Korean Job Discussion Forums

[aske]

I realize this is a vague topic, but I have a few questions regarding Korea. I'm welcoming all viewpoints, but I'd prefer details over disparagements.

- Is Korea heavily Westernized? By that I mean, is distinct Korean culture something that is widely evident, or is it reduced to more of a superficial status compared to Western influences?

- Is Korea an enjoyable place to be, or are many foreign language teachers here because of other reasons (social reasons, financial reasons, fleeing problems in their native country, etc.)?

- Is the teaching industry regarded highly as a professional institution here, or are teachers mainly unqualified puppets who are primarily interested in what they do outside the classroom rather than in it?

- How easy is it to make friends with people? Are foreigners always estranged from native Koreans, or is ethnic interaction common?

[ginsenglove]

[aske]

[Kurtz]

I think the questions you're asking have a very negative bias, and seem more out to mock people in the ESL industry than heartfelt questions about Korea and ESL teachers.

Your first response is from someone who joined this website very recently, which either suggests he/she is very new, or was banned from Dave's for some reason, or is someone who has another account and likes to use the safety of a second account to write cliched comments.

I think you should stay home, as your tone and attitude suggests one of superiority and narrow mindedness that the fact that a few scrawled lines by someone on an internet forum could sway your opinion, I think that speaks volumes of your general low mentality too.

[aske]

[Hugo85]

[mr. simmons]

Korea is very cool.

I dig the place.

[Kurtz]

Firstly, don't take Dave's too seriously. Many people such as myself drift along to kill a little time, keep abreast of visa changes, and perhaps find somewhere nice to eat and drink.

Everyone on an E-2 is "qualified" in the sense that we meet the general criteria of an English teacher, even though many, or I daresay most don't have an actual teaching certificate. Many perhaps have some kind of TESOL certificate though.

ESL teachers get put in the "loser" category by many. I read the same old BS, can't get a job in their own country, can't find a boyfriend/girlfriend and those characters do exist, but one shouldn't paint the entire ESL community in that way, there are some very smart, funny people here that came to Korea for some kind of adventure.

You have to ask yourself how many people are working in their home countries in say a bookshop who have an Eng Lit degree, or working in a health shop that have some kind of herbal medicine degree. The fact is many uni degrees can't be used in the real world. Just because some people prefer to use their degree to teach English doesn't mean they are a loser, or are fleeing or the other reasons you provided.

I will say I think many ESL teachers are very lazy, myself included, and it's damn easy to fall into the trap of the easy life Korea provides. It takes a strong will to get out of the ESL bubble here. I'll stick it out a while longer for the money, but plans for escape have been made.

In terms of living, everyone has their own opinions. I think the quality of life is very low due to high populaton density, but there are factors which make it decent living too.

[oldfatfarang]

The whole post is a troll.

Fail.