Site Search:
 
Speak Korean Now!
Teach English Abroad and Get Paid to see the World!
Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

Thinking S. Korea
Goto page 1, 2  Next
 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Job-related Discussion Forum
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Jimm



Joined: 19 May 2005

PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2005 5:16 pm    Post subject: Thinking S. Korea Reply with quote

I am seriously considering trying to get a job in S. Korea. I have a few questions that hopefully some of you can answer. As a preface, I have pretty much ruled out Seoul.

I would like to live in a fairly large city or close enough to one:
a- that is much less nationalistic than Seoul. Where they don't want to (to a lesser extent) blame foriegners for their own problems or simply behave like intolerable belligerents.
b- has a few good gyms.
c- generally has A/C classrooms and a managable number of students (say 25-30 or below).

I would also enjoy hearing some opinions about whether most of you believe it is a bad time to come to S. Korea, because of apparent growing animosity towards foreign teachers? Is this tred likely to get worse before it gets better.

I have a B.A, TEFL and some teaching experience.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
eamo



Joined: 08 Mar 2003
Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.

PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2005 5:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Why do you think Seoulites are more nationalistic than other Koreans? I would never have thought this after 4 years in Korea.

The anti-foreigner thing comes and goes in cycles every couple of years. Koreans jump on the bandwagon then jump off when a new issue comes along.

The recent bad press about foreign teachers was more or less forgotten about when Dokdo became the issue. Good 'ole Japan!! Always there to be the focus of Koreans ire!!!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
sheba



Joined: 16 May 2005
Location: Here there and everywhere!

PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2005 5:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Busan and Daegu are good cities and no where near as big as Seoul. I thing Daegu is better because it is fairly central.

Health is important over here and Id say youd get a gym in almost any city you go to.

Public schools are the only places that have high numbers of students per class - private institutes can have anywhere between 2 and 15 students (approx).
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
blunder1983



Joined: 12 Apr 2005

PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2005 5:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've just moved into Incheon and it is awesome. I've never been so welcomed by a people as a whole. I am in a EPIK placement so have to teach 40 kids at once but its been great. They are all really keen to try out their English and are very easily impressed. I've been asked out to peoples houses from the school about 4 times already and its only the beginning of day two. Even the people serving you in supermarkets etc. are exceptionally helpful.

I've found that in the small bit of Incheon that I've explored that unfortunately is a little remote i'm not really a celebrity until i talk to people (or attempt to at least) then they look amazed!

Go for it, I'm really enjoying myself and have found no negative attitudes at all since I arrived. (that said I'm british not american so it may be slightly different)

As for Incheon as a city it seems pretty cool, and our school has it's own gym. And don't write off the large classes, its been fun so far.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
JacktheCat



Joined: 08 May 2004

PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2005 5:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You haven't seen Icheon till you've been to Dong Incheon. Twisted Evil
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Derrek



Joined: 15 Jan 2003

PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2005 5:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'll take a class of 35 at my girls' high school over classes of 12 at my old kiddie hagwon ANY DAY OF THE WEEK.

Hagwon life was hell. Teaching Kindy was a blast, although there were 3... yes 3 Korean teachers keeping order in the classes of 25 that I taught. That made it very easy and fun. I think my school was the only chain in Korea that put 3 Koreans in the classroom with the foreigner (Bambini). Things might have changed since then.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Ya-ta Boy



Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994

PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2005 6:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
I would like to live in a fairly large city or close enough to one:
a- that is much less nationalistic than Seoul. Where they don't want to (to a lesser extent) blame foriegners for their own problems or simply behave like intolerable belligerents.
b- has a few good gyms.
c- generally has A/C classrooms and a managable number of students (say 25-30 or below).

I would also enjoy hearing some opinions about whether most of you believe it is a bad time to come to S. Korea, because of apparent growing animosity towards foreign teachers? Is this tred likely to get worse before it gets better.


a) No need to think nationalism is restricted to Seoul. When a wave of it comes by, it is everywhere. And goes away just as quickly. Even when it's at its peak it doesn't really affect many teachers. Most Koreans most of the time direct their anti-whatever at the government, not the people.

b) You need to define 'good gyms', but there are gyms all over the place.

c) If A/C and small classes are your criteria, think about hakwons. Most public schools have larger classes without air conditioning.

No need to scratch Seoul off your list if nationalism is the deciding factor. Koreans, in and out of Seoul, are generally quite friendly and welcoming. I ran a scientifically sound experiment and found Koreans outside of Seoul were .06% friendlier. But that is a very small amount.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Tiger Beer



Joined: 07 Feb 2003

PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2005 6:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've never head of Seoul being the most nationalistic city in Korea. Always seemed like the least nationalistic by far.

More people here than anywhere else in the country are exposed to other ways of living and thinking.

Its like saying I would never live in New York because its the most nationalistic city in the US, or I'd never live in London because its the most nationalistic city in the UK.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Qinella



Joined: 25 Feb 2005
Location: the crib

PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2005 10:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

WHerever you decide to go, make sure that you will be in the city, not in a suburb. I was told that I'd be living in Daejeon and got stick in this place called Shintanjin, which has almost nothing that I'm looking for. The only gym nearby was a hole, the grocery store has practically nothing, there's no music store, etc. etc. So remember to make sure you won't be in a suburb or subdistrict of whatever city you are in.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Jimm



Joined: 19 May 2005

PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2005 10:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It's like saying I'd never live in New York...

Concerning nationalism I just assumed that since S. Korea is such a small country, relatively, that Seoul would be the hub of protests and ranting, much like NYC is. And since most of the ranting and protests that the rest of the world hears about, concerning Korean affairs, seem to come from Seoul I assumed....., but of course there are a variety of people, open-minded types, wood dwellers etc. Cities are not protected from nationalist movements. Berlin 1930's, Moscow 1910- 1920, Paris (all the time),....
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Aidge



Joined: 15 Jul 2004
Location: CA

PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2005 11:10 pm    Post subject: Highly recommend Reply with quote

I would highly recommend being just a short distance out of the city...Still having the amenities within reach, yet having a more welcoming cultural atmosphere. I live in Suji, and I really like it. They do have some good gyms, and my school has A/C and only 10 max per class! You should check it out. I have a job opening coming up too!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Yahoo Messenger
jajdude



Joined: 18 Jan 2003

PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2005 11:45 pm    Post subject: Re: Thinking S. Korea Reply with quote

Jimm wrote:
. Where they don't want to (to a lesser extent) blame foriegners for their own problems .


That does seem to be of some psychological value here.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Grotto



Joined: 21 Mar 2004

PostPosted: Tue May 24, 2005 12:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Suwon is a good choice...it is close to Seoul, on the subway line(although the bus is usually much faster). Cleaner and a huge expat community. With a lot of the bells and whistles and less of the noise and fuss.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
hari seldon



Joined: 05 Dec 2004
Location: Incheon

PostPosted: Tue May 24, 2005 9:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

blunder1983 wrote:
I've just moved into Incheon and it is awesome. I've never been so welcomed by a people as a whole. I am in a EPIK placement so have to teach 40 kids at once but its been great. They are all really keen to try out their English and are very easily impressed. I've been asked out to peoples houses from the school about 4 times already and its only the beginning of day two. Even the people serving you in supermarkets etc. are exceptionally helpful.

I've found that in the small bit of Incheon that I've explored that unfortunately is a little remote i'm not really a celebrity until i talk to people (or attempt to at least) then they look amazed!

Go for it, I'm really enjoying myself and have found no negative attitudes at all since I arrived. (that said I'm british not american so it may be slightly different)

As for Incheon as a city it seems pretty cool, and our school has it's own gym. And don't write off the large classes, its been fun so far.

Enthusiasm is contagious.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
joe_doufu



Joined: 09 May 2005
Location: Elsewhere

PostPosted: Tue May 24, 2005 7:46 pm    Post subject: Re: Thinking S. Korea Reply with quote

Jimm wrote:
I would also enjoy hearing some opinions about whether most of you believe it is a bad time to come to S. Korea, because of apparent growing animosity towards foreign teachers? Is this tred likely to get worse before it gets better..


I think you take these FORUMS way too seriously! We are just a bunch of ESL teachers laughing and griping about the absurd things that happen to us every day in Korea! Don't take our musings as proof positive that Koreans "blame foriegners for their own problems or simply behave like intolerable belligerents" -- these are only a few funny individuals. Koreans are generally nice people.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Job-related Discussion Forum All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Goto page 1, 2  Next
Page 1 of 2

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling.
Contact Dave's ESL Cafe
Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved.

Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group

TEFL International Supports Dave's ESL Cafe
TEFL Courses, TESOL Course, English Teaching Jobs - TEFL International