Korean Job Discussion Forums

[fromtheuk]

Here are my thoughts on the exchange rate and ESL in Korea.

I can't help but feel some of the posters on this forum are little girls. Why?

They whine, moan and complain about the won being worthless right now. Firstly, not everybody here teaching English is American.

I'm from the U.K. and it's true currently the Korean won is not worth much, but it's still not disastrous for non-Americans.

Thankfully, I personally have no debts, so I can afford to be patient. For people who need to pay off debts, I understand their anxiety, which is normal.

The point I'd like to make is ESL appears to be recession proof, the demand is still there. As other posters have mentioned, you can still live and work comfortably here in 'dynamic' Korea.

Various people have said it's not worth it anymore, but they remain in Korea. If I returned to the U.K. I would have to live with my parents. The amount of money I'd have to pay to rent a place, alongside everyday living costs mean I would be much worse off if I lived in England.

I'd also probably only be able to get another dead end job e.g. working at a call centre.

It looks pretty likely the Korean won's value will increase again at some point in the future. For those without debt, they can wait it out.

I plan to exchange my won when it gets stronger. I'm not in any hurry.

Rather than live a tedious, useless existence, surviving on government benefits in a violent place like England, I much prefer working and living here in Korea.

I like the weather here, the image of being a 'jet-set international teacher' (well, kind of), an efficient subway system, pizza namoo etc. I still feel this is better than doing nothing in England.

I am also still earning more money than I would by claiming government benefits in England. If I return to the U.K. to work, doing this looks better on the resume than having done nothing at all.

All in all, if my health stays good, I can see myself working here for many years to come.

I don't know how other Brits feel, but when I compare life overall, life here in Korea isn't bad at all. As an introvert, the xenophobia I experience is fairly limited. Sitting indoors is a good way to not experience it.

[Ukon]

I sorta agree...I just got here a few months ago so I'll wait it out....long as price of living doesn't raise drastically(everything doubles)....

The Won will rise back by the time I planned on leaving....

[kiwiliz]

Ah..but my salary - equivalent in $NZ - has fallen, but dammit, the mortgage I took out hasn't. the mortgage I took out to provide for my retirement....lol

Ukon...please tell me when your leaving.....

[fromtheuk]

I've done some conservative calculations and by May 09, the end of my contract, I should have saved at least 12 million won, that is 5,318 pounds at this moment, that's 8,152 U.S. dollars.

Even with the naff exchange rate, I can save a tidy amount of cash.

With my TESOL certificate my pay will also increase from 2.1 to 2.3 million won next year, which means more cash. I advise anybody teaching here to get an online course like mine.

I suppose being British has some plus points after all!

[davehere22]

yeah, people are moaning a bit too much

any foreign teacher in a full time job in korea has the money to live well (better than alot of koreans)

[marlow]

[Ukon]

[gazz]

Did you do a media degree from the UK, by any chance?

I am just curious as how (i assume) some one with a degree could see that they were only worthy of a call centre job? I'm sure your degree taught you more skills than that!

In all seriousness though you could move onto India after this and help train a whole office full of Indians call centre people on how to speak 'proper' English, i hear they are not all that keen on American Englisheeeee.

I agree with the quit moaning thing by the way!

[Lostone7]

[fromtheuk]

Thank you gazz. I like to think I am savvy.

Without playing the 'ethnic minority chip on his shoulder theme' on the violin, I applied for lots of jobs as a new graduate (many years ago) without success.

I feel I am worthy of many fantastic things but the reality of life means the best don't always get the best opportunities. I am not saying I am the best ever but I don't feel I got the opportunities I deserve.............

until I found 'sparkling' Korea.

After the Mumbai blasts I don't think I'd be welcomed with open arms in India, I wouldn't want to go there anyway. They probably wouldn't pay much.

I'm not patriotic at all but English spoken by the English is most certainly the best. Forget what the gold standard of English is in Korea or worldwide for that matter.

English spoken by the English is for real. It's simple. My family and friends tell me I should read the news on the BBC, because of my accent.

It's their loss I suppose.

[fromtheuk]

I've just checked the exchange rate for the U.K. and the won is much stronger than before. 2 million won equals 990 pounds.

If this continues, I will be happy to exchange currency at the end of this contract (May 2009).

[TeeBee]

I do feel for the Americans. It sucks watching your income decrease in dollar terms. But, from where I'm standing, it's not so bad.

Take the South African rand for example, since I'm South African. When I first started working here at the beginning of 2008, 2 million won got me R15,000. As of today, the same 2 million won gets me.... R15,000. So despite all the ups and downs of the US dollar/ korean won exchange rates, I still earn pretty much the same as I did before. I'm still on course to save the amount of money I planned to when I first arrived.

Sometimes it's good to come from the developing world

[Kurtz]

I agree with the amount of uncalled for whinging by Yanks and some others RE-exchange rates, and the fact people can live a pretty easy life compared to most locals but...............jeez things must be bad in mother England!

I've never lived in England but saying Korean weather is good (hot and humid oppressive summer heat/bitterly cold arctic winters with not much in between) basking in the glory of being a "jet-set international teacher", I mean, who is calling you that, your mother? take a look at most of the obese drop kicks hanging around here with the arse of their pants hanging out, "an efficient subway system", how much time do you spend on it everyday to make it a highlight? and "pizza namoo" well this seems like another thing you can't get in England.

I'm not trying to give you a kicking but I wish everyone's needs are as simple as yours, to quote the Koreans..."I envy you", if only I could see things through rose coloured glasses.

[Kurtz]

Britain, not England, my mistake.

[fromtheuk]

It's all down to perception. I prefer to live here than in England.

Living in the same country for virtually your whole life can become tedious.

Being jet-set is a bit tongue-in-cheek really. But when you tell people back home what you're doing, they sound impressed and think you're a very 'global' human being.