Korean Job Discussion Forums

[hyunone]

The more I read up on the subject it appears that there is a growing population of mixed marriages with kids. What do people do about school? My husband is Korean and his dad is sick, we may come back to Korea. But, we'd homeschool (in addition to teachingYikes!) Anyone out there with kids ? I'd love to hear from you thanks!

[ytuque]

I have a kid in high school here. How old are your kids, and what is their level of Korean proficiency?

[hyunone]

I have three girls. All elementary school age. They are just beginning to study korean (with Dad). How is it socially for mixed kids? Are your kids happy in korea? Thanks

[Countrygirl]

Search my posts. I have two kids in elementary and my husband is Korean as well. I know many families here who homeschool. I wouldn't have the patience to do that plus I'm the stable money maker in the family. My kids go to the same school as me and study in Korean.

They've been treated well..don't listen to the naysayers who say mixed kids get treated badly. I would say that it's a case by case basis and that if you come from a richer country and speak English the kids will be fine.

I think that the biggest issue that comes up with kids that most people don't figure on is the pollution. The first year we were here we all got sick often . This second year we were stronger but the pollution still affects us. I know other families who suffer a lot with allergies (the hacking/throwing up crap type of allergies).

You can find good doctors and the cost won't kill you, but they love to prescribe tons of pills without explaining what they are and you have to come back every 3 days. With 3 kids this can become very time consuming and frustrating.

Other than the pollution, Korea is a great short-term experience for kids from my point of view.

[ytuque]

My 15 year old is not Asian/Korean and speaks no Korean as of yet. At her high school, she is treated like a celebrity, and perhaps, this is as big a problem as poor treatment.

I only looked at high schools with English language programs, and my kid is now in a great school with many native speaking teachers. It's a public school so the tuition isn't too bad either! Can't offer much advice at the elementary school level since I only looked at options for high school.

With three kids, the cost of an international school's tuition would be huge unless you worked for the school.

[hyunone]

Thanks for the info! I appreciate it! How about Friends? Was it easy for your kids to make friends ( not just kids who gawk at them) Also my nine year old LOVES to read has anyone had trouble finding books?

[sunihaze]

think very seriously about bringing your children here.

there are fundamental differences in between "western" and Korean culture and these can impact your childrens' development at critcal junctures in their cognative & identity development.

They will be taught that its ok and even encouraged to *white lie* to make the *whoever higher than you* look good. When you find your children have a problem with telling lies you will have to battle peer pressure as well as the reinforcing authority of the teacher who says this is the proper way to keep peace & harmony is to lie & eat the shit that rolls down hill.

They will be taught to steal and learn that it's ok as long as you can prove you're the alpha child & the classroom harmony depends on them keeping said stolen item. See above for secondary problems

They will not learn to problem solve by using comparative & relative judgements. infact, this will be strongly discouraged.

I have seen many children here, and know many very well. I also know that Korea is not the place to expose small children to unless you are willing to put up with the bad habits they will pick up (lying, stealing & problems with ethical & cognative developments) well into their adulthood.

patterns you set with children will last more than one lifetime, it will be yours, theirs & their childrens. think carefully before you bring your children here. You have too many to give each one the attention they will need to avoid learning ways that will make them "unsociable" when they return to the west.

(PS stealing might be a bit "harsh", unless your a realistic hogwan teacher & you recognize that as Koreans get older, it's not called stealing anymore, it's called "negotiating" ~ where do you think they learned it from?? THEIR parents of course!)

Dont do it. Unless you have the funds/time/manpower to really keep on top of their upbringing, you will regret it.

[madoka]

[sunihaze]

[ytuque]

[Countrygirl]

Interesting point of view sunihaze. So far, my kids haven't shown any signs of becoming horrid kimchi cheerleader liers, but I'll keep my eyes open for that.

I did notice some differences in their behaviour though. When my kids get in trouble and I talk to them about it, they don't look me in the eye anymore. Very Korean style. I had teach them that they have to look at me otherwise they look like they are hiding something.

And my son also became very whiny and would cry more easily...I attributed that to both culture shock and the fact that crying from boys is more acceptable here. I had to work on the crying because I didn't want him to look weak if we go back to Canada.

On the positive side, my kids both think studying and being smart are good things to achieve in school rather than popularity.

But, all in all, I don't think my kids have become damaged beyond repair. But I'm a very involved parent and I think that that might have something to do with it.

[T-J]

[Solarian]

[air76]

While sunihaze is probably exaggerating quite a bit, there is no way in hell that I'd allow my children to be educated in Korea. I can understand that there would certainly be some positives to the experience, but definitely beyond elementary school I'd want my kids in an international school and not a public school.

I'm not saying that you shouldn't come if you have kids...but just that I certainly wouldn't want anyone I cared about educated by the Korean system.

I love that term "kimchee cheerleader", though....I am definitely going to hang on to that one. I worked with a kimchee cheerleader last year and it was excruciatingly annoying.

[Lolimahro]

I'd be really interested to hear the experiences of people who have children not of Korean descent in the Korean school system. My family could be here awhile and my son might be in elementary school before we leave Korea. International school is not an option for us.

My son is in a Korean daycare now (and has been since he was a year old) so we hope he will be fluent enough for elementary school if it comes to that. Just not sure about every other part of the experience.