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Lemur in the Shell
Joined: 09 Jul 2003
Location: anywhere but here
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 Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2003 9:00 pm Post subject: generic newbie questions |
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Hey all. I'm a 22-year-old American and have just accepted my first job out of College, teaching ESL for Berlitz in Seoul. So I have some general questions:
1. It seems like you can find all kinds of stories about any particular teaching engagement (in my case, I've found people who rave about Berlitz and people who imply it's a living hell). How do I know which side is closer to the truth?
2. In case there are problems, what can I do to be prepared? Is there anything I can do now that might save my butt should I find myself being taken advantage of?
3. What should I know before I leave the U.S.? I have read some guidebooks and several threads in this forum, but I keep worrying that I might just not have noticed some vital information on any topic at all.
4. Related to (3), what should I keep in mind when packing for my year in Korea?
Finally, a couple disclaimers: I'm not really all that worried about what's going to happen; I typically take life as it comes. But I didn't see a thread that gathered all the information for newbies about to start out, so I figured I might as well start such a thing with my first post. That's also my defense to anyone who might accuse me of being redundant. I've seen a couple posts on various topics that partly address some of my questions, but it would be nice to have all that info in one place.
Can't wait to hit Korea, as soon as all my visa stuff gets worked out! (Berlitz is kindly taking care of all the beaurocracy, so I just have to wait.)
Peace,
Lemur |
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kangnamdragon
Joined: 17 Jan 2003
Location: Kangnam, Seoul, Korea
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| Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2003 2:15 am Post subject: Re: generic newbie questions |
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| Lemur in the Shell wrote: |
| 4. Related to (3), what should I keep in mind when packing for my year in Korea? |
Don't overpack. Clothes are cheap here. Find out what you cannot get here easily which you need and bring that. (i.e. deodorant, your favorite toothpaste). Bring shoes if you have big feet. maybe a battery operated CD player/radio/ walkman.... Also, if you want internet at home, bring a light notebook. |
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whatthefunk
Joined: 21 Apr 2003
Location: Dont have a clue
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| Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2003 2:16 am Post subject: Re: generic newbie questions |
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| Lemur in the Shell wrote: |
1. It seems like you can find all kinds of stories about any particular teaching engagement (in my case, I've found people who rave about Berlitz and people who imply it's a living hell). How do I know which side is closer to the truth? |
You really can't know until your here. It all depends on the individual hagwan. Find out if they have other foreign teachers and ask to talk to them. But be weary, they might be holding grudges.
| Lemur in the Shell wrote: |
2. In case there are problems, what can I do to be prepared? Is there anything I can do now that might save my butt should I find myself being taken advantage of? |
Pack light. Bring your contract. Don't expect much because you would hate to have your expectations shattered.
| Lemur in the Shell wrote: |
3. What should I know before I leave the U.S.? I have read some guidebooks and several threads in this forum, but I keep worrying that I might just not have noticed some vital information on any topic at all.
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Again, don't expect anything you have read to be true in your individual situation. I don't think you can prepare much for it.
| Lemur in the Shell wrote: |
4. Related to (3), what should I keep in mind when packing for my year in Korea? |
I came with a carry on containing a few clothes and some books. You can buy almost anything over here that you can in the states. Most important would b personal effects and a few books.
Good luck. |
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crazylemongirl
Joined: 23 Mar 2003
Location: almost there...
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| Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2003 10:03 am Post subject: Re: generic newbie questions |
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Without knowing which location in korea you are/want to live this going to be a bit hard but here goes.
| Lemur in the Shell wrote: |
1. It seems like you can find all kinds of stories about any particular teaching engagement (in my case, I've found people who rave about Berlitz and people who imply it's a living hell). How do I know which side is closer to the truth?
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Big english chains tend to be run as franchises here, so schools vary from place to place. Your best bet is going to be to get into contact with the best bet is to get in touch with either a current or former teacher at the school. They may or may not give you an accurate picture of the situation as not only everyone's experience of this place is different but also the boss may be in the room at the time or they may be roping you into a bad job in order to get themselves out of it earlier.
If a school won't give you contact details alarm bells should be ringing.
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2. In case there are problems, what can I do to be prepared? Is there anything I can do now that might save my butt should I find myself being taken advantage of?
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Research. The more you know about this place the better, but don't think that just because you've read it in a book/on the net that you know it all.
Also you might want to check out efl law before you go.
But it's always useful to have some money in your home currency set aside. I like to call it when the sh** hits the fan fund.
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3. What should I know before I leave the U.S.? I have read some guidebooks and several threads in this forum, but I keep worrying that I might just not have noticed some vital information on any topic at all.
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Ok first up This thread talks about the problems of lonely planet.
What we love about korea and what we hate.
Posts on living in different areas are here hereand and here.
Money is something you will worry about so here's some threads about money
1. Can You Save Money in Korea?
2. Korean Salaries/Cost of Living
3. Making and Saving Tips
4. Cost of Living
5. Living Expenses Vs Saving in Korea
6. Is it possible to save money on 2.0-2.3 million won?
7. Cost of Living in Korea
Since you've got to eat every day this thread might be of use as will this one. Veggies might find this interesting.
Also you might want to phone home once in a while so you might want to check this.
Also around month 3-4 culture shock hits in. You might want to read up on it before you go.
Women stuff
1. What to wear
2. Safety
3. Tampons
4. Bith Control
Condoms (actually this one is non-gender specific).
Social time is important. Here's some stuff here also you might want to check out adventure korea.
Travelling to other places seems to come up a lot. There are heaps of threads on finding travel agents
1. Vacation Advice
2. Guam / Saipan
3. Zenith Travel
4. Travel Agent Contact Info
5. Good Travel Agents
6. Travel Agents
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4. Related to (3), what should I keep in mind when packing for my year in Korea?
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There's a good thread on this question
here and here
Other generic websites that I found of use before coming here are
A board celebrity is William Beckerson. His site gets a mention because it's really funny.
An American Teaching English in South Korea is very good and gives you an idea of what life is like outside of Seoul.
Although this isn't an ad for them my recuriter had an ok overview of living in korea.
Most of these sites also have links coming off them too.
Hope this is of assistance, I could do more but I'm tired.
CLG |
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Lemur in the Shell
Joined: 09 Jul 2003
Location: anywhere but here
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| Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2003 3:09 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks you guys - esp CLG - man that's a lot of links ;]
More excited than ever now,
Lemur |
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William Beckerson
Guest
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| Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2003 10:23 pm Post subject: Re: generic newbie questions |
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| Lemur in the Shell wrote: |
1. It seems like you can find all kinds of stories about any particular teaching engagement (in my case, I've found people who rave about Berlitz and people who imply it's a living hell). How do I know which side is closer to the truth? |
You dont know. Where one person will thrive, another will get smacked down. You'll just have to come here and learn the hard way like the rest of us.
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| 2. In case there are problems, what can I do to be prepared? Is there anything I can do now that might save my butt should I find myself being taken advantage of? |
Bring enough money to go home.
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| 3. What should I know before I leave the U.S.? I have read some guidebooks and several threads in this forum, but I keep worrying that I might just not have noticed some vital information on any topic at all. |
I can tell you everything that has happened to me in great detail, and you can try to learn what you can from my experiences.
But the problem is that my experiences happened to me. I'm not you... Get what I'm saying?
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| 4. Related to (3), what should I keep in mind when packing for my year in Korea? |
Good anti-persirant/ deodorant. I prefer Degree anti-perspirant. Baby-powder scent.
If you are larger than a 13 year old kid: Bring pants. |
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