Korean Job Discussion Forums

CdnTeacher · Joined: 29 Jan 2003

Hi, what are the good schools in that area? Any I should stay away from?

Also what is it like to live there? Some describe it as a very rich area, what's different about it aside from prices?

Bulsajo · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=1812

william beckerson · Guest

Gangnam is superbly convenient. Everything you need is within 20 minutes walk, or 5-30 minutes by taxi depending upon the time of day.

It also has some of the most spoiled kids in Seoul. I found teaching there to be a torture.

chi-chi · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

I have a question that is related to this topic: to anyone who has taught in Kangnam, is it worth it if you still have a crappy job, or does the area somehow compensate for this, and make the whole thing bearable?
Just wondering because I just finished a crappy job in a crappy town where I taught lots of poor spoiled kids who thought that foreigners were monkeys. I am in Kangnam now and think this is the only area I would consider working in if I do come back to Korea...so is is still worth it if you somehow get stuck with a less-than-desirable job? (Worth it as far as money and quality of life overall...)

Bulsajo · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

In my opinion, no. The job is the determining factor. Better to have a good job in a crappy location than a crappy job in a good location. Look for a good job in Kangnam, but don't take a crap job just because it's located there.

william beckerson · Guest

Listen to the man, he speaks wisely.

Zyzyfer · Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2003 5:56 pm Post subject:

It's a shame that there's no sleepy avatar, or I'd use that to express my opinion towards working in Gangnam.

Bulsajo · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

To each his own- I doubt I'd like living in Cheonan but glad to hear it goes well for you there. Before coming to Korea I'd already done my cultural experience immersion thing and discovered that I am a creature of the city and its comforts (the exception being tropical locations with good diving). I enjoyed the conveniences and entertainments of Kangnam, but for those wanting to really immerse themselves in Korean culture it's probably not the place to be.

Zyzyfer · Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2003 3:49 am Post subject:

Bulsajo: Now that's the kind of advice this cat needs. It's all about desired immersion level.

Blue Line North · Joined: 15 May 2008 Location: Long Beach, California U.S.A.

According to what I have read, Kangnam is one of the best places in Seoul to live and teach.

raketbaler · Joined: 14 Apr 2008

that's where I'll be teaching.

esetters21 · Joined: 30 Apr 2006 Location: Seoul

I have lived and taught in Kangnam (Apgujeong) for 2 years. It is what it is. You are close to conveniences and a higher percentage of English knowledge Koreans. It isn't that special IMO. I am a creature of habit too, so I have no plans to work and live in the sticks of Korea. I have grown tired of the spoiled types in Kangnam too, however.

icicle · Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Location: Gyeonggi do Korea

What you might find better if you can't get a "good" job in the Gangnam area ... Is to get a "good" job somewhere else in Seoul which has good easy access to Gangnam ... or similar places ...

I have lived in both "semi-rural" as in smallish city and in Seoul and had visited Gangnam while in the country area ... and several of the things which would be most "western" in Gagnam are also available in other areas of Seoul ... and often at lower cost ... I now know there is a bigger difference between living outside of Seoul and living in Seoul in Korea than I realised at the time ... Even though I have only been living in Seoul (the opposite side of the city to Gangnam) for a month now ...

I think before I came the first time last year that I would rather not live in a "big" city and Seoul is a very big city .... But in applying for my second job here after a couple of months at home I decided that I wanted to be in Seoul with good potential access to a couple of places I liked .... But even though I did get a job in a location with that access I have actually only been there once since I arrived because I can do those things where I am ... and many things I didn't even think of ...

I guess what I am saying is that you may actually find other areas of Seoul which will give you what you want ... and may be a good option if you can't find a "good" job in Gangnam ..

Flash Ipanema · Joined: 29 Sep 2006 Location: Seoul

Blue Line North · Joined: 15 May 2008 Location: Long Beach, California U.S.A.

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Remember, tolerance is paramount to everything, even logic, in America. This includes absolute, unequivocal tolerance for five year old threads. These threads aren't useless and, in fact, should be given special treatment in the form of EOE preference. To this end, I am establishing the Department of Aging-Threads Studies at UC-Berkeley. We will be accepting applications starting in January of 2009.

If you would like help overcoming your dearth of tolerance, I would suggest that you volunteer at a home for aging threads or, at the very least, make reparations to a five year old thread in your community.