Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Hanson]

I find it hard to separate living in Korea with teaching here, but here goes:

My pros:
1- Satisfying: watching a student learn and improve can be pretty darned satisfying.
2- Money: I don't care what anyone says, I take home and save more money than I did back home. Tax rate here is bliss.
3- Great schedule: 20-25 hours/week, but my base is only 12 hrs/week (I choose to work overtime).
4- Unbelievable vacation time: My apologies to hagwon teachers (I've been there), but I get tons of time off.
5- Intellectually stimulating: Some may disagree, but you have to plan, be creative and think on your feet.
6- Working with interesting people: Most (if not all) of the people I've worked with in Korea have been at least interesting.


My cons:
1- Korea related cons: These include incompetence and short-sightedness in management, crazy (or non-existent) logic, language-related miscommunications and getting screwed over (but this never really happened to me personally).
2- Disinterested students: This one really bugs me sometimes.
3- Bad reputation: SBS program...
4- Lack of recognition: People back home often wonder when I'm going to come home and get a real job.
5- Bringing your work home: At times, we do a lot of work outside of working hours - homework, grading, etc.
6- Complaining: It seems a lot of us (yours truly included) like to complain too much.

There are probably more, but those are my main ones.

Any thoughts?

[the_beaver]

pros

I like being here

cons

I've been fucking the same woman for 7 and a half years.

[Hanson]

Poor you! Next thing you know, you'll be a dad!

[the_beaver]

[PolyChronic Time Girl]

Pros: the perks, the hours, the availability of jobs.

Cons: most of the jobs are teaching young children. I can't stand teaching kids. High school public jobs are good but get picked up pretty fast and teaching adults has the nasty split shift.

[Ya-ta Boy]

Pros:
1. The meat is fabulous.
2. Soju is a very cheap thrill.
3. Except for bosses, the Korean people are great.
4. The climate, except for part of July and all of August, is better than at home.
5. I love teaching. Motivating students is a reality in any teaching job--difficult in any language. I agree with Hanson--teaching is creative and satisfying.

Cons:
1. Korea is pretty far from the places I'd like to go on vacation.
2. A vacation in Korea...well, I'm still in Korea.
3. Shopping can be inconvient.
4. Teaching can be stressful.
5. Never enough vacations.

[jajdude]

Nice post Hanson.

Methinks I need to try to get out of hagwonville if the future sees me here still. I don't mind some kids. But some ...argh. And some middle schoolers who cannot answer "When's yr b-day?" .... after a year at the hagwon... makes ya wanna say, yep I'm wasting my time.

I don't find the money good. The work is not real easy. And I find it easy to spend the cash. I think I'm underpaid.

[Spunk]

PRO`s*
1. WOMEN
2. WOMEN
3. WOMEN

`nuff said

[Sue_in_Daegu]

Pros: 1. Money, money and money
2. Great students
3. Cool people I work with
4. Great opportunity to travel in Asia

Cons: 1. The constant staring
2. The spitting and horking
3. Watching women being objectified in so many ways
4. A manager who at best is a total pr*ck