Korean Job Discussion Forums

[lowpo]

It can be hard for a first time teacher and you should start out with a hogwan like Wall Street or Disney. If you work at places like these you might be teaching kindergarder to adults.
To find the really good pay you have to look hard or have a degree in teahcing.
I think that the average rate for privates is between 100RMB to 150RMB or $16 USD's to $24 USD's. You have more freedom to do privates in China.
I have seen NET's start there own business, sing in clubs, play in bands, or start their own trading business while teahcing in China.
China is dirtier than Korea.
You have a more of a varity of food to choose from in China. When I taught in China and when we go back for hoildays we eat Chinese, Brazilian, Greek, Vietnamese, Thai, French, and Italian food.
You can also get treated badly in China too.





There is a lot of bad things in China. You could get stuck in a crappy school, you will have more cheaters on the streets in China, so you really need to be strong to live there.

[ttompatz]

[wooden nickels]

Think of it this way, China = stocks are at a low price
Korea = stocks are at a high price
Buy low, sell high or take in the dividends

10~12 years ago, Korea was a good place to to set up shop for the long run. Now, it's topped out for the most part.

Now, China is a good place to go to set up shop for the long run. There is much potential in China for someone who wants to get in early and is willing to climb up the ladder.

China is the place to be for the long run.

If you are looking for a year of adventure, China would be a better choice in my opinion.

If you are looking for a year to save some money, Korea might have a slight advantage.

My personal opinion, China is the best overall option for someone doing their first year or looking into something for the long run.

Korea is OK, but I've mainly stayed because I settled in for the long run many years ago.

EAGLES The Long Run - Did you do it for love or did you do it for money

[World Traveler]

Also, Chinese is by far the more valuable language to learn.

As Korea's birthrate is the lowest in the world (and also because so many Koreans studied English overseas...or lived in America as part of the large diaspora there), the Korean language is declining in usefulness.

A billion people speak Madarin Chinese. One twentieth of that amount (and shrinking) speak Korean.

[Malislamusrex]

Less hoops to jump through.
China is more relaxed.
It's easier to collect documents.
In Korea the 'teaching industry' is trying to develop and asking people to get qualifications they wont need long term.
China is much easier to make extra money if you aren't married to a Korean.
China is cheaper.
House prices are lower in china.
It's easy to travel from China.
I could go on but I'll stop.

I don't regret coming to Korea a few years ago. But there is no way in hell I would consider coming here now.

[KiwiRob]

[metalhead]

How many times has it been mentioned in this thread that China is the 'Wild West' of Asia, and you still ask if people under 24 can teach there? Good lord man you can do anything in China. Despite the 'It's a commie country and horrid!' outcries from people that have never been there, the amount of freedom in the PRC is astounding. Do What Thou Wilt Shall Be The Whole Of The Law type of place.

[seansmith]

Just to follow up on Metalhead's point - Post Korea, I couldn't believe the amount of employment freedom I had in China. Once you've got your Z Visa, no one - immigration, other employers - cares what you do. No more fears of being arrested while private tutoring at a Starbucks, or tutoring at someone's flat and being paranoid about their neighbors calling the police. At one job I had soon after arriving in Shanghai, my boss even tipped me off about another job opportunity.

There's a similar mentality with starting up businesses here. While foreigners in Korea are mired in red tape, it's really not that hard to start up a business here if you're a foreigner. As a result Shanghai is full of cafes, restaurants, bars, and a range of services that are foreign run - and run by people from all over the world. It really creates a funky international atmosphere. Sure, many fail, but that's part of the Wild West environment others have alluded to.

[Malislamusrex]

Yes. I've got a decent job and I'm not going to chance it anywhere accept for my own country. I know a lot of people in China and I've been there a few times. I know a guy who runs a swimming academy and only works a few hours a week and makes decent money. He can live for a month off a few classes. You can teach. It's easy. Korea has tried to make ESL a business. It isn't. Less and less people are going to come because most will got o China. If I was thinking of countries to go to Korea would be around number 4 on the list. 3-4 years ago Korea was number 1.

[ifa79]

The only good thing about moving from Korea (6 years) to China (the past two years) is that China makes Korea seem like an advanced and enlightened civilization. Perspective is everything.

I know nothing about ESL in China but where I am in the rural Northeast, life is rough. Everything is broken and dirty. Cars don't use headlights and are suicidal. Fireworks explode every weekend morning and often throughout the day. The language is impossible. The internet is slow and you need a vpn. The cash is annoying as there are too many different notes. Everyone smokes in every building even hospitals and starbucks. There is no art and the architecture is tacky.

That's China, I have a good job and great students and have saved a lot of money, but it is not a place where most people can last more than a couple years.

[byrddogs]

[creeper1]

[lemak]

[rollo]

I live in an oceanside city with zero air pollution and a gorgeous coast of cleffs and beautiful islands. A great place. China is really big so you can find good place. the SouthWest is still very rural and there are great spots to live out there. the one thing i think all China Vets agree on is that the rural Chinese are some of the sweetest , most innocent people on earth. yes they can be dirty and rude but they are a good lot. Also less power drinking in China. The drinking scene is nothing extreme like Korea.

If you are a real teacher and can really put together a good class for adults then WallStreet is a place where you can earn great coin. But it is not for sad sacks they expect quality teaching. Mostly adult classes. there are other good schools but again you have to bring a good game. Disney also pays very well, i dont know much about them. i taught part time at a WallStreet. No problems ever.

Good uni jobs in Korea are still some of the best ESl jobs going.

[wonkavite62]

I would say that there were some western amenities and groceries in Beijing when I was there last year. I lived at Shuangjing, near the Guomao area, and they had a supermarket inside the metro station full of foreign and luxury goods, including wines and spirits, cheese, butter, baking powder, marmite, bacon, salmon, fresh fruit, sushi, and so on.
But this was a little expensive. I bought stuff there occasionally though.