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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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Tbizz
Joined: 15 Sep 2010
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 Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2010 9:41 pm Post subject: Help |
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Hey guys,
I'm fairly new here. I've been creeping but first time posting. I really need your advice. I'm not really sure how i got myself in this situation but I'm 22 years old, no teaching experience whatsoever, and I'm teaching public middle school & high school. I live in the tiniest town probably of ALL of korea. There are no "foreigners" anywhere near me, or people, rather. It's an 1.5 bus-ride to Gwangju which I find myself constantly making and costing me alot. And I have no privacy whatsoever. There's really no reason to leave my apt, as there are no stores or anything, but when I do- everyone knows me as "their daughters english teacher" which was cute at first but, enough.
So my question is, I would like to leave. Get the hell out of here and go to Seoul. I'm originally from the city and I cannot do this. I will go crazy here. So, please hold your judgements. I need to either A) move to Seoul or B) if that cant happen, i'm down to get the f out of here.
Don't get me wrong, i some-what enjoyed my time here, but I will lose it if this continues. Anyway, will someone please guide me as how i go about this? I need all my paper work right? Once I get it I can give them my one months notice?
Alright,
thank you in advance |
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Pa Jan Jo A Hamnida
Joined: 27 Oct 2006
Location: Not Korea
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| Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2010 9:59 pm Post subject: |
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| Midnight Run. It's not just a funny movie! |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2010 10:05 pm Post subject: Re: Help |
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| Tbizz wrote: |
Hey guys,
I'm fairly new here. I've been creeping but first time posting. I really need your advice. I'm not really sure how i got myself in this situation but I'm 22 years old, no teaching experience whatsoever, and I'm teaching public middle school & high school. I live in the tiniest town probably of ALL of korea. There are no "foreigners" anywhere near me, or people, rather. It's an 1.5 bus-ride to Gwangju which I find myself constantly making and costing me alot. And I have no privacy whatsoever. There's really no reason to leave my apt, as there are no stores or anything, but when I do- everyone knows me as "their daughters English teacher" which was cute at first but, enough.
So my question is, I would like to leave. Get the hell out of here and go to Seoul. I'm originally from the city and I cannot do this. I will go crazy here. So, please hold your judgments. I need to either A) move to Seoul or B) if that cant happen, I'm down to get the f out of here.
Don't get me wrong, i some-what enjoyed my time here, but I will lose it if this continues. Anyway, will someone please guide me as how i go about this? I need all my paper work right? Once I get it I can give them my one months notice?
Alright,
thank you in advance |
Short answers:
look up "culture shock".
Get replacements of ALL of your documentation (degree copy with apostille, national CBC with apostille).
Give your proper notice and head for Seoul.
Make DARN SURE you have enough cash in the bank to get you re-settled in the city BEFORE you pull the plug
OR
fine a new job and do a double visa run.
*double visa run
1st trip out of the country - hand in your ARC and cancel your current E2.
return. You now have 90 days to get a new job, get the visa confirmation number and do your visa run to Japan.
New employer begins the visa confirmation application process.
they get the number and you make your visa run to Japan to get the new visa placed into your passport. (2nd trip - hence the name: double visa run) 1st is to get your tourist stamp (visa on arrival) and the 2nd is for your new E2.
./ |
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Tbizz
Joined: 15 Sep 2010
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| Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2010 10:28 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks guys. But no this is not culture shock. If it was I wouldnt be looking to stay IN korea.
Anyway I promised myself that I'd give them the months notice. They've been sweet to me and that's the least I can do. However, I'm not gonna suffer here because theyre nice to me. Damnit i deserve to have fun and so far all i've been doing in lesson planning! (sorry, mini rant)
Okay last question. Do I tell the new school I'm applying to that I'm already in Korea working for another school? Because I need to find a place ASAP, and I can't give my months notice until I know i got it. However, the whole process takes time and 1 school in Seoul wants a teacher for the end of October!! What would YOU do?!?!
Thank you strangers  . you're very helpful |
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2010 1:27 am Post subject: |
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| I'm pretty sure you need to get a letter of release from your current school, which they may or may not give you. |
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Tbizz
Joined: 15 Sep 2010
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| Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2010 1:47 am Post subject: |
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| Let's just say I do get the letter of release- do I need to do a visa run? I've been working at the school for less than 9 months. |
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eslwriter
Joined: 15 Sep 2010
Location: A dot on the planet with an exaggerated sense of importance.
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| Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2010 2:01 am Post subject: |
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OP, I feel your pain.
But here's a question for you. What is your plan for the next year or so?
If you plan on staying in Korea, then you have to stop appreciate that you are in a pretty good spot right now.
Here's why.
1. All new teachers have to spend tonnes of time lesson planning. That is a given, and it doesn't matter if you are in a tiny town or a shiny school in Seoul. You said you are a new teacher, so in a sense, you are getting paid to learn the job. That's a big plus, in any country, I might add.
2. There's nothing to do. I call bull. Use this time to do two things. Learn Korean and get in shape. You're a small town where you need to communicate in Korean. Spend a couple of hours each day learning Korean and you'll be strong in the language in a few months. That's a skill which will stay with you and yield benefits if you stay in Korea.
Bottom line? Why run? Do you think things will be that much better in another town? Not with your lack of experience, maturity or perspective. |
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Tbizz
Joined: 15 Sep 2010
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| Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2010 2:43 am Post subject: |
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| eslwriter wrote: |
OP, I feel your pain.
But here's a question for you. What is your plan for the next year or so?
If you plan on staying in Korea, then you have to stop appreciate that you are in a pretty good spot right now.
Here's why.
1. All new teachers have to spend tonnes of time lesson planning. That is a given, and it doesn't matter if you are in a tiny town or a shiny school in Seoul. You said you are a new teacher, so in a sense, you are getting paid to learn the job. That's a big plus, in any country, I might add.
2. There's nothing to do. I call bull. Use this time to do two things. Learn Korean and get in shape. You're a small town where you need to communicate in Korean. Spend a couple of hours each day learning Korean and you'll be strong in the language in a few months. That's a skill which will stay with you and yield benefits if you stay in Korea.
Bottom line? Why run? Do you think things will be that much better in another town? Not with your lack of experience, maturity or perspective. |
oh okay. thanks for your input. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2010 3:29 am Post subject: |
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| Tbizz wrote: |
| Let's just say I do get the letter of release- do I need to do a visa run? I've been working at the school for less than 9 months. |
A public school, as a matter of government policy, will NOT give you a LOR so you will need to do the extra visa run to cancel your visa and make yourself available to the new school.
Then you will need to do a visa run again to get the new E2 visa.
There is no shortcut to the process and you are unlikely to get it done before the end of Oct. unless you have everything in hand now.
. |
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eslwriter
Joined: 15 Sep 2010
Location: A dot on the planet with an exaggerated sense of importance.
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| Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 6:14 am Post subject: |
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Hey Tbizz,
Thanks for your snot nose comment. You asked for help and I gave you some advice based on real experience. Like or not that is fine. But why the sarcasm?
Now, after you finish wiping your runny nose, why not just go home and tell your mommy what a hard time you had in Korea.
She'll understand, I'm sure.
Newbies. They just wanna have fun. |
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PatrickGHBusan
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: Busan (1997-2008) Canada 2008 -
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| Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 7:00 am Post subject: |
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OP, Tom has provided excellent information and advice for you.
eslwriter has also provided some useful input and some constructive criticism and advice.He is completely right about learning some Korean. You have a golden opportunity to do so.
As for
Now, how long has you been working at your school?
I will respond more directly to one of the things you said:
| Quote: |
| Anyway I promised myself that I'd give them the months notice. They've been sweet to me and that's the least I can do. However, I'm not gonna suffer here because theyre nice to me. Damnit i deserve to have fun and so far all i've been doing in lesson planning! (sorry, mini rant) |
Your employer has been nice to you and your job seems like a good job. In such a case running would not be an honest option.
As for 'all I have been doing is lesson planning' well, thats your job and since you are inexperienced, it is critical to how you do in class no?
If you feel like you cannot handle living in a small town, by all means give your employer the proper notice and quit. Use the time you have to secure a new position in a larger city if you think this will make you happier. Just don't stick your co-workers and your employer with a bag of crap and pull a runner. |
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Nester Noodlemon
Joined: 16 Jan 2009
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| Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 7:03 am Post subject: |
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| eslwriter wrote: |
OP, I feel your pain.
But here's a question for you. What is your plan for the next year or so?
If you plan on staying in Korea, then you have to stop appreciate that you are in a pretty good spot right now.
Here's why.
1. All new teachers have to spend tonnes of time lesson planning. That is a given, and it doesn't matter if you are in a tiny town or a shiny school in Seoul. You said you are a new teacher, so in a sense, you are getting paid to learn the job. That's a big plus, in any country, I might add.
2. There's nothing to do. I call bull. Use this time to do two things. Learn Korean and get in shape. You're a small town where you need to communicate in Korean. Spend a couple of hours each day learning Korean and you'll be strong in the language in a few months. That's a skill which will stay with you and yield benefits if you stay in Korea.
Bottom line? Why run? Do you think things will be that much better in another town? Not with your lack of experience, maturity or perspective. |
^this
This is what I would do. I would just hang in there and try to make the situation better. By a bicycle. Go hiking, etc. Try to befriend some of the locals. Save some cash and move on to a new gig at the end of your contract.
I'm just saying that I think there are some unseen opportunities here. But hey, if you have made up your mind, do what you must do. |
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Junior
Joined: 18 Nov 2005
Location: the eye
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| Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 7:27 am Post subject: |
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All these "Help, what do I do" posts from 20 yr olds with no teaching exp.
While you have very experienced 30+ yr olds crying out for jobs but not getting hired because they don't look young enough.
How ridiculous... |
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Nester Noodlemon
Joined: 16 Jan 2009
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| Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 7:50 am Post subject: |
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| Junior wrote: |
All these "Help, what do I do" posts from 20 yr olds with no teaching exp.
While you have very experienced 30+ yr olds crying out for jobs but not getting hired because they don't look young enough.
How ridiculous... |
Yep! |
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MattAwesome
Joined: 30 Jun 2008
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| Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 5:44 pm Post subject: |
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| you will def have to learn Korean. Hit the books, do a language exchange, go to class. this will help your entire life. do it. |
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