Korean Job Discussion Forums

[macattack123]

Theres nothing worse that someone who constantly sees the glass as half empty, worse still when a mass of people do the same, and even worse when they congregate on a website.

This is aimed at all of you out there that want to come and work in Korea and that have stumbled across Daves cafe. This is a FANTASTIC site with one major flaw. The forums full of the easily offended, narrow minded, down right moaners. No offence intended to those who actually contribute to the category but if you do take offence your just admitting to being one of the "cafe moaners".

Myself and a few friends would like to start a thread that gives you the straight truth about coming to live and work in South Korea. No frills, no overly exaggerated stories.... just the plain facts. When we came across Daves esl cafe, we read all the forums and our hearts sank. We expected the worse when we came here.....

BUT STRANGELY ENOUGH....

No horrific journey through Korea, No crazy boss, No racist Koreans (so far), No rude or messed up people in the work place, No late pay days, No belittling.....all in all, Not much bad stuff.

For example. I read a story on this site where someone was outraged at the way her co-workers treated her birthday. She had brought in a cake for her own big day (why?) and she told everyone they could share it out during their break. She went to class and when she came back was horrified that everyone was standing around eating her cake. So she ranted on this site for about 4 paragraphs, about.....a cake!!!! What annoys me so much is that she'd been here for 6 months and should of known better. Thats the way they are here, they share everything and some may see this is rude. My school had a big cake last week, 8 people all with chopsticks round the table tucking in...SHARING! Crazy notion! The point im trying to make is, this is a different culture with a different set of rules, so if you cant handle that or accept it... just go home.

Its a great idea to share genuine experiences on this sight, it allows you to see what life can be like. Its not always good, but its not always bad either. It WILL always be bad if you constantly compare life here to life back home. Obviously!

So for all of you out there who want to come to Korea, i say do it. So far people have been nothing but nice to me, and i work for a hagwon. Seemingly the worst place to work. I know others who also work for hagwons and who are loving life. Dont listen to all the silly stories on this site like i did, just pack enough deodorant and optimism to last the year and you'll have a hoot.

THINGS WE HAVE LEARNT SO FAR:

*Learn to say Hello, thank you and goodbye before you come
*Always have decent socks as you always take them off indoors
*Bring extension cable, saves you changing plugs ALLL the time
*Dont panic too much about where to work in Korea, transport is great so you can always get about. They say seoul is harder work but think, your in seoul!!! We are in Daegu, fantastic place!
*Learn to like cheap nasty beer
*If your a veggie, your in for some tough days trying to find food without trances of meat
*People WILL talk about you to your face in Korean but glass half full people, ignore and smile
*Learning to use chopsticks before coming would be a good idea
*Winters are COLD and summers are HOT (-8.....35 with horrific humidity)
*Change money before you come because a lot of cash machines dont accept visa. Depends on where you are, Seoul would be okay.
*Learn to gift, bringing in treats for your school is always appreciated
*Try everything, even if it's minging, try it. You may like it?
*To your school, your a marketing tool. They dont really care if your the best teacher in the world so be prepared for that.
*Unless you are completely set on teaching Kindergarten, DONT!
*Bring lots of stickers from home, kids LOVE stickers.

Theres so much that i could tell everyone. I just want you guys who are thinking of coming over here to looks at all the positive things and ignore all the rubbish.

If you want to ask anything, go ahead and i'll do my best to help. Im bracing myself for the backlash this message might cause for all the sad peeps who live on dave's esl deliberately dashing the hopes of all those wanting to come here!

Good luck and bring on the abuse!

[conrad2]

Also before you come learn the difference between your and you're. We are English teachers after all. Right OP?

[DosEquisXX]

That's because ignorance is bliss.

Yes I would say that as a whole, my experience has been a positive one. It just took a huge downturn when a new administration and all new co-teachers came in to the school. It has a huge, negative impact on all of the teachers in my school which consequently has made things worse for the students in the school.

I think when you wear down, the negatives of your situation tend to stick out more. Then it makes you feel worse, which makes you nitpick and bitch even more. Just a huge snowball effect that I think many of us are feeling.

I lurked here for a while and read all the crap people were going through and thought that I was pretty lucky. Yeah, my job had negatives but I wasn't getting screwed like some of these people are. But when you start to feel what they feel, you can sadly relate to them.

[macattack123]

I totally agree with you superuberbob. There's really rubbish things about my job but i tend just to ignore the bad. If it were something really awful then yes it would over shadow the good. Unless your over in Korea for 2 or more years and this is your career.....shut up and stop complaining. All it's doing is making the Korean's look like loons and scaring the [Mod Edit] out of possible new teachers.

Oh and Conrad2, how much time do you spend on here giving out highly pointless advice? Thanks, i'll remember the difference next time!

[Wishmaster]

You are in the honeymoon period, pal. Live here for a couple years and get back to us. Also, walk around with a Korean girl(if you are guy) for awhile and see what happens.

[ippy]

ESID. You dont have any more the complete picture than anyone else. If you have a crappy job, with a crappy boss, with crappy conditions, and unreasonable demands, you can be damned sure it doesnt stop existing because someone on the net said it doesnt exist.

It can and does happen becuase every situation is different. Theres no consistency to jobs in korea and that is 100% the worst thing about coming to work here. You choose to do it then youre more often than not rolling the dice. Youre going by other peoples information and you have no way to know how accurate it is until you get here. And when you do get here, you have arguably the single biggest thing working against you:

You have no control over your visa. Your employer owns your visa. If they sack you, or you decide to quit, youll be leaving the country in one form or another. Youll also be liable for your air fare to korea, which puts many people in a bind and allows more cynically minded people to take advantage of you.

I am a glass half full person, my posts would confirm this, but theres no point being stupid about it. Prepare as much as you can before you come and bring emergency funds in case it goes wrong. It can and does and its often enough for it to be an issue. Dont listen to people telling you its all crap. Its not. But likelwise, threads like this contribute to the nonsense at the end of the day: 'Prepare for the worst, and hope for the best'.

Also, be professional. Its a professional job despite how much of a slacker year off you think it is.

There, thats enough of putting the idiocy to rights.

[lifeinkorea]

Well, conrad2 is right your not

[macattack123]

Every situation is different, true true. Before i came I read some stories about really horrible jobs and terrible situations and felt really sorry for the people. There are crappy jobs here of course, as there are everywhere.

If your here for a long time and want to do this as a career, your obviously looking for the best job security possible and don't want to be in a rubbish job. If your here, like a whole lotta people, for the cash and just for the year, you still want a good job but if all goes wrong and you end up getting screwed, well, meh. Pull yourself together and if your determined enough, get another job.

Anyway, my whole point is that if your sitting at home and reading this, don't take in too much from anyone. Me or the other peeps. Everyone is right in some way. It all depends on what kind of person you are. Korea is a fantastic place with such lovely people. It's such an experience teaching and meeting other foreign teachers and Korean teachers alike. Its an adventure which is what its all about surely?

Coming with an open mind is a great advantage. Me and my friend were just saying that if you have seen a bit of the world and have experienced others cultures then you may not be as easily sucked into the whole "ARGH!!!!" situation. If your coming from home and haven't had the opportunity yet to go other places, you MAY just be a little "ARGH!!!!!".

As for walking down the street with a Korean girl, Im of the lady variety so won't get to experience that. I was however on the subway with a Korean friend (male) and everyone stared quite openly, just to make the situation a little more interesting he put his arm around me and we snuggled and watched their mouths hit the floor one by one. I laughed as did my friend. Have you got your hand down this girls top walking down the street to make it so uncomfortable for you. Who cares what others think???? In saying that, i haven't experienced it so it may be horrific?

[Perceptioncheck]

Well, maybe your right or maybe your wrong. For one thing, I think you're teaching ability certainly depends on you're English skillz!!!!!!!???????? AGH!!!!!!!!

[ippy]

[Cherry13]

I really get where macattack is coming from with this one. When I was preparing to come here I was on this website everyday and read a sizable chunk of the forum posts and I have to say, it made me panic, even slightly dread my first week of teaching. But when I actually arrived and spoke face to face to other teachers here about their experiences, it changed my mind completely. It seems that everyone has had some sort of horror story to tell about their job or apartment etc, but as long as you can look at the big picture and still have a smile on your face then things can't be all that bad? It's these horror stories that make it so memorable, it would be no fun if everything was smooth sailing. But I know I'm lucky as nothing too terrible has happened to me yet.

I have met a few people that are teaching here and they still continue to moan about the food/people/weather/apartments/lack of subtitles of the movies etc, and they all seem to be american

[reactionary]

[nero]

Well, isn't it better to think it is going to be hell in Korea, and then when you arrive it's not so bad rather than the other way around?

Simple people tend to really like Korea - I wish you all the best, OP.

[DosEquisXX]

[ED209]

OP_ How do you intend to give the straight truth? Is it your list of 'THINGS WE HAVE LEARNT SO FAR:'?

There aren't many statistics on English teachers contentment and fair treatment here. So far you have pitted your short time here (read lack of experience) against that of a large number of posters on this site. Dave's is a good place to rant, as you're kind of doing. If the worst comes to the worst, feel welcome to come back here in your 11th month, when your glass is half empty, even though you worked for a full one.