Korean Job Discussion Forums

[koreaprospects]

Hello,

I found Dave's website about 12 months ago when I got back from a summer travelling in Asia.

It's been on my mind a lot since, hence the idea to maybe make the next trip a little more permanent. There seems to be a lot of negativity about Korea on this site but at the same time it seems to be very tempting.

I was just wondering, is it just those who have the negative experiences who feel it necessary to post on this website or is it really not worth the hassle? (pay on time time etc).

I travelled with a canadian guy in Thailand last year who said he didn't really enjoy korea and instead went on to Taiwan.

I'm currently working on my first ESL job based in my South England and enjoying it. It's a summer camp but I really want top give it a go abroad.

Also it seems there is a little more difficulty getting jobs in Korea for English grads as opposed to N.Americans. Any tips of experiences would be appreciated.

ps I have a ESL certificate for what it's worth

[billyg]

You're never going to get a definitive answer unless you just go and experience it for yourself. Teaching in Korea lends itself to a lot of complaining. It doesn't necessarily always translate to you not enjoying yourself. Spend your time researching schools as opposed to looking for speculative responses... everybody is different. The worse thing that happens is you don't like it and you go somewhere else. Pad your account a little before coming, or don't and just leave when you have enough money. No big deal. You're either a person who has to see the movie yourself or the type that listens to someone's bad review and never bothers seeing it. I say see the movie for yourself.

[Badmojo]

[TJ]

I had 4 years in Korea and am now back in Australia for family reasons. Korea can be great if you are the right type of person.

To survive here you need to be what I call a "go with the flow" person.

If you're going to complain how different things are then don't come.

If you are not prepared to compromise and/or negotiate then don't come.

If you are only going to hang out with other westerners and won't try to make Korean friends, don't come.

If you want to change things here then at least think twice before coming.

If you have an open mind then do come.

If you will make an effort to learn the language then do come.

After all that, if you do come I'm sure the good times will far outweigh the not so good. I know they did for me.

[VanIslander]

I think...

People complain about Korea because it's enough like back home for them to expect it to be like back home, and convert fleeting frustration into lasting resentment because of it. But these ESLers in Namibia, Ecuador or Cambodia and they'd complain half as much because they wouldn't expect things to be a certain way. Korea's a modern country which promises a familiarity it can't quite deliver, just occasional allusions of similarity. I'd say MOST of the ESLers who come here would NOT consider $400/month ESL jobs elsewhere in the world, so to that degree the salary is partially what drew them. If you are an ESLer in the mold of many who go elsewhere, you'll have as many positive comments and adaptive responses as those on the main Dave's site.

Don't be fooled. Life in Korea is VERY easy for native English-speaking foreigners compared to 80% of the countries in the world.

[Ribs75]

For me I think that Korea could work out, so long as I take care with the job I eventually land. I plan to go out on my own funds and not just jump at the first job that I'm offered.

Having spent a year in Thailand and learned Thai to intermediate level, the matter of learning the native language actually seemed to have more disadvantages than advantages. I spent one year learning Thai before I went out and learned another year while I was there. After several months in the country, I quickly became aware of how people talked about westerners (including me) and it wasn't always particularly nice.

With Korea, I think I will make an effort to learn stock phrases and basic things for everyday living, but will not be giving myself a comprehensive grounding in the language.

I'm not one of those people who expects things to change to suit me, but at the same time, I would rather not know how I am being talked about by the locals.

The worst that can happen is that you can leave if you don't like living in the country, but I'm sure that Korea has a lot to offer if you have an open mind.

[sheba]

If its something you're interested in, then why not give it a go?

Better to walk away knowing you at least gave it a go... better than spending any time thinking "what if?". Use Daves as a means to prepare yourself for the worst if it should happen, but dont use it to give you expectations. Ive been super paranoid since I arrived but (so far?) I've had only good experiences with my director and the staff and living in Korea in general!

Bring enough money in case of emergencies, have a credit card handy in case you need to buy a ticket home in a hurry (death in the family, Nth Korea invade, or if you actually do need to do a runner).

Is it worth it? ABSOLUTELY!
Just being here (in a country so different from my own) makes it worth it.

[koreaprospects]

Thanks for all your responses. I think I already had my mind made up. I've been thinking about it as much as my finals for the last few months.

I'll be off in the new year.

[TJ]