Korean Job Discussion Forums

CanadaCommando · Joined: 13 Feb 2004 Location: People's Republic of C.C.

K, so I know there are umpteen threads questions comparing Korea and Japan...but this one is a little more specific and I could use some feedback.

Currently, I have a good gig here in Korea (at a public school)-decent pay, excellent vacation, kinda crappy hours...

Thinking about JET next year, but in alot of ways it seems to come up lacking compared to what I am currently doing.

Anybody out there currently teaching in Korea that did JET prior? How was the vaca, workload and pay? I think I would like to experience Japan as well, but I am not prepared to sacrifice my finincial ease as well as some mammoth vacation...would rather just vacation in Japan.

Reason I am not posting this on the Japan site, is that I want the perspective of someone here in Korea for the comparison.

Thanx

CC

pecan · Joined: 01 Jul 2004

Give Mosley a shout.

Though I am not sure if he ever visits this site anymore, he would be one person worth speaking to about it, as he has done both.

Nut

Zyzyfer · Posted: Wed Oct 13, 2004 8:29 pm Post subject:

A couple of quick points:

1) Jet is highly competitive. Not saying that I was qualified to work when I applied a while back, but they can afford to be choosy.

2) A friend of mine was in the program and they stuck him in some podunk town that I could never name that was an hour's drive through curvy roads to Matsue. One of the teachers at one of the places he was working didn't like him, and he got the screw job. He's currently working for NOVA and seems to be satisfied.

Paji eh Wong · Joined: 03 Jun 2003

Ask Big Daikon

Homer · Guest

Actually the comparison should be between the JET program and the EPIK program...but thats not important. Laughing

Mosley · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

The OP sent me a PM about this topic, so I'll reply....

I just finished a stint in a ROK public school via EPIK. I'm an ex-JET, and all I can say is that there's no comparison! In a nutshell, JET is a SUPERB program & EPIK is...not. I loved JET. There's little negative I can say about it, but there are a few things to keep in mind before applying(incidentally, for Canucks, the appl. deadline this year is Nov. 19)....

1. If you're over 39, it's very difficult to get accepted(I did the full 3 years & was 41 when I left the program...I was the oldest JET in my prefecture & as far as I know I was the 2nd oldest JET in Japan at the time!).

2. If you end up loving JET, as I did, keep in mind that there is a 3 year limit to your participation *sigh*...yeah, the clock will strike midnight.

3. Accomodation costs vary widely: your rent might be free or it might be $400 a month(extreme ranges).

4. You can request a location but might not get it. If you are offered a posting to somewhere that doesn't turn your crank, and refuse it, you will NOT be offered another posting.

5. If you are overseas and are invited to an interview you will have to return to your home country for it. As far as I know, this rule has not been changed.

6. Saving money: you might save as much as you do in S. Korea, but it's likely that you will save less. Anyway you cut it , Japan is damned expensive.

CanadaCommando · Joined: 13 Feb 2004 Location: People's Republic of C.C.

Thanx alot, I appreciate the advice...

I am actually not an EPIC worker-I work at a "private" public school out here in Seoul. My gig is truly great...I'm just having that indecision that comes when trying to decide how to sign away your life for another...

I will probably toss together all that information and send out my appli. for the deadline anyway...best to have your bases covered. I am taking holidays back home in time for those interview dates, so really it all works at well.

Thanx again Mosley,

CC