Korean Job Discussion Forums

[AlastairKirby]

When I came to Korea It is because I needed to get the hell out of the UK.

After 3 years in Korea I came back. The UK isn't so bad. But being away from Korea makes me realise how good it is in Korea.

When I arrived in 2008 I was 25, 4 years since I graduated with 2 years experience in a UK secondary school. I went off the rails a bit in my first year, as most of us do if we are honest.

What I noticed in 2009-2010 was that a lot of people were arriving straight out of University. People with no real basis of comparison, no real work experience. Having experience of supermarkets, call centres, and British teenagers made me really appreciate the life I had in Korea.

Maybe newbies are taking advantage of their life here because they haven't had the chance to see how bad things are back home. It's not selfishness on their part so much as ignorance. The freedom can go to your head a little bit, but when more experienced expats commented on my behaviour and told me to dial it down I listened. I think these newbies are the same. The older crowd need to be a bit more assertive, newbies need to be a bit less sensitive. Korea gives us a lot of freedom, so we should all try and be a bit more respectful and not abuse it.

I don't begrudge these newbies enjoying themselves and partying it up. It's not their fault they're young and invincible. It's the systems fault for employing them. Give a 22 year old a free apartment and cheap alcohol...

I've met a couple of students in the UK who've asked me about teaching in Korea, I told them frankly that the market is very competitive right now and conditions for newbies are worse than a couple of years ago, but that it is still worthwhile and they should do it. I would recommend anyone do it.

If I'm still teaching in Korea in 8 years and there is still an EFL industry I look forward to showing my Nephew the ropes.

We all have our reasons for coming here. Most of us would agree that whatever we are looking for in life we get a better deal here. There is something for everyone.

File me under: Berk who blundered into Korea then realised he could have a good life there and needed to buck his ideas up. Korea made me a better person. But in my first year I was a c*nt.

[PatrickGHBusan]

AlastairKirby you make an excellent point regarding what frame of reference different people can have when it comes to how they view life in Korea!

Well said.

[flakfizer]

[Chris.Quigley]

I am not sure what category I fit into.

[mukukja]

I am obviously a little touchy about the age issue, and I apologize. But I am sincere in that I routinely try to defend ESLers here if given the opportunity. From attacks within and without.

Maybe deep down I am frightened by the thought that in 7 years� time I will still be here rooting for Korea at the Pyeongchang Olympics. And my beard will be grey and my hands dusty with chalk.

[earthquakez]

The Floating World made some great points based on observing the changing norms in the kind of people who come to teach English in Korea. That doesn't mean the under 28s or under 30s are nearly all the same - just means that those of us who are older and have seen more of NETs in Korea pick up on the fact that there is a sizeable number of those who can be observed in daily life showing the negative traits mentioned.

As for you, don't worry about staying in Korea if you find that's your path for the foreseeable future. I've worked in a number of different countries and I am not looking to return to the UK for some time. Korea's got its hard realities and even somebody who is experienced in living abroad and teaching English will let them get up their nose at times.

I was prepared to move on earlier this year but I changed jobs - the best thing for me. I now work at a job where the students come because they are completely interested in learning English. It makes a lot of difference. I look at the other English teaching job markets and I know that despite its faults, Korea is the best Asian country in which to teach English. And it damn well is far more convenient in its lifestyle etc than my home country of the UK.

[mmstyle]

[mmstyle]

I wanted to read through the thread before I replied (my hubby insisted I write the above as soon as I read it, though).

I guess we fit into the last original category. We both like aspects of teaching. I find experiencing cultures outside of my own very rewarding. I came with some debt, but stayed long after I paid it off. My husband came with no debt...he just wanted to go to a new country. We've both had enough of Korea for now, and will move on at the end of the contract...but to a new country, not to either of our own. Since I married someone from another country, though, I will now be a permanent expat.

We do not and will never have 1.5 kids in daycare, probably never have a mortgage, and given that I know heaps of people whose 401Ks where decimated with the financial collapse, I know better than to expect all my hard work and savings will (for certain) be there when I hit retirement. I expect things to get worse (especially in my own country), and I want to experience life, rather than life in debt.

[PatrickGHBusan]

[TheUrbanMyth]

[TheUrbanMyth]

[kengreen]

It's tough to judge people in these harsh economic times. Many come just because they need a job. Folks have to eat.

[ghohn]

I don't post often but I've noticed SEVERAL remarks about Daejeon. I'm curious. I live in Daejeon and think it's a pretty decent place to live though my only other means of comparison is Masan (now defunct, it merged with Changwon).

As for me, I'll be 31 this week. I have a degree in education and experience in the USA. I don't make a lot of money in Korea, but I don't need to either. I've managed to pay off student loans and buy 20 acres of land back home. I love the opportunity Korea has provided me but don't necessarily care for the city type existence I have to live by here. In the US, I had always hated my jobs. You know those feelings of anger and nausea when the alarm goes off? Granted I'm not doing cartwheels from being overcome with joy but I also don't have an overwhelming desire to jerk the steering wheel into a bridge embankment on my way to work either. Perhaps I'm getting older and more mature. Perhaps it's the 5 months of vacation time. I'm leaning towards the latter.


Great thread.

[whanous]

Someone should make a "What kinds of people post on Dave's?" thread now.
That could get interesting.

[v88]