Korean Job Discussion Forums

[hallazgo]

I'm going home in the spring for a couple of months. I've been here for five years. I need a few months of time back home. But as a result of my teaching for this long I know one of the big problems kids have in learning English is that they have no where to practice.

I've been thinking of taking one, maybe two, Korean children back home to America with me for an "intensive, immersive English program." I think it would be an excellent opportunity for a couple of motivated kids to be immersed in the language and culture and live the life of an American for a month or so. It would also be a nice way to supplement my income. But I have some questions:

Has anyone ever attempted this?
What did you charge? (I have a figure in mind, but feedback of someone who's done it)
What issues arose that you did not for see?
Did you fly with the kids, or did they come/go separately?
Anything to be avoided?
Would you do it again?
Was it a good experience for your kids?
Were the parents happy?

By the way, I speak Korean well enough to deal with most situations.
And I've got lots of family back home that would welcome the opportunity to help out.

[decolyon]

This does not sound like a good idea. Borderline creepy. "I want to take a few kids back to America with me." Wth? Seriously? This is not something you just up and do. I hardly think any moms are going to be eager to send their kids off with a foreigner to the other side of the world.

There are places that do this. Kind of home stay places in English speaking countries that host Korean kids. But they are companies, with reputations, and usually have Koreans working in them and take in a dozen or more kids at a time. It's not just some guy/girl taking one or two kids to their house. God, I can't get over how pervy this sounds.

Seriously reconsider what you're thinking of doing. Even if you found someone to go along with it, and even if your family would help out, you'd be like mom and dad to these kids for their time there. That's not an easy thing to do. Plus, you'd be liable for anything that might happen to them. Are you sure you want that kind of responsibility?

This just sounds awful and wrong on so many levels.

[hallazgo]

yeah, sure, I figured there'd be plenty of people who would find fault in this and think it's creepy. I started to write lots of stuff to justify myself but thought I'd wait and see what happens. Thanks for justifying my belief that some people will always suspect the worst...

So, here's the scoop. If this doesn't make your tender sensibilities feel just a bit better then don't worry about me... just go troll someone else's post and leave your negative creepiness to yourself.

I've been working at the same school for a total of 5 years. I even went home for 18 months but came back to the same school. Most of the teachers have been there for years, too. It's a small neighborhood and I'm well known among the locals as a decent man who has children of his own and is a grandfather as well. The parents at the school all know me and often greet me when I see them in the local restaurants, shops, etc. The school respects me and asks my opinion and sometimes, when kids either act up and misbehave or are just not suited to our style and pace, my opinion counts and they have acted on it and tossed kids out.

So, big deal. I'm not a company. But I have a reputation, and it's a good one. Now, do you have anything constructive to say?

[decolyon]

God, that you're old enough to be their grandfather just makes it sound worse. Yeah, there's nothing off-putting about an old man coming back from Asia with a couple of young kids that aren't his now living in his house with him. Holy crap, this has a Law and Order episode written all over it.

Respected as you may be in your little community, I imagine your reputation will fast evaporate as soon as you break out the "Hey, why don't you pay me to take your kids to this far away country with me. I'm not licensed or incorporated to do such a thing, so you'll just have to go on a tip of my hat and trusting my friendly old man smile."

I can't imagine you've thought this through at all. Someone your age should be more keenly aware of what this looks like, however honest your intentions might be.

Just try to take a step back and look at it from this perspective. Imagine I'm a 50+ white haired old guy that has been doing a job usually reserved for mid twenty somethings. The people in my town are nice to me, mainly because I'm an old man and age demands a certain level of respect in Asia, even if said respect is never actually earned. The parents of the children I teach are polite, but at home and around they're friends, they often question why someone of my age would be doing such a job they usually see done by recent university graduates. They are naturally inclined to question the motives of "normal" teachers here, so they certainly get suspicious of someone outside the "norm." Then one day, I start approaching a few of the mothers with the proposition of taking their children away to my home on the other side of the planet for something I have dubbed an "intensive, immersive English program." This program is not official. It's not through a company. There is no legal institution. It's just you, giving me money, to take your kids to my house, where no one knows them and you can't have constant contact with them. And all you have to go on is that I've lived in your town for a while and learned your language to an extent. Yeah, I'm sure you feel super comfortable sending your precious ones to my house now.

Come on man. If you seriously want to do this, try setting up a legitimate company or a branch of an already established company. Have contracts and documents that require lawyers to be present when signed. Have some kind of curriculum and program designed, with other people that are willing to vouch for you and put their reputation on the line for you. Honestly if I had a kid here and you approached me about taking him/her away to live in your house with you and I'm just supposed to pay you for it, I'd yank my kid from that school and move them to a town well away from you. I'd then call the manager of that school and all the parents I knew that sent kids there and tell them how incredibly odd that sounded and how uncomfortable it made me feel by just you asking. I'd question your motives to the appropriate authorities and then demand to see a criminal record check immediately. Even if that all came back squeaky clean, it wouldn't make a difference. I'm never sending my kid to that school again. Besides, we know "swirly face guy" had a squeaky clean record too and he better fit the profile of a normal harmless teacher than you do.

I'm just saying again, if you want to do it, do it by way of a more legitimate and established route. What you're suggesting just makes me uncomfortable even imagining it.

[Troglodyte]

That really does sound creepy. Even if you're a completely honest person with no ill intentions, can you really be sure that no one else will view your offer as something dubious?

If you really wanted to do something like this, you might be better off inviting the kids AND one of their parents to stay with you. First off, it wouldn't seem so questionable. As well, it would mean that you don't have to babysit the wee little bundles of joy every minute of the day.

[nomad-ish]

it does sound creepy, but i've actually known a couple students that have gone and done a homestay abroad. in their cases, i don't think they knew the homestay parents beforehand; it was just set-up through some organization.

however, for you to organize a homestay yourself would probably be a bad idea. there are so many problems that could come up - and i'm not specifically referring to language problems.

[SteveSteve]

I agree with everyone for exactly the same reasons. I'm sorry but this sounds like a really bad idea. I appreciate that you want to give some of your students the opportunity to study abroad in an English-speaking country. But instead of offering your home and free time, why not solicit the services of a professional company and share it with the parents.

What you are suggesting is likely to be perceived as unusual and suspicious. I'm sorry but it does.

[Catfisher]

Dude! You are totally creepy. Like everyone else says, who in their right minds is going to let some old-assed white guy take their kids all the way around the world. You're not even licensed and bonded. Get out of here before you become the next MBC/KBS/SBS 6 o'clock scandal.

[dethe]

I'm a 30 something year old male teacher and have done two homestays trips home with students. One for a month and one for two weeks. Both with same group of students.

Students and parents came to me about trip. I did up a program and activities for the time there with a schedual so parents would know where we would be the whole time. Had all paperwork done.

Once again these students came to me and asked me to do it. Be careful of you going out looking for students to due this with. Make sure all activities are at with at least two students. Above and beyond all CYA.

[languistic]

[decolyon]

[Troglodyte]

[Illysook]

I don't think it's creepy, it sounds like these kids would be sharing space with the OP's own children and grandchildren. They could have a really good time.

The first people who should hear about your plan should be the Korean teachers at your school. Then, if your plan makes sense, they will help you.

[Countrygirl]

Things to consider while doing homestay...

What will the kids eat...cooking Korean food 3 times a day is difficult, time consuming and expensive. Koreans who come directly from Korea have a hard time adjusting to not having rice 3 times a day. Do not underestimate how much Koreans need their rice and kimchi to be happy.

Korean mothers complain about anything and everything. The kids might be great but their mothers will fight over nothing because it makes them feel useful and because they think it's their right because they've given you money.

Culture Shock. Yours and theirs. Jet lag.

Visa issues...age that a child can be in a country by themselves...who is the guardian and the legal fees to set it up etc.

Expect anything to come up and cause trouble...parents could complain about anything and nothing and ruin your reputation...parents will get unexpected money problems and say that they will pay later (ie exchange rate changes because North Korea decides to bomb something)...Kids will sleep with the lights on...shower without using the curtain and flood the bathroom....leave the house without locking windows or doors...etc.

I've done homestay for many years except for when I was in Korea and it's not easy money. Like anything, plan it well, expect the unexpected and you'll have a better chance of success.

btw, you are really brave to do homestay as a single man. The problems that could arise just sends shivers down my back. As you can tell, I've had my share of issues while doing homestay. And my husband speaks Korean but lack of communication always occurs between people who are doing something for the first time.

[Cerulean]

I agree, it sounds creepy to some but I'll assume you're not a freak and share my experiences.

Yes, I've done this and in case you're wondering, I'm not sure I would do it again. I think I would have to be well compensated financially in order to do it again. Not just covering my expenses sort of thing. Nothing wrong with the kids, it's just it's a lot of work.

Input since you're asking.

Older kids. Minimum middle school.
- Find a program for them outside of your lessons, activities, etc. It is incredibly tiring to take care of other peoples children 24/7 and K kids seem to need a little more direction in my opinion. In other words, nobody has taught them how to amuse themselves.

- Make sure you charge for their sightseeing fees, food at your house, factor in restaurants and make sure they have their own spending money.

- Make sure they have travel insurance.

- Make sure you have a solid plan.

Good luck.