Korean Job Discussion Forums

[adventureman]

Mosely,

How do Japan and South Korea stack up against each other in terms of each of their respective foreigner public school teaching programs, EPIK and JET?

[Mosley]

Now,now...you're just teasing me, aren't you?

This wouldn't be the place for it. Last year, I'm sure you remember the *beep*storm about EPIK at the Job Discussion Forum. My basic thesis was that the problems w/EPIK could only be solved by it emulating JET. I gave a basic breakdown of the differences. Then the fun began w/Austin(hey what happened to him?), schwa, et al. tearing into me for daring to suggest such a thing. If you do a search, you'll find all that. Or, to get a snapshot, go to JET's website and then compare it w/EPIK's. Or go to the Job Info Journal at Japan and Korea & compare comments about JET w/ones about EPIK.

[just because]

[bundangbear]

Rapier--

Maybe you can find something I missed, but, after spending a year and a half in Toride, Ibraki, I can tell you: DO NOT GO TO JAPAN. Those glimmers of hope you saw I saw too when I went to Japan three years ago on vacation. I loved it then! I loved it so much I moved there. Then, my troubles started. I made 300,000 yen a month, and I was flat broke all the time--food is outrageous, taxis and even trains are outrageous, and rent and bills will be more than 130,000 yen a month. And the Japanese have become so stressed out and panicky about economic doom that all the girls do is shop on credit and all the men do is drool over manga porn where a 7-tentacled monster rapes a 13 year old schoolgirl, and I'm being totally serious.

I have friends who are njoying teaching in Taiwan, by the way.

[Tiger Beer]

[just because]

I know something Japan has that Korea doesn't

FUJISAN.
Climbed that once and let me tell you it is overrated. The view is good but you have to share it with 100 000 other japanese climbing it with you.

I've been to Kashima(in Ibraki prefecture) and it was quite nice. I would being withing gong out distance to Tokyo(what 90 minutes) and also experiencing country Japan it would have been fantastic.

I love country Japan(I have lived there previously for 2 years) and also the cities. Its not that bad but to be honest in my opinion it is a little better living here.

[Homer]

Mosley,

Good response. Now we are having a discussion.

As for your comments regarding EPIK and JET I have to agree. EPIK cannot compare to JET as far as organization and benefits are concerned.

However, when comparing Korea and Japan as far as English teaching it is important to remember that Korea is basically what Japan was 15 years ago as far as the teaching market is concerned.
Also to consider is the fact that Korean culture is far more outwardly as opposed to japanese.

If a Korean does not like you you will know right away.
The same cannot be said about Japan where if they don't like you you will not likely find out as it will be all smiles.
Two different approaches to foreigners, a different set of problems and adaptations.

As far as comparing Korean citizens as opposed to their neighbors I suppose you mean Japan.
However, if you compare Koreans with their other neighbors the comparison changes.
the judgement of Foreigners concerning Korea that you mention is based on what people say on this forum or does it go furher?

In my experience, this forum over-represents the negative aspect of foreigners in Korea. Thats due to some people coming here to vent (quite understandable). In my everyday life the level of negativity towards Korea is far less then it is on here.
I would not say a great many non-koreans share this negative view.
Most have their problems with Korea of course and thats quite normal.

Now by non-korean you include a broad category. If you include the foreign workers from other asian countries that come here to work then I am sure they would not be so happy about the way Koreans treat them. Then again their living and working conditions are not exactly great.

[Mosley]

Yes, indeed, I deliberately chose "non-Koreans" to mean just that...not just Westerners. I have no doubts that an Indonesian labourer would be glad to change places w/me on my worst "Korean" day here. I also meant to include that to indicate nationals in THEIR countries whereupon they encounter South Koreans. To wit, for example: a colleague(Western English teacher)of mine recently returned from a holiday in the Philippines and told me how the locals on this island flatly stated that they despised the behavior of Koreans more than that of any other nationality. Yes, I'm getting this second-hand and I've travelled around E. Asia enough to see behavior of Westerners to cause me to wince, but there you go. It gives me no pleasure to relate this-after all, this is my "home" for the time being(at least 6 more months).

I appreciated your comments on the JET/EPIK thing, and that topic properly belongs in "Job Discussion". Let me just say that the "Korea is behind Japan in this regard " thing is basically true, but it's time to "get over it" IMHO. EPIK has been going since '95, so it's time for the government to get its s*** together. The students and the many dedicated Korean English teachers deserve better-not just the Westerners who participate in the programme.

At a superficial level, yes, I would agree: Japanese can be more "inscrutable" w/regards to "what they REALLY think." But my experience has been that once Japanese have your confidence, they can be amazingly frank in their opinions. If it matters, my own experience includes:5 yrs. in Japan & 1.5 years in ROK. I wouldn't have said this a year ago, but now I think I'm relatively lucky to have had the experience in both & I'm in a (relatively) unique position to be able to compare them on a first hand basis-the good, bad & ugly. I'm not the only one of course(e.g. matko, etc.).

[Homer]

Glad we are having a decent discussion here Mosley.

You are in a good position to compare indeed.
I have not lived in Japan but my brother has been there for over 5 years working for Canon in Tokyo. He does translation for them.

He visits once or twice a year and I went to see him a few times.
We compare notes.

[Joe Thanks]

What Korea has that Japan doesn't (for the next year and 9 months):

Joe Thanks.



Joe

has spoken