Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Son Deureo!]

If you're happy, then don't sweat it, but the fact that you're posting this sounds like you've got itchy feet. Since you have plenty of deskwarming and vacation time, why not use some of it to get the qualifications for the job you want next?

[isitts]

[bobbybigfoot]

2.5 after five years here isn't a great salary, but the flip side is that you are happy with your job.

Personally, I would have left EPIK years ago because a ceiling of 2.5 just doesn't interest me. It means you are actually making less money now that you did 5 years ago.

Are you on pace to retire a millionaire? If not, kick yourself in the butt and start hustling.

Happiness is great but cash is king.

[Weigookin74]

If you like what you're doing, keep rocking it. If others have pre conceived notions let them; keep doing your thing.

[Lparsons7641]

Your life is your own. Who cares what other people think.

[randall020105]

No, you're not a loser.. I think Catflap kind of resonates the sentiment most folks in Korea experience.

You're only a loser when you let less important issues and people negatively influence your happiness.

Lots of people may come to Korea unknowingly having no 2 to 3 year plan or feeling weird since their respective qualifications are worlds apart from esl teaching. When you get here you happen to realize that this may be a much more viable option than any job back home(and yes... a degree based on your calling is only as useful as the paycheck)...

The bank didn't ask me if this is ESL money when I bought 2 properties and a car. The financial institutions didn't care if I got this money from desk warming or co-teacher issues... they just needed my money to invest it wisely. So - when I'm good and ready, I'll up and leave!

My 2 cents.

[No_hite_pls]

[Weigookin74]

Year Six bachelors degree puts you at 1+ level. (Assuming no tesol, ed degree, or anything else.) Out in the provinces, that's 2.7 million not including any rural allowances, extra classes, etc. My first year of 1.9 million EPIK salary probably equalled this due to inflation and a crumpled inflation rate. But, newbies coming here for hakwons for 2.0 Mil...come on over, lemmings....

[misher]

If you're loving what you're doing (teaching kids how to speak English) and living in the ROK like many here, I'd say then you're the complete opposite of loser. Who cares what the salary is as long as you can live and save a little. I'd upgrade the quals though just to protect yourself in the future as education inflation to teach ESL is alive and well for the better jobs. I also wouldn't trust the Korean government for any type of stable employment when they can kill programs like EPIK/GEPIK like that.

This may sound harsh but from the way I see it if you're indifferent to teaching English because you just "fell into it," or "didn't know what else to do," not really enthused about living in South Korea, don't speak the language, way past the 2-3 year mark where people wipe their debts and you're not doing anything to change your situation by getting an actual career with salary progression and respect back home, then yeah you're a loser. But only because you're not doing anything to change your situation and continually make up excuses like "the economy back home sucks," "there's no jobs unless you know someone" to justify the existence you created for yourself that you deep down want to get out of EFL but won't sack up. Although I met and worked with many of the former, sadly, the latter were the majority of male EFL teachers out of the hundreds I met. Losers.

[Weigookin74]

[young_clinton]

Why would you be a loser when so many people are trying to get into EPIK and not making it. If you feel like your losing, try to get into the JET program in Japan for a change in your fortunes.