiwan