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teachteach
Joined: 26 Mar 2008
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 Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2009 10:29 am Post subject: ESL teachers are under high personal stress |
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I've been hearing a lot on the boards lately about ESL teachers comparing themselves to korean office workers who have the same education level yet make a lot more money and have a 'bigger future' than their waygook counterparts in ESL. A lot of people have been complaining that this affects their chances with the ladies especially.
But, it is hard to imagine how much stress this puts on the average ESL teacher. An average ESL teacher has at least a BA/BSc. They are still more educated than most people in the world. However, as grateful as they may be for having an ESL job, they are faced with being 'lowly' in Korea as their best option. As their worst option they are faced with going back home to no prospects, and even if they find a good paying job it generally won't pay enough to cut it in the expensive cities those jobs are located in.
A good example I found in Canada is people with BA's and BSc's being rejected from entry level government jobs in favor of those with only a high school diploma, and in some cases drop outs. Other jobs have been the same. It's either who you know, or they feel you are 'too smart' for the job and don't understand why you want it. In itself it is a form of discrimination. You can also become a real teacher, not be able to find a job anyways, and end up back in Korea.
There are the lucky few ESL teachers who marry into Korean society/F-Visa status, but for the most part it is hard going for ESL teachers. In the future, among those now in Korea there might be a high mental disorder rate developing from the stress. |
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asmith
Joined: 18 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2009 11:04 am Post subject: Re: ESL teachers are under high personal stress |
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| teachteach wrote: |
I've been hearing a lot on the boards lately about ESL teachers comparing themselves to korean office workers who have the same education level yet make a lot more money and have a 'bigger future' than their waygook counterparts in ESL. A lot of people have been complaining that this affects their chances with the ladies especially.
But, it is hard to imagine how much stress this puts on the average ESL teacher. An average ESL teacher has at least a BA/BSc. They are still more educated than most people in the world. However, as grateful as they may be for having an ESL job, they are faced with being 'lowly' in Korea as their best option. As their worst option they are faced with going back home to no prospects, and even if they find a good paying job it generally won't pay enough to cut it in the expensive cities those jobs are located in.
A good example I found in Canada is people with BA's and BSc's being rejected from entry level government jobs in favor of those with only a high school diploma, and in some cases drop outs. Other jobs have been the same. It's either who you know, or they feel you are 'too smart' for the job and don't understand why you want it. In itself it is a form of discrimination. You can also become a real teacher, not be able to find a job anyways, and end up back in Korea.
There are the lucky few ESL teachers who marry into Korean society/F-Visa status, but for the most part it is hard going for ESL teachers. In the future, among those now in Korea there might be a high mental disorder rate developing from the stress. |
It really ain't that stressful, brother. In fact, it's a piece of cake. All soju and songs. |
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E_athlete
Joined: 09 Jun 2009
Location: Korea sparkling
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| Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2009 11:17 am Post subject: |
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| the stress is there but the money makes it go away. At least for now. |
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madoka
Joined: 27 Mar 2008
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| Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2009 11:24 am Post subject: |
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| If you're stressed out by a job in ESL to the point of mental illness, you're not going to make it in the real world. |
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teachteach
Joined: 26 Mar 2008
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| Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2009 12:07 pm Post subject: |
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| The stress comes from hopelessness in being able to improve one's life. |
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Epicurus
Joined: 18 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2009 12:26 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| If you're stressed out by a job in ESL to the point of mental illness, you're not going to make it in the real world. |
| Quote: |
| The stress comes from hopelessness in being able to improve one's life. |
both of these statements are true. |
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little_kitty
Joined: 23 Jul 2009
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| Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2009 1:22 pm Post subject: |
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Same thing is happening in the U.S. People with excellent credentials and experience are turned down for jobs because the position has already been given to the daughter/son/brother-in-law/etc. of someone who works there.
Makes for a very depressing job search. |
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yesnoyesyesno
Joined: 28 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2009 2:29 pm Post subject: Re: ESL teachers are under high personal stress |
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| teachteach wrote: |
I've been hearing a lot on the boards lately about ESL teachers comparing themselves to korean office workers who have the same education level yet make a lot more money and have a 'bigger future' than their waygook counterparts in ESL. A lot of people have been complaining that this affects their chances with the ladies especially.
But, it is hard to imagine how much stress this puts on the average ESL teacher. An average ESL teacher has at least a BA/BSc. They are still more educated than most people in the world. However, as grateful as they may be for having an ESL job, they are faced with being 'lowly' in Korea as their best option. As their worst option they are faced with going back home to no prospects, and even if they find a good paying job it generally won't pay enough to cut it in the expensive cities those jobs are located in.
A good example I found in Canada is people with BA's and BSc's being rejected from entry level government jobs in favor of those with only a high school diploma, and in some cases drop outs. Other jobs have been the same. It's either who you know, or they feel you are 'too smart' for the job and don't understand why you want it. In itself it is a form of discrimination. You can also become a real teacher, not be able to find a job anyways, and end up back in Korea.
There are the lucky few ESL teachers who marry into Korean society/F-Visa status, but for the most part it is hard going for ESL teachers. In the future, among those now in Korea there might be a high mental disorder rate developing from the stress. |
and for people who actually feel this way.. quit being a baby and do what you need to do.. no one is going to give you anything on a silver platter in this world.. |
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js99
Joined: 25 May 2009
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| Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2009 2:36 pm Post subject: |
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| The ESL industry is larger than just Korea~~ |
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I'm no Picasso
Joined: 28 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2009 5:27 pm Post subject: Re: ESL teachers are under high personal stress |
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| teachteach wrote: |
| An average ESL teacher has at least a BA/BSc. They are still more educated than most people in the world. However, as grateful as they may be for having an ESL job, they are faced with being 'lowly' in Korea as their best option. |
If we're going to talk about "most people in the world", we'd probably do best not to then refer to our situation as EFL teachers in the ROK (or anywhere) as "lowly". Or poorly paid. Or limited. Or stressful.
I dunno. I'm just as frustrated as anyone else about the lack of ability to climb the ladder in this job. That having been said, to my friends and family back home who didn't even have the opportunity to go to college, I appear to be very, very blessed. I'm not inclined to argue with them, there. |
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E_athlete
Joined: 09 Jun 2009
Location: Korea sparkling
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| Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2009 5:32 pm Post subject: |
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| teachteach wrote: |
| The stress comes from hopelessness in being able to improve one's life. |
huh??
you make at least 2.1m won per month dont you? You can invest that in stocks or to further your education. If you save you can even open up your own hagwon. Because you dont pay for your apartment you can save. the potential to become successful is there. |
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earthbound14
Joined: 23 Jan 2007
Location: seoul
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| Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2009 5:58 pm Post subject: |
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Well, I gotta be honest. I have some stress about it. My life itself isn't stressful. i enjoy what I do and enjoy my life after work but...
My wife is starting to realize my cash flow will not increase like her friends who work for Samsung. She doesn't care about my holidays because she doesn't get them (she has a normal Korean schedule) and so I feel I should work along side her during vacations and take our short vacations together. And while I am educated enough to get a job back home (a good job) my experience in Korea has done nothing to help me so I'll be starting at the bottom basically when I go back and I don't look forward to basically starting over while being older than many of my co-workers. The longer I'm here the less valid my education becomes. So honestly I do worry about making this work in the long term and finding a way to be able to work in Korea in the future as something other than an English teacher so that my wife can choose to live near her family if she wishes. Honestly I'd love to live in the Korean country side in a little Hanoak designed by yours truly. |
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Real Reality
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2009 5:59 pm Post subject: |
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Korea Must Do More to Stem Suicide Epidemic
Chosun Ilbo (June 13, 2009)
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/06/13/2009061300195.html
Are Foreign Teachers Bearing an Unfair Burden?
By Moon Gwang-lip, JoongAng Daily (May 19, 2009)
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2904979
Foreign Teachers Wrongly Portrayed in Korea
By Brian Deutsch, Korea Times (May 1, 2009)
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2009/05/117_44191.html
'Be Thankful to Be Happy'
By Kim Rahn, Korea Times (January 5, 2009)
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2009/01/117_37323.html
Suffering in Silence as Depression Still Taboo
By Brian Lee, JoongAng Daily (October 21, 2008)
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2896333
More Office Workers Suffer Mental Illness
By Bae Ji-sook, Korea Times (July 17, 2008)
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/07/117_27785.html
image url: http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/news/080717_p03_more.jpg
Psychological Counseling Services for Expatriates
By Tania Campbell, Korea Times (July 15, 2008)
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/special/2009/07/177_27597.html
Koreans Less Satisfied with Work
Hours may be long, but productivity ranks near the bottom
By Kim Ki-chan and Han Eun-hwa, JoongAng Ilbo (May 20, 2008)
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2890009
image url
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/_data/photo/2008/05/19223802.jpg
72 Percent of Men Drink Alcohol Every Day: Survey
By Bae Ji-sook, Korea Times (May 12, 2008)
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/05/117_24038.html
How to be Happy, the Scientific Way
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia, Korea Times (March 21, 2008)
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2008/03/135_21105.html
| Quote: |
According to research psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky, happiness is not about more money, material things, beauty or fame....
Based on her research, Lyubomirsky said 50 percent of happiness is determined by genetics (happiness set point), 10 percent is based on one's life circumstances (whether one is rich or poor, married or divorced, etc.) and 40 percent is based on intentional activity (habits, behavior and thoughts).... |
Psychology in Korea
By Alex Lee, Korea Times (January 20, 2008)
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/opinon/2008/01/162_17647.html
Stress Brought on By Economic Growth Blamed for South Korea's Suicide Surge
By Burt Herman, USA TODAY (February 10, 2007)
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2007-02-10-suicidesouthkorea_x.htm
Foreigners Experience Difficulties in Living in Korea
by Jae-Dong Yu and Soo-Jung Shin, Donga.com (July 4, 2004)
http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2004070522448 |
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mimis
Joined: 24 May 2009
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| Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2009 7:53 pm Post subject: |
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| ^ interesting stuff |
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seonsengnimble
Joined: 02 Jun 2009
Location: taking a ride on the magic English bus
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| Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2009 8:24 pm Post subject: |
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I'd say being an ESL instructor in Korea is stressful, but for entirely different reasons. I haven't looked for work in my home country in ages and am not stressed out about that right now, and am pretty happy with my income and prospects over here.
Being a teacher in Korea is stressful, however. Especially for first year teachers, it can be quite stressful. Teaching 30 hours a week, doing prep, grading papers, evaluating students, doing a bunch of extra work for things like open classes and performances for parents can give you quite a lot of stress. When you add the work environment where you're randomly told that the parents are complaining and that the class is too easy or too hard even when you do exactly what you're told, it can be a bit overwhelming.
My first year of teaching about 28 hours and doing about 5 hours of prep each week was considerably more exhausting than my 40 hour per week customer service job I had back home. The reason is simply that in an hourly job, once you finish for the day, there is nothing to worry about until you start working the next day. In a teaching job, you have to constantly worry about balancing educational needs of the students with the desires of the parents and your employers and your own personal sanity. Add on the cultural differences you have to adjust to, and it's pretty difficult. |
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