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Dr. Lipschitz
Joined: 30 Aug 2013
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 Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2014 1:33 am Post subject: Life |
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I have found myself recently pondering this topic-
I have been in Korea for over 5 years... I have been married for the last two and my wife and I recently had our son... The day he came out, is the day I started to worry about providing for his future.
I wonder what will happen to "lifers" when they hit 50 or 60. Say I was to stay in Korea and teach into my 40's or 50's, What do you think will happen when we become outdated, and in essence dinosaurs of the ESL game? My wife and I save a lot of money, and actually could retire at 50 here, but what is to show for my children?
Sure one can argue, blah, blah, blah... but fact of the matter is it will happen.. ESL teaching is a relatively new field of work, and I feel that appearance is key, especially in Korea...Thus leading to us having an expiration date-
Thankfully, I came to Korea in my early 20's, so I feel I still have time. I was recently accepted into a great Supply Chain Management program at a top-notch university in the states- I just hope it is not tooooo late. I am scared of competing with kids in their mid 20's when the same qualifications as me, when I am in my 30's with family-
I am interested to see what other married men or women have to say about this issue.
Let's keep it civil, as we are talking about futures and families- and that is not anything to criticize. |
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BackRow
Joined: 28 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2014 1:39 am Post subject: |
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| I assume lifers are fluent by the time they hit those kinds of ages and can find work in other related fields |
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World Traveler
Joined: 29 May 2009
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| Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2014 1:44 am Post subject: |
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| Don't assume that, man. Languages are hard to learn, especially for adults. And especially Korean. It's a tough language. |
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Dr. Lipschitz
Joined: 30 Aug 2013
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| Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2014 1:45 am Post subject: |
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| BackRow wrote: |
| I assume lifers are fluent by the time they hit those kinds of ages and can find work in other related fields |
Yeah, it would be interesting to see the exact percentage of lifers who are fluent with jobs that are in no way, shape, or form connected with ESL.
I know a few who do consulting and HR for big companies. They have pretty cush jobs and make a good living. Good enough to send their children to international schools, and live in nice apartments-
But even still, they worry about job security. |
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Dr. Lipschitz
Joined: 30 Aug 2013
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| Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2014 1:46 am Post subject: |
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| World Traveler wrote: |
| Don't assume that, man. Languages are hard to learn, especially for adults. And especially Korean. It's a tough language. |
and to speak it well enough to take a company job from a Korean..... |
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BackRow
Joined: 28 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2014 2:10 am Post subject: |
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| World Traveler wrote: |
| Don't assume that, man. Languages are hard to learn, especially for adults. And especially Korean. It's a tough language. |
I dont doubt it, but its hard to imagine anyone not becoming fluent with a decade or more of solid effort |
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Dr. Lipschitz
Joined: 30 Aug 2013
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| Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2014 2:15 am Post subject: |
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| BackRow wrote: |
| World Traveler wrote: |
| Don't assume that, man. Languages are hard to learn, especially for adults. And especially Korean. It's a tough language. |
I dont doubt it, but its hard to imagine anyone not becoming fluent with a decade or more of solid effort |
A decade is a long long time-
So say someone gets married or comes to Korea in their mid-twenties, and it takes them a decade to learn the language, they will be almost 40 before they could compete in the Korean job market. |
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Who's Your Daddy?
Joined: 30 May 2010
Location: Victoria, Canada.
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| Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2014 2:58 am Post subject: |
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It's interesting you starting thinking about this after the birth of your child as so did I. I'm currently awaiting a visa for my wife so we can move to Canada. But I still wonder about staying here vs. competing back home. Actually, I don't worry about the money so much as raising a kid here (when I think of moving to Canada I worry about money!).
For the long term, a good option I see (apart from non-ESL corporate work), is that a couple operate a mini-hogwon out of their apartment. After getting a larger apartment for the family, dedicate one room for a classroom. Operating your own business, you don't have to worry about competing with 20 somethings in the job market. |
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happiness
Joined: 04 Sep 2010
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| Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2014 3:17 am Post subject: |
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this thread somehow feels like a putdown to someone, you can retire at 50? really?
ESL is a fine business, but after all that time here, even if you dont speak Korean well enough, hopefully you have some connections that will vie for you, not just the barflies at the itaewon bars.
like I said, this thread seems like "I did everything right and in order, Im big stuff, I wonder if I will lose my specialness"
Im not married, I teach, and I speak Korean. Im also 40s. Am I doing something wrong?
Please save me! 
Appearance is key? Learn how to dress then. Works for me. Even with my grey hair... |
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Dr. Lipschitz
Joined: 30 Aug 2013
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| Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2014 3:22 am Post subject: |
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| Who's Your Daddy? wrote: |
It's interesting you starting thinking about this after the birth of your child as so did I. I'm currently awaiting a visa for my wife so we can move to Canada. But I still wonder about staying here vs. competing back home. Actually, I don't worry about the money so much as raising a kid here (when I think of moving to Canada I worry about money!).
For the long term, a good option I see (apart from non-ESL corporate work), is that a couple operate a mini-hogwon out of their apartment. After getting a larger apartment for the family, dedicate one room for a classroom. Operating your own business, you don't have to worry about competing with 20 somethings in the job market. |
Yeah, I currently do that with three other Korean teachers- We all share students, I take the foreign role, there is a korean grammar teacher, and a math teacher- However, I still fear when I am in my 40's will I be seen as a desirable teacher - plus, I am tired of the hustle of getting students and such-
You are right about not worrying about money here, it is a great time to save up nest money.. I am just worried about when the faucet closes.
If somebody guaranteed me work until I want to retire - I would stay here.. However, I just can't trust working here. |
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Dr. Lipschitz
Joined: 30 Aug 2013
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| Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2014 3:26 am Post subject: |
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| happiness wrote: |
this thread somehow feels like a putdown to someone, you can retire at 50? really?
ESL is a fine business, but after all that time here, even if you dont speak Korean well enough, hopefully you have some connections that will vie for you, not just the barflies at the itaewon bars.
like I said, this thread seems like "I did everything right and in order, Im big stuff, I wonder if I will lose my specialness"
Im not married, I teach, and I speak Korean. Im also 40s. Am I doing something wrong?
Please save me!
Appearance is key? Learn how to dress then. Works for me. Even with my grey hair... |
I hope the best for you- What I am trying to say, is that you are charting uncharted territory and I wish the best for you.
And please don't bring up learning how to dress- Talk to me when you worry more about learning how to change a diaper and raising a child-
Plus- I must say, I am a pretty good dresser - and no I am not talking about lose fitting chinos or an awkward fitting oxford dress shirt-
I guess once you get married and have a child your thought process changes.
If I felt I was a big deal here, I would stay... Also, I dont want to be special - I want to be normal |
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Brooks
Joined: 08 Apr 2003
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| Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2014 4:36 am Post subject: |
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Publish, present, study.
Need I say more?
Do you have a M.A.? |
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Dr. Lipschitz
Joined: 30 Aug 2013
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| Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2014 4:48 am Post subject: |
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| Brooks wrote: |
Publish, present, study.
Need I say more?
Do you have a M.A.? |
I don't have a M.A. I was doing a distance M.A, through my alma mater in the States, but decided to change courses and get into Supply Chain Management. I will study physically at UNC, but I am stalling in order to stay in Korea another year-
I just don't know how the ESL game will be in 20 years- |
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PatrickGHBusan
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: Busan (1997-2008) Canada 2008 -
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| Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2014 4:54 am Post subject: Re: Life |
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| Dr. Lipschitz wrote: |
I have found myself recently pondering this topic-
I have been in Korea for over 5 years... I have been married for the last two and my wife and I recently had our son... The day he came out, is the day I started to worry about providing for his future.
I wonder what will happen to "lifers" when they hit 50 or 60. Say I was to stay in Korea and teach into my 40's or 50's, What do you think will happen when we become outdated, and in essence dinosaurs of the ESL game? My wife and I save a lot of money, and actually could retire at 50 here, but what is to show for my children?
Sure one can argue, blah, blah, blah... but fact of the matter is it will happen.. ESL teaching is a relatively new field of work, and I feel that appearance is key, especially in Korea...Thus leading to us having an expiration date-
Thankfully, I came to Korea in my early 20's, so I feel I still have time. I was recently accepted into a great Supply Chain Management program at a top-notch university in the states- I just hope it is not tooooo late. I am scared of competing with kids in their mid 20's when the same qualifications as me, when I am in my 30's with family-
I am interested to see what other married men or women have to say about this issue.
Let's keep it civil, as we are talking about futures and families- and that is not anything to criticize. |
What will happen depends a lot on what you and your wife do. you can be in a great position in Korea when you reach your 40s, 50s or you can be out on your rear end. Same back home in many ways. Your "expiration date" in Korea will depend on you also! If you do nothing but accumulate hakwon entry level jobs then your past due date will come sooner than later and you will have little to show for it...that is but one choice.
You want to do well in Korea? Upgrade your qualifications for your field of choice, network, possibly learn the language. Your wife can certainly help assuming she is Korean. Lots of lifers have pretty good lives but all of them them have something in common in my experience: they worked hard, upgraded, networked and kept very active professionally.
You are on a good path with upgrading your qualifications however and I hope this works out for you and your family. All the best. |
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Chaparrastique
Joined: 01 Jan 2014
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| Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2014 5:08 am Post subject: |
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| happiness wrote: |
this thread somehow feels like a putdown to someone, you can retire at 50? really?
ESL is a fine business, but after all that time here, even if you dont speak Korean well enough, hopefully you have some connections that will vie for you, not just the barflies at the itaewon bars.
like I said, this thread seems like "I did everything right and in order, Im big stuff, I wonder if I will lose my specialness"
Im not married, I teach, and I speak Korean. Im also 40s. Am I doing something wrong?
Please save me!
Appearance is key? Learn how to dress then. Works for me. Even with my grey hair... |
I know people in their 60's teaching esl. In Korea. And supporting family with it.
I don't think esl is about to go away. Sure its not exactly a stable reputable profession but it fits the temperament of certain people who like to travel and keep an element of freedom in their lives. |
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