Korean Job Discussion Forums

[daveeslcafe888]

Hi Guys,

I just wanted to get some feedback from all of your experience as to what the best country to teach English was.

Feel free to give me reasons why.

(i.e. I think Korea is great because you can save a decent amount of money, there is wireless internet everywhere, and they treat American's pretty well).

What do you guys think?

[ttompatz]

[eamo]

You have the patience of a saint Ttom.........I'd be telling this guy to either get on a plane to Korea already, or stop bothering the GE forum like a 5 year old with a thousand 'why' questions.

[daveeslcafe888]

I am in Korea right now.

My six-month contracted ended, and I'm considering next moves.

1. I'd like to get some certification (but not sure which is the best plan...most likely CELTA).

2. I'm not sure whether to continue this line of work or starting over in another part of the world doing something else.

[Malislamusrex]

Korea from newb to MA 1-4 years + qualifications.... then the Middle East.

It's where the money is, God bless that black gold.

[The Floating World]

CELTA not worth it for jobs in Asia. Might be okay in ME but prob not get you jobs anyone with a ba only couldn't get. DELTA, would be better.

Celta good for Europe.

[kiknkorea]

[canoe_jesuit]

korea is a good country to make money but the natives are hostile. It's a closed society that has been forced to learn english. Do the math on the bad vibes which result from this. Cause the money is decent, money seekers come here to get the deals. I consider this bad. I am working a university with good terms and the pirates have taken over here. I moved to a lower paying uni job closer to seoul and the pirates aren't anywhere to be seen. Mostly happier teachers who just want to focus on teaching.

I've heard the middle east, with its substantially higher pay, attracts the real Jack Sparrows of money makers. Real snake pit of foreigners teaching there (from what i heard from real teachers who taught in Saudi)

My point is that I recommend china. Pay has risen steadily there. They give you a real family sized apartment there. In korea, half the country live in 1 room studios with kitchenettes in the corner consisting of a camping burner and a sink. Cause the pay is lower in china, the pirates go elsewhere. Most of the english teachers i've met, who teach in china, really wanted to experience china and take the lower salary for the better opp. Furthermore, china has amazing local travel spots (unlike korea which doesn't), amazing food and much more.

Learn the landscape of ESL jobs in china and you can match your korean salary, while living much cheaper.

Japan sucks cause they treat an hour of teaching the same as an hour of regular work. SO i see many jobs in japan which reuquire 30 - 40 hours of teaching

[Yaya]

How about any place where you feel comfortable and happy in?

[Squire]

I think Korea is a good place to start. I don't think it would be a bad idea to do a year here to build some experience

[sirius black]

OP, you'd need to be more specific by 'great'. Working environment? Pay? Western friendly culture? Partying/dating? etc.

You're not going to find all of them in the same country or 90% of us would be there. What is the most important thing to you?

[daveeslcafe888]

To me, the most important thing is

1. Getting transferable skills (i.e. so I won't be one of the people who returned home with no job skills)

2. Paying enough to live on

I know Korea pays well. However, I always want to get some skills, and maybe move to a new location, for a new experience.

[smee18]

Ttompatz:

"the middle East can be murder on Americans" ... ouch! Was thinking of trying Saudi after Korea with my American wife (I'm Australian) ... am I insane?

My wife and I both love Malaysia, and I know of some public school opportunities that look interesting. With respect to Thailand, can you turn up as a tourist and look for work, or do you need to apply for jobs out of country?

How about central and south America? Or eastern Europe?

[ttompatz]

[No_hite_pls]