Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Tiberious aka Sparkles]

Just curious to know how many, if any, of you have moved from teaching ESL in Korea to something, shall we say, more sane. I myself, as I've mentioned before, am no longer an ESL teacher (though, I don't want to say exactly what type of profession I have for fear that I'll be the victim of random sniping and/or post deletion). However, I can share this little tidbit: if you really are interested in remaning in Korea, just not as an English teacher, it helps, when in conversation with others, to stress your desire to start a new job in a new field; and always, ALWAYS mention how much you love life in Korea -- even if it secretly drives you nuts at times. Everyone has some connection or other, and even if you are unqualified (or underqualified at least, as was my case), people will generally be willing to give you a shot if you have a level head and are personable.

But enough of my rambling. I'd be very curious to hear about any other stories of teachers who have successfully moved out of the ESL game; though by no means is this an affront to all you snazzy teachers. I sometimes wish I was still teaching regularly. Sometimes.

Well?

Sparkles*_*

[Zyzyfer]

But what else is there to do? With the sparse amount of English floating around, nothing comes to mind that would pay better than teaching English when my major is English. I can't do IT or engineering, and science, while cool and one of my strong points, is conducted in the Korean language here, no?

Then there's accounting; I'm good with numbers, which aren't Korean, but that's boring and big numbers are the hardest thing for me to comprehend in Korean.

[desultude]

The only change I would make would be to another university. I want the time to travel- you don't get that in the corporate world.

[kiwiboy_nz_99]

You want to know what others are doing but you won't tell us what you're doing ... hmmmm

[Homer]

I am partially out of ESL teaching.
Doing some consulting for a few canadian companies doing business here in Korea.

[Yaya]

Go-getters see opportunities, while non-go-getters fret and complain. First off, see what needs are out there and how you could fill them. In my case, I was able to speak Korean and write in English well and that proved to be MY ticket out of teaching. I also learned how to properly translate Korean into English to an extent and it opened more doors for me.

Most of my non-Korean expat circle did writing, whether for Korean media or foreign media. If you're good at IT, perhaps a Korean start-up might take a chance on you, though the pay can be less than as a teacher.

Others have started their own businesses. Former GIs get jobs on base in contracting and some have opened up bars or cafes in certain parts. One expat friend I have opened his own communications company in Korea that does, among other things, business reports, translation, proofreading and the like.

Learning Korean is a big step. I mean you wouldn't expect someone who cannot speak English to succeed in North America (though that does happen - refer to the legions of Koreans who own their own businesses who can't put a sentence together). If you cannot speak Korean, you'd better have some skill - IT, marketing or consulting - that a Korean would need.

[posco's trumpet]

[Stunted Wookie]

I do not teach English here...sanity at another job..well I wouldn't go that far!

No I won't tell you what I do ..no need to flood the market now.

[Skarp]

A key to success in business is start up money. I'm guessing Koreans abroad have money to use for this, therefore not paying bank loans.

Many poeple doing EFL like it. Sure - it can be insane sometimes, but who's to say it won't be insane in another field?

Things people like about EFL

- short hours (by Korean standards)
- high pay (given low skills/ability of many teachers)
- it can be fun (you have to have the right attitude)
- it can be more rewarding than most jobs


In fact - the only gripe I've ever had about EFL is money and bad management. Bad management can happen anywhere, and there is money in EFL in Asia at least. This may not last for ever, but you can say that about a most jobs.

Skarp

[BTM]

[mithridates]

I teach a bit of English, a bit of Korean, sometimes the drums, as well as write and translate. But I'm primarily studying for a hanja test coming up in a month. After it's over I'll have to think about my next steady job, and if I'm offered a better one in Japan I just might head back over there.

[Alias]

You could probably make a lot of money being a man-*beep*. Lots of lonely ajuma's out there.

[Dan]

You know what is a great idea whose time has come?

Krispy Kreme franchise in korea.

Motherf-er they love donuts in Korea, and they don't even know about Krispy kreme!

Get a bunch of other loser teachers together, scrounge around for a butt load of money, and open up a KKD in a youth populated area. But most likely, you will need a Korean to come in with you on it.

Ok, no insults, but I am absolutely serious about it. They are no longer handing out franchises in the US, I think unless you are a celebrity or something. But they want to open stores in Asia, and Korea HAS to be a hotspot for US franchises right? I mean, look at Starsucks!

So someone, please open up a franchise, make a billion dollars and you can give me free donuts whenever I come around.

[Tiberious aka Sparkles]

The future lies in plastics.

And publishing

Sparkles*_*

[dogbert]