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Lucas
Joined: 11 Sep 2012
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 Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2013 7:43 pm Post subject: |
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| There are two black teachers in my city. One was forced to share an apartment with another teacher. The other was transferred to our city. It is not a stretch to say it was probably because some principal didn't want a black teacher in another city. |
So based on your extensive knowledge then 
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Moondoggy
Joined: 07 Jun 2011
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| Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2013 8:09 pm Post subject: |
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| schwa wrote: |
Quite a few black women have had (or are having) decent work experiences in my area. They've been lovely motivated people & its been a valuable experience for their students. EPIK is color blind in its hiring.
My qualm about your post is your emphasis on "last resort" & the implication that you'd really rather not be doing this. Doesnt sound like a formula for making a winning impression. |
i agree with schwa. but being black is not an issue. |
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Firearcher
Joined: 22 Dec 2007
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| Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2013 10:54 pm Post subject: |
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There is more discrimination against men than there is against blacks. Many jobs says "female only" or "preferred". One said "female or other"
Few seem to say "whites only" although the odd one does say that.
I have found many Koreans do not like black people. Having said that I have met a few that absolutely love black people, maybe even more than white people. So it just depends. Do you have a chance? Yes. I figure in the end it will hinge on your personality and ability to sell yourself. |
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Paddycakes
Joined: 05 May 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2013 11:55 pm Post subject: |
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Be prepared for "African Monkey" stuff from the kids.
If you have thin skin, Korea could be an issue.
If you're "plus size" and you got a big bubble butt, be prepared for a lot of negative comments in the land of generally skinny people.
The rest is largely up to your personality.
If you're cheerful and outgoing you'll be liked and you should have a good time.
It doesn't mean you have to be walking down the street singing "THE SONG OF THE SOUTH" 24 hours a day, but it would help.
But if you're a 'Large and in Charge' type who takes no guff from anyone, you're going to have problems with the Koreans. |
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sirius black
Joined: 04 Jun 2010
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| Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 1:17 am Post subject: |
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Interesting that its the non Black women who are painting the worse picture but the Black women who have posted have been the most positive.
OP, logic would dictate that you value the opinions of fellow Black women more.
My 2 cents is there are many Black women succeeding in Korea, there are obvious roadblocks and the posts stating that there is discrimination is accurate but I would say its not to the point where you can't get hired, have a good life here and thrive. A friend belongs to a Facebook group for Blacks in Korea and I was surprised to hear there are a few thousand members. So, someone is hiring Blacks and because women get preferential treatment over men, I would assume that as a Black women you'd have more opportunity than Black males. |
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BroodingSea
Joined: 21 Oct 2008
Location: North Shields
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| Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 3:43 am Post subject: |
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To those of you painting a rosy picture of ethnic tolerance in Korea - what planet are you on? Are you even awake?
Koreans are culturally racist - against white people and more so black people. I have spoken to UK based Korean academics who, in drink, let you know their real prejudice; personal experience with three hagwon owners - they said they would never employ Irish (dirty and horrible sounding accent) or black people (criminals etc). These attitudes and prejudices are my first hand ones - and they appear to be highly common (anecdotal) across the peninsula. |
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newb
Joined: 27 Aug 2012
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 3:49 am Post subject: |
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| ^ I agree. |
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Paddycakes
Joined: 05 May 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 4:02 am Post subject: |
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| BroodingSea wrote: |
| personal experience with three hagwon owners - they said they would never employ Irish (dirty and horrible sounding accent) |
I second that.
I was at the Incheon airport when an Aer Lingus flight came in from Dublin...
Standing at the arrival gate were a bunch of Koreans yelling: "GO BACK TO IRELAND YA F***CKING MICS!!!!" |
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IamCourtney
Joined: 01 Jan 2013
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| Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 9:42 am Post subject: |
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| sirius black wrote: |
| Interesting that its the non Black women who are painting the worse picture but the Black women who have posted have been the most positive. |
I was thinking the same thing. They are making it seem like Koreans are going to be waiting for black people with pitchforks when they arrive lol I've heard nothing but good things from my friends who teach in Korea, and they are black women. |
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earthquakez
Joined: 10 Nov 2010
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| Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2013 3:31 am Post subject: Re: Chances for a Black female? |
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| oceanhue wrote: |
I'm a senior in college and have been desperately trying to find a job... Anything, but the economy sucks RN so I am panicking (even though I'm graduating in June). Teaching in SK has become a "last resort" type of thing. If I cannot find any employment, I decided to teach abroad in Korea for a year or two. It all depends on how it all works out 
Now, once in awhile I read some "horror" stories about Blacks in South Korea, but not every story is the same. So as of now, it seems like there's a 50% chance that it'll end horribly or a 50% chance it'll be perfectly fine.
I'm a bit familiar with the culture since my ex was Korean (no I'm not one of those girls into K-pop). I've discovered that the Koreans I've met in California have been very kind and friendly towards me, so I don't necessarily believe the racist stories that I hear. And there's a large Korean population in California (and quite a lot recent immigrants). I've never had bad experiences ever.
What I'm trying to say is, I'm a nervous wreck. My number one priority is to pay off my student debt, take my GRE (I saw that I could take it in SK), save some money for graduate school and come back to the states. If I was able to find a job here in the US, I would stay but that doesn't seem like a possibility.
What are my chances of getting hired?
And I've already looked up the cultural differences. I've lived in a foreign country before so readjusting to someone else's culture doesn't bother me. I majored in anthropology anyway so I'm extremely interested in other cultures and would love to visit neighboring Asian countries while (or if) I'm stationed in SK. |
I find that young Koreans are becoming more open to black people because of the love of hiphop and the Obamas. Older Koreans who may otherwise dislike black people as 'dirty' (their words, not mine esp as I am a white looking Brit who is descended from African slaves in the Caribbean on one side of his family) find the fact of a black president interesting and I've heard Korean women compliment Michelle Obama as 'powerful looking'.
Many Koreans do have racial prejudices against dark skin and black people. I've had Koreans tell me in Korean that they're 'scared' of black people and not just those in the military - a minority of US troublemakers in the military are used by Koreans to justify hating on the military and a fair bit of this is directed against black soldiers.
An incident a couple of yrs ago when a black English teacher went off at Koreans on a bus because he thought he was called the n### word but he wasn't, it was a Korean word for 'you', was videod and put on youtube. The bloke was out of control but most of the responses from Koreans ran along the lines of 'This dirty black should stop his n### behaviour towards the great Korean people' etc.
Yes blacks are stereotyped in Korea but so are whites. As a black woman you might get stereotyped in worse ways but many white women I've met in Korea and know have told me about disrespectful and sexist comments made towards them by taxi drivers, male co teachers etc.
I'd say the school system sounds good for you but there are also hagwons where black teachers are welcome and the students are really interested in them.
But don't be discouraged by the recruiters telling you that it's hard to place a black teacher - sometimes this is true, sometimes they're lying like too many recruiters do as second nature. Korea allows job ads with 'Only Caucasians' to be put around so yep, they need to catch up with some first world anti discrimination norms. |
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happiness
Joined: 04 Sep 2010
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| Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2013 5:36 pm Post subject: |
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Have a great picture, get it done by a pro (dont pay more than $10  ), and make sure youre presentable. I wouldn't say youre at a disdvantage because you're black, as long as you look like someone who could be a teacher for them, youll have no problems.
13 years, Ive known alot of black ladies here. They all had a good experience here.
and as a lady, things will be in your favor. More ladies come here now, theyre more in demand. |
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Moondoggy
Joined: 07 Jun 2011
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| Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2013 10:17 pm Post subject: |
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| BroodingSea wrote: |
To those of you painting a rosy picture of ethnic tolerance in Korea - what planet are you on? Are you even awake?
Koreans are culturally racist - against white people and more so black people. I have spoken to UK based Korean academics who, in drink, let you know their real prejudice; personal experience with three hagwon owners - they said they would never employ Irish (dirty and horrible sounding accent) or black people (criminals etc). These attitudes and prejudices are my first hand ones - and they appear to be highly common (anecdotal) across the peninsula. |
stop spreading lies about korean people. it seems you're the f-headed racist against blacks and irish. |
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Weigookin74
Joined: 26 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2013 3:16 am Post subject: |
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| World Traveler wrote: |
| oceanhue wrote: |
| schwa wrote: |
| My qualm about your post is your emphasis on "last resort" & the implication that you'd really rather not be doing this. Doesnt sound like a formula for making a winning impression. |
It's a last resort because the economy is terrible in the states and it's hard to find a receptionist job with a bachelors degree. I'm not going to sugar coat it and say it has been my dream to teach in Korea because it is not. |
The economy in the U.S. is not that bad...
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With more and more companies requiring college degrees for open positions, those with just high school diplomas are experiencing higher unemployment rates.
There is such a difference that the unemployment rate for people holding a college degree is 3.7 percent. Those holding just a high school diploma have an unemployment rate of 8.1 percent. |
...but...do whatever you want. It's your life. |
Ha ha ha. Whew that was a good joke. When unemployment rates get back to 4 or 5 %, then you can say there's a recovery. Eight per cent offically and prob closer to 11 per cent if you use traditional statistical methods, ain't a recovery. I also just read that if inflation were calculated using the same methods as in 1980 that it would currently be reported as 10 per cent now. But folks keep believing what they want. |
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Weigookin74
Joined: 26 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2013 3:21 am Post subject: |
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| Paddycakes wrote: |
| BroodingSea wrote: |
| personal experience with three hagwon owners - they said they would never employ Irish (dirty and horrible sounding accent) |
I second that.
I was at the Incheon airport when an Aer Lingus flight came in from Dublin...
Standing at the arrival gate were a bunch of Koreans yelling: "GO BACK TO IRELAND YA F***CKING MICS!!!!" |
Really? Wow! Korea's in a time warp. That's strage. Thought discriminating against the Irish went out with top hats and the Model T! Reminds me of that old Simpsons episode when "Itchy runs Afoul of an Irishman!" Ha ha. |
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Weigookin74
Joined: 26 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2013 3:24 am Post subject: |
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| Some discrimination here. But I see plenty of Black ladies around. Just be fun and outgoing. Have no chip on your shoulder and hating the world and people will like you fine. If one recruiter says no blacks, find another and tell them to eff off. You'll get here if you're determined. |
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