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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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meredith
Joined: 12 Aug 2006
Location: montreal
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 Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 6:31 am Post subject: korea questions |
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Hi, I have questions related to
Living: Do you drink the tap water in korea, for someone who wanted to cook their own meals, what's the grocery store situation? Do most apartments have appliances, firdge/stove? What's the noise situation in the apartments? How much do you spend on food everyday? What are your monthly expenses versus your salary (possibility of saving)
Teaching: Can anyone describe a typical class, how many classes do you teach per day, how long are they, how many students, how is their behaviour, what is the content of the classes, is there a curriculum provided, what's the best age to teach.
Any insight in to these questions would be greatly appreciated. |
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OiGirl
Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Location: Hoke-y-gun
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| Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 7:02 am Post subject: Re: korea questions |
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| meredith wrote: |
| Do you drink the tap water in korea |
Most people don't, but it probably won't kill you. Might give you the runs for a few weeks, and might give you Alzheimers in the long run. I drinl bottled water or lightly boiled water, but I drink more wine than bottled water, all told.
| meredith wrote: |
| for someone who wanted to cook their own meals, what's the grocery store situation? |
It all depends on what you want to cook...rice, meat, and veggies are widely available. Other things depend on the type of discount big-box stores you have nearby.
| meredith wrote: |
| Do most apartments have appliances, firdge/stove? |
Most, but not mine!  If you're coming as a teacher, a fridge and stove (but not oven) is standard. If you don't get them, stand up for yourself!
| meredith wrote: |
| How much do you spend on food everyday? |
I can live on one $3 meal a day at a restaurant and noodles at home the other meals. |
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heydelores
Joined: 24 Apr 2006
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| Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 7:32 am Post subject: Re: korea questions |
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| meredith wrote: |
| Do you drink the tap water in korea,. |
At home, I drink bottled water. I don't personally know anyone (Korean or foreign) who drinks the tap water. When I'm hiking, I drink water from the artesian wells at the base of the mountains and sometimes fill up a bottle to take home.
| meredith wrote: |
| for someone who wanted to cook their own meals, what's the grocery store situation?. |
It depends on where you are. If you're in a very rural area (my first year), expect Mom-and-Pop grocery stores with few foreign goods. If you have access to a larger department-store, you'll be able to find things similar to what you can find at home. I live in the suburbs of Seoul and have two large grocery stores within easy walking distance of my home, in addition to several smaller stores.
| meredith wrote: |
| Do most apartments have appliances, firdge/stove?. |
MOST, but not all, will have a fridge and a 2-burner gas range. My fridge is a tiny, dorm-style model with a freezer the size of a shoebox.
| meredith wrote: |
| What's the noise situation in the apartments?. |
It depends on your location and the type of building you live in. I know people who have families with small children living above/around them, and it's quite noisy. Other times, there is noise from the street. I live on one of the top floors of an Officetel (offices and one-room apartments in the same building) and most of my "neighbors" are offices, so it's really quiet.
| meredith wrote: |
| How much do you spend on food everyday?. |
Somewhere between $3 and $15 everyday, usually toward the low end of that spectrum.
| meredith wrote: |
| What are your monthly expenses versus your salary (possibility of saving). |
I work part time (much lower salary than your standard fulltime teacher) and am still able to save a little if I'm careful with my budget. If I were working fulltime, I could live comfortably and still save over half my salary.
| meredith wrote: |
| Teaching: Can anyone describe a typical class,. |
I'm not sure there is a typical class. What setting will you be in: public school, hagwon (private academy), university, etc.?
| meredith wrote: |
| how many classes do you teach per day,. |
I teach part time in a hagwon. Some days I have one or two classes. Some days I have 4. Once in a great while I'll have 5 or 6. This is NOT a standard schedule. In my last school (also a hagwon), I taught 7 classes everyday.
| meredith wrote: |
| how long are they,. |
That depends on the type of class. Some of my classes are 40 mins (kindergarten). Some are 2 hours (adults). In my last school, all classes were 50 minutes.
| meredith wrote: |
| how many students,. |
That depends on a number of things, too. My classes are between 1 and 8 students now. In my last school, they were between 12 and 20.
| meredith wrote: |
| how is their behaviour,. |
Once again, it depends on a number of things. Most of my students are fantastic now. In my last school, I had all sorts of behavior problems from kids.
| meredith wrote: |
| what is the content of the classes,. |
hard to say. It depends largely on the school and age level.
| meredith wrote: |
| is there a curriculum provided,. |
Most of the time, yes, but not always.
| meredith wrote: |
| what's the best age to teach. |
Only you can decide that for yourself. I love kindy. Many people hate it. |
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ChopChaeJoe
Joined: 05 Mar 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 7:42 am Post subject: |
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I haven't had any problems with the tap water. i use it for coffee, cooking, and occasionally kool-aid type drinks. it suprises the Koreans when i mention that i do this.
There's plenty of stuff to cook with if you enjoy cooking. You mat have to make some substitutions. You may also have to buy a stove.
I spend about five bucks American on food a day, average. Sometimes much more. Korean tradition is to alternate paying at restaurants.
Monthly nut is small once you have your place in the condition you want. it might take some cash to get it that way. You can save about half your paycheck, or blow it all on vices, it's up to you. Don't forget to have fun -- go wild once and awhile.
Classroom routines will vary wildly, you'd have to proide more information. You'll probably work 6 hours a day or so. The young children (up to 11 years old) are adorable. Behavior is excellent, if totally annoying at times. but these are not military cadets, they're little kids, you have to expect them to act like it. They'll get on your nerves pretty much every day, but if you think about it, thy're just acting normal. I've heard some pretty rotten things about the middle school kids. High school kids will only want to sleep. I make my own curriculum. Others don't. |
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tomato
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Location: I get so little foreign language experience, I must be in Koreatown, Los Angeles.
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| Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 11:57 am Post subject: Re: korea questions |
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| Quote: |
| how many classes do you teach per day, |
I'd say an average is about 6.
| Quote: |
| how long are they, |
Usually 50 minutes.
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| how many students, |
Anything in the double digits is considered a large class.
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| how is their behaviour, |
In most classes, there will be a few snicklefritzes.
Most classes are better than classes in the ghetto, but not as good as in the suburbs.
Most Korean English teachers speak in Korean non-stop from five o'clock until five-fifty.
The students are used to that, so if you want to provide a genuine foreign language experience for the students, it will take time for them to adjust.
There is a slight chance that you will get the cream of the cream.
That has its plusses and minusses.
If students in a classy environment don't like you, they will behave perfectly in your class, but then they will go directly to the administration and backbite you.
| Quote: |
| what is the content of the classes, |
The standard topics are numbers, colors, names of countries, telling time, singular and plural, months, days of the week, adjectives, and prepositions. The textbook might also have a separate unit for each verb tense.
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| is there a curriculum provided, |
Most schools follow a textbook.
The director is usually satisfied if you spend at least half of the classtime on the textbook.
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| what's the best age to teach. |
Every once in a while, that question is debated on this message board.
Someone would condemn students of a particular age group as "monsters" or "heathens," then everyone who is loyal to that age group will rush to their defense.
Generally speaking, whatever age group you prefer in your own country you will prefer here. |
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PRagic
Joined: 24 Feb 2006
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| Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 2:47 pm Post subject: |
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| Read the stickies and use the FAQ! |
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meredith
Joined: 12 Aug 2006
Location: montreal
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| Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 4:23 pm Post subject: Thanks for the info! |
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| Thanks for the info, I had checked the FAQ but this has given me some good specifics to go on. Thanks again. |
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Sody
Joined: 14 May 2006
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| Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 5:15 pm Post subject: |
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Meredith,
You can save a lot of money if you try. As for the groceries, if you live near a Lotte Mart or Walmart you can actually get foreign foods for quite cheap. There are many types of foods here that are almost the same as back home.
Sody |
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Homer
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2006 4:16 am Post subject: |
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Here goes
| Quote: |
| Living: Do you drink the tap water in korea, for someone who wanted to cook their own meals, what's the grocery store situation? Do most apartments have appliances, firdge/stove? What's the noise situation in the apartments? How much do you spend on food everyday? What are your monthly expenses versus your salary (possibility of saving) |
I do not drink the tap water.
Groceries are fine. If the local shop is not to your liking hit the gigantic E-mart....
Most appartments have a gas range (stove but not oven) and a small fridge).
Noise situation: depends on the appartment (what floor you are on), on your neighbors, on your definition of noise.....
Food everyday: that will vary wildly from person to person meredith. What one person says may or may not apply to you.
For example, I eat bk and dinner at home and lunch out most of the time. I also live in Busan which is cheaper than Seoul but more expensive than a smaller city....so you see it will vary.
If you adopt the local diet it will be cheaper.
If you eat out a lot or eat western dishes only the price goes up.
Do you like to drink (many here do)?
Are you picky for food (i.e. only buy "bio" back where you are)?
Do you intend to eat at home or eat out?
Salary vs Savings: Again a very vague question (sorry).
Expenses are: utilities on your appartment plus phone if you get a cell.
Transportation: This will vary depending on how far from the school you are.
Food: see above.
Now, on a basic 2 million salary you could live reasonably on 1 million won and save the rest. If you party this savings chunk shrinks. If you travel...it shrinks. If you live like a hermit and just work and sleep...it might go up.
| Quote: |
| Teaching: Can anyone describe a typical class, how many classes do you teach per day, how long are they, how many students, how is their behaviour, what is the content of the classes, is there a curriculum provided, what's the best age to teach. |
Tough one meredith.
Lets assume you mean hakwons....and lets assume you are teaching kids
Avg # of classes per day: about 5 (sometimes 6)
Avg lenght of a class: 40-50 minutes
Avg # of students: 7-10
Behaviour: depends on the kid, the school and a lot on you as a teacher.
Content: varies from school to school. Some have a well organized set curriculum, others do not.
Best age to teach: wow..that really depends on you! Sorry.
I know when I was teaching kids I enjoyed teaching kids from grades 3-6 the most. |
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