Korean Job Discussion Forums

J.B. Clamence · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

When I taught ESL in Europe, most teachers I met in the same country and in other European countries either had taught ESL in another country before ending up where they were, or at least had the intention of continuing their ESL teaching in another country after they left. And in many cases, it was both.

So it was a bit of surprise for me when I noticed that it seems like the majority of teachers here in Korea don't seem to think about teaching elsewhere. For the vast majority of those I've met here, the choice of domicile is either Korea or back home -- no in-between.

Why is that? For those of you who have a mind to leave Korea, but don't want to go home, have you considered moving on to another ESL destination? If not, why not? I'm not being judgemental, I just thought it was an interesting difference between ESL here in Korea and elsewhere. Has anyone else noticed this? Is Korea really such a paradise that there's no other country you want to try out? I understand that a lot of teachers here have grown roots, but teachers in other countries grow roots too, but they still seem to keep moving regardless. How can this difference be explained? Or maybe it's not true that most teachers here limit themselves to Korea. I dunno. Any comments would be welcome.

canuckistan · Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2003 1:42 am Post subject:

Pretty big ESL industry in Quebec!

schwa · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap

Maybe theres more of a mindset of doing an esl tour in Europe.

crazylemongirl · Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Location: almost there...

If I miss out on a tutorship at grad school I'm hoping I maybe able to pick up some work in this industry.

But I will probably only teach in korea, where I can put my very expensive education degree to use.

CLG

Howard Roark · Joined: 02 Feb 2003 Location: Canada

For me, and most non-UK citizens, it's simple. We can't really teach in Europe because you usually need an EU passport to get a visa. So that leaves South America - no money there, and mainly Asia. Within Asia, I think Korea is a pretty good deal, especially with the housing and airfare thrown in. It's just the obvious choice.

Tiger Beer · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

CaptPorridge · Joined: 17 Oct 2003 Location: Saudi Arabia

I spent 2 years in japan, and it was a great experience.

It was only the scenes on TV of the World Cup celebrations here that made me come.

Money wise, I was earning roughly the same. The cost of living in Japan, especially in the major cities is of course much more. Japan isn't a country many people backpack around.

Language -- I actually found Japanese easier to get a grip on,
I'm still struggling with the vowel sounds here.
The Japanese writing system is about a million times more complicate than Hangul, but I found the Chinese Characters really interesting, once the shock of a 10,000,000 character alphabet wore off

Japanese has no difficult vowels for us foreigners.

I was living in a major city in Japan, and in Korea a town of 70,000 people,
so the experience has of course been much much different,

In conclusion....I can eat Korean food everyday, I can't say the same for Japanese food.
But Porridge is Porridge wherever you go,
especially if you shop at www.porridgedeliveredtoyourdoor.com

Tiger Beer · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

CaptPorridge · Joined: 17 Oct 2003 Location: Saudi Arabia

I was in Japan for the world cup, the greatest day of my life was supposed to be the day Japan defeated Turkey.
I took the day off work ( I had a cold) and went to Osaka Dome (indoor baseball stadium)
Free entry and a giant TV screen was hung from the roof.
12,000 people there all drinking up and getting excited...it was to be the greatest night of my life,,,,,chicks everywhere!! and then Japan lost,

I didn't care, but oh man everyone else was suicidal! the most depressed bunch of people I have ever seen, Scoring opportunites zero.

On tv that night all those scenes of red shirts on the streets of Seoul!
God told me I was in the wrong country!! so here I am!!
Plus my sister adopted a Korean baby, I love travelling, Japanese chicks are nutz and sushi sux.

Tiger Beer · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

CaptPorridge · Joined: 17 Oct 2003 Location: Saudi Arabia

Tiger Beer · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

CaptPorridge · Joined: 17 Oct 2003 Location: Saudi Arabia

quote]
Japan wasn't like that too? [/quote]

No where near the same scale, at least where I went, But lloking back I should have spent more time in Osaka, I was living in Kyoto -- nicer place to live imo but much quieter
Had some good nights out though, and a mate in Hokkaido had the best night of his life when Beckham beat Argentina (he scored 3 free tickets off his private student - bastard!)