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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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some waygug-in
Joined: 25 Jan 2003
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 Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2006 5:08 pm Post subject: |
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While I agree that EFL is less physically demanding than most jobs back home, it has been my experience that it is far more mentally and emotionally taxing than anything I have done back home.
The free apartment is nice until you consider the fact that if you quit or get fired............you will be out on the street.
Being in a foreign country (especially this one) has its own set stresses and frustrations to deal with. At least back home, no matter what job I had, I still had the comforts of home after work. I had family and friends whom I could talk to, I could understand the TV news, I didn't have to worry about being deported if the director suddenly decides that he wants to.
It's not easy to be treated like the family pet all day and be expected to smile and cheer through it all, and at the same time to have the director breathing down your neck and parents wanting instant results.
I suppose if you are lucky enough to be in a good school with relatively little stress/chaos to deal with everyday then I can see why you would think the way you do.
And by the way, I do work about 40 hours per week although I only get paid for 30. |
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Juregen
Joined: 30 May 2006
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| Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2006 5:20 pm Post subject: |
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| JLarter wrote: |
First of all, yes, I teach kids EFL. It is a far easier job than any I have previously done. The hours are shorter and the pay for what you actually do is amazing.
The people I'm having a go at are the people who are in school for six hours for five days a week, teaching feck all classes, who then decide that being made to do a few extra hours of overtime is such a chore.
My job last year, we would work until our work was complete, some days that meant a six hour working day,but often that meant starting at 8am and not finishing until 9 or 10pm.
As far as ease of lifestyle goes, teaching EFL is far easier than most other careers. Free rent? Low tax?
We have it pretty cushy. |
There is ofcourse a reason for that.
It is all about Supply and Demand. How come if the pay is so great and the life so easy, don't others join in to increase the supply and drop the prices?
Indeed. Because it isn't all that easy to leave your country, and your family to teach people English. Teaching EFL is not just about teaching, it is also about living in a culture completely different from your own, eating food you are not used to, dealing with people who do not understand you and the list goes on.
At least the man/woman who work 10 hours per day 5 days a week go home to their family, can talk to their colleagues, etc ...
Do not simplify things in Black and White, it is far more complicated then that, plus it depends on the individual in the end. How does he/she cope with all those differences.
The pay is good, but the life is more stressing. |
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jellobean
Joined: 14 Mar 2006
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| Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2006 4:36 pm Post subject: |
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Why does there seem to be this impression that those of us who teach English don't have the ability to get a better job? Just because you define the working conditions here as "cushy" doesn't mean that everyone is in your position. Sure if you are just out of college and have nothing more than the standard 15-20,000 in student loans, the market here isn't too bad. If you've lived a bit of life or had a real one back home before you came here, it wouldn't be as "cushy" as you think.
If I wanted to be working 40-60 hour weeks, I would go home where I can make 3-4 times what I do here for those 40-60 hours weeks... I teach English in Korea for the shorter work schedule and the chance to travel.... I accept the substandard working conditions because I want the travel perks, I would never consider my lifestyle here "cushy." Actually, I will probably attempt to venture into the Korean 8-6 working world sometime next year because the conditions are a whole lot better, although I will have to stop traveling so much.... |
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