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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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leotreo
Joined: 19 Dec 2011
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 Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2011 4:18 pm Post subject: Best Geographic Location for Young Teacher |
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For a young teacher who likes the city and is interested in night life (not so much western bars/clubs) as well as culture, what areas do you recommend?
I know it's very open ended and up to opinion, but I wanted to see if there are any places or principles that come up more than once. |
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Weigookin74
Joined: 26 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2011 4:36 pm Post subject: |
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| I'd probably suggest Seoul. If you get a good public school position in a rural area don't turn that down either. It's surprising but there's lots of young teachers in the countryside with EPIK now. It would be a good chance to learn a bit about the culture and then switch to a hakwon if you want to live in Seoul after that. You'll impress your Seoul friends with your knowledge of Korean culture. But Seoul is probably the only place to eventually end up if museums, culture, etc are your things. Seoul is the only true international city in Korea. (I don't live in Seoul, by the way.) |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2011 5:14 pm Post subject: Re: Best Geographic Location for Young Teacher |
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| leotreo wrote: |
For a young teacher who likes the city and is interested in night life (not so much western bars/clubs) as well as culture, what areas do you recommend?
I know it's very open ended and up to opinion, but I wanted to see if there are any places or principles that come up more than once. |
Bangkok, Tokyo, Taipai, Shanghai, ....., Seoul.
If you mean, "Where is a good place to WORK?" rather than continue your college lifestyle then Seoul, Suwon, Busan, Incheon... anyone who will hire you. It is only 4 hours from anywhere in the country to anywhere else in the country so you are never far from the "nightlife".
With all the problems that are endemic in the EFL industry in Korea you should focus more on getting a good job with a decent employer than your night life or you will soon be back here with a thread titled, "HELP - my boss is screwing me" and you will have never even seen the bright lights before you need to tuck tail and move onward.
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crisdean
Joined: 04 Feb 2010
Location: Seoul Special City
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| Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2011 6:22 pm Post subject: Re: Best Geographic Location for Young Teacher |
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| ttompatz wrote: |
| leotreo wrote: |
For a young teacher who likes the city and is interested in night life (not so much western bars/clubs) as well as culture, what areas do you recommend?
I know it's very open ended and up to opinion, but I wanted to see if there are any places or principles that come up more than once. |
Bangkok, Tokyo, Taipai, Shanghai, ....., Seoul.
If you mean, "Where is a good place to WORK?" rather than continue your college lifestyle then Seoul, Suwon, Busan, Incheon... anyone who will hire you. It is only 4 hours from anywhere in the country to anywhere else in the country so you are never far from the "nightlife".
With all the problems that are endemic in the EFL industry in Korea you should focus more on getting a good job with a decent employer than your night life or you will soon be back here with a thread titled, "HELP - my boss is screwing me" and you will have never even seen the bright lights before you need to tuck tail and move onward.
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absolutely awesome! I completely and utterly agree. |
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leotreo
Joined: 19 Dec 2011
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| Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2011 6:41 pm Post subject: Thanks |
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Lifestyle is definitely the focus and if you want to identify it with 'college' that is fine with me.
However, I did not spend my college years pursuing a useless degree so difficulty finding well paying work in the U.S. is not the reason I am interested in teaching in Korea.
I can appreciate your 'genuine' concern that if I am not careful I may fall into a work environment that is not favorable. I am doing my due diligence and yes--location is a key priority for me. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2011 7:35 pm Post subject: Re: Thanks |
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| leotreo wrote: |
Lifestyle is definitely the focus and if you want to identify it with 'college' that is fine with me.
However, I did not spend my college years pursuing a useless degree so difficulty finding well paying work in the U.S. is not the reason I am interested in teaching in Korea.
I can appreciate your 'genuine' concern that if I am not careful I may fall into a work environment that is not favorable. I am doing my due diligence and yes--location is a key priority for me. |
If lifestyle is your focus then Korea is NOT the place you want to be (unless of course you are of Korean heritage).
There are far better places (cities and countries) to work with better lights to amuse you. That is not what Korea is known for; really.
If you want to get screwed (and I don't mean by some cute young thing) then focus on the bright lights and you will be back asking for help. I promise you.
Good luck.
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bekinseki
Joined: 31 Aug 2011
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2011 9:50 pm Post subject: Re: Best Geographic Location for Young Teacher |
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| leotreo wrote: |
For a young teacher who likes the city and is interested in night life (not so much western bars/clubs) as well as culture, what areas do you recommend?
I know it's very open ended and up to opinion, but I wanted to see if there are any places or principles that come up more than once. |
Well Hongdae obviously has a diverse night life as well as culture, depending on exactly what kind of "culture" you're looking for. |
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sonicmatt
Joined: 04 Oct 2007
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| Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 4:55 am Post subject: |
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| maybe chuncheon or jeonju would be good. they have many famous foods and other things. |
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eamo
Joined: 08 Mar 2003
Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.
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| Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 5:58 am Post subject: |
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| Pohang! |
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Weigookin74
Joined: 26 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 3:50 pm Post subject: Re: Thanks |
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| ttompatz wrote: |
| leotreo wrote: |
Lifestyle is definitely the focus and if you want to identify it with 'college' that is fine with me.
However, I did not spend my college years pursuing a useless degree so difficulty finding well paying work in the U.S. is not the reason I am interested in teaching in Korea.
I can appreciate your 'genuine' concern that if I am not careful I may fall into a work environment that is not favorable. I am doing my due diligence and yes--location is a key priority for me. |
If lifestyle is your focus then Korea is NOT the place you want to be (unless of course you are of Korean heritage).
There are far better places (cities and countries) to work with better lights to amuse you. That is not what Korea is known for; really.
If you want to get screwed (and I don't mean by some cute young thing) then focus on the bright lights and you will be back asking for help. I promise you.
Good luck.
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I think if he wants an active nightlife and modernity, while saving money, it's better to live in Seoul. If he lives in the country, he will have to commute and spend money on motels, etc in Seoul on weekends. Not practical if saving money or paying down debt. A good job is better than anything. Spending a year in the countryside is good if he's going to be here for a few years. He'll know some of the culture and impress his Seoul friends later on. Other countries are more exciting. But, if it's money and he wants with some nightlife, Seoul is it. If he wants only to save cash, Korean countryside is better. He'll be less tempted to spend. There are better cities in Asia, but saving not so good, at least as an inexperienced newbie. Good luck. |
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Steelrails
Joined: 12 Mar 2009
Location: Earth, Solar System
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| Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 4:09 pm Post subject: Re: Thanks |
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| leotreo wrote: |
Lifestyle is definitely the focus and if you want to identify it with 'college' that is fine with me.
However, I did not spend my college years pursuing a useless degree so difficulty finding well paying work in the U.S. is not the reason I am interested in teaching in Korea.
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I hope you are interested in teaching in Korea because you are interested in teaching in Korea.
Now, that doesn't mean don't choose a city based on nightlife. The rest of the time you're here, its gotta be the best time you can make it.
But remember, we're here to teach. |
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krnpowr
Joined: 08 Dec 2011
Location: Midwest, USA
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| Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 4:14 pm Post subject: Re: Best Geographic Location for Young Teacher |
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| leotreo wrote: |
For a young teacher who likes the city and is interested in night life (not so much western bars/clubs) as well as culture, what areas do you recommend?
I know it's very open ended and up to opinion, but I wanted to see if there are any places or principles that come up more than once. |
LA Koreatown. |
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young_clinton
Joined: 09 Sep 2009
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| Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 4:22 pm Post subject: |
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| How about Moscow? |
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pegasus64128
Joined: 20 Aug 2011
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| Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 5:18 pm Post subject: Re: Best Geographic Location for Young Teacher |
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| leotreo wrote: |
For a young teacher who likes the city and is interested in night life (not so much western bars/clubs) as well as culture, what areas do you recommend?
I know it's very open ended and up to opinion, but I wanted to see if there are any places or principles that come up more than once. |
I made a deal that I would not scorn you for failing to search for previous posts on the matter, if the search function wasn't working for me. It wasn't and often isn't with Dave's ESL low-grade database. I can tell you from my own observations (my own database of what people say) that a lot of people recommend Seoul as the best gateway of choice, not just for the foreseen advantages, but the unforeseen too. Seoul can cater to your needs but if you go there, I wouldn't get too comfortable as ttompaz said.
| T-J wrote: |
A traveler down the road reaches the city where a sage sits at its gate. The traveler is thinking of moving to this city, but wants to know more about it.
He asks the sage, �What kind of people do you have in this town?� The sage responds, �Well, what kind of people do you have in the town from which you come?�
The traveler retorts, �Oh, they are snobbish, selfish, cruel, hateful, and unkind.� The sage says, �You will find the same in this city.�
Before long, another traveler reaches the city gate and has the same interest as the first man. He asks the sage, �What kind of people do you have in this town?�
Again, the sage replies, �Well, what kind of people do you have in the town from which you come?� The traveler thinks, then quips, �Oh, they are helpful, kind, charitable, and pleasant!� The sage says, �You will find the same in this city.� |
I agree with the above, but you'll find markedly more prostitution in Korea, though it's discreet enough. There's markedly less public safety issues at night.
In my experience, those that had life the easiest, complain the most in Korea. I met someone from Zimbabwe (a native English speaking country though not very recognized) who was just happy to be here. He appreciated it. There's (from my perspective) a horrible kind of parasitic people that think they're better than other foreigners and love Korea more than any country should be loved. They're a double-standards peddling, kind of people that don't see the contradiction in treating their fellow waygookin badly and kissing Korean ass. These people are wounded people, and often from bad backgrounds themselves. They don't really get that if they want to be more like Koreans, (they could just be themselves if they had any self-esteem) they should do as Koreans do and treat foreigners decently too.
**Please don't be a dick. There's a lot o'dicks here and we don't need any more (whether they're apologist dicks or whiner dicks)**
Then there's the super-whiners - people that can only see the negatives. These people just had it too good in the West.
I think Korea really is what you make of it, but you need to get smart and fast to live in Korea. Don't like it: Then bank and know that you're here for a reason. That should stop your whining to a degree. You're not really that handsome. I don't care who you are. I used to be flattered with those compliments. Koreans say that almost all foreigners are handsome. Often, it's just that they like your eye-lids. You're Korean is not really very good (chances are). The gasping "Woohhh, teacher. Good Korean speaking" shouldn't be taken as a sign that you're doing enough to assimilate here. You really should try and learn the language, no matter whether you hate the place or not (that's just my opinion), no matter whether you think Korean is useful or not.
Please learn about Confucianism before you come. That will really help you understand some of the paradoxical, illogical sides to Korea. A knowledge of Korean poetry and writing would also help. If you have some idea what they learn, you can better understand them.
You're way isn't necessarily the best way, and please don't push your way even if you think it is. Too many people here have an agenda to advocate their way of doing things here. "We keep our windows closed in the Winter", "We don't spit in public", "markets are smelly here. There's bad smells everywhere." ..etc. etc.
Koreans are really into clean air, and recycle air allot more, even at the expense of body heat. Generally, Korean people anchor themselves closely to group-sustainability. You'll see schools that grow their own crops, all Korean public school food is organic (certainly elementary anyway and it's free) - you are what you eat, Koreans prefer to spit toxins out of their mouth than swallow them back in. I have no problem with that concept. When it comes to eating, Koreans eat more naturally, often cooking meat themselves in restaurants at the table on big heated pans. They will cook the meat so that it's very tender and nutritious but they won't deny their immune system it's needed experience of something not completely clean. Children will generally learn about moral education (based on the Confucian model) and horticulture from a young age. They learn fine art from a young age!
And then there are the negatives: Korean people (especially in big cities) can be very superficial. Plastic surgery is rampant. Image, and defining everything in terms of ordinal numbering is rampant. etc etc.
Try to look at the positives and don't be too much of a whiner. That's my advice. Korea's far from perfect. Watch out for a lack of context in conversations - again partly due to culture.
Sentences like "How was your weekend?" quickly followed by "You have to do this tomorrow.." are common. Koreans don't come across as the most tactful people but again, it's rooted in culture to some degree.
I'm sure that was a very patronizing post but hope it helps.
& watch out for the grammar nazis. This is an ESL site remember.
One more thing: Koreans will tell you straight up if you're fat or incompetent. Don't take this to heart. It's how Koreans roll. They believe they are helping you if they underscore the obvious and actually speak frankly to the point of being blunt. They often ARE helping you.
However, a fellow waygook may sometimes be so blunt, perhaps attempting to be more Korean-like in treating you like this, don't accept it. That foreigner is being a dick. The appropriate way for another foreigner to treat you is according to their culture (whether it's Australian, American or Kiwi or whatever). They're not Korean. They're wannabe's. If they have an F visa you could have this problem. It's unacceptable behavior but you may have to put up with it. I think a foreigner really should be living in Korea for about 4-5 years before you could pass this off as him/her being assimilated into Korea, and thus behaving more like a Korean. If a newb behaves like that, they really are being a dick, gyopo newbs included. Gyopo newbs will often understand Korea better than you but not necessarily - watch out for that! |
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bekinseki
Joined: 31 Aug 2011
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 6:29 pm Post subject: |
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| All this because of one inquiry about Korea's night life (one of the best aspects of the country these days)? |
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