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kocchy
Joined: 25 Jul 2006
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 Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 4:56 pm Post subject: Questions about Korea/Seoul before i commit!! |
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I'm seriously thinking of applying for a tefl job in seoul very soon but would like to find out a bit more info before I go ahead with it. Hopefully you guys can help me out.
1) I'm a 23 year old Brit. Will I meet many other ex-pats and Brits's my age over there?
2) Should I work a public or private school?
3) If I were to work a 30hr week which most jobs advertise how much work would I actually have to do per week in terms of prep etc?
4) With no experience in teaching nor TEFL certificate am I going to find this a hard and difficult job to do? How long do most take to get into the swing off things?
5) Will I have much time and opportunities for a good social life?
6) In general what's the accomodation which the schools give usually like?
7) Are Korean girls interested at all in foreign guys? What's chances of getting a decent girlfriend if not-bad looking and friendly...?
 How bad really is the pollution and water over there?
9) Any other advice before I commit?
There's prob a lot more I want to ask but can't think right now. If anybody can help me out with some of these queries that would be ace.
Thanks guys!! |
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Passions
Joined: 31 May 2006
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| Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 5:10 pm Post subject: |
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| I think it might be better to goto Japan. Japan is more friendly towards westerners. |
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K-in-C
Joined: 27 Mar 2003
Location: Heading somewhere
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| Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 6:59 pm Post subject: Search and Rescue |
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There is a FAQ forum and a job related forum and by reading them both you will be rewarded with a plethora of answers.
Good Luck! |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 7:55 pm Post subject: Re: Questions about Korea/Seoul before i commit!! |
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Spend a day reading the FAQs.
Then spend another day reading the jobs forum and your 3rd day reading the general forum.
I think ALL of your questions have been asked and answered about a gazillion times.
Do your homework, then ask what you can't find. Lots of us here will give you answers to questions that you can't find answered in the FAQs or the archives. |
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RACETRAITOR
Joined: 24 Oct 2005
Location: Seoul, South Korea
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| Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 9:50 pm Post subject: Re: Questions about Korea/Seoul before i commit!! |
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I'll answer the easy ones.
| kocchy wrote: |
1) I'm a 23 year old Brit. Will I meet many other ex-pats and Brits's my age over there?
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In Seoul.
| kocchy wrote: |
3) If I were to work a 30hr week which most jobs advertise how much work would I actually have to do per week in terms of prep etc?
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Quite a bit more, plus you'll be asked to work on weekends.
| kocchy wrote: |
4) With no experience in teaching nor TEFL certificate am I going to find this a hard and difficult job to do? How long do most take to get into the swing off things?
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It's easy. Not long.
| kocchy wrote: |
5) Will I have much time and opportunities for a good social life?
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In Seoul.
| kocchy wrote: |
6) In general what's the accomodation which the schools give usually like?
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Pretty good but the bathrooms aren't great.
| kocchy wrote: |
7) Are Korean girls interested at all in foreign guys? What's chances of getting a decent girlfriend if not-bad looking and friendly...?
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Korean girls who are interested in you for your ethnicity are probably going to hump you once or twice and give you a disease. If you're a creep you'll meet a lot of them. If you're not you'll probably find one.
| kocchy wrote: |
How bad really is the pollution and water over there?
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Don't drink the water. The air pollution is better than most neighbouring countries. |
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SuperFly
Joined: 09 Jul 2003
Location: In the doghouse
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| Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 5:07 am Post subject: |
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Korean girls hit foreign men a lot. There's a lot of abuse going on. Sure no one talks about it in the open, but a few of us are taking action....they also don't take showers very often and smell like kimchee all the time. Most Korean girls are schooled in the martial arts from a very young age and they always hit you really hard if you've been bad.
Even when you haven't been bad, sometimes they hit you for no reason.
It's really true. These people on this site are too politically correct and they won't back me up...expect to hear dissent about my position on this subject. It's all true, I have scars on my body...and my tail was almost severed once.
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r.
Joined: 06 May 2006
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| Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 5:47 am Post subject: Re: Questions about Korea/Seoul before i commit!! |
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| kocchy wrote: |
I'm seriously thinking of applying for a tefl job in seoul very soon but would like to find out a bit more info before I go ahead with it. Hopefully you guys can help me out.
1) I'm a 23 year old Brit. Will I meet many other ex-pats and Brits's my age over there?
2) Should I work a public or private school?
3) If I were to work a 30hr week which most jobs advertise how much work would I actually have to do per week in terms of prep etc?
4) With no experience in teaching nor TEFL certificate am I going to find this a hard and difficult job to do? How long do most take to get into the swing off things?
5) Will I have much time and opportunities for a good social life?
6) In general what's the accomodation which the schools give usually like?
7) Are Korean girls interested at all in foreign guys? What's chances of getting a decent girlfriend if not-bad looking and friendly...?
How bad really is the pollution and water over there?
9) Any other advice before I commit?
There's prob a lot more I want to ask but can't think right now. If anybody can help me out with some of these queries that would be ace.
Thanks guys!! |
Since I just got here two weeks ago, I'll answer with a newbie's perspective:
1. It depends how many other foreign teachers are working with you, how often you go to Itaewon and how outgoing you are.
2. no comment
3. 30 hrs. of teaching is roughly a 40 hr. work week with some sitting around, break time, and grading papers.
4. Teaching is easy as all hell, the only trick is to learn how to control classes. I didn't have any experience and feel I'm doing okay after a week and a half.
5.yes, a lot.
6. Mine is quite modern and nice, but it is a crapshoot if you don't get pictures.
7. You'll be fine iwht the girls.
8. Haven't noticed it. there is a shitetone of rain, though.
9. Get a job with as few teaching hrs. as possible! |
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The Hierophant
Joined: 13 Sep 2005
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| Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 7:23 am Post subject: |
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| SuperFly wrote: |
It's really true. These people on this site are too politically correct and they won't back me up...expect to hear dissent about my position on this subject. It's all true, I have scars on my body...and my tail was almost severed once.
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I'll back you up. I don't have a Korean girlfriend and I don't particularly want one, but my friends who do have Korean girlfriends take regular punches and bitch-slaps for minor infractions such as making dirty jokes or not 'understanding' Korean culture (whatever that means). Of course I'm not saying all Korean women hit their boyfriends, but I've seen it happen often... but it's never anything serious... they never break the skin... casual violence seems to simply be a way of life for Koreans. |
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Qinella
Joined: 25 Feb 2005
Location: the crib
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| Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 10:24 am Post subject: Re: Questions about Korea/Seoul before i commit!! |
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| r. wrote: |
| 8. Haven't noticed it. there is a *beep* of rain, though. |
That's because you were lucky enough to show up right at the start of monsoon season. I think it should be over soon. |
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Hyeon Een
Joined: 24 Jun 2005
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| Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 10:37 am Post subject: Re: Questions about Korea/Seoul before i commit!! |
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| Qinella wrote: |
| r. wrote: |
| 8. Haven't noticed it. there is a *beep* of rain, though. |
That's because you were lucky enough to show up right at the start of monsoon season. I think it should be over soon. |
Finished Sunday! Woo! Beach time everyday!Weather짱!ish until October or November! |
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mole
Joined: 06 Feb 2003
Location: Act III
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| Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 12:27 pm Post subject: |
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| The Hierophant wrote: |
| .. but it's never anything serious... they never break the skin... casual violence seems to simply be a way of life for Koreans. |
I've probably got the gnarliest story. I'm just waiting a couple of weeks til I leave Korea to post it. Been waiting years to do so. What's the statute of limitations? |
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Grotto
Joined: 21 Mar 2004
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| Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 12:37 pm Post subject: |
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1) I'm a 23 year old Brit. Will I meet many other ex-pats and Brits's my age over there?
There are large contingents of Brits in all of the major cities, Seoul, Busan, Suwon, Deigu...etc. In any major city/town200,000+ people there will be a fair sized group of expats.
2) Should I work a public or private school?
Public! Private schools are a crapshoot at best!
3) If I were to work a 30hr week which most jobs advertise how much work would I actually have to do per week in terms of prep etc?
4) With no experience in teaching nor TEFL certificate am I going to find this a hard and difficult job to do? How long do most take to get into the swing off things?
Remember you have 20 years+ speakiing English you are a freaking god in comparison to 99% of all Koreans ability!(unless you're from Liverpool)
5) Will I have much time and opportunities for a good social life?
If you go out you will find plenty of people to hang out with and have fun.
6) In general what's the accomodation which the schools give usually like?
Bachelor pad...one or two rooms, small and cramped (usually) outside of major cities the accomodations are usually better!
7) Are Korean girls interested at all in foreign guys? What's chances of getting a decent girlfriend if not-bad looking and friendly...?
Excellent!
How bad really is the pollution and water over there?
Drink only bottled water.....the pollution is quite bad but really bad in spring when you get hit with the yellow dust!
9) Any other advice before I commit?
If you like to cook or have any home favs you might want to stock up before you come over...some things are hard/almost impossible to find! Pick up some stickers for your students they will love them!
There's prob a lot more I want to ask but can't think right now. If anybody can help me out with some of these queries that would be ace.
Relax and have fun! |
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