Korean Job Discussion Forums

baklava · Joined: 11 May 2006

Here's my situation. I have two paths I can take. I can accept a high school teaching position in the states or come to Korea and accept the offer I've received in Seoul. I think that going to Korea is the right thing to do but I just need some encouragement. Any thoughts? If I go, I'd be starting in early July.

SPINOZA · Joined: 10 Jun 2005 Location: $eoul

I encourage you. Go you!!!!!!!!1

mmstyle · Joined: 17 Apr 2006 Location: wherever

What's most important to you right now? How do your goals fit into the two options you have? Is there a reason you think Korea is right? Or a reason you'd rather stay in the States? I encourage you to do what makes the most sense, or what you need, or heck, if it's what matters most, what you want!

Stability?
Money?
Adventure?
Being around people who understand you best?
Creating the career you want?

Alan Partidge · Joined: 29 Nov 2005

What kind of teaching job have you been offered in Seoul? What are the conditions of the contract?(contracts often mean nothing anyway) Are there any other foreign teachers there and have you spoken to them? Korea really is a lottery; I've met people who really lucked out and some others with nightmare stories.

kangnam mafioso · Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Location: Teheranno

WHATEVER YOU DO NEVER TEACH IN A PUBLIC SCHOOL ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA! NEVER! IT IS THE MOST RIDICULOUS, LOWLY PAID, UNAPPRECIATED, STRESSFUL AND TEDIOUS JOB YOU WILL EVER EXPERIENCE! I WOULD RATHER WORK IN A FACTORY ON AN ASSEMBLY LINE THAN EVER STEP FOOT ANYWHERE NEAR ANOTHER PUBLIC AMERICAN SCHOOL! I'M GOING TO GO THROW UP NOW!

SPINOZA · Joined: 10 Jun 2005 Location: $eoul

rothkowitz · Joined: 27 Apr 2006

Give it a go,but never let your float go under a set limit.If you want to pull the plug,then you can.

Lemonade · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Location: South Korea

It would be a good idea to bring along with you at least $2,000 USD just incase "things don't work out" For every good story told here, there's ten untold bad stories.

ilovebdt · Joined: 03 Jun 2005 Location: Nr Seoul

Come to Korea.
America will still be there when you finish your contract and if you don't like your job in Korea after having given it a good go you can head home.

Life's too short to stay in the same place.

ilovebdt

riley · Joined: 08 Feb 2003 Location: where creditors can find me

If the choice is between a public school in the U.S. or a hagwon here, I'd probably stick with the public school. I don't know what job you were offered here. One point to make, if you are teaching here, you can claim to be doing ESL work, so hopefully should help your resume for future teaching jobs in the U.S.
Good Luck

joyfulgirl · Joined: 05 Jan 2006

life and its damn choices. i always wonder about this, 'cause i'd been accepted to uni, in the education program at the exact same time i was applying and getting job offers from korea. i was a bit lost, obviously...and applying to everything at that point...uni and korea. but i could be an actual real teacher in canada at this point, had i done that. (that was 3 years ago) like, dude, with an rrsp and a place that was mine, not the hagwon's, etc. etc...and some days i wish i'd chosen that. but, oh well...i think it was better to come here. maybe not better, but at least more interesting. home's not going anywhere...i'd say come here.

ChopChaeJoe · Joined: 05 Mar 2006 Location: Seoul

By your post, it sounds like you are willing to move away from friends and family for a year, so the what is stopping you from coming?

You can probably save mo9re money here, even if you are paid less than a teaching gig in the U.S. Plus, you have a very good chance here of teaching children that like you and want to please you, instead of the mental anguish hell of American public schools.

Koreans are mostly friendly, and even if they hate you, they do it in a passively agressive way. And no gun violence.

On the other hand, Korea has many, many crazy drivers, and motorcycles that chase you up the sidewalk. And it's crowded in the big cities. The idea of personal space is crazy talk here. And it's polluted as hell. I can't count the number of sore throats and coughs I've gotten. And if you're an alcoholic, don't even think about coming here. There are no alcohol restrictions and alcohol is extremely cheap. You'll never have a sober day.

I think that most who come here are pleased for doing so.

baklava · Joined: 11 May 2006

I wanted to thank all of you for your posts. I've read enough on here to know intellectually what I'm getting myself into. I have a friend in Seoul who looked over the contract and it's a good one. As far as the anti-american school stuff, I hear ya but someone has to care about the kids above the system, especially because of the system, etc. I'll be an american high school teacher and teenagers need cool teachers that care. That said, I know that it will be back waiting for me when I get back. It's just not often you get two good opportunities in your life at the same time. Doing something new there's always a risk...

Mr. Literal · Joined: 03 Jul 2003 Location: Third rock from the Sun.

blaseblasphemener · Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 8:32 am Post subject:

OP,

I'm a teacher back in Canada, but came here for a year, and have never looked back. Going on 3 years now. Korea has an enormous ESL industry, so keep in mind, if you somehow get a raw deal, you can regroup and once your in the country, can look around and find a job that suits you. I've never had a bad gig here, but living here is super cheap, and if you have even a little bit of money, you can come over here knowing you have options. Your best bet is do your research. google your school's name and find out what others have said about it. Does it have a good rep? Ask for a list of 10 teachers from the school and their emails, then email them and see what they have to say about the school. Read between the lines. They may not come out and tell you a bunch of bad stuff, but if they seem mum or low key, take that for what it's worth.
Remember this: there are tremendous upsides to coming to Korea; money, experiencing a different culture, travel to other countries in Asia, ease of lifestyle (don't take a double shift hagwon!) etc. etc. Can you say the same for a job in a high school in the U.S.? And, if you take a job here, there will always be jobs back home. If you are a good saver, you will be able to save a ton of money quickly, and can return to the U.S. with many more options.
Sorry, I've gone long, but I would definitely tell you to expand your horizons, and wallet, and after doing your homework, come on over. good luck!