Korean Job Discussion Forums

[kylehawkins2000]

What do you think are the weaknesses of this site, from the perspective of first time teachers in Korea?

If you were going to start a website that was aimed at providing information to first-timers in Korea, what kind of information would you provide that is not easily available here?

What basic changes would you go with compared to this website? EG. Content, layout, etc.

Kind Regards,

Kyle

[denz]

i'll give you all my ideas for.. erm... 20%.

denz

[katydid]

Are you going into the website business Kyle??

[matthews_world]

I'd personally like to see a better search engine for old posts. Type in a search word, you get several pages to browse instead of posts with that exact word.

A FAQ section for new users would be helpful. Here they could learn how to use the board more effectively.

I'd like to see a section on schools. Seems some of the newer users come on here wanting only information on a certain school. If we had these schools catagorized, it would make it easier to find such info.

Hope that makes sense.

[kylehawkins2000]

Am I going into the website business? Well, I don't know....I'll give it a definite "Maybe"

I just see an awful lot of the same questions and problems occuring on this site. I think it might be useful to have a site that caters more directly to a certain demographic eg. first-time teachers thinking about working in Korea.

[Guest]

i agree about the search engine.

i feel after reading this forum about 4 months before coming here, that a lot of the posts just got me a little paranoid...so i would love to see a categorisation of "information" and "opinions"....then the newbie can dive straight for the info and not be tainted by people's individual experiences.
don't get me wrong here, i say it with respect, i just think we have such individual ideas, that like everything in life, one just has to experience it, and live it, rather than read about it.

[The Lemon]

[waterbaby]

I've been working on an FAQ section here to cover the questions that come up over and over again... for newbies and old timers. At the moment it's just a collection of links grouped together. (I shouldn't say "just"... it's a big job & it's taken a looong time!)

The first cut is pretty rough... The information design is far from perfect but it's a start...

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=7464

Feedback encouraged

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

One of the weaknesses is (waiting for mods to throw rotten fruit at me) is the un-democratic nature of "mod-ship".

I think to bring this site to a higher, evolved status, we the membership should "elect" an odd-number of mods on a 6-month basis.


Well...that and Kryptonite

[Corvid]

Okay, so I'm new to Korea, and the subject has come up about sending money back home. The sticky thing is great, with all that information easy to find at the top, but it's all messy and contradictory. Eventually, after the dust has settled, these topics should be condensed to what is true, accurate and helpful. Not that people shouldn't be able to add information, but something like:

Wire transfer: always a rip-off. If you have to, XXX bank is best.
Bank draft: second best way. Best banks: XXX, YYY. Then mail the check to your bank.
Trusted friend with an international bank card from XXX, YYY, or ZZZ bank is the best way with the best exchange rates. Getting one is dodgy. Take a Korean friend who can ask, "This will work in Topeka, Kansas, right?"

Info provided by, Zy, KiC, Rist H, etc. (for example)

[matthews_world]

I guess what I meant was including Policy and Procedure questions in an FAQ page.

I just saw Dave's Guidelines for the first time.

Perhaps MOD's can off-shoot from Dave's and post policy for this board.

Direct new members to visit the guidelines pages and FAQ sections when they sign up. This will minimize the repeat and unwanted posts.

Nice work Waterbaby! How about cataloging schools in that thread.

[The Lemon]

[chronicpride]

[Guest]

[waterbaby]