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Cerberus
Joined: 29 Oct 2009
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 Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 11:11 am Post subject: Korea vs China, pros and cons? |
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as a tangent topic to this thread
http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=175383
I'd like to hear from people who have lived and worked (or are currently in) in China and can compare at least somehow to their Korean experience(s), if they have any.
I'll have to decide fairly soon whether to stay in Korea, and although clearly the money in Korea is significantly better, I'm kind of itching for something "new" (though in many ways China I suspect will be just like Korea).
That said, Chinese language and Chinese culture interest me far more than its Korean counterparts, mostly for practical purposes. I also have a suspicion (perhaps erroneous) that China, especially in the big fast growing cities will be a hell of a lot more "fun" than Korea and that one still has some benefits of "celebrity" that for the most part are done and over with in Korea.
ideally I'd like to teach at a Chinese uni or high school, not enthused over the Chinese version of the hagwon.
Obviously location will be a major factor, but I'd like to hear from anyone interested in commenting. Thank you in advance. |
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lizlemon
Joined: 05 Jan 2010
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| Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 12:17 pm Post subject: |
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| well i have no experience but i can tell you that if you pick up mandarin or cantonese you will have a huge leg up getting a job here in canada! |
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Mr. Pink
Joined: 21 Oct 2003
Location: China
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| Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 1:16 pm Post subject: |
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What exactly are you looking for in regards to your comparison?
Salary? It seems if you can get 15000RMB a month the salaries are comparable. IMO Korea is better if you have some experience or an MA and can teach at a university in Korea.
Quality of life issues: Korea is far better. The pollution in China is just amazing. It is the reason I will be leaving once my contract is done. Medical care in Korea is better.
Fun Factor: Beijing and Shanghai have more things to do I guess, well Beijing definitely does. But what happens when you've done everything, or you get tired of eating all the various foods that Beijing has to offer? Then it turns out just being another big city like Seoul.
I typically don't go out too much due to working a lot. I was out last night and reminded that when it comes to the stare factor, China is the same as Korea. Hell, sometimes it is worse.
The one area where China is vastly different than Korea is the working culture. People don't bust their butts and work 14-16hrs a day. It is more 9-5ish like America is. People seem more laid back compared to Korea. The typical Chinese person isn't as uptight.
Also, you will notice a lot more scamming going on in China than Korea. My favorite was getting scammed from a water company. They sold me "fake" water...it was probably just tap water. Grossest thing I've ever experienced. |
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Hightop
Joined: 11 Jun 2003
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| Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 2:59 pm Post subject: |
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| These days the Chinese language schools have stepped their wages up to almost comparable with Korea. In Shanghai, Shenzhen and Guangzhou you can get 14-16000rmb a month working 5 days a week. When you compare that with SMOE or EPIK entry level rates it looks pretty good. And, I have never heard a Chinese person say their hobby is sleeping. |
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Cerberus
Joined: 29 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 1:40 am Post subject: |
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| Hightop wrote: |
| These days the Chinese language schools have stepped their wages up to almost comparable with Korea. In Shanghai, Shenzhen and Guangzhou you can get 14-16000rmb a month working 5 days a week. When you compare that with SMOE or EPIK entry level rates it looks pretty good. And, I have never heard a Chinese person say their hobby is sleeping. |
are these private or public insitutions?
most jobs ads on dave's for China show salaries averaging around 5000 RMB.
Mr Pink, Korean pollution doesn't bother me that much, for e.g. I don't get sick or have breathing problems/isssues, allergies, etc.
I realize it'll be worse in China, I'm just hoping it won't be exponentially worse.
Stares don't bother me either, so long they're inquisitive rather than getting the evil eye. I've traveled around enough to get used to being stared at. In fact, I kind of enjoy it.
The more laid back and fun having culture and atmosphere is what I'm talking about.
are the Chinese as hung up on neo-Confucian nonsense as the Koreans? (eg. age, etc)
and I'm not in Seoul, I'm in Podunk-Si, which suits me fine M-F but can get super annoying on weekends so a big Chinese city should be a big step up. |
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Mr. Pink
Joined: 21 Oct 2003
Location: China
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| Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 1:48 am Post subject: |
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Chinese aren't hung up in the Confucius culture like Korea is. In that way, Korea is more Chinese than China.
The pollution is pretty bad in some areas though. I am around Tianjin and the pollution is worse than anything I've ever experienced in Korea, and back in 1996 Seoul was pretty bad!
I would suggest you look for clean air towns like Qingdao. If Qingdao had a school that was a good fit for me, I'd head there in a heartbeat.
Jobs are hawgwon type jobs unless your qualified to teach in International Schools. |
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Cerberus
Joined: 29 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 2:11 am Post subject: |
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| Mr. Pink wrote: |
Chinese aren't hung up in the Confucius culture like Korea is. In that way, Korea is more Chinese than China.
The pollution is pretty bad in some areas though. I am around Tianjin and the pollution is worse than anything I've ever experienced in Korea, and back in 1996 Seoul was pretty bad!
I would suggest you look for clean air towns like Qingdao. If Qingdao had a school that was a good fit for me, I'd head there in a heartbeat.
Jobs are hawgwon type jobs unless your qualified to teach in International Schools. |
International Schools seek lincensed teachers. Any licensed teacher who works in Korea rather than any of the better paid, more appealing world over locations is an idiot, imo)
I saw ads for uni jobs that didn't require a teaching license, or even a Master's. They did want experience and I have that. Of course, these were around the minimal 5000 rmb salary range. |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 18 Jul 2006
Location: Home sweet home
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| Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 5:59 am Post subject: |
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| Thing is that many of the jobs here on Dave's ARE about 5000 yuan a month. YOu have to ask around, or get lucky, or work one job and teach privates, in order to make more. IELTS is also a good way to make extra cash. |
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Hightop
Joined: 11 Jun 2003
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| Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 7:06 am Post subject: |
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| Cerberus wrote: |
| Hightop wrote: |
| These days the Chinese language schools have stepped their wages up to almost comparable with Korea. In Shanghai, Shenzhen and Guangzhou you can get 14-16000rmb a month working 5 days a week. When you compare that with SMOE or EPIK entry level rates it looks pretty good. And, I have never heard a Chinese person say their hobby is sleeping. |
are these private or public insitutions?
most jobs ads on dave's for China show salaries averaging around 5000 RMB.
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Yeah most of the jobs on Dave's are about 5000. The jobs I was talking about are in the big cities and with private institutes. If you go to the country wages drop and if you work in public schools they drop. As always the good jobs don't need to hire from abroad. It is always much easier to get a good job in country. If you know someone there go and stay on their sofa and see what pops up. If not just pick a city and roll up, get a place to stay then start looking. After a week in Beijing in 2007 I had a nice place to live, enrolled in a language school and had 3-4 job interviews (all part time and paying 6000-8000 a month, 10-12 hours a week, I did not take any as they wanted a 6 month commitment). |
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Old Gil
Joined: 26 Sep 2009
Location: Got out! olleh!
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| Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 7:38 am Post subject: |
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| I have a friend working in SH making 13k a month. One year of experience here in Korea then BAM, SH baby. He works weekends though. |
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Old Gil
Joined: 26 Sep 2009
Location: Got out! olleh!
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| Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 7:40 am Post subject: |
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| Hightop wrote: |
Yeah most of the jobs on Dave's are about 5000. The jobs I was talking about are in the big cities and with private institutes. If you go to the country wages drop and if you work in public schools they drop. As always the good jobs don't need to hire from abroad. It is always much easier to get a good job in country. If you know someone there go and stay on their sofa and see what pops up. If not just pick a city and roll up, get a place to stay then start looking. After a week in Beijing in 2007 I had a nice place to live, enrolled in a language school and had 3-4 job interviews (all part time and paying 6000-8000 a month, 10-12 hours a week, I did not take any as they wanted a 6 month commitment). |
Bam. |
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Cerberus
Joined: 29 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 9:33 am Post subject: |
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| how does getting a job within the country affect getting a working visa once hired, etc? |
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Mr. Pink
Joined: 21 Oct 2003
Location: China
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| Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 2:25 pm Post subject: |
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| Cerberus wrote: |
| how does getting a job within the country affect getting a working visa once hired, etc? |
From what I've read on the China forums most people do a visa run to HK.
Just don't go working without a proper visa and all should be good. The problem is a lot of places will try to force you to work while the visa is in process. |
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Easter Clark
Joined: 18 Nov 2007
Location: Hiding from Yie Eun-woong
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| Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 3:53 pm Post subject: |
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China is Korea 30 years ago. If you fancy a trip back in time then by all means, go.
Unless you go to Shanghai.  |
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Mr. Pink
Joined: 21 Oct 2003
Location: China
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| Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 5:22 pm Post subject: |
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| Easter Clark wrote: |
China is Korea 30 years ago. If you fancy a trip back in time then by all means, go.
Unless you go to Shanghai. |
Not quite.
I was in Korea 14 years ago (wow has it been that long?) and I see more connections with Korea at that time and China now. There are a few improvements in some areas of China, but overall, it is like Korea 15yrs ago.
The pollution is the one factor that kills this country for me. |
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