Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Ronald]

Maybe it's the cold weather and/or the fact that I can't get a better job than the crappy one I already got, but I'm starting to wonder if the "Great Pay" in Korea is worth the hassle. I'm sure my upcoming vacation and new job wherever will change my spirits.

However, I know this question has probably been asked a million times, but here goes nothing... How's the overall quality of life i.e. sociability, ease of adaptability, entertainment, recreation, hospitality in other places such as....
Japan
Taiwan
China
Vietnam
Hong Kong

......in comparison to Korea or course.

I excluded Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia because that's my travel spots and I'm not really interested in Indoneasia.
Thanks!!

[Roch]

[yingwenlaoshi]

Korea's has sort of dead feeling rather than calm. It's kind of empty. The people are kind of unwelcoming. Sure there's a honeymoon stage, but on a whole people are more often than not unhelpful.

On the plus side, you can save a lot (I've done it), but you have to be careful of spending spurts. SEND YOUR MONEY HOME. YOU'LL REGRET IT IF YOU DON'T. If you're single, saving money can be a challenge due to boredom. But it's possible. Also teaching is a breeze. You might even find yourself looking forward to going into work. There's always something to do and challenges to accomplish. Especially if you're in money-saving mode shacked out in your apartment on your off hours.

Food is a challenge, too. Not to say you can't buy many western things at the supermarket, but it has its limits. Especially if you're living outside the big city. It's like "What the hell do I eat tonight?"

Not to say things aren't much different in Taiwan or Japan. I don't know about Japan, but I lived in Taiwan. It's more foreigner friendly. Pretty easy going. Teaching, however, is more of a challenge and work conditions might be a little less desirable than Korea. They can pretty much fire you for a good reason, a bad reason, or no reason at all. Plus side is that you can teach privates without any worries. It's more fun to go out and chat it up with the locals. Korea is much less of a sell in that department. The money is of course less in Taiwan, but if you're working full time, at least 5 hours/day at a decent wage (doesn't seem to be getting much higher than 600 NT/hr since I don't know when) than you can live pretty much like a king and save a little.

2-8/9 block academy jobs aren't really in abundance in Taiwan lilke they are in Korea. If they were, it would be sweet. If you had something where you were teaching 6 hours in the afternoon/evenings at a buxiban then you could find yourself a kindy job for 2 hours/day in the mornings. Then you're making close to 100,000 NT. Good luck on that, though. And you can always beef it up with privates. Kindy is illegal, but it's not much of a worry maybe.

[diablo3]

Great pay does not really mean great pay.

If that was true, everyone would be falling over to go to Korea.

I enjoyed Korea but you would be different and probably find other countries more fulfilling for your own reasons.

[oldfatfarang]

There's no free lunch. And Korea is no exception. It's mind-numbingly Confucian - a country that's going 'global', but really living in another time. Korea's larger TEFL salaries aren't everything - they come with a price (social/lingquistic isolation etc). Living here for a few years may fatten your wallet - but ...............

Korea's a great spot to start teaching TEFL - rack up some cash - and then move on to bigger and better things.

If you want info on TEFL in other countries - just check out the International Forums on Daves. In contrast to the Korea Forums - they are very quiet. That should tell you heaps about TEFL in other countries - as opposed to Korea.

[Bryan]

[Roch]

[spamghod]