Korean Job Discussion Forums

[byrddogs]

Any thoughts on which is preferable for living and teaching ESL?

[Porksta]

I don't think you can teach in China until you have two years of ESL experience, so that might make up your mind real quick.

[comm]

[northway]

[ttompatz]

[byrddogs]

[Malislamusrex]

Lets say if a guy worked at a uni, did a few extra corporate in the evening and made lets say around 6 million won and 9million in summer / winter camp time.

For the same 30-40 hours work what advantages does China have? What does VERY WELL in China mean?

[morrisonhotel]

[sirius black]

China is desperate for teachers. We're talking a billion + people and not nearly enough people to teach them. Many schools are using non native english speaking people just to meet the demand. The advertised salaries you see on this site is NOT what you can get once there. Its much closer to Korea than many think. Cost of living lower in many places. Its a big country. Privates are attainable there as well with no where close to the fear the some have of authorities finding out as you hear on this forum (although in practice I've never seen a problem).

There also seems to be a lot more non teaching business opportunities in China. People who have learned mandarin often find side work or jobs with either chinese companies doing business with the west or visa versa.

Not saying China is better. Better is a subjective term based on your own personal standards. China can be far more frustrating than Korea in terms of getting things done until you find your way around and even after that. The analogy to Korea years ago may be closer to the mark. I wasn't in Korea then but from what old timers tell me, it has some similarities. Food, cost of living and dating (for guys...hehe) seem better/easier. Walmart is prevalent. You can live a warm region all year round (like Shenzhen).

[ayahyaha]

I have lived and taught English in both Korea and China for about the same amount of time. In Korea, I taught in a small town and also in Seoul. In China, I taught in a small town and I taught in Shanghai.

Some thoughts:

Korean is much easier to learn than Mandarin, especially with all the dialects. However, I learned enough Mandarin to get around via trains and buses just fine.

Most jobs come with the same deal (free flight and housing, even severance) if you are on a teaching visa.

Most expats I encountered in China were really into Chinese culture.

The expats in China are much more diverse than in Korea. Most of my friends were *not* English teachers. (This is good and bad.)

Pay in China is lower BUT:
~No one cared if I worked outside my visa, even though it was in my contract.
~You can get a Business Visa (rather than a teaching visa) and work freelance, which allowed me to save $10,000 in about 5 months. I worked six days a week/6~8 hours a day, but I did it.

I got food poisoning three times in China, but never once in Korea.

China has a ton of people. A TON. If lack of personal space bothers you, do not go there. Even in completely open spaces someone WILL bump into you. Or stand next to you, touching your shoulder, for no apparent reason. Korea has nothing on China for invasion of my zone.

There are a lot of things that are normal in China that disgust a lot of Westerners. Kids wear split pants and pee where they feel like it. Spitting on the street is HUGE compared to Korea. In my neighborhood in Shanghai small animals were routinely slaughtered and gutted into the street. If this bothers you, don't go there. I didn't really mind once I learned to watch my step.

My apartment in awesome downtown Shanghai (when I rented my own) was only $485/month, in a highrise with an awesome view.

I like the going-out scene in Shanghai a lot better than in Korea. The people, music, and atmosphere are different.

Immigration control in China is much stricter. I left the country once while working there and had to register with the local police before leaving and after returning. If I had not, I would not have been able to get a new visa there.

As mentioned above, getting sh*t done in China can be much more difficult--until you know someone. Case in point: I asked the desk manager in my fully-serviced English-speaking apartment building how to get wireless internet. His response: "I do not think this building has internet service." (He had been on the internet at his desk moments before.) An hour later I returned with my rental agent, who knew the desk manager and asked for internet on my behalf. He called right then and there and set up service. It's called guanxi, and it's a pain in the as*, but once you have it you're in.

I'm sure there is more. In short:

Korea is neater/cleaner (by some Western standards), easier to get around with the language, and generally more lucrative -- but China was way more interesting.

[The Floating World]

[myenglishisno]

I'd imagine the actual teaching aspect would be a bit easier in China in some ways. This isn't talked about much when comparing the two countries but I've heard that Chinese kids pick up English a lot faster than Korean/Japanese kids do thanks to Chinese and English being more similar.

Many Koreans study English for more than ten years and can't make basic sentences. I've met a lot of Chinese adults who spoke English better than Korean English teachers and English was in no way their focus.

[YTMND]

First, I would like to comment on what "ayahyaha" mentioned. Their post is too long to quote. I agree with what they said, and I left a few places in China because of the issues raised. However, you need to realize China is a huge country. It's almost like Europe with each province being its own country. I didn't experience this in Korea. So, if you can find a province you like, the issues ayahyaha raised don't seem as bad.

[ayahyaha]

[seoultee]

I would say overall the opportunities are better in Korea. However, if you are a certified teacher back home, you can teach in Taiwan and Hong Kong public schools and make a very good salary. Same in UAE. Korea you don't need to be certified. That being said there are also teaching jobs in China that you don't need any experience or certifications and the pay is commensurate.