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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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| Should I do it? |
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37% |
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| No |
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62% |
[ 17 ] |
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| Total Votes : 27 |
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camber
Joined: 19 Oct 2010
Location: USA
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 Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2011 8:14 am Post subject: Is this a good idea? |
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| I just graduated college, and for a while during my senior year I was seriously considering going to teach abroad, probably in Korea. I kind of cooled off on the idea, but I haven't had much luck in the job market here in the US and am now revisiting the idea. I was wondering if teaching abroad is a good idea if I only plan on doing it for a year, maybe 2. Has anyone come back to the US or Canada afterwards and had success finding a job not teaching-related? Is it worth it if I only plan on doing it short term? How tough is it to adjust to living in Korea, and then readjusting to living in the US? Any help would be greatly appreciated. |
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Hiromi C
Joined: 28 May 2011
Location: Gwanak-gu, Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2011 3:26 pm Post subject: |
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| If you want to do it, do it. If you're thinking about doing it, because you feel backed into a corner, you're probably going to have a poor mindset about it and not have a very good time. |
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Modernist
Joined: 23 Mar 2011
Location: The 90s
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| Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2011 4:21 pm Post subject: |
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| I was wondering if teaching abroad is a good idea if I only plan on doing it for a year, maybe 2. |
Not that you would ever know it on this forum, but this is in fact what the vast majority of people teaching here do. The 10-year specials and 'careerists' are always in the minority, they just talk and post much more than others.
It being a good idea or not has little to do with that aspect. To do it for the money [right?] and because your other avenues are looking lousy [right?] isn't seen by people here as noble, when compared to doing it because, say, you just love Korean culture so much, or because you want to expand your cultural perspective, or because you love children, or whatever BS suits their self-image.
Only you understand how easily you adapt to change and strange new environments. This country sure as hell has plenty of those. It's not a picnic adapting to them, IMO, but it is entirely doable. It took me, personally, about 4-5 weeks to mostly adjust to things, and that time included some quite unpleasant experiences that I nonetheless survived, as would you.
As to the matter of finding a post-ESL job, well, I haven't tried yet so I can't say for sure. A lot depends on what sector you would look at, and what the economy is doing when you get back. Personally I feel like you have to have a sort of concrete plan in place to allow you to plausibly apply in your field again, something I have spent quite a bit of time developing. But what you can't do is expect that a year or 2 on your resume saying 'teaching ESL in Korea' is going to do anything to help you find work in any field that isn't education, 'cause that's just kidding yourself. |
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.josh.
Joined: 26 Jun 2007
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| Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2011 4:31 pm Post subject: |
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I see what Modernist is saying, and I agree to a point, but I do think that most who decide to teach in Korea are at least partially going because of the reasons you mentioned. I'm currently back in school getting my Masters in education, so I of course love teaching and working with children, but I did partially go to South Korea because the job market wasn't fantastic at the time, and it allowed me to save a good amount of money while living a very comfortable lifestyle. Certainly, I wasn't solely motivated by these things, but they played a role.
I actually wrote an article on this on my website that you might find helpful - I won't advertise it here, but you can find it through the link on my profile. Give it a read, and if you have any questions, feel free to PM me.
P.S. I voted yes. Go for it, and have an adventure. I loved Korea, and don't be worried about the readjustment period; as was already said, most only come for a year or two, and adapt just fine. (And if you do struggle with adapting to new things, perhaps you need to work on that anyways?)
Last edited by .josh. on Wed Jul 27, 2011 4:45 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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DejaVu
Joined: 27 Jan 2011
Location: Your dreams
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| Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2011 4:40 pm Post subject: |
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| I came to travel; I'm glad I did. The experience is worth it but 1/2 years is plenty, I believe. |
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isisaredead
Joined: 18 May 2010
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| Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2011 8:08 pm Post subject: Re: Is this a good idea? |
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| camber wrote: |
| I just graduated college, and for a while during my senior year I was seriously considering going to teach abroad, probably in Korea. I kind of cooled off on the idea, but I haven't had much luck in the job market here in the US and am now revisiting the idea. I was wondering if teaching abroad is a good idea if I only plan on doing it for a year, maybe 2. Has anyone come back to the US or Canada afterwards and had success finding a job not teaching-related? Is it worth it if I only plan on doing it short term? How tough is it to adjust to living in Korea, and then readjusting to living in the US? Any help would be greatly appreciated. |
given your criteria, and the fact that you signed up to this forum back in october last year, i'm hard-pressed to find a reason why you shouldn't come.
all i would suggest is to do your research on your school/hagwon before you come over. oh, and if at all possible, don't use a recruiter to find you a job.
don't expect much reverse culture-shock after only a year or two. sure, there's a period of adjustment, but you get over it very quickly.
if you're any sort of out-going person, you won't get much culture-shock here, either. approach it with a sense of adventure, but also professionalism toward your work, and you'll love it.
this country isn't perfect, and it's entirely what you make of it. i've had some pretty dark moments here, but it was all pretty much in my head. i've also had some stunning moments, and they, too, were because of my attitude.
you'll be fine. |
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.josh.
Joined: 26 Jun 2007
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| Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2011 8:30 pm Post subject: Re: Is this a good idea? |
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| isisaredead wrote: |
| camber wrote: |
| I just graduated college, and for a while during my senior year I was seriously considering going to teach abroad, probably in Korea. I kind of cooled off on the idea, but I haven't had much luck in the job market here in the US and am now revisiting the idea. I was wondering if teaching abroad is a good idea if I only plan on doing it for a year, maybe 2. Has anyone come back to the US or Canada afterwards and had success finding a job not teaching-related? Is it worth it if I only plan on doing it short term? How tough is it to adjust to living in Korea, and then readjusting to living in the US? Any help would be greatly appreciated. |
given your criteria, and the fact that you signed up to this forum back in october last year, i'm hard-pressed to find a reason why you shouldn't come.
all i would suggest is to do your research on your school/hagwon before you come over. oh, and if at all possible, don't use a recruiter to find you a job.
don't expect much reverse culture-shock after only a year or two. sure, there's a period of adjustment, but you get over it very quickly.
if you're any sort of out-going person, you won't get much culture-shock here, either. approach it with a sense of adventure, but also professionalism toward your work, and you'll love it.
this country isn't perfect, and it's entirely what you make of it. i've had some pretty dark moments here, but it was all pretty much in my head. i've also had some stunning moments, and they, too, were because of my attitude.
you'll be fine. |
Excellent advice here - the adjustment will be particularly easy if you move to either Busan or Seoul, as the expat population is quite significant. |
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gem
Joined: 06 Dec 2010
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| Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2011 11:44 pm Post subject: |
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I would use Korea as a last resort and only go if you got your ideal choice of location. There are other countries and options like the Peace Corps which may not pay you as much during your trip, but take much better care of their employees and should provide more opportunities to transition into a better job once you're done.
If you go to Korea, whatever you do, I wouldn't risk leaving home over an offer from an unheard of private school. EPIK is a safer bet. Safer being the operative word; but NOT safe. There are no safe bets when it comes to teaching in Korea. There's always a wild card in terms of your circumstances and then there's always the chance that you aren't mature enough to handle the job, even if you get good circumstances (awful apt, coteachers, etc.). Korea is a crapshoot, and once you're already over there, it may not be so easy to crap out and walk away. Enter at your own risk! |
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weebil
Joined: 24 May 2009
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| Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2011 12:58 am Post subject: |
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| don't do it, we're full |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2011 3:10 am Post subject: |
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I don't usually add to threads like this but ....
IF you have no real job prospects at home (if you are from the states this is a very real possibility and won't improve any time soon).
IF you have loans or other debts to pay off.
If you have no reason to stay where you are (not tied to a house, wife, G/F, kids, etc).
THEN
Yes. Start posting your resume and take a job abroad.
Don't just look at Korea (the market here will be tight for a bit till the PS system works out their budget issues).
Also look at China for mid level jobs (cny 6000-10000) and Thailand (won't make any money in your first year (salaries in the 35000THB range) but you will get some experience that you can parlay into a better job for your 2nd year abroad).
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