Korean Job Discussion Forums

ella · Joined: 17 Apr 2006

If you were female, 30s, American, and had a B.A., no cert, 3 years' ESL experience, university teaching experience, and tech writing experience, where would you teach (excluding Korea) if you wanted to be completely mercenary and just make money for a few years? I also speak Spanish and Hindi, if that helps.

SuperFly · Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Location: In the doghouse

Japan. I know it's expensive to live there, but why do you think that so many people have been consistently going there and staying there for much longer periods of time than here?

They say you can save more money here, but I don't believe it. I think Koreans nickel and dime you to death here, and if that were true about the savings...the teachers in Japan would be coming here in droves.

VanIslander · Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2007 4:37 pm Post subject:

Whichever place decided, the plan would begin with teaching privates in Korea on a tourist visa and when caught and told to leave the country, then initiate the next stage of the plan.

There's so much money to be made in Korea teaching privates that if one didn't plan on ever returning then doing privates at the end of one's intended stay makes perfect sense, financially speaking.

ella · Joined: 17 Apr 2006

My impression from the job listings for Japan is that they generally want someone younger who has a TEFL certificate. Is that correct?

Son Deureo! · Joined: 30 Apr 2003

I'd go to Taiwan. The initial outlay is a bit more because you have to pay your own airfare and rent, but otherwise the money seems to be comparable. Then again, if you're already here, airfare won't be that much ($300-400 USD). Whether it's better or worse to live there overall seems to be a matter of heated debate here, and one I'm not really qualified for since I've never been there for longer than a week's vacation. Some big advantages seem to be the much warmer weather, and the closer proximity (hence lower airfares) to SE Asia.

Ella, can I take this to mean that you're giving up on Korea? I honestly don't understand why you're having such a hard time finding a job. Are you being picky? Are you getting no offers whatsoever? Have you posted ads on the major boards stating that you're an American woman with experience that's in Seoul?

You should be swamped with job offers, at least crappy ones.

jlb · Joined: 18 Sep 2003

Ella: I'm wondering the same thing. Are you done with Korea? Just pick a job, talk to the foreigners working there to make sure they're okay with the job and sign it!

ella · Joined: 17 Apr 2006

Not giving up, just exploring other options while I'm looking here.

Trumpcard · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

teaching Business English on a part time basis for a few Business English outsourcing companies in Tokyo or Osaka, or even try and land a few part time uni gigs in Japan at once - friend of mine is earning 500,000 yen PER MONTH doing this and working less than 20 hours per week max. Or if you're really gung-ho, go to Dongguan in China and set yourself up as a freelancer teacher English to any of the odd 13,000 foreign businesses that have setup shop there - insane money!

ella · Joined: 17 Apr 2006

Uni in Japan and freelance business English in China... with just a B.A.?

joeyjoejoe · Joined: 24 Sep 2006

nigeria.
working for a french oil company executive's family.

waltjocketty · Joined: 09 Oct 2006

Trumpcard · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

a top-tier uni job in japan might be difficult with a BA but certainly teaching business english there will be no problem. as long as you have a heartbeat in China u can teach english there, but the quaality of life is another thing...!

crazylemongirl · Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Location: almost there...

joeyjoejoe · Joined: 24 Sep 2006

Son Deureo! · Joined: 30 Apr 2003

Ella, I'm sure I'm not the only one around here to be wondering exactly what kinds of job offers you've been getting, and what kind of job you're holding out for. Maybe we can help give you an idea of how realistic you're being.

As CLG pointed out, most people do not get their best job in Korea on their first try, even if they are in country while they're looking. However, it is prime hiring season right now for public schools. If you can't find a hogwon with reasonable conditions, you probably couldn't go too far wrong by working for a public school your first year here. With a year's experience, a bigger nest-egg, and the connections you've made after a year, you're bound to do even better in your second year.