Korean Job Discussion Forums

[nschornak]

Hey all,

I am a complete rookie to teaching abroad. I have a Master's in English and so I have been debating opportunities for teaching in South Korea and also Saudi Arabia. I am talking to recruiting agencies for both, and though I know many of you may not have spent time teaching in SA (I can only post in the Korean board for now) I was wondering where you guys think I would have a better time. The money is obviously better in Saudi Arabia, but there is no booze there, and while I'm not an alcoholic or anything, I like to party and socialize. What's the likelihood that I will run into other foreign teachers in both environments, and where will I have an overall better experience? And also, how likely is it to get screwed over in SA vs. South Korea? Hagwons are notorious, but ESL schools everywhere aren't the same, right? Thanks in advance for any responses you have.

[oldfatfarang]

Sorry, I don't know about private schools in SA.

However, I applied for a Saudi uni last year. It was a very rigorous application and screening process. I also had to have a video conference interview with 3 USA profs.

I failed the interview - and knew it ( I was completely knackered after teaching 3 years in K).

Try reading the ME forums. They gave me a lot of helpful advice - (and yes, there are some tricks played on unsuspecting teachers).

Good luck.

[iggyb]

It has been about ten years, so take this for what it is worth, but when I was looking at TESOL opportunities around the world, the Middle East oil nations were hard to get into - especially for Americans.

The pay was so high, they had the luxury of gaining the interest of highly qualified people and of having a lot of those type of applicants apply.

It was hard for Americans because the ads I saw usually called for British English.

[iammac2002]

Why not try Oman? They have a university called Sultan Qaboos University. They have nice housing on campus (double storey, 2 bathrooms, 2 or 3 bedrooms, a living room and a dining room, and a front and back garden, and parking by your front door.) It's not at all as strict as KSA is, they are open to foreigners and there aren't as many conservative people in the city.

Of course, it might have changed since I was there 10 years ago, but it will probably be more western now.

[buildbyflying]

I'd highly recommend cruising over to the Saudi forum adn talking to the long timers that congregate there.

It's a mixed bag. But considering the pay adn the treatment in Korea seems to have gone downhill in the last few years, Saudi might be a good option.

3 good things:
1. Pay is easily twice what you'd get in Korea. Of course, if $$$ is your concern, AUI (Kurdistan) pays 50k a year.
2. Teachers are mostly professional. They've worked for their degrees and usually take the job seriously.
3. Sometimes housing is nice.

3 bad things:
1. Saudi sucks. Black sacks for women. No booze. No loyalties. You are paid servants (some try to pretend they're not but they're living the lie). It's hot.
2. Housing can suck. Nearly all of the major uni's are pulling housing out of the DQ. This can mean apts under 24hr observation in the middle of nowhere for single women with forced apt sharing(KSU, PSU, YU). Group housing (Big Brother) for men, or shared apts.
3. No job security. Jobs are lost as easily as they are earned.

If I've overstated the negatives it's for the sake of playing Devil's advocate. Other posters on Dave's will say if you're a serious teacher who just wants to keep their mouth shut and pack away some cash then this is the jackpot.
This is NOT a place for standing up for morals or ethics. You will be treated as if you are on a reality tv show. Just accept it and dance bear dance.

In my case, this past year half of the schools teachers were fired simply because cheaper teachers were found. These were commited lifers.

[withnail]

Interesting thread. I'm beginning to hear more and more about teachers around my age anyway, moving to the gulf. It's definitely something I'll be thinking about...

[Starbucks]

I have a friend who had been teaching in Japan for the past 7 years just get hired in SA. She said it was a long process but I didn't get to far into that conversation as I mainly asked her about Japan. Maybe I should get in contact with her again

[bassexpander]

Yuck. I have no interest in Saudia Arabia, or teaching those intolerant slugs a thing.

Personally, I am ashamed the USA has anything to do with that country. If it weren't for oil, we wouldn't.

[AJR]

waddya mean AUI Kurdistan buid by flying? AUI = attachment unit interface; kurdistan = Turkey, Iraq, Iran. A region, not a country.
Curious about this cash cow.

[Starbucks]

[bassexpander]