Korean Job Discussion Forums

d503 · Joined: 16 Oct 2004 Location: Daecheong, Seoul

Why did I decide to teach. I just graduated college. I'm enjoying a nice month of goodbye parties and the like, when it suddenly hits me, I too need to find a job. My degree in Russian wasn't offering to many career choices in the US, I mean sure I loved working as a cashier but the hours sucked. So I thought well what else can I do, and the years of being a free tutor came back to me. I never really wanted to teach but I have a knack for it. So I applied where I was qualified (aka the ROK) and off I went.

I happily teach small children, who think I am so cool because I know most of the cartoon characters they draw, I can draw really great pirate ships, castles, soccer teams, and stickman, and because on birthday day I know such wonderful games as duck duck goose, red light green light, simon says, and can jump rope like a fiend. And most of the parents like me because I have the kids rambling in English. Oh I also enjoy the fuzzy feeling you get inside when a kid comes up to you and uses a word or phrase you taught him or her. Like "Teacher Sean licked my finger."

SuperFly · Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Location: In the doghouse

I did it all for the nookie.

tommynomad · Joined: 24 Jul 2004 Location: on the move

Because it's a calling, not a career.

thorin · Joined: 14 Apr 2003

Because I was too lazy to go to law school.

The Man known as The Man · Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2004 11:29 am Post subject:

uberscheisse · Joined: 02 Dec 2003 Location: japan is better than korea.

1. i love kids
2. the world is screwed up
3. the people who were the biggest influence on me to make the world NOT screwed up were about five teachers that i remember vividly. their outlook gave me a real direction. one is my mother.
4. summers off...
5. i did high-paying manual labor jobs for almost 15 years out of high school and was killing my body. so i went back to school and decided to do something that had a greater purpose.
6. beer is cheap in korea
7. i worked with crackheads and mentally ill people in vancouver before i came here. if i can do that and not go completely insane myself, i can handle 30 pre-hormonal ADD fruitcakes. at least they won't threaten to stab me with a dirty needle when things don't go right.

Keepongoing · Joined: 13 Feb 2003 Location: Korea

I worked in Hong Kong for a volunteer for many years. I did a lot of teaching throughout Asia on working with the poor and drug rehabilitation. The work I was involved in was quite stressful and after 15 years I felt burnt out. At a late age I returned to school and did an MA TESOL at San Jose State. I enjoy teaching and do feel it is a privilege to teach. I believe that a teacher has a great opportunity to make a positve impact on their students' lives. I chose Korea because I love Asia and had been in Korea as a soldier.

Pyongshin Sangja · Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Location: I love baby!

I did it for the easy women, friendly locals and cheap drugs.

shawner88 · Joined: 01 Feb 2003

I strongly dislike Syracuse, New York.

livinginkorea · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Location: Korea, South of the border

I finished my degree in Computers but after spending 4 years in University I didn't fancy spending the rest of my life in front of one.

I always wanted to be a teacher but it requires a lot of points (and study) in Ireland to get and I could never get it so I went the back way, got a degree and decided on Korea as it's not as popular as China and Japan (back home I knew nobody who went to Korea) and so here I am enjoying it all!!!

The Man known as The Man · Posted: Sat Nov 13, 2004 11:25 am Post subject:

Wishmaster · Joined: 06 Feb 2003

Simple. Money. Most people are here for that reason. The money is good in relation to back home because of the rent-free apartment and the 30- hours of work each week. The saving potential is much greater for me here that back home. Yes, I could make more back home but the hours and stress are greater. My attitude is that you might as well take advantage of it while you can because the glory days here ain't gonna last forever.

Alias · Joined: 24 Jan 2003

I had taught esl to foreign students in my home town. I really enjoyed it a lot but the money just wasn't there. So like almost everyone else on this board I looked at Korea because of the financial opportunities it presented.

Eventually I came came to Korea to teach at a kiddie hagwon. Definitely the most unenjoyable and the least rewarding job experience of my life. When I was a student working for the city I used to haul trash. That was far more rewarding because at least I was doing something productive. At the hagwon I was just a white clown there to entertain kids.

So I left the English scam business for good. I miss Korea though. I loved the country and the people. It was just the work I hated. Can't wait to visit on vacation next summer.

Cheyne · Joined: 12 Feb 2004 Location: Ilsan

The girlfriend made me come to Korea and teach English...