Korean Job Discussion Forums

[SAbabe]

My husband and I would like to go and teach in either South Korea or Taiwan. We want to take our daughter with. ( 7 years old )

Would it be better to go to South Korea or Taiwan? I've heard that daycare is impossible to find and international schools are very expensive. We are looking at all the options. I would also like to hear from parents who have made this work.

Thanx for the advice.
Lindie

[xtchr]

Didn't you already ask this? How many threads are you going to start?

[SAbabe]

My question is South Korea or Taiwan?

[sineface]

I get that it's a slightly different topic from the one you already posted. And I get that it's something you really want solid advice on. Howevs, from reading what people have already posted in the other thread, the general consensus seems to be that taking kids here is a pretty negative experience. I'd probably tend to agree that taking kids abroad is a fantastic idea, but that there are way more suitable places than Korea. Way more open, socially advanced, internationaly aware places than Korea. If Taiwan fits that bill even slightly more than Korea, I'd imagine it would be a better experience.

[ttompatz]

[sojourner1]

South Korea provides teacher housing and you can get a couples place if you are both teaching. A more secure and stable option is the EPIK public school program, but best if you have some experience in Korea teaching English as there won't be many foreigners to show you the ropes in a public school situation so newbies often start with a hagwon position for the 1st year. You can still go into EPIK with no experience and be just fine though.

I don't have any kids nor do most foreign teachers (this allow us to be freebirds), but I heard it costs about $15,000 per year to put a kid in international school. You can bring your child if the both of you are teaching with employer provided housing which means you have upwards of $60,000 a year to live on with no rent or mortgage costs and do as you like with. Expect a 2 bedroom place for couples housing. I'm not sure of baby sitting, but she can probably do an after school program if getting out of school at 3PM or go to a non-English hagwon such as for music, art, taekwondo, and learning Korean to stay busy with adults until 5 or 6 PM when the 2 of you get off work. I think it's a pretty good deal and not a bad way to go for a teaching couple with one child.

I say it's very doable for a teaching couple, but not a single parent.

[nautilus]

[tefain]

[Khenan]

All I know is that I feel very sorry for my students. I wouldn't want to raise kids here.

[ED209]

Have you considered Nigeria?

[nautilus]