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blackbirdword
Joined: 14 Mar 2006
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 Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2006 8:50 am Post subject: Questions about Living/Teaching in BUSAN |
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Hey All!
I am planning on coming to South Korea in August/September to teach English. I have done my homework and have learned as much about living/teaching in different areas as can be done on the internet and have decided on Busan. I am coming from NYC - and think Seoul might be too congested for me - and Busan is very appealing b/c it is a coastal city. I have my resume with two large recruiters and have already received a number of potential job offers. Here are my many, many questions - any and all help is appreciated:
1. Has anyone heard of/worked with Gia Consulting (esl job bank)?
2. Has anyone heard of/worked with RBI?
3. What is the most time in advance someone can secure a job (can I secure a job now for september?)
4. Is it possible to negotiate more than 2 weeks paid vacation?
5. Are vacation days usually given in blocks (week at a time) or can you break it up as you wish?
6. anyone heard of BR English school?
7. Anyone heard of Umee Dong neighborhood?
8. What is the most desireable neighborhood in Busan (near water/accessible transport/large expat comminity/safety/access to int'l food markets)
9. Do most jobs provide training or just throw you in?
10. any general descriptions of Busan appreciated.
11. how easy/affordable is travel to other parts of asia (thailand r/t?)
12. any details/experience about the r/t ferry to japan from busan?
13. how easy is it to find private students and how much extra money can be earned by teaching privately?
14. how high is the cost of living (will have free apartment, but need to know what addt'l expenses i will have) - for ex. how much is a monthly internet connection? price for a decent meal out? price of toiletries like shampoo/deoderant etc. and is it smarter to bring most of those things with me?
15. is it easy to find/connect with other expats?
16. can I buy a cheap guitar in So Korea or should I bring my own?
17. Decent Live music? Open mics?
18. English language films?
THANKS SO MUCH for any help.
Jen |
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just because
Joined: 01 Aug 2003
Location: Changwon - 4964
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| Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2006 9:13 am Post subject: |
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As a coastal city you couldn't have picked a worse one in korea(except for maybe Incheon) due to the pollution as Busan is basically a port city and it is just as crowded as Seoul....
1.No, but search many people have
2. Ditto above
3. No, people don't plan here any more than 2 months in advance(and that is if you are lucky)
4. It is possible but not probable
5. Yes it is usually in blocks but once again you could possibly get time off when you like
6. No
7. No
8. Just throw you in
10. Very dirty, it isn't too bad but don't expect a seaside city, expext a port city
11. very affordable, Thailand rt. 500 000 won(500 US)
12. I have taken it over 10 times, goes 3 times a day, costs 180 000 return, takes 3 hours one way, very very easy to take
13. It is illegal to teach privates here - caught and you get a big fine and sent home
14.What do you do...if you go out a lot maybe half you salary, if you stay home all the time you could get by on 300 000 a month, internet +30 000 a month, meal = 50 000(but what is a decent meal, i can eat decently here Korean style for 5000) , tolietries, similar to back home. Almost everything you can buy here
15. yes, very easy
16. yes, you can buy guitars here i would imagine
17. No, yes
18. yes, plenty |
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visitor q
Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Location: The epitome of altruism - Oh Obese Newfoundler, I Am Going To Throttle Your Neck, Kaffir
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| Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2006 9:21 am Post subject: |
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Surely Ulsan is worse than Busan? I was only in Ulsan for two weeks, and while the people there were really laid-back and friendly (compared to Seoul at least), the place was an utter pit.
To the OP: As far as cities in Korea go, Busan has a lot going for it. That is all that I have to say on the matter. |
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denverdeath
Joined: 21 May 2005
Location: Boo-sahn
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| Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2006 10:23 am Post subject: Re: Questions about Living/Teaching in BUSAN |
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| blackbirdword wrote: |
Hey All!
I am planning on coming to South Korea in August/September to teach English. I have done my homework and have learned as much about living/teaching in different areas as can be done on the internet and have decided on Busan. I am coming from NYC - and think Seoul might be too congested for me - and Busan is very appealing b/c it is a coastal city. I have my resume with two large recruiters and have already received a number of potential job offers. Here are my many, many questions - any and all help is appreciated:
1. Has anyone heard of/worked with Gia Consulting (esl job bank)? Heard of, never dealt with.
2. Has anyone heard of/worked with RBI? Heard of and sent an E-mail once. Didn't really like their reply, so went with Kim and Joe instead(if you have realistic demands and expectations, they are pretty good).
3. What is the most time in advance someone can secure a job (can I secure a job now for september?) Possibly. Paperwork will most likely be done at the last minute though.
4. Is it possible to negotiate more than 2 weeks paid vacation? Possibly, but highly unlikely, especially with a typical institute.
5. Are vacation days usually given in blocks (week at a time) or can you break it up as you wish? Depends on the place. They usu pick 'em for you. Some places will try to give you them at the end of contract, but usu most places give you five days in the summer and five in the winter, depending on the schedule they have.
6. anyone heard of BR English school? No.
7. Anyone heard of Umee Dong neighborhood? No, and I've lived here for six years. Maybe you meant Woo (eee=2) Dong? If so, it might be in Hae-oon-dae(beach area).
8. What is the most desireable neighborhood in Busan (near water/accessible transport/large expat comminity/safety/access to int'l food markets) Most of what you're looking for isn't necessarily condensed into one place. Beaches at Hae-oon-dae or Da-dae-poh. Accessible transport almost anywhere[if you want trains, you either want Boo-sahn Station(maybe Joong-ahng dong or Nahm-poh dong) or Goo-poh Station(maybe Duhk-chuhn dong or somewhere near Sah-sahng)]. Buses are in Noh-poh(or Hoh-poh?) and Sah-sahng and maybe somewhere else(I don't like buses). For the airport, you'd want Duhk-chuhn/Hwah-myuhng or Sah-sahng or maybe Hah-dahn. More foreigners are probably located in Seo-myuhn or the PNU area or the Boo-gyuhng/Gyuhng-sahng University area. Safety will depend, but it's a fairly safe city. International food markets? Hmm. You can find a little of this at one place and a little of that at another. There's the "can" market in Nahm-poh dong but it's nothing to get excited about.
9. Do most jobs provide training or just throw you in? Throw you in.
10. any general descriptions of Busan appreciated. I actually like the layout of the city. The only place that wasn't flattened during the war. Lots of traffic(sometimes I think worse than Seoul on some days), but not terrible. Main areas are kind of separated by mountains and water. Polluted and dirty, but not as bad as Seoul, and the "yellow dust storms" aren't much of a factor down here. Less on the entertainment/cultural side than Seoul. Definitely not New York, but it can be alright if you have the right attitude.
11. how easy/affordable is travel to other parts of asia (thailand r/t?) Easy enough and affordable enough(depending on fuel costs). Just make sure you book your flights a bit in advance, longer if you're trying to go somewhere when the Koreans are going there at the same time...they tend to all go somewhere in the last week of July and/or the first week of August...travelling during holiday season is probably best to be avoided. Having said that, you may not actually know the real price of your ticket until a month before...better to book early though.
12. any details/experience about the r/t ferry to japan from busan? What JB said. Also, check out www.pusanweb.com . Lots of stuff for you to explore there.
13. how easy is it to find private students and how much extra money can be earned by teaching privately? Shouldn't do that on an E-2 visa. If you're teaching adults, it might be easier. But, you never know, one of those students could be an immigration official. If you're teaching 30 hours a week, you may want to ask yourself if the extra money is really worth it. Doesn't leave you much time to enjoy other things. It's also nice to step out of the ELT role occasionally.
14. how high is the cost of living (will have free apartment, but need to know what addt'l expenses i will have) - for ex. how much is a monthly internet connection? price for a decent meal out? price of toiletries like shampoo/deoderant etc. and is it smarter to bring most of those things with me? Not terribly high. Depends what your lifestyle is like. Internet is 30-50,000(maybe a little lower through Thrunet or one of the other smaller players). Decent meal could cost you between 3,000won and 300,000won, depending on your tastes. The shampoo and other will depend on what you're looking for. Imported salon shampoo will cost you a little more than back home and deodorant will probably cost you about $2 more per stick.
15. is it easy to find/connect with other expats? Sometimes, yes. Sometimes, no. I think it depends on your personality, where you work, and the like. Sometimes you can easily go for a week or two without seeing another foreigner.
16. can I buy a cheap guitar in So Korea or should I bring my own? Don't really know if they're cheap or not, but you can buy them here.
17. Decent Live music? Open mics? I would have to say no to the first and yes to the second(maybe at one or two places).
18. English language films? Lots. And, if not? You have your Internet connection.
THANKS SO MUCH for any help.
Best of luck.
Jen |
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panchotino
Joined: 16 Jan 2006
Location: scotland for now.
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| Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2006 10:29 am Post subject: same as |
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i'm also trying to settle on location.i initially wanted to be in busan but further research has put me off.dirty, noisy etc.personally i like to be able to sleep well at night, have some westerners to speak to and a couple of bars.now considering jinju but am concerned about expense because of it being touristy. i'm not sure how long it takes to get there from busan but if it is easy to commute then i'd be happy with a monthly jaunt for a big night out.
saying that i am having trouble finding out things about different areas mind.good luck! |
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visitor q
Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Location: The epitome of altruism - Oh Obese Newfoundler, I Am Going To Throttle Your Neck, Kaffir
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| Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2006 10:33 am Post subject: Re: same as |
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| panchotino wrote: |
| i initially wanted to be in busan but further research has put me off.dirty, noisy etc. |
So why do you want to come to Asia then? |
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BigBuds
Joined: 15 Sep 2005
Location: Changwon
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| Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2006 11:14 am Post subject: |
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| panchotino, check your inbox as I just sent you a PM |
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blackbirdword
Joined: 14 Mar 2006
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| Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2006 11:46 am Post subject: |
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than you guys so much, this helps...
keep the diff. perspectives coming!!!
jen |
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JZer
Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Location: South Korea
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| Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2006 2:06 pm Post subject: |
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18. English language films? -try www.torrentspy.comYou Can download about any movie from this site. You can even get the whole season of popular TV programs like South Park.
In today's modern world you can get almost anything you want no matter where you are. As long as you are not in a third world country with a dodge postal system you can use the postal system or the internet to get about anything. |
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nater
Joined: 15 Nov 2005
Location: busan
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| Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2006 8:01 pm Post subject: |
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well i think Busan is definitely your best bet in korea... i'm from nova scotia and would definitely trade the ocean and beaches for some of the amenities you might miss out on in seoul. and i don't find the pollution that bad, but again, this is korea..
in terms of where you want to be i'm in PNU area which i think is rockin. the best would probably be seomyeon which is like the downtown core. yeonsang dong, kyeung sung uni area, and haeundae (beach) are all good too.. just ask your recruiter what the closet subway station is..
as for some of the other points you mentioned, traveling in asia is dirt cheap (400 american to bangkok), don't worry about getting any sort of training at your school because teaching English is the easiest job you'll ever have anywhere.. and just make sure you talk to your school before you come here to double check some of the points your recruiter has emphasized.. because i think at one time or another every recruiter has had a complaint against them..
oh and privates... hit or miss.. if you get some good for you cause it'll bring in at least 25 american an hr... |
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dexter1377
Joined: 06 Mar 2006
Location: Philippines, Baguio city
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| Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2006 8:12 pm Post subject: teaching private lessons on the side |
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13. how easy is it to find private students and how much extra money can be earned by teaching privately?
It is illegal to teach privates here - caught and you get a big fine and sent home
.............
what are the chances of you being cought?
is this restriction only for people employed as teachers? |
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Homer
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2006 5:06 am Post subject: |
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As a Busan resident since 1997...here goes.
1. Has anyone heard of/worked with Gia Consulting (esl job bank)?
Heard of them. Good and bad reports....never used them myself.
2. Has anyone heard of/worked with RBI?
Same as #1
3. What is the most time in advance someone can secure a job (can I secure a job now for september?)
That depends.
With Hakwons you are talking about a month in advance (maybe 2).
Public Schools and Universities don't do much recruiting for the fall but if they do you can secure a job in advance (2-3 months)
With EPIK (gov. program) you can secure a job 5-6 months in advance but won't know where you are placed until a few weeks prior to your start date.
4. Is it possible to negotiate more than 2 weeks paid vacation?
That depends on where you work.
With Hakwons it might be tough.
5. Are vacation days usually given in blocks (week at a time) or can you break it up as you wish?
Vacation is usually taken during school breaks and usually cannot be taken whenever you please.
6. anyone heard of BR English school?
Sorry no.
7. Anyone heard of Umee Dong neighborhood?
Yes..its a neighborhood in Busan...  ...ok..ok..I know where it is...nothing more but check out pusanweb.
8. What is the most desireable neighborhood in Busan (near water/accessible transport/large expat comminity/safety/access to int'l food markets)
That depends.
I would suggest:
near water: Haeundae, Kwanganlee, Suyong....
near expat community: all over the city
International food markets: what do you mean by those? If you mean larger stores that carry western goods then all over the city....
Safety: Not much difference...its all pretty safe in my experience.
Trasport: there are buses and now a growing subway network all over the city. Also cabs are aplenty everywhere and cheap.
9. Do most jobs provide training or just throw you in?
Most are based on the sink or swim method.
10. any general descriptions of Busan appreciated.
You're joking right?
Go to pusanweb for a description...
11. how easy/affordable is travel to other parts of asia (thailand r/t?)
Varies but cheaper than where you are from... 
Airfare being cheaper...
12. any details/experience about the r/t ferry to japan from busan?
It runs regularly and is cheap.
I fly.
13. how easy is it to find private students and how much extra money can be earned by teaching privately?
Privates are illegal...do them at your own risk.
14. how high is the cost of living (will have free apartment, but need to know what addt'l expenses i will have) - for ex. how much is a monthly internet connection? price for a decent meal out? price of toiletries like shampoo/deoderant etc. and is it smarter to bring most of those things with me?
You pay only utitilities...so about 100 bucks per month or less.
Internet connection...no idea as my employer pays for it.
Decent meal out..depends what you consider a decent meal. If you mean western food you will pay more.
Shampoo is cheap here. Deodorant....bring your own.
15. is it easy to find/connect with other expats?
No..we are all caged in individual cages and neurally plugged to schools so we can teach 24/7...
Actually pretty easy...hit the local bars in somyong and PNU or other popular areas...
16. can I buy a cheap guitar in So Korea or should I bring my own?
17. Decent Live music? Open mics?
Varies...some access.
18. English language films?
Most hollycrap blockbusters make it here....play in English with Korean subtitles at theatres. Video stores and dvd bangs are also aplenty. |
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huffdaddy
Joined: 25 Nov 2005
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| Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2006 5:46 am Post subject: Re: Questions about Living/Teaching in BUSAN |
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| blackbirdword wrote: |
Hey All!
I am planning on coming to South Korea in August/September to teach English.
1. Has anyone heard of/worked with Gia Consulting (esl job bank)?
6. anyone heard of BR English school? |
I'll try my best to be unbiased here, but take whatever I say with a grain of salt.
Gia placed me with BR and never followed up with me. i.e. she'll take the money and run. Which I hear is pretty standard.
Classes are 80 minutes, with about 15 minutes in the beginning for exercises and "brain respiration". You'll alternate classes with Korean teachers.
My complaints about BR:
-I was originally supposed to go to Busan to work, but found out the day I arrived in Korea that I was going to Daegu instead.
-I was supposed to go for my visa after one week, but didn't. I was let go, so they never did send me. But most people I know who worked there weren't sent on a visa run for a couple of months.
If you have five months of lead time, these two things can be taken care of by making sure you get your visa before coming over.
More bad:
-You'll work split sessions in the winter and summer without overtime pay (unless you go over 30 hours a week).
-They'll also try to get you to attend unpaid Saturday training sessions.
-The director in Daegu was not liked by any of the foreign teachers. All that I've heard about the director in Busan is that she's "bossy".
-They'll try to avoid enrolling you in health and pension (which could mean trouble if you move to another job down the road)
Good things about BR:
-they train you for a couple of days, which is paid. (although after that, they'll want you to do unpaid observations)
-pay was on time, in cash, in a bag
-all the lessons are pre-planned, with lots of books, flashcards, and CDs available. Although the lessons can tend to be repetitive at times.
Overall, I'm glad that I was let go. If you really like elementary kids, and don't mind being a clown, it might not be that bad. There are certainly worse schools out there. But given four or five months of lead time, you could probably do better. Try going directly to the schools, either checking job boards or placing your resume on the resume board here (and elsewhere). |
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Yasukai
Joined: 04 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2006 9:45 am Post subject: Re: Questions about Living/Teaching in BUSAN |
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| huffdaddy wrote: |
-I was supposed to go for my visa after one week, but didn't. I was let go, so they never did send me. |
So what after you were let go, did you have to leave the country? Or did you just find another job? If you were in housing provided by the school, where did you live while you were looking for another job? |
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flavaflav
Joined: 30 Jan 2006
Location: Busan
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| Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2006 5:44 am Post subject: Love Busan |
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My husband and I have been here for 4 months and we are really glad we chose Busan over Seoul. We live near Gwangalli beach (Nam Busan) and have found that there is enough to do in the area that we are never bored. The subway in Busan is pretty good and can get you to some temples/mountain hikes if that's your thing. We pay about 35,000 won / month for internet (high speed) and about 180, 000 utilities. Living expenses are otherwise very cheap and we have managed to save alot so far. We feel we lucked out with our school-YBM ECC Nam Busan, apart from having to work most Saturdays, our employers are good to us.
We chose Busan for the same reasons you are considering it and have never regretted it. Anyhow-hopes this helps, we have a blog set up with tons of pics of Busan-we found it hard to find any when we were looking for work-if you want the reallowdown on living here, mail me and I wil give you our blog address  |
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