Korean Job Discussion Forums

[alexander-s]

Hey all,

I've been talking with a number of the teachers who are here in Korea and came to the idea of a 'crash course in korea(n)'. A quick little survey was put on my website to get an idea.

The goal is to provide some decent education about how to survive in Korea (language, culture, money, transportation and so on) so that teachers simply are 'thrown into the wild' as seems to happen all too often.

If you would kindly offer some of your thoughts for about 30 seconds to fil out the survey, I'd like to see if more people would be interested in such a course (that would happen here in Korea).

http://dragondon.net/crash-course-korean/

You can also read up on my adventures so far this year. I'm having way too much fun

Thanks in advance!

[alexander-s]

Actually just relaized that this should have been put in the 'living in Korea' section. Could a Mod please move the topic there. Thanks.

[oldtactics]

The questions are a bit silly (Is anyone really going to choose "No, I do not want to learn where to get help"?) so I'll just post my comments here -

I think the idea is a good one, and some of us had EPIK orientation to give us the basics, but I also think that being thrown 'into the wild' has benefits. At least for some of us. This isn't a highschool cultural exchange program - this is a job in another country. I hope that most of the people who arrive in Korea have already done extensive research about the country and the culture.

In my opinion, more effective than a 'crash course' would be a magazine or handbook, although I suppose those already exist in varying degrees.

Monthly 'new kid' nights might be interesting, if there were people to organize & facilitate it. That would be a good way to meet new people as well. Hmm.

p.s. Newcomers.

[ttompatz]

You are aware that both the US and Canadian governments have already published e-books on that very subject and they are free for the asking / downloading?

http://www.voyage.gc.ca/publications/korea_coree-eng.asp as an example of, "Teaching English in Korea".

.

[interestedinhanguk]

There's also a decent book, Culture Shock! Korea

[Skippy]

Actually this course is a bit redundant with the Internet and Google. There are a hundreds of blogs, websites, videos, ebooks, pamplets and heck the best resource of all right here - Dave's. The thing is time and time again people are either lazy or too stupid to find this info out.

I am surprised out how many people I talk to are not on this board or know of a popular blog life Gusts or Brian's.

People do your research!

Hmm maybe course like Epik orientation and maybe this one can be helpful. But please who ever runs these things please tell these people to smarten up a little.

[alexander-s]

First, let me thank you all for your input. I will consider everything mentioned here indeed.

I'd like to address a few points specifically:

@oldtactics: It's not really silly. There are those people who simply refuse to integrate into the society in which they work/live. I wanted to see how big that portion may be. I quite agree about the 'thrown into the wild' being potentially beneficial but there are many where that would just about 'kill them'. I'm of the 'do it an learn it' type of mentality, and I suspect that many teachers who go to another country to do anything are closer to that bent than not, this idea is merely a supplemental entry to help ease those who have a hard time finding their way around. The newsletter idea is an awesome one like the monthly meets. Thanks.

@ttompatz Yes, those are quite handy but they only go so far. For example, it does not give any help in how to say 'hello' or 'where is the bathroom?', let alone really understand the public transportation in actual use. Those can only be had by being 'immersed' in the culture, for example. They will be great supplementary documents for sure. Thanks!

@skippy Oh I quite agree. I am an 'information junkie' and will go quite far and beyond what most people call 'research'. Many ESL teachers here are surprised at how well I've picked up the bits of Korean I do know as well as how to use the Subway systems. This is kind of what lead me to this course idea. I'm surprised at how many people have NOT picked up the 'beyond basics' survival needs here (i.e. how to read transit maps and times). And believe me, one of the things I am good at is how to find information and I will certainly be helping people do the same. Even if they can't learn, they should be able to know WHERE to get the information needed!

I sincerely appreciate each and everyone who has taken their time for the feedback and filling out the little survey!

[ttompatz]

[interestedinhanguk]

[alexander-s]

[interestedinhanguk]

[yesman]

GRAMMAR NAZI

Is it "new commer" or "newcomer"?

New commer sounds like a virgin getting it on for the first time.

Just sayin'...

[digby]

I don't even have a contract or anything but I've already read 3 "survival" guides to Korea and I've been using mango languages korean course online through the local library.

Obviously the internet is the greatest resource you can have on hand. What is covered in an EPIK orientation? I am planning on just going for a hagwon first time around and given that the general rule seems to be "thrown to the wolves" I've been gobbling up any info I can.