Korean Job Discussion Forums

[tinamarie04]

Okay, here is the thing� I would LOVE to teach in Seoul, I visited there in April and loved the city. I got a job with SMOE, but I have heard horror stories and everything from people. I don�t know anyone currently living in Korea and I am very scared to move there by myself. Has anyone ever moved to Korea at the drop of a hat or do you have any advice that would help me make my decision on whether to stay in Michigan or move?! Thanks!

[Cerriowen]

I think most of us moved here at the drop of a hat

There's lots of "horror" stories, and it's not an easy place to live... but it's definately INTERSTING!

Before you come... get TWO sets of documents together for an "oh crap" situation (2 transcripts, and 2 CRC's) So you could get another job if one falls through.

As soon as you get here, start putting away money for a ticket home (should take about 2 months).

Also... take a job working at a public school to get your feet wet. They are usually considered more stable and easier places to work than Hakwons.

It's not a dangerous place, by any means. It's just frustrating, and you will spend a few nights probably crying into your pillow... or pulling your hair out.

I came here with a weeks notice (that's before the new visa regs) and have been here 3 years. One week I thought "hey, it'd be cool to work in Asia... I wonder if I can get a job"... and a week later I was on my way.

It really depends on you, and your mental endurance

[bluelake]

Well, I moved to Korea from Michigan over two decades ago and haven't regretted it. I still visit back once a year to Michigan, but this is also home. If you are in Seoul, there is a large expat population and I'm sure you will know many people in the country in short order.

[tinamarie04]

Well thanks guys... is it easy to meet people that speak English if you work in a public school? I'll be the only English teacher in the school. I feel like these are dumb questions, but I have to make a decision soon and it's driving me crazy!

[thomas pars]

so your still in Michigan? Have you had to sell your kidneys yet to make ends meet? Unemployment still at 10-13 %? Dude seriously. Get a decent recruiter. Do the paperwork and get your ass on a plane. I would recommend a hagwon if you are worried about being all alone at work. Email a recruiter and do the phone interviews. Ask the school for the previous teachers emails. If they give it a good word go for it. Though even with all that work it is still a crap shoot

What are your work details. You wanna make alot of cash? You want more vacation? Wanna work weekends? What age group you looking at? Where you wanna live?
Like I said a crap shoot. But ask yourself this question. What else is this fear keeping you from?

[Bibbitybop]

I spent 4 weeks in Ann Arbor on a political assignment. I'm now in Seoul and can safely say I'd choose Korea over Michigan by a long shot.

[Robot_Teacher]

Get out of the old rust belt now. There's no longer nothing in it for anyone seeking a job and a living. At one time it was a very robust economy with many high paying jobs, but today it's a decaying desert. Heck, they're trying to make towns smaller due to such severe economic contraction up there. Leave.

You may not meet many other people over here, especially if in public school, but you might find your calling. Obviously, the larger the city, the larger the population of people who can possibly be new friends will be and the smallest rural town area will yield one new friend at most if any.

[tinamarie04]

[roadballmint]

Hmm, define "horror stories". Are you talking about the sketchy hagwons that force unpaid overtime and ridiculous working hours on their teachers? Are you worried about negative posts you've seen about Korea or Korean culture? Are you afraid you may get too homesick?

Teaching in Korea is not for everyone. You have to honestly ask yourself if you can deal with the realities of living and working here (and I stress "working", a lot of teachers come over here expecting a paid vacation or working holiday, which is far from reality). If the answer is no, that's completely OK. But if the answer is yes, you will find an amazing new experience. It will be frustrating, and there will be days when you'll wonder what possessed you to move to the other side of the planet. Every teacher has felt this way at some point, but these feelings pass. You'll settle into your job, make friends, find new foods that you love, and start to feel at home. The good days will far outnumber the bad.

As for meeting other foreigners- I wouldn't fret about it too much. If you're in Seoul it will be easy to meet people. In fact, if you get here and find that you're lonely, send me a message. I'm always up for meeting fellow teachers I came on about one month's notice, and I have absolutely nothing to regret. I'm sure you'll feel the same if you decide to come.

PS- Don't let North Korea influence your decision. I think someone said this in a post on the current events forum, but you have better chances of winning the lottery or being struck by lightning than you do being injured or killed by North Korea. Every once in a while the Norks do something dumb and make sweeping declarations that they're going to preemptively defend their glorious nation and revolutionary ideals from the infringement on their sovereignty blah blah blah. No one here is paying the least bit of attention to them, so it can't be that serious.

[The Lemon]

If you want a good experience, research, research, research. Research the school where you're going and the organization you'll be working for. Research the area where you'll be living.

All the while, remember that the happy people don't generally run to the internet to tell how happy they are, but those with complaints are much more internally driven to vent. So just because the comments are running heavily negative does not necessarily mean you're headed to a problem. But it's better to educate yourself before arriving.

The people who "drop out of the sky" on a whim often have more problems than the ones who spent a couple of days with Google, simply because they didn't prepare. Don't be one of them.

Good luck!

[teacherinseoul]

[alphakennyone]

I'm not being a smartass here, but I honestly think a BA in Special Education is great.

Being a Special Ed teacher is probably the most difficult teaching job other than teaching a foreign language to children when you don't understand their native tongue (in terms of disciplining and reasoning with the children). TESOL also wears you haggard a lot like I've seen in the faces of Spec Ed teachers as well.

I'd say you're much better prepared than most (including me). Go for it.

[Nierlisse]

My husband and I escaped Michigan to come here...even though we both had jobs, we just couldn't stand it there anymore. I love the state (especially in the warm months, because it's very pretty; nice place to camp and all that) but what's going on there right now...just bad news all around. Trust me, you'll be glad you got out.

Of course, I'm not saying Korea is 100x better than Michigan. We have our share of problems here, too. But anywhere you go, you'll have some issues. They are just...not as irritating here as they are in Michigan.

I know that when we finally leave Korea, we will never move back to Michigan. Probably not even the US. But definitely not Michigan.

As for meeting English-speaking people, if you are in Seoul, that will be pretty easy. I'm not even in Seoul and I've met lots of new friends. It might take some work and walking around and such, but you can meet people easily. Good luck!

[eIn07912]

i put my resume on Dave's. a week later i signed a contract. 2 weeks after that i was on a flight. havent heard of anyone moving faster than that...

be afraid is normal. at least u've been to the city b4. i hadnt even left america when i came over. if u have the desire to do it, u will.

just do it and get it. u'll go through the honey moon phase where all is grand and everything is wonderful. then u'll go through the know it all phase where u think uve got the whole country figured out. then u get into the hate it all phase. then ull become more content.

there will be things u love and things u hate. if u dont like it, just leave. most people like it, even with all the bad things, korea has a lot that willkeep u here. being considered rich and handsome when ur just some average joe from back home is one. the ladies r enough to make a one legged man walk here.

so stop being worried and dive right in. its not a life sentence or anything

[afsjesse]

OP your post scares me! I'm moving back to Michigan at the drop of a hat, for atleast a week until I go to grad school! Korea's a great place with it's difficulties like anywhere else. Make of it what you will. I say come and enjoy!