Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Blue Line North]

The idea of being an English teacher in South Korea has interested me for quite some time now. Nevertheless, after reading the myriad of teacher horror stories on this web site, I never pursued my interest in teaching abroad. Instead, after college, I took a job as a high school math teacher in south-central Los Angeles. Over the last two years of teaching in south-central, here are some of the problems I've dealt with at my school:

- A guy was gunned down in broad daylight in front on the school last April
- Nine people were shot within a block of the school during the year
- A teacher was beaten with a chain while trying to break up a fight
- The school was locked down twelve times because of violence in during the 2007-08 year alone
- The LAPD raided the school and exchanged gunfire with a suspect next to the parking lot
- Latino students are robbed and attacked by black students on a regular basis

The problems described above don't even cover the lack of materials, the overcrowding, the deplorable facilities, the incompetent administrators, the niggardly pay, or the apathy of the parents (and society).

In light of all of this, I would like some people to tell me how bad teaching in South Korea really is. For the most part, I've read a lot of complaints about bad housing conditions, employers not paying on time, and employers withholding wages. While these are serious problems, they aren't life-threatening. If you don't mind, please answer these questions when you have a few minutes:

What is the best part of teaching in South Korea?

If you had to narrow it down to one thing, what is the worst part of teaching South Korea?

Do you feel safe and do you witness much violence in South Korea?

If you could change one thing about your employment situation in South Korea, what would it be?

Also, anything else you'd like to add which could help me weigh the pros and cons of my current teaching situation versus moving to South Korea will be appreciated greatly.

Thank you.

[blaseblasphemener]

Didn't you read any internet forums or watch Boyz n the hood before making a decision to be a teacher in S. Central Los Angeles? And you thought that was a better teaching choice than Korea?

[xingyiman]

[Ya-ta Boy]

While I enjoy teaching in Korea a lot, I don't think it's necessary for you to leave the country to escape the problems you are experiencing at school. I taught 20 years in a mid-sized Iowa high school and experienced few of the problems you mentioned. Serious problems were kids spitting their gum on the floor, smoking in the bathrooms.

Reevaluate where you are teaching. Look into opportunities elsewhere in California. Consider Korea, but don't focus on it as your only route of escape.

[michael5799042]

I smell a troll.

How could someone be afraid to go to Korea because of people posting "My boss called me fat," but then they are not afraid to go and teach in one of the most dangerous parts of America?

I think this post was put up by one of the other posters on this board to make people's complaints look petty.

Btw, if this was a real post, do you get paid at your school? Do you get paid the right amount? Are there dubious deductions from your pay?

Many of the teachers on this board work for small private schools. These schools are businesses. Dishonest employers are very common in these schools. This is often the root of many of the complaints on this board.

[Blue Line North]

[hugekebab]

[zpeanut]

you're only young once and no one says you have to sign up for life!
.. well, i assume you're still quite young...

I've got a well paying job here in Australia but I'm still set on moving to Korea for at least a year. I just wanna do it... but of course i've made sure i have the exp and qualifications to get a good job and done some research! Seeing as you're a highschool teacher, I don't think you'd have a problem finding a good position.

I've been to korea a few times and have always had trouble coming home haha. Living is cheap, it's safe, great fun.. I love teaching English (cheesy - but i really do!) .. so why not?

There is absolutely no reason why you shouldn't give it a try. If worst comes to worst, just go home.


But yeah, as others have said, Korea or any other country isn't an escape. Think about your options at home. You're going to come home one day, so it's something you're going to have to deal with.

[lorenchristopher]

[Kikomom]

[aka Dave]

I've taught in several districts in California in public schools. Public schools are better in Korea, by a long way. However, the pay is much less, depending on if you have lots of grad school. I was starting at 45k per year because I had 4 years of grad school in the California system. Here you will make about half that. I don't know what you were making in Cali and what your salary goals are, so you compare that to the jobs offered.

However, in terms of stress, you're much better off here than in the Cali system (especially LAUSD). There's another thing, though. Every year in the Cali system you get retirement, health benefits, and increased pay. You don't get that here. To be honest, if you're a family guy and gonna have to pay for kids going to college, the pay and benefits here are insufficient. If you don't care about money it's much less stressful than teaching in Cali.

[jkelly80]

You can save around 12k a year here, living like a loon. Less of a loon, more money.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

What is the best part of teaching in South Korea?

It's easy to look good, whether you are or not, and Koreans are very easily impressed. The small victories with certain students is a nice bonus.

If you had to narrow it down to one thing, what is the worst part of teaching South Korea?

The curriculum and the inability of 80%+ of Korean English teachers to teach English as anything other than a dead language.

Do you feel safe and do you witness much violence in South Korea?

My students love to punch, bitch-slap, pull hair, and wrestle with each other all the time. They think it's great fun. The only real violence I've witnessed has been a few fights between drunken westerners, pushing matches between drunken westerners, and teachers slapping students around.

If you could change one thing about your employment situation in South Korea, what would it be?

The curriculum and testing system. I'd also make English an elective subject at the high school level.


PS - a story you might find funny: one of my high school students brought a pellet gun to school (which looked just like a real Beretta) and wanted to show it to me. 'Teachah!' she said, holding out the gun to show me so that it was pointed right at my shoulder. I took it, gave it back to her, and said 'Yeah yeah, don't shoot it here at school, OK?' as she walked off down the corridor holding this huge-looking handgun with a big grin on her face. Just compare that to how you would have reacted in South LA.

[Orchidelirium]

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[Orchidelirium]

[quote="Orchidelirium"]