Korean Job Discussion Forums

[NoExplode]

I posted this in another thread, but for the life of me, why would anyone come here to teach when you can get a job in Japan for 250,000 yen, which is the bare minimum for teaching there. This is aimed at new teachers mostly, because some of us that have been here may have developed attachments such as a significant other, or we're working on learning Korean, etc. But why would you come here to make half of what you can make in Japan?

So if you are new to Korea, or are coming here soon, please walk me through your logic. Thanks

[rehab]

For me, it's an emotional attachment. Also, I'm not really into it for the money.

As for Japan: what's the benefit of getting paid 4x more if it costs that amount just to live there? The better rate for the Yen is only a benefit if you actually have some to send home.

[Teelo]

Its not exactly easy to get a job in Japan.

A working holiday visa lasts 6 months (and can be extended another 6 months when already in Japan), and you can only apply for it in your home country. You have to have a ticket back out of Japan, and (I think) $3000 in travelers cheques. You can only ever get one of these visas once, and have to be under 25 when you apply.

To get a normal work visa, you have to get a company to sponsor you.

Most ads have some or all of these requirements:
1. Ability to interview in Toronto/Vancouver
2. Ability to interview in Japan
3. Have a TEFL certificate or teaching degree
4. Have a drivers license
5. Be able to speak Japanese
6. Have xx years teaching experience
7. Have a working holiday visa (the companies who can't be bothered sponsoring a work visa for anyone will write "PROPER VISA ONLY" in their ad)

Most of the time you also have to organise your own housing.

If you are okay with all those hurdles, then you will probably enjoy your time there more than in Korea. From what I understand, they are not nearly as racist.

On the plus side, they don't have all the ridiculous immigration rules of Korea, such as can't get a work permit when you're already in the country, and need to get apostilles and junk..

[wayfarer]

[ESL Milk "Everyday]

About the only good thing about Nova was that they loved handing out Visas. You would go to their office in Toronto or wherever, they would talk to you about Japan, you'd have a chat, and then they'd give you a visa. At least, that was my experience.

The best way to get to Japan is go with a big chain like Aeon or Geos (are they still around??)-- they're not so fussy about who they hire. Or if you know someone there, see if they can help you out.

Once you have a visa, and then it's yours for the year. You can quit, and still work legally there.

[NoExplode]

[berrieh]

[PRagic]

'Not only is the culture is better...' Yeesh. And they let people like this teach? We'll give this poster the benefit of the doubt and assume a general lack of worldly experience and a lack of cross-cultural education and training.

Define better. Do you mean more comfortable for you personally? Less offensive? Do you consider the culture of America's east coast better than that of the west coast? It is different, after all, and the east coast cities definitely have a harder edge. The west coast does tend to be more serene.

Rule number one when comparing cultures: it's not better or worse, it's different. Learn it, live it.

[Teelo]

NoExplode: Aclipse is the first Japan advertiser I've seen in a while that doesn't have any of those requirements, and I actually applied to them a week or so ago too.

[rac118]

[ESL Milk "Everyday]

I wouldn't say the culture is 'better', but there's definitely more cultural stuff in Japan... I mean artifacts in museums and such (including a lot of stuff 'taken' from Korea and China, actually).

The Japanese destroyed a lot of Korea's most impressive sights intentionally, but Kyoto didn't get bombed at all in WWII. Also, Japan was never annexed, wasn't ravaged by a civil war, and didn't go through almost four decades as a third world country.

Last time I checked, cleanliness, manners, and friendliness were expensive.

Japanese people are always wonderful the first time you meet them, but they're actually pretty similar to Koreans. The big difference is that what the Koreans will do to your face, the Japanese will do behind your back.

[PRagic]

rac118, nice try. You trying to paint some very, very broad strokes with a very narrow brush, though, and that doesn't work. Think about it.

And, no, I didn't think, 'Learn it, live it,' was clever. Just happened to come out at the time. Good thing I'm not a betting man or you'd find yourself a few bucks lighter.

Not getting sucked into a debate here, so this'll be it on the topic for me.

[rac118]

[Cerriowen]

[egrog1717]