Korean Job Discussion Forums

[nellehehe]

I'm sure most of you realized that this forum is filled with a lot of bitterness, cynicism and negativity. I definitely learned a lot about the downsides of teaching in Korea, but I would also really like to hear about your positive experiences.

Please share!

[rayray123]

It's funny that this thread got no replies, I guess that says something about the experiences people on this forum have had while in Korea.

I'll share... My year in Korea was mostly one big positive experience.

[jrwhite82]

Met my wife

Got married

Having our son

Love my job

Love my house

Love my friends

Love my wife's family

[jamesd]

Got here early this month.

Brought my wife and our baby to Korea.

Living in a nice 2 bedroom apartment.

A good school with nice principal, co-teacher, staff, and students.

Bought a decent used car for the family.

So far so good.

[Zackback]

1. My work doesn't start until 4pm so I get to sleep late.
2. I live in a small city where the air feels clean which makes my outdoor exercising enjoyable.
3. Nice teachers to work with.
4. Boss is great.
5. Sometimes the kind ladies give me free food at Paris Baguette and Tous Les Jours.

[creeper1]

1. Making truck loads of money
2. Great social circle.
3. A member of wonderful sports clubs.
4. See drop dead gorgeous K ladies daily.
5. Have relations with some of them.

Complaints = none.

[itistime]

Like my students.
Like my coworkers.
Like my boss. He loves me.
Like my town.
Like my job.

Those outweigh the negs

[Setaro]

1. Small school, nice students, great coworkers.
2. 3 Co-teachers who are all awesome.
3. Never have to plan any lessons, EVER.
4. Never have any lessons after 1.30, so I get 3 hours per day to read/study/whatever I want.
5. http://tiny.cc/y8zto view from my apartment window. Mountains, city, river, park and still just 30 meters from a metro station.
6. Weekly staff trips to the BBQ/Sushi/Fish/Chinese restaurants nearby.
7. Korean public transport is ridiculously cheap. Visited most of the major cities in Korea and still saved lots.
8. Eating out is incredibly cheap too, I haven't bought any groceries or kept anything other than fruit, milk, cereal or bread at home for 1 whole year.

+100 more if I had the time to think of them all.

Only negative about Korea I can think of is the infestation of whining foreigners who should have stayed at home.

[thegadfly]

A lot of folks come here to complain -- I come here to call idiots on their idiocy, as I find it cathartic. However, in my time in Korea, I have gathered dozens of stories about the surprisingly positive experiences I have had -- people going out of their way to help me, or to thank me, or to make me feel welcome and appreciated. I taught in the US for 8 years (public schools, high school English, not high school ESL), but every place in Korea has seen me treated better than I was in the US school system -- even Wonderland was better than teaching in Houston....

Sixth post down in this thread is where I go into detail about why I like my job here in Korea:

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=200653&highlight=

I have tons of positive experiences, but it comes off as bragging or gloating when other folks are already in a bad mood (like most readers on these forums).

[schwa]

I've enjoyed my time with EPIK, 10 years as of last weekend.

Last week I said goodbye to my students at a school I'd taught at for 3 years (local policy -- 3 years max at one school). An urban girls middle school with some 950 students. I feel like I made a genuine connection with all of them & some shed tears! It was a great gig -- the principal thanked me & handed me a gift envelope of cash & I was sorry to leave.

So I put in for a transfer & friday I started teaching at a rural school. Much as I miss my former students I think I've landed my dream job now. Country kids! They're awesome. My new small middle school already feels like family. I'll also be spending a couple days a week in tiny remote elementary schools, starting tomorrow -- more adventure. I've kept my home in Sokcho & the commute is easy enough.

Theres a bit of my happy story.

[tortugaverde]

We have had a very positive experience. Despite what I have read about "rude" Koreans... we have found everyone to be very kind. We shop and do buisness in our neighborhood and people are happy to see us and honestly curious about us. We engage in friendly conversations and many people offer us free foods or treats for our kids for shopping at their establishments (yes I understand they are being "buisness people", it is still kind). We have had strangers offer directions or just engage in casual conversation. Perhaps it is because we have children, but we are always treated kindly... especially our kids. People go out of their way to talk to them (and sometimes snap a picture, we are used this though having lived abroad for 3 years).

Our employers have been wonderful to work for, always looking out for us and our family. Paying for everything, even items not in the contract. They are always concerned about and how we are doing offering to take us places and such.

I guess we have been lucky, since most people here seem to have had many negative experiences.

[Alimacg]

OK - granted - a newbie - but I have found nothing but negativity so am SO glad to find some people happy as to where they are...Having said that, I posted my CV online and am being inundated by Korean agents...who to go with?
Thanks!
Ali

[MoneyMike]

My experience here has been great so far, not really much I can complain about! Good friends, like the food, enjoy the job, (public high school) making big payments on my student loan while still able to travel, great gf.

Like gadfly said, people vent here. And really, everyone has good days and bad, even when you're happy with your life. It's easy to attribute the bad things people experience to KOREA'S HORRIBLE TERRIBLE PROBLEMS! when really that person just had a run in with someone in a bad mood, or dealt with a rude person. (not to trivialize people who've dealt with shady behavior from their employer, that's gotta suck)

That said, when applying to come make sure to do your research. If you're going the hagwon route, always talk to teachers that currently work there, more than one if possible. Take everything a recruiter says with a grain of salt. I think the biggest factor that determines whether or not people enjoy their time here is their job, so if you can land a decent gig you'll probably have a good time. And yes, some hagwon owners will try to cheat people, so research research research.

[oldtrafford]

I'll let you all into a little secret: there's good and bad where ever you!! Jeez, reading some of the spittle I've read on here makes me want to puke!! Keep a sense of reality, Jesus Christ Mother of Mary!!!!

[PatrickGHBusan]

Had 11 wonderful years in Korea.

I was a full time Public School Teacher in Canada before I arrived in Busan in 1997.

I had good to great jobs, expanded my career options, had countless amazing experiences in Korea, some bad times...