Korean Job Discussion Forums

[BigBlackEquus]

For those of you who took an intensive/full-time Korean study program at a place like Yonsei or SNU, did you have time to work maybe 3 hours per day part-time as well?

I don't need any information on the legality of visas, etc. I am curious about time commitment.

Thank-you.

[Ryst Helmut]

If you really want to get the best bang-for-your-buck...I wouldn't mix the two.

I studied part-time whilst working full time. A dud.

I studied full-time whilst working part time. I learned, but not compared to studying full-time and not working. That includes just a few hours doing privates (mine were legal).

Just fyi-as of a few years ago it is totally legal for an international student (on student visa) to work part-time privately...I'll dig up that info later if you need.

Back to the topic...I learned so much more when I didn't work because I was able to focus on my studies. Sure classes were just 4 hours a day...but I had 2-3 hours HW minimum. That was draining and it didn't even count for the time that I was able to practice what I learned.

I see the difference all the time with my students here Stateside...those that work (usually in shops that are owned by someone of the same L1) progress more slowly than their non-working peers.

If you enrol full time than you had better spend that time wisely. Really try to immerse yourself.

more later....the sleeping pills are kicking in now and I can barely keep my eyelids open.

!shoosh

Ryst

[Mashimaro]

studying a difficult foreign language is very taxing on your brain and your time. To get the most out of a language program I'd recommend keeping working hours to an absolute minimum.

Stating the obvious perhaps but the more time and effort doing homework, revising and preparing for class the more you will get out of it.

[BigBlackEquus]

Well, thank-you all for your comments so far. I am trying to decide if I want to leave my job to go full-time (I really want to study FT) and lose a ton of cash, or take an evening PT class for 6 hours per week and keep my simple 10 to 4 job. Not sure I can come across a job like this ever again. Really not sure. Maybe never? That is why I am wavering. That and the money.

I REALLY would like to see the information about working on a student visa. I had heard of that, but I thought that specifically was NOT for language class students. Only for FT university students going for a BA or such. Seems I saw that discussion on here before. Anyone know?

[joe_doufu]

I studied Korean 2 hours a day 5 days a week while working here (up until this month, because i wasn't sure i'd get paid!) and that's pretty good. I studied Chinese on a similar schedule in Taiwan. I think with any type of learning you reach a point of diminishing returns... I don't think I could cram more than two hours of an Asian language into my brain in a 24 hour period. So... I would recommend working and studying at the same time, as I did. You'll also go home with more money, not less. That's what works for me, of course, you might be different.

[OiGirl]

[itaewonguy]

12 months.. work part time to survive.. get a public school job 1-5 or find a school which will give you a visa for around 10hours week.. and just work a couple hours a day to make ends meat! and study fulltime!!
and if you really want to do it right.. do one full year! you will be pretty fluent starting the 2007 school year!!
go hard out 2006

[death from above]

i just finished taking a korean class at ewha while working 8 hrs/day... while living in ilsan. it was 2 hrs/day, 3 days/week.. the instructor also expected us to study 3-4 hrs for each class.

needless to say(but i'll say it anyway) i failed. badly.

[Son Deureo!]

[Hater Depot]

I have a friend working fulltime and studying fulltime. Commuting an hour to work each way. If Korean high school students can do it, so can you, but it would take an iron constitution and a willingness to abandon a lot of things you probably wouldn't want to.

[Ryst Helmut]

[mithridates]