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myenglishisno
Joined: 08 Mar 2011
Location: Geumchon
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 Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 5:31 pm Post subject: |
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| Jotun_Symph wrote: |
| Absoluetly not! In fact, I wouldn't reccomend coming over here to teach for anyone under the age of 25, there's so much you have to deal with and you have to think on your feet so much that you need a certain level of maturity to handle it all without breaking down. |
Physical and mental age are two very different things. I know 21 year olds here that are thriving and people much older that who quit and ran home after a month or two.
You have to assess how mature you are and more importantly, if living and working in an extremely different culture on the other side of the world are for you. It's really something you need to consider before making the jump. That's why I'm glad Korea is getting more difficult to get to with all of the visa regulations... people are now forced to really commit to it instead of coming over on a whim. When I came over, you could hear about teaching in Korea and be here in under a month. Now it takes awhile longer.
Anyway, I came over at 22 and had no problems I couldn't handle. I have had my fair share of problems, especially in those first few years (bad hagwon) but I've stuck it out. |
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Jotun_Symph
Joined: 21 Aug 2011
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| Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 6:56 pm Post subject: |
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| You know 21 one year olds who graduated college in 3 years and went to Korea immediately after? Haven't met too many of them |
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myenglishisno
Joined: 08 Mar 2011
Location: Geumchon
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| Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 7:04 pm Post subject: |
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| Jotun_Symph wrote: |
| You know 21 one year olds who graduated college in 3 years and went to Korea immediately after? Haven't met too many of them |
The UK and several other of the seven countries graduate people in 3 years for a BA. I know quite a few 21 year olds here, granted they don't stay 21 for long after they arrive.
Most hagwons I know of rarely employ people over 24. There is the odd person who is older but the majority of employees are in their early 20s. |
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Jotun_Symph
Joined: 21 Aug 2011
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| Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 7:09 pm Post subject: |
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| I'm not sure about that, I am 27 and was offered 6 different hagwon contracts last month...other than that, most of my co-workers and friends at hagwons have been over age 25... but your experiences may be different from mine. |
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 9:56 pm Post subject: |
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| myenglishisno wrote: |
| Jotun_Symph wrote: |
| You know 21 one year olds who graduated college in 3 years and went to Korea immediately after? Haven't met too many of them |
The UK and several other of the seven countries graduate people in 3 years for a BA. I know quite a few 21 year olds here, granted they don't stay 21 for long after they arrive.
Most hagwons I know of rarely employ people over 24. There is the odd person who is older but the majority of employees are in their early 20s. |
Mine won't hire anyone younger than that, and anyone who's 24/25 is going to have to do extra interviews. Good hagwons are going to hire mature individuals. |
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shifty
Joined: 21 Jun 2004
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| Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 11:13 pm Post subject: |
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| myenglishisno wrote: |
| Jotun_Symph wrote: |
| Absoluetly not! In fact, I wouldn't reccomend coming over here to teach for anyone under the age of 25, there's so much you have to deal with and you have to think on your feet so much that you need a certain level of maturity to handle it all without breaking down. |
Physical and mental age are two very different things. I know 21 year olds here that are thriving and people much older that who quit and ran home after a month or two.
You have to assess how mature you are and more importantly, if living and working in an extremely different culture on the other side of the world are for you. It's really something you need to consider before making the jump. That's why I'm glad Korea is getting more difficult to get to with all of the visa regulations... people are now forced to really commit to it instead of coming over on a whim. When I came over, you could hear about teaching in Korea and be here in under a month. Now it takes awhile longer.
Anyway, I came over at 22 and had no problems I couldn't handle. I have had my fair share of problems, especially in those first few years (bad hagwon) but I've stuck it out. |
Yes, I was 45 when I started in Taiwan. I was a slow learner but luckily it was an era of pervasive native speaker shortages and I squeaked along until I came right.
I had observed a 21 year old complete natural in action and learned a hell of a lot, plus ongoing 'how-to' tips from him. It seems obvious when you see it done right, but a whole lot less obvious when you're a slow-witted newbie on your own.
The thing is, everyone wants your youth. The trick is to sell it at best price.
I'm glad that I traded my youth in my home country, when it was most vital for me.
With all respect and gratitude to Taiwan and Korea, I would have disliked the fate of having to fritter my youth away in those places.
Then going home and finding everyone there wanted it as well. |
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Mix1
Joined: 08 May 2007
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| Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 5:23 pm Post subject: |
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some people start to freak out at age 25 or 26 and start thinking they are old. Almost like a quarter life crisis or something. Yeah, you are farther from your teens but definitely NOT old. Time to adjust your attitude; the minute you think you are too old, you are.
In fact, some would argue that mentally and even in some ways physically, many people are in their prime in their 30's and 40's (something to look forward to let's hope). It's all about how you manage your life and yourself... and forget about how others view you. |
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myenglishisno
Joined: 08 Mar 2011
Location: Geumchon
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| Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 8:27 pm Post subject: |
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| Mix1 wrote: |
| some people start to freak out at age 25 or 26 and start thinking they are old. Almost like a quarter life crisis or something. Yeah, you are farther from your teens but definitely NOT old. Time to adjust your attitude; the minute you think you are too old, you are. |
Yeah, that's happening to me. I'm 27. I've been having a mental crisis about it for about two years. I never realized I was so attached to my youth I was considering I never really acted young.
It doesn't help when you meet a 22-year old here and they can't get over how old you are. "You're 27? You've been here for three years? Wowwww..." |
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Mix1
Joined: 08 May 2007
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| Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 9:34 pm Post subject: |
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| myenglishisno wrote: |
| Mix1 wrote: |
| some people start to freak out at age 25 or 26 and start thinking they are old. Almost like a quarter life crisis or something. Yeah, you are farther from your teens but definitely NOT old. Time to adjust your attitude; the minute you think you are too old, you are. |
Yeah, that's happening to me. I'm 27. I've been having a mental crisis about it for about two years. I never realized I was so attached to my youth I was considering I never really acted young.
It doesn't help when you meet a 22-year old here and they can't get over how old you are. "You're 27? You've been here for three years? Wowwww..." |
Yeah I hear ya. But most 22 year olds (especially here) are still stuck in teen mentality, so to them 27 sounds REALLY OLD! Embrace it and laugh at them; if they can't deal with it, forget em. Or tell em "Yup, and you'll be this age SOON too!"
The thing is, when people forget about the age numbers, most people have lots in common, but the numbers themselves usually serve as a barrier, especially in Korea. You can have loads in common with someone but if the age isn't close enough you can be written off entirely. |
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shifty
Joined: 21 Jun 2004
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| Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 10:31 pm Post subject: |
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| Mix1 wrote: |
some people start to freak out at age 25 or 26 and start thinking they are old. Almost like a quarter life crisis or something. Yeah, you are farther from your teens but definitely NOT old. Time to adjust your attitude; the minute you think you are too old, you are.
In fact, some would argue that mentally and even in some ways physically, many people are in their prime in their 30's and 40's (something to look forward to let's hope). It's all about how you manage your life and yourself... and forget about how others view you. |
So true!!
I can vouch for the saying 'the 40's are the best times of your life'. You have everything, youthful looks, strength, an absence of angst. It can even extend into your 50's if you play your cards right.
I know the feeling of feeling old in early and middle 20's. Fact is, there's time in life for everything. Career change, several career changes even, ongoing self-improvement and study. There's time for all and then some.
The actor, Al Pacino said he didn't know life was so long, all that......., using the word for fornication. |
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toonchoon
Joined: 06 Feb 2009
Location: Gangnam
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| Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2011 3:58 am Post subject: Re: is 26 too old to do this the first time? |
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| You'll be fine. I'm a guy and was 27.7 when I first came here and made friends with everybody - from 22 - 30. If you're fine with being friends with predominantly 23 year olds you'll be fine. If you're too serious, and too mature for your age, you might have issues meeting people. My 2 cents. |
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2011 4:22 am Post subject: Re: is 26 too old to do this the first time? |
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| toonchoon wrote: |
| You'll be fine. I'm a guy and was 27.7 when I first came here and made friends with everybody - from 22 - 30. If you're fine with being friends with predominantly 23 year olds you'll be fine. If you're too serious, and too mature for your age, you might have issues meeting people. My 2 cents. |
I find this odd. As I said previously, I came here at 23 and I was definitely the youngest guy in most of the crowds I was in until relatively recently (two years on). |
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toonchoon
Joined: 06 Feb 2009
Location: Gangnam
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| Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2011 11:53 pm Post subject: Re: is 26 too old to do this the first time? |
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| northway wrote: |
| toonchoon wrote: |
| You'll be fine. I'm a guy and was 27.7 when I first came here and made friends with everybody - from 22 - 30. If you're fine with being friends with predominantly 23 year olds you'll be fine. If you're too serious, and too mature for your age, you might have issues meeting people. My 2 cents. |
I find this odd. As I said previously, I came here at 23 and I was definitely the youngest guy in most of the crowds I was in until relatively recently (two years on). |
I was exaggerating. As a 31 year old though, I find it hard to make friends with 22 and 23 year olds. Then again, I don't befriend my uni students either.
Again, to the OP: at 26, you'll be grand. old enough to know how to appreciate all the great experiences you'll have in Korea but not too old to feel out of the loop, like me now  |
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mayorgc
Joined: 19 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2011 12:53 am Post subject: |
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| I headed over when I was 25. I didn't think I was too young or too old. there were only a handful of people younger than me, most were older. At the Gepik seminars, I didn't find myself too out of place. There were a handful of 50+, some 40+, some 30+ and most were in their 20s. |
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myenglishisno
Joined: 08 Mar 2011
Location: Geumchon
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| Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2011 9:03 am Post subject: |
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IMHO, you should be out of the hagwon business before you get into your 30s unless you're coming over for the first time while you're in your 30s, in which case it can't be helped.
I do meet people older than me, occasionally, in hagwons but I never meet people above 35 and finding people in the 30-35 age group is quite a rarity. This is due to the nature of work that hagwons are. |
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