Korean Job Discussion Forums

[canadatokorea]

Hi all,

I need your help distinguishing the difference between teaching in Shanghai VS Seoul. I have read in other forums that most people would choose Shanghai over Seoul but it is a very competitive market. I do no have much experience teaching - I am a 24 year old female (have worked in accounting for the past 2 years) coming in with my bachelor's degree in Business with a major in Marketing and an 160 hour online TESOL course. Do I have a chance of getting a job in Shanghai that will pay me enough to save and live the same life I would in Seoul with a 2100 won a month salary? Your advice would be greatly appreciated.
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[ttompatz]

Short answer = no BUT being Canadian, female, and young play more into it that your experience and qualifications - double so for jobs with young learners.

And that better be 2.1 million won (~$2100) not 2100 won ($2.10) per month.

China also will usually NOT fly you in. There is often an airfare allowance, often at the end of the contract, so you need to front the costs for your own ticket.

.

[canadatokorea]

hi @ttompatz thank you for your help! And yes, my bad I meant 2.1 million won. I guess my biggest concern now is the pollution in Shanghai.

Thanks again!

[Weigookin74]

Going to coastal China, order one of these before you leave ... http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000OYJUUS/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

and maybe 2 or 3 packages of these ... http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000NOTQ7G/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Order from home, as it doesn't ship overseas. Some users commented on the page used it in China.

(Mine were large, but if you're a smaller female you may need medium size.)

[creeper1]

If you are able to choose between Shanghai and Seoul then don't hesitate for a second. Hands down you should choose Seoul.

I don't have time to write an essay for all the reasons so I will simply focus on the environmental reason.

Korea is pristine. The environment there is healthy and clean. People eat good and safe food.

I know you are worried about the air in Shanghai but that is just the tip of an iceberg. There are so many environmental problems in China I don't know where to begin.

Did you know that tap water in Shanghai is suspect for example? Around 16,000 thousand pigs were dumped into a river providing tap water for Shanghai for example. It beggars belief but it is true.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/mar/29/dead-pigs-china-water-supply

You have been warned.

[LPKSA]

Seoul, where you can walk up to pretty much any other foreigner and assume that he is most likely an English teacher, and most likely get off on somewhat of the right foot, develop lasting memories of an easy life compared to back home.

Shanghai, where you can walk up to pretty much any other foreigner, and assume he is going to be a dickhead, and full of himself, and most likely is or was an English teacher, yet is disillusioned by his own perceptions of him being God's gift to the Earth because his head is so far up his a$$ he needs a crystal ball to see out of his bellybutton, in a city where although the cost of living is relatively low, the people simply do not have time to be your friend, because everyone is simply making money.

Also, Seoul is where a foreigner can get downright wasted in public and act like a dickhead and people will just be like, "well, there goes another Canadian," where in Shanghai, public intoxication is rather frowned upon, yet you can openly smoke hash and nobody seems to bat an eye, yet in Seoul, you'll get tossed in jail for 10 years just for being suspected of being associated with someone who was smoking/in the possession of hash.

Not that I condone smoking hash or anything, actually, I wouldn't tough the stuff in Shanghai, as it is loaded with Ketamine, shoe polish, and other substances.

[basic69isokay]

As previously stated, nobody cares that youre inexperienced.
You're a 24yr old female!! That's the golden ticket of ESL.
You can pick and choose. Honestly, I'd go to Shanghai. You'll be getting in on a growing industry vs. A dying one in Korea. You'll also have more opportunities outsude of teaching.

If you do come to Korea, don't accept less than 2.4 plus housing, especially if youre North American as well as 24 and female hahahaa

[edwardcatflap]

[Guajiro]

[creeper1]

[edwardcatflap]

Creeper, I'm not even going to argue with you this time as I know your routine of posting some rubbish like this then disappearing for a few weeks.

[GENO123]

Where is World Traveler when you need him?

[Sector7G]

They are both cool....why not do one year at one, then move to the other?

Actually, different regions in China have different requirements. I may be wrong, but I think Shanghai may want two years of ESL teaching experience first.

[PRagic]

You'll have no problem landing a job in Seoul, so just pick and choose your location and terms (housing, vacation, etc...). Have them fly you over, get a year of teaching under your belt, save some coin, and then use your time here to flush out opportunities in China.

Make no mistake, though; you're going to be an ESL teacher. I've seen a LOT of people over the years come over with business degrees thinking that they'll use teaching English as a spring board to buisness jobs. In all likelyhood, NOT going to happen.

[Weigookin74]

Another question about Shanghai? It's really humid in summer and humid damp in winter? That's what I hear. Would it be better to Beijing or more north? Unless, they actually use the air con in Beijing; none of this 26 degree BS?