Korean Job Discussion Forums

Raptorboy0 · Joined: 23 Jan 2006 Location: Daegu

I've been teaching in Daegu for about two years or so, and am seriously considering taking the spring semester of next year off to study Korean full time. I took a practice TOPIK test a while ago and passed the level 3 test, but I'd really like to improve at a faster rate. The two options I'm considering are:

1. Go to Seoul and study at Sogang University's Korean Language Institute.

2. Stay and Daegu and attend a similar course at Kyungbook University.

Both courses are 4 hours/day 5 days/week, but the Sogang course is about 1.4m per term, while the Kyungbook course is about half that. I'm sure the Sogang course would be of higher quality, but staying in Daegu would be much easier and would (maybe) be more likely allow me to develop connections that would lead to getting a uni gig.

Please give me your thoughts on the advantages/disadvantages of each course, and in particular, how to go about (at least) partially funding my studies through privates or a part time job? I'd really like to hear from people who did something similar and could tell me how they went about funding their studies (asking the 'rents for dough is not an option unfortunately).
Thanks in advance for your help.

Harpeau · Joined: 01 Feb 2003 Location: Coquitlam, BC

I hear that Sogang is an excellent course. What I would do though is stay in Dague, do the course there, get a home stay with a Korean family where you teach so many hours of English per week, but would also be forced to converse in Korean in the house and try in get a uni gig in Dague where it's much less competitive. Just something to consider.

chronicpride · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

Agreed. Stay where your contacts are rather than building a network from scratch.

PeteJB · Joined: 06 Jul 2007

I'm going to be studying in Sogang, but I'd recommend you stay in Daegu. It's one less headache for you. Sogang might be a better quality course, and will possibly help you learn faster - But since its university your going to, I'd stay with the Daegu one, put in your best efforts outside study-time and benefit from the half cost.

Raptorboy0 · Joined: 23 Jan 2006 Location: Daegu

Thanks for your responses everyone.

Harpeau, could you give me some advice on how to go about arranging a homestay? Is there a website I can check out or is this something that can be arranged through the university? When doing a homestay do people usually teach English to the homestay family? Do you get paid for this or is it just to compensate the family for the cost of your upkeep?

Is trying to get a part-time gig at a hagwon while studying a bad idea?