Korean Job Discussion Forums

saw6436 · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Daejeon, ROK

Came here in 1998 after doing no research ended up working at my first school for 6 years. Great place. Just finished a year at my 2nd school. I will re-sign the contract tomorrow. In 7+ years I havn't had any real problems. But, I have also compromised when necessary and stood-up for myself (immediately) when necessary.

Son Deureo! · Joined: 30 Apr 2003

ajuma · Joined: 18 Feb 2003 Location: Anywere but Seoul!!

Homer · Guest

To be perfectly honest Son Deuro, I do think that many teachers here tend to blame anything and anyone but themselves for the bad things that happen to them.

Guilty as charged on that count. In fact, I find that many people back home apply this same approach of "it is never my fault, I am a victim" when they have problems. This is a growing and saddening trend where people don't take responsability for anything that they do or that happens to them.

That being said, what I post here relates to what is posted by others Son Deuro. That means that you may see this as me siding with Korea, Koreans or whatever when in reality I tend to try and show that there is more than one side to every story.

When you think about it, what do I respond to? I respond to posts that take personal experience(s) and transfer those to the whole country and the whole population. I also respond to posts that put all blame, universally, on Korea for every bad experience a person has here. I also respond to idiotic posts that place one country as inherently better and one (usually Korea) as inferior or bad.

I am fully aware that teachers get cheated here very often (it happened to me when I got here initially). I am also aware that many teachers cheat their bosses or should not be teaching at all. However, that story rarely gets told here.

I have no bone to pick with westerners here nor do I see myself as a defender of Korea. I live my life here, try to keep an open mind and to show a different perspective on things.

In this case, I do realise and know that research does not eliminate the possibility of bad luck. It does however lessen it greatly.

I also firmly beleive that a person who comes here blind is rolling the dice simply because of the way the industry is organized (or disorganized) here. That being said, I think we have to live with our choices and realize that each choice we make can have consequences. A responsable person will ante up and recognize this.

A newbie who comes here blind and wide eyed and gets cheated is no laughing matter. I take no pleasure in his or her misfortune. I do think however that he or she took a chance and that just a little research (i.e. taking an hour to read up on teaching here) would have shown that there is a possibility of getting cheated.

To be clear I do not ignore the wrongs of hakwon owners. I do however remain cautious about tales that put all blame on one party and none on the other.
I don't assume that bosses are right either. I just take a different perspective on certain issues. I have been here for a bit and have seen what I think are both sides of the coin and on here, one of those sides never gets told.

I do hope this clears things up and that it means you will stop putting me in some little box as some sort of apologist. An honest read of my posts will quickly reveal that I am not that.

In fact, I would balk at any comment/post made about any country using the "logic" used to bash Korea and Koreans in here. I also find it highly amusing that some on here consider bashing Korea as par for the course and then balk when the spotlight is turned on their home nations to show any sort of blemish.

bellum99 · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: don't need to know

Rule number one: SAVE THE MONEY!
Research almost means nothing because what is true today may not be true tomorrow.
If you are broke and desperate after working here six months then I don't feel sorry for you. Don't drink away the money, keep it for the eventual rainy day. Most new teachers seem to forget that money is what saves your butt when trouble comes. I lived like a beggar for 3 months to make sure that I would always have enough to survive.
Most jobs can turn from good to bad quickly. I hate to read how the teacher has no money at the end of his contract except for the severance coming. Every bad situation is made better by having enough money to live and not needing the unwilling friends help.

Homer · Guest

Bellum,

What you say is certainly true. Sadly it is ignored by most. When or if the crap hits the fan they are left with drunken memories that just won't finance them out of their troubles.

It is always smart to keep a safety cushion in the bank here...in case.

scarus · Joined: 15 Mar 2005

i asked about the recruiter on here... trawled the net for any bad comments. asked what teaching in a public school would be like... spoke to my co teachers/principal.

however..

i foolishly though that as i was working ofr the korean government i woulden't need to have the contract checked by anyone to check for poor practice.

oh how wrong can you be!

still once bitten twice shy!

on the saving money front... in 4 months i was able to save 3000 uk pounds. so not all bad.

bellum99 · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: don't need to know

Good for you. The feeling of peace that comes from having enough money in the bank is one of a kind. Like having wings when trouble comes.

SPINOZA · Joined: 10 Jun 2005 Location: $eoul

I didn't do much research at all. Because it's a public school I just assumed everything would be okay. I shouldn't get too ahead of myself but I don't foresee any difficulties beyond minor and occasional irritation and hope to extend my contract.

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

First job came here almost blind; second job did a lot of research. Ended up hating my first job; absolutely love my second. Go figure.

scarus · Joined: 15 Mar 2005

spinoza.... don't be so sure! Public schools can still *beep* you over