Korean Job Discussion Forums

ArbiterXL · Joined: 28 Sep 2006 Location: Mississippi

I'm going to be new to Seoul in May '07. I have not ever been to Asia. I will have a geography degree and do not want to have a cubical job, want to travel and love teaching english, thus ESL in Korea. Anywho, any advice on what to expect? I mean, do teachers "hang out", drink, travel, date, etc...? How is life overally for teachers there? I just need some help because, as excited as I am about starting, I have no clue where to begin.

Any input is greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

The above poster is mostly correct. There is another way, however. Make some posts on the threads here and try to make 'a relationship' with someone and then PM him/her. If you are like me, reading hundreds and hundreds of posts that might tangentially address your specific questions leaves me fluctuating between the emotional poles of bored and frustrated.

Hotpants · Joined: 27 Jan 2006

djsmnc · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Dave's ESL Cafe

huffdaddy · Joined: 25 Nov 2005

crimsonchin · Joined: 27 Sep 2006 Location: england

i'm in a similar position, i've just graduated and i'm looking to head out to south korea next summer. i've read heaps of those faq's and i think they really do give you a good grounding in the basic need-to-know's, so i'd advise you to read them! they help you out with all the factualities i suppose. personally, my biggest fear is getting out there and then the immediate month or so after. apart from your fellow school teachers, how on earth do you meet people! especially in seoul, where would you begin?

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

If you want the honest breakdown, here goes:

With a BA in geography, you will be qualified for either a hakwon job or a public school job; most would point you in the direction of the public schools. Either way, you will be working within the confines of a managment structure totally different from anything you have ever known, and it will be frustrating. I don't care how good your job is, you'll be frustrated, but knowing that coming in can save you a lot of headaches later on.

Next, you'll be working a load of hours. Don't come in with romantic ideas of a lucrative teaching job with tons of off time. Like most, you'll probably dabble in the side-job market and, as you are a recent college grad, will have more coin to throw around than you are used to. Many manage to pay off a chunk of their college loans, if not all of them, and ship some cash back for when they make their move homeward. Many, however, spend way out of their league; Seoul can be expensive. It's your call. Know that in advance and have a plan.

You'll also soon realize, or come to perceive, two important things: 1) that just about everyone makes or claims to make more than you, and 2) being a hakwon teacher or foreign teacher at a public school garnishes you about as much status here as a sanitation worker. Don't be naive about what you do. While that may be a bit overstated, just don't get a chip on your shoulder about suddenly being 'an educator' or 'a professional'. If that's really the road you want to go down, then great - start getting qualified and go for the better jobs.

Do people here have a great time? Sure, but you'd be surprised how fast a teaching job can feel like a 9-5. Weekends are still weekends, and there is a lot to do. Vacation? Not much for most new teachers. Save up and take a killer vacation at the end of your first contract.

Just my 2 cents. It's a good way to go if you're right out of school, and it's good you're looking into it. Cheers, and good luck.