Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bassexpander]

I am recording a new podcast with the eslcafe user named bluelake, who is a foreigner who has lived in Korea for 25 years.

If you have any questions about what life was like for him when he arrived in 1984, and/or anything since that time, please feel free to post here! I'll ask him tomorrow, and have the podcast up by the weekend!

Some food for thought: He is married, and has a son with his Korean wife. He arrived to teach at a high school (I believe he said Kwangju -- BL, please correct me if I'm wrong). He currently teaches at a university.

http://www.themidnightrunner.com


Quote from Bluelake, fixing my above mistakes:

[bluelake]

Close--in '84, I taught in my wife's hometown of Kyongju/Gyeongju.

[eamo]

All areas about the education of children of international couples would be of great interest to me.

Especially, are international schools, like SIS, really worth all that money they cost?

[Xuanzang]

Have you noticed any major generational shifts from the students in the old days compared to now? Academic ability, attitude?

What was it like before the big marts like Carrefour, Homeplus came here? Just buying from local mom and pop shops and ajumma/ajeoshi trucks?

[Whistleblower]

1. What personal/professional development (teacher development) did BL do since arriving in 1984?

2. How do you see the future of English Education in Korea?

3. Is he worried about the current economic crisis as he was here during the Asian Financial Crisis.

4. Has he specialised (work = examining, curriculum development, etc) during his time working in Korea?

5. What was the most difficult time during his period in Korea over the last 24/25 years?

6. Did his child have any difficulty (bullying, racial abuse, etc) when studying at school?

7. At what age would he expect to retire and where would he retire?

8. What would be the biggest advice he would give to those wishing to start teaching in Korea?

9. Was he able to learn Korean? If so, how fluent is he?

10. Would he and his family ever return back to his homeland (where ever that may be) to retire?

11. What was the best experience that he has had whilst in Korea?

12. How often and how long does he get to travel back to his homeland for visits in a year?

Apologies for the many questions but I hope these help.

[SHANE02]

[T-J]

A comparison of the changes that occurred pre / post 88 Olympic and pre / post 02 World Cup.

[Chet Wautlands]

Has he noticed a shift in the way that foreigners are viewed? I'd imagine that being an American in Gwangju at that time would have been interesting.