Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bobbybigfoot]

Is China the future for the majority of ESLers? Is it best to get a jumpstart and head there sooner rather than later? Is it more beneficial to spend your time studying Chinese as opposed to Korean?

[sirius black]

I think its probably the biggest 'threat' to Korean schools. China is obviously huge and their english demand will increase dramatically. Mandarin will be far more marketable in 'waygukland' than Korean will be.

The pros and cons are with Korea now but in 5 or 10 years I don't think it will be.

I also think the influx of NET to China has the potential to have a big social effect on China. Something the present chinese regime may not be aware of may not like. By that I mean, western thinking, western liberalism, western concept of freedom and rights.

They may be forced to open up more than they would like. Not sure if I can go a year without Facebook right now...lol...embarassed to say that but its a major means of communication for me (and others) to family and friends that are far away (along with skype).

I also see the potential of landing a job with a western company that is in China or planning to be in China as a major plus from working there. Imagine western wages in China?

I saw a CNN episode a few weeks ago about American MBA students who chose a top Hong Kong uni over an Ivy league business school and they cite China as their prmary reason. Not sure its a wise chioce though. Hong Kong is cantonese I believe, isn't it? Very different than mandarin when spoken.

[Kimchifart]

A vast amount of trade, especially exporting is done in the Cantonese ports, e.g. Shenzen; Guangzhou. It's definitely a very valuable language to learn.

[rollo]

Spot on about Westerners changing the culture of China. But this is something the Chinese want. They realize that they have to modernize, Westernize. In that respect it is much more advanced than the Korean mindset. Yes it is Cantonese in Hong Kong, but almost everyone speaks English and most some Mandarin. it is Mandarin that should be studied it is the official language. As wages for nets increase in big Red there will be more coming here. Korea is going to have to up the salaries to keep attracting teachers.

[Illysook]

As I understand it, the salaries are becoming quite competitive with Korea and the cost of living is lower. They also don't have the Norks threatening to blow them to Kingdom come. I have a friend who is there already and I am planning a visit in January. He says that the weather is nicer as well.

[Vagabundo]

If I were a young barely out of school esl teacher who's thinking of staying in the field for several years or even beyond, I wouldn't spend more than a year or two in Korea. I would then move to China pronto.

the salaries will slowly catch up, at least somewhat (though this remains a bit away, especially so for PS teachers where salaries remain half or sometimes less of what you'd make in Korea). Cost of living will be undoubtedly lower, though you will have to make do with more pollution, more hassle and undoubtedly less amenities. On the upside though, within a decade your RMB savings will gain in value (33% or more) vs the USD and down the road there may be significant economic opportunities for you within China outside of ESL once you get a handle on the language.

It's really a no brainer. Wet your beak here, perhaps sock about 10K USD away for a little just in case nestegg and then go "Chinese".

[AsiaESLbound]

Ooooh, noooooo. It's a huge version of Korea, lower pay, and more pollution to contend with, but much more interesting due to there being more variety and highly stylized versions of many traditional things you remember seeing in Korea. I love to travel, but living in such a homogeneous extremely reserve mannered culture is not ideal for a great time. You want to live in a place offering some diversity and flare where people will talk to strangers and don't have any qualms over being friendly, polite, and considerate of others, including their own people, in public places.

Anywhere South of China tends to be more friendly, talkative, and much less reserved manner as to allow you a more extroverted rich cultural experience you'll cherish for a lifetime. I'd go to Thailand or Indonesia instead considering the pay is not that much different from China. If must be China, then the warm Southern areas would be best in my opinion as that is far different than the Beijing region in being less reserved mannered where talking and interaction isn't so awkwardly weird.

[Vagabundo]

[sirius black]

[Charlie Bourque]

[redaxe]

[jvalmer]

[Vagabundo]

most Asian immigrants in N. America are from southern China, hence they speak Cantonese.

But the official language of China, of Chinese documents, of Chinese business and of anything OFFICIAL to do with China or Chinese companies will be Mandarin (and English)

so forget Cantonese. Mandarin is all that matters.

Strangely enough, since many Chinese Americans/Canadians do NOT speak good/fluent Mandarin, it gives the Westerner who learns the language a much more level playing field in Chinese related opportunities, unlike with most other languages stateside, where one can always find an immigrant or 2nd generation bilingual speaker.

[balzor]

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.654b1c73fa4c9ee6252a235808d79ee4.a1&show_article=1

Chinese newspapers, books and websites will no longer be allowed to use English words and phrases, the country's publishing body has announced, saying the "purity" of the Chinese language is in peril.
The General Administration of Press and Publication, which announced the new rule on Monday, said the increasing use of English words and abbreviations in Chinese texts had caused confusion and was a means of "abusing the language".

Such practices "severely damaged the standard and purity of the Chinese language and disrupted the harmonious and healthy language and cultural environment, causing negative social impacts," the body said on its website.

"It is banned to mix at will foreign language phrases such as English words or abbreviations with Chinese publications, creating words of vague meaning that are not exactly Chinese or of any foreign language," it said.

"Publishing houses and the media must further strengthen the regulated use of foreign languages and respect the structure, glossary and grammar of the Chinese and foreign languages."

GAPP said companies which violated the regulation would face "administrative punishment" without offering specifics.

English abbreviations such as NBA (National Basketball Association), GDP (gross domestic product), CPI (consumer price index) and WTO (World Trade Organization) are commonly used in Chinese publications.

They are also often used in everyday conversation, and government officials routinely use the abbreviations at press conferences.

The body left a small loophole, stipulating in the regulation that "if necessary", English terms could be used but must be followed by a direct translation of the abbreviation or an explanation in Chinese.

The names of people or places in English also must be translated.

One editor at a Beijing publishing house told the China Daily that the new GAPP regulation could actually result in reduced understanding.

"The intention of protecting the Chinese language is good. But in an age of globalisation, when some English acronyms like WTO have been widely accepted by readers, it might be too absolute to eliminate them," the editor said.

"Conversationally, people also use these words all the time, so the regulation could create discord between the oral and written uses of language."

China has launched several campaigns in recent years to try to root out poor grammar and misused vocabulary in official usage.

Sometimes those campaigns go awry, resulting in awkward Chinglish. In the run-up to last month's Asian Games in Guangzhou, signs were posted in the metro that read "Towards Jichang". "Jichang" means airport.

Earlier this year, China Central Television and Beijing Television told the China Daily that they had received notification from the government to avoid using certain English abbreviations on Chinese programmes.

But English abbreviations are still commonly heard on regular news and sports broadcasts.

The Global Times quoted an editor at a Beijing publishing house as saying finding translations for globally used acronyms would be time-consuming and confusing.

"I wonder how many people understand 'guoji shangye jiqi gongsi', when IBM is instantly recognisable," the editor said.

[Louis VI]

Southern China is more beautiful, the people more friendly, and the food! spicy Szechuan anyone?