Korean Job Discussion Forums

[asams]

So I was thinking about what I'm going to do after my year here is up. I have this wunderlust and I definitely want to satisfy that for a few years before I have to return to the real world that is the US. To that end I've looked at jobs in the Middle East. So my question for anyone that's taught in Korea as well as the Middle East is this: which would you recommend? I realize the C.o.L in Korea is low but I feel that the Middle East provides more opportunity to travel and experience different cultures (Korea is pretty much an island).

Serious answers would be appreciated

[Fishead soup]

Korea it's far more laid back. You can do the job as a functional alcoholic and no one will mind. However if no one likes you they will back stab you and talk behind your back until either you will leave of your own accord or your contract will be discontinued with very little notice.

In the Middle East the food is a lot better with a greater variety of different foods like Indian and Arabic. There is far less off what I would call the fear factor seafoods. On the other hand Japanese restaurants are few and far between. Most middle Eastern countries have their own version of Chinese food which is rubbish.

If you like to drink you'll have no problems in the UAE. Althought I can't say much for other Gulf states. There is also a thriving Expat community in the UAE. They also love to drink. On the negative side the majority of them who are not military are in the Oil industry and very elitist.

In the Korea the housing you get is a lot smaller and you get less vacation time. It's also more difficult for public school teachers to engineer a large block of days off when there are workshops or camps scheduled. It's not unusual for teachers in the Middle East to get one or two months off for Ramadan. Planning for vacations is literally stress free as the likely of a surprise camp appearing is 0%

The job in Korea is less stressful. The students don't think of you as a Zionist Crusader pig. If you take a job in a public school in the Middle East
you are on your own. You have to remember all the students names. Manage the discipline and grade the students. You also have to supervise exams and the kids really cheat. In my brief time there I never heard of any team teaching. On the other hand the students in the Middle East are less shy. You won't get the blank stares you get in Korea when asking a basic wh question.


In short if you are a professional teacher willing to work hard and can handle going a long time without sex most middle Eastern countries are a pretty good deal. Many of the teachers go to Thailand during Ramadam and make up for the lack of Romance in their choice country.
If you like to get rip roaring drunk and meet ladies in the local community Korea is a better choice. If this is your first EFL job Korea is also a better job because most of your mistakes will go unoticed.

Also the country you choose in the middle east makes a big difference.
In the UAE you can drink and there is good selection of freelance ladies working the streets this is simply not available or even advisable in Saudi Arabia.

[asams]

thanks. that's some great advice and insight. I had thought about the UAE. I think the UAE is in a great place. It's far enough away from the fighting (as far as you can get in the Middle East I guess), near the ocean, Dubai has a booming economy (relatively), and you can get to India, Africa, and Eurasia pretty easily. I'll definitely give this more thought. Anyone else have advice?

[bogey666]

kind of depends on what you mean re "Middle East".. I mean Libya and Tunisia, even Egypt are technically N. Africa and WAY differen than the wahhabi shithole that is S. Arabia.

that said, you won't make any money teaching ESL in N. Africa - but you'll probably have a better life, (and even companionship) instead of waiting all year for your blueball release trip to Thailand, etc.

I think Lebanon and Syria would be a blast. (actually lots of Saudi guys go hoing to Damascus, it's a big open secret among those in the know)

re UAE, what you fail to understand is with all those perks come massive prices, (for EVERYTHING) so I hope you're getting paid a LOT of money (which you probably won't be compared to all the oil engineers and other expats around you)

[losing_touch]

I have been pondering this same question. Here is another thread with some good information that I have been watching: http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?p=1951266#1951266

[asams]

thanks beer chang. i read through that thread and found some good information. I have time, so I'm gonna really think this over, watch the currency, see what Obama does with the troops there, and everything else.