Korean Job Discussion Forums

humanuspneumos · Joined: 08 Jun 2003

If your country was flooded with ESL schools and the jobs were as easy to get as they are overseas, would you teach at home or overseas?

If it was the case in my country I would have likely been overseas for a small stint and then taken up a longer stint at home. It would still be working in a multi-cultural framework and having ooooodles of at-home-advantages.

rapier · Joined: 16 Feb 2003

For me the whole point of getting into esl was to teach in foreign lands..so even if there were plenty of well paying jobs in the west, I'd still choose to spend most time elsewhere- although I might do short stints in an english speaking country sometimes for a change..

Butterfly · Joined: 02 Mar 2003 Location: Kuwait

desultude · Posted: Sun Feb 29, 2004 2:04 am Post subject:

I would most definitely be teaching abroad. I am teaching English as a good means for being abroad and for traveling. It great that I am able to also put money in the bank while I do it.

To be honest, my first choice would be to teach in Mexico or Eastern Europe, but Korea is fine, and well postitioned for travel in Asia.

Those who complain constantly about Korea should remember how very lucky they are to have been born with English as a first language- What a huge privilege. That and a college degree with a C- average in underwater basketweaving will get you a well-paid job. Try doing that if you are born almost anyplace else in the world.

What a privilege to be able to travel the globe, save money, and work at a relatively easy job.

Kwangjuchicken · Posted: Sun Feb 29, 2004 2:25 am Post subject:

HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOME

desultude · Posted: Sun Feb 29, 2004 2:46 am Post subject:

Kwangjuchicken

Kwangjuchicken · Posted: Sun Feb 29, 2004 4:05 am Post subject:

Ilsanman · Joined: 15 Aug 2003 Location: Bucheon, Korea

I want to have my cake and eat it too.

I'd like to experience all the good things here, and all the great people, but also not have to give up my family and friends.

Tiger Beer · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

I have no passion for teaching English or ESL.. so if at home, I'd definetely do just about anything else.

Generally, teaching ESL is all about being abroad and making a living at it.

That being said.. last year at this time I applied for a few ESL institutes in San Diego.. and they did look like really cool places to work. Lots of students from all over the world.. huge variety.. looked great. BUT.. it doesn't pay all that well comparitively.. and I'd rather be doing something else back in the home country.

humanuspneumos · Joined: 08 Jun 2003

Saving money- hmmmm- I find that many working in sweat-shop-ESL-schools do save money. However, after a stint (whether the first six months or a year) the saved money tends to go quickly due to travel-lust. It's easy to blow the $3000 we save while in Korea in another country like the Philippines or Thailand X 2 in a year. The ticket and room takes about 40%. The food, fun and more travel within the target country absorbs the rest.

The advantage of being at home is that if you buy a new TV, car/truck, sofa, bed, Play Station 2, computer, or whatever- they are yours for keeps and an incentive to move to the next day in the work-place. Not to mention it's easier to invest due to the ease of researching Bonds, Mutuals, Interest Certs.... I taught for Cultural Homestay Institute once (Japanese university students) at home and the schedule/job was mostly a cake-walk. Mornings- teaching...Afternoons- day trips to beautiful places. The pay was close to the same.