Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Today I begin my third year in Korea. While I'm constantly taking the piss out of this absurd, ridiculous society full of obtuse, ignorant, boorish, well-meaning idiots, I have to say that Korea is probably the best thing that could have happened to my life. I've never lived anywhere where I've got along with everyone so well and been so highly valued just because of my skin colour and ability to do something so many people can't and are desperate to do: use English. Almost all of the down-sides of Korea can be turned to one's advantage. If you're not teaching as part of some idiot businessman's ill-founded venture there are so many ways to employ initiative to amaze Koreans. They must be the most easily amused and amazed people in the industrialised world. And forget what people say about Koreans being genuinely rude or mean. 95%+ of them are anything but, a far higher percetage than you'd find in any western country. Once you have establisehd some sort of relationship with them, overlooking their insecurities about social status and age, their national inferiority complex, and their atrocious table manners, they're probably on average the nicest people you could ever get to know. The smallest amount of deference to and interest in their culture earns you heaps of respect and appreciation.

Korean co-workers are by-and-large awesome. I've had to work with some really clueless idiots, but even they weren't deliberately trying to make things more difficult for me. With the exception of my first boss and supervisor, I haven't had to work with any Koreans I genuinely disliked. And even with my first boss and supervisor, I was able to pull a few fast ones, quit mid-contract and get a new job, and make wongjongnim-babosaki lose major face thanks to the help of my Korean friends. I love all the non-English teachers at my current school and can easily overlook the shortcomings of the English teachers when they do something that annoys the shit out of me.

Korean friends are a royal pain in the arse sometimes but are nevertheless absolutely worth it. 20- and early 30-something Koreans must be the most insecure humans on the planet and it must suck to be them; however they will consistantly go out of their way to help and probably need the reality checks that only a westerner could give them. It really, really helps to have some Korean friends who aren't work-mates, too.

Korean high school and middle school students, in the right context, rock. They're sleepy, overworked, and in most cases hopelessly immature, but I wouldn't trade them for anyone. It's always a challenge to keep them going, but it's the right kind of challenge - the kind an enthusiastic teacher loves. My students have, on the whole, been incredibly kind to me, especially considering that they have to take 8+ years of English at school whether they like it or not. Out of 300 HS students I have one who I think really doesn't like me and two or three others who'd probably prefer I not be here. The vast majority of them, if they can keep themselves awake, try so hard to please me. A few are absolutely hopelessly shy but so many others bring a smile to face whenever I see them and vice-versa. Out of 185 MS students I don't have a single one who dislikes me. Just about every MS class has a brat pack that loves to test my patience, but they know that ultimately I have the upper hand and am not afraid to play it if need be. If you can get them excited but not over-excited Korean MS students can be so much fun to teach. I have so many students I don't think I could ever forget and so many heart-warming memories from this school.

I make more after-tax income than an inexperienced teacher would in my own country plus I get to live for free in a two-bedroom house the school owns. Medical and dental care costs me next to nothing and I get a free return flight every year. Western politcally correct BS has absolutely no relevance to or bearing upon my life whatsoever. The extra work I do for my school is truly appreciated and rewarded. While I may get the Waygook treatment in big cities, in my small town almost everyone treats me so respectfully once they find out who I am, if they didn't already know.

In short, knowing what I know now, five years ago if I had the choice between coming here or starting a PhD programme on full scholarship (which I eventually dropped out of) I wish so much I had come here instead. If you play your cards right and are reasonably tolerant, this country rocks. For the westerner from an English speaking country, Korea is a potential goldmine of glorious opportunities just waiting to happen.

[brento1138]

Glad to be here too.

[ella]

These kinds of posts are so good to read!

[Satori]

Lately Im wondering if Im really meant to be in Japan, or ...

[flotsam]

[Satori]

I miss Korea. Almost two years in Japan and I haven't started to study the language yet. I find it totally unappealing in terms of sound. This lack of language is affecting my ability to get the most out of my stay. Im still just "not sure" if Japan is really better or not, and I should be sure after this amount of time. Im also in a small town though, which could be affecting things...

[ttompatz]

After 5 years here I can safely say the same or very similar things.

The only difference is that I started at a UNI and went the other way, down to an elementary school because I found that I prefer little kids to big ones.

I have a good lifestyle. I am home at a reasonable hour to be with my family. I have a good disposable income. I have the chance to travel. I have some good friends from many countries and cultures.

I get a level of job satisfaction that I did NOT get back home in my "chosen field".


I have found my niche.

[Boodleheimer]

i wish i had come here earlier, too. Korea is great!

[eamo]

If I had got my arse in gear when I was younger and went to Uni at the same time as my friends instead of 7 years later.........I could have arrived here in 1991!!! Imagine that!!

Did you even need a degree back then to teach English here?

But yeah. Korea has been good to me. It has given me a good living and a fantastic wife.

[Satori]

[eamo]

[kimchi_pizza]

It's because of Korea that I found a job that I enjoy.

As a young soldier in '93, I met great Korean friends, and tutored several uni-students and thought, "Hey, I could do this for a living..." Sure 'nuff, Got out of the service, got my B.A. in TESOL (it's unusual but that's exactly what I did) and 12 years later, I'm back where it all began with more great friends, great school with great students that I'm proud of.

Funny thing, I tried teaching in Japan(1 year) and Taiwan(3 years), but....it just didn't set well with me. Korea and ONLY Korea.

[Woland]

YBS is dead on. There's a mix of good and bad, like anywhere. But also, like anywhere, the good outweighs the bad, if you really care to look. Korea has its unique charms and challenges, and for some, those may make this the place to be for their life. I can't quite put myself in that group (It's Turkey's charms and challenges for me), but I understand them and I appreciate the things I do have here.

[CBP]

ㅊㅊㅊㅇㅇㅇㅇㅇㅇㄹㄹㄹㅎㅅㅎ픂ㅍ,,,,kkkkk

Phew ... accidentally switched my keyboard to Korean. So, thanks for this thread. I'm new to Korea. I had a rough start with an unexpected situation that some of you know about from a thread that has since been deleted (thank God). It's the end of my first week of teaching and already I have a dinner invitation from one of the Korean teachers and an invitation to go hiking with another this weekend. Surprisingingly, it's the other foreigner at my school that wants nothing to do with me. But that's okay. Such is life. I'm feeling full of hope and joy at having made this major change in my life. I feel inspired by the OP's words. My school is a chain, but I like the structured curriculum, and my director is a very good person to work for. His teachers are loyal to him, and already he has gone out of his way to make me comfortable. Just one week in to my contract, with God knows what ahead of me. But my chin's up. I'm happy to be in Korea.

Cheers.

[ilovebdt]

I love Corey. Keep him!!