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HighTreason
Joined: 15 Jun 2007
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 Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 5:17 pm Post subject: Is Korea really that bad? |
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Ok, so I have been reading this board for a week or so now and I see a lot of people here who seem to just want to get out. People with signatures like "Thank God I only have X time in this hellhole" and so forth. Is it really that bad??
I am going to Korea in August and will teach for Avalon school for a year. I love immersing myself in other cultures and I especially love languages (learning them so far but am overjoyed at the prospect of getting to teach language now). I don't expect everything to be perfect, but I basically expect to have a great time. Am I deluding myself? I am not desperate or anything and actually have a job here that pays considerably more than Korean English schools ever will. I want to point my life more toward my passions (studying cultures and languages, maybe one day getting a PHd in linguistics) But I don't want to set myself up for a year of Hell...
What's with all the negativity? Is it really Hell on Earth over there or what... |
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Qinella
Joined: 25 Feb 2005
Location: the crib
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| Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 5:25 pm Post subject: |
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There are a few reasons why a person has a bad time in Korea:
1. Your job sucks. Having a bad job can really jade your experience.
2. You have been here way too long and that travel bug is itching.
3. You are a twat. |
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RACETRAITOR
Joined: 24 Oct 2005
Location: Seoul, South Korea
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| Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 5:26 pm Post subject: |
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| Speaking from one traitor to another, Qinella is right. Your employer is a roll of the dice but barring that the only other thing that can really stop you is yourself. |
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Freaka
Joined: 05 Jun 2007
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| Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 5:31 pm Post subject: Re: Is Korea really that bad? |
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| HighTreason wrote: |
Ok, so I have been reading this board for a week or so now and I see a lot of people here who seem to just want to get out. People with signatures like "Thank God I only have X time in this hellhole" and so forth. Is it really that bad??
I am going to Korea in August and will teach for Avalon school for a year. I love immersing myself in other cultures and I especially love languages (learning them so far but am overjoyed at the prospect of getting to teach language now). I don't expect everything to be perfect, but I basically expect to have a great time. Am I deluding myself? I am not desperate or anything and actually have a job here that pays considerably more than Korean English schools ever will. I want to point my life more toward my passions (studying cultures and languages, maybe one day getting a PHd in linguistics) But I don't want to set myself up for a year of Hell...
What's with all the negativity? Is it really Hell on Earth over there or what... |
It seems to depend on who you ask. A lot of people have PM'ed me with opinions and information that are different from what you would read on the boards. It seems that some are afraid to openly admit that Korea has treated them well (both financially and socially) because they know that they'll be attacked or grilled by those who don't necessarily feel the same way. As I've been advised on more than one occasion, do take everything you read on this board with a grain of salt...and try not to let the negativity get to you if you can help it.
I also will be arriving in August and am looking forward to my stay in Korea. Good luck! And I hope you have a fabulous time!  |
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Gwangjuboy
Joined: 08 Jul 2003
Location: England
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| Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 5:33 pm Post subject: |
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| You can be just plain unlucky too. I have had weeks where I have had a real hard time with the locals. (I speak the language well too) Other weeks are great. |
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The_Conservative
Joined: 15 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 5:34 pm Post subject: Re: Is Korea really that bad? |
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| HighTreason wrote: |
| Ok? I am not desperate or anything and actually have a job here that pays considerably more than Korean English schools ever will. I.. |
Just a shot in the dark..but are you a IT worker or something?
You should be fine. Just do your homework (talk to teachers at the school, post the contract on this board for people to give you feedback before signing it...) |
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the eye
Joined: 29 Jan 2004
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| Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 5:37 pm Post subject: Re: Is Korea really that bad? |
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| HighTreason wrote: |
Avalon school for a year.... But I don't want to set myself up for a year of Hell... |
Avalon? What do you know about them? Have you done your research? |
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HighTreason
Joined: 15 Jun 2007
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| Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 5:46 pm Post subject: Re: Is Korea really that bad? |
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| The_Conservative wrote: |
Just a shot in the dark..but are you a IT worker or something?
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That was a pretty darn good shot in the dark... Software Developer. May I ask how you came to that (correct) conclusion so quickly?  |
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Ilsanman
Joined: 15 Aug 2003
Location: Bucheon, Korea
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| Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 5:48 pm Post subject: |
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It also depends on personal adaptability. Some people could fit in almost anywhere.
I have found I have come to like this country less and less the longer I stay here. As I learn more language, culture, etc, the layers of fantasy get peeled back, and the ugliness becomes more obvious. Also, as I have made longer term plans to stay here, it becomes harder to handle and accept the things that I dislike. If I were planning to leave here soon, these things wouldn't bother me, as I wouldn't hjave to see them in a few short months. |
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Qinella
Joined: 25 Feb 2005
Location: the crib
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| Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 5:49 pm Post subject: Re: Is Korea really that bad? |
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| HighTreason wrote: |
| The_Conservative wrote: |
Just a shot in the dark..but are you a IT worker or something?
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That was a pretty darn good shot in the dark... Software Developer. May I ask how you came to that (correct) conclusion so quickly? |
The next guess would have been liberal arts. |
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YoshaMazov
Joined: 10 May 2007
Location: Suwon
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| Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 5:49 pm Post subject: |
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I absolutely adore my public school, they've been exceptionally accommodating and have been quite liberal with my vacation days. I generally have enjoyed my time in Korea, although I am getting fairly anxious to return stateside come September 1.
You must understand it's quite a different culture than the West, and they view many things quite differently. The way Koreans bump their way onto a crowded bus would get them a sweet punch in the face in the West. You just have to understand that you're a guest in their country, and they shouldn't have to abide by your cultural norms. It's quite the other way around. |
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HighTreason
Joined: 15 Jun 2007
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| Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 6:09 pm Post subject: Re: Is Korea really that bad? |
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| the eye wrote: |
Avalon? What do you know about them? |
Please feel free to impart any knowledge you may have on this school, but so far, it does not seem like a bad place.
Yes, I have heard people saying some bad things about it as well. mainly the bad things I have heard are:
1. The school emphasizes memorization too much
2. The communication between the Koreans and the foreigners is not very good or non-existent
3. The school seems to have a lot of arbitrary rules
4. The school does not seem to try very hard to keep teachers long term.
5. You only get to spend a week of your two weeks vacation any time you want, the others are mandated (Okay, I admit, this one is pretty bad)
Here are the Good things I have heard or experienced:
1. They pay reliably and do not try to swindle you out of money
2. They are good at dealing with immigration and all that sort of stuff and are unlikely to get you in trouble on that front
3. They put you up in a nice apartment
4. Bundang is a nice place to live
5. The Contract seemed very straightforward and promised all the things I was promised when talking to them and I could not find any shady or suspicious clauses
6. The American head teacher there that interviewed me has worked there for nine years and seemed like a genuinely decent fellow.
7. I was stupid when I first started talking with them and said I would take 2.0 million Won out of ignorance. They offered it at 2.2 million anyway.
8. The students tend to genuinely want to learn (more so than in some other schools)
Basically, I have not heard anything REALLY bad about them, including in many posts on this board (I did a search for Avalon on here), but feel free to fill me in now if you know something I don't |
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the eye
Joined: 29 Jan 2004
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| Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 6:25 pm Post subject: |
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Actually, i asked because one just opened in my neighborhood. Gigantic in size, two floors in an expensive new office building, right in the thick of the hogwan big boys.
Just checking to see if you've looked into things. |
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SuperFly
Joined: 09 Jul 2003
Location: In the doghouse
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| Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 6:28 pm Post subject: |
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To the OP:
If you can solve the riddle, you will understand why people complain about Korea.
4, 8, 15, 16, 23, & 42 |
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Saxiif
Joined: 15 May 2003
Location: Seongnam
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| Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 6:32 pm Post subject: |
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| Ok, so I have been reading this board for a week or so now and I see a lot of people here who seem to just want to get out. |
I think you get a lot of this because Korea is the best place to make money in ESL. For example if you're teaching ESL in just about any other country you're doing in because you love teaching or because you love the country because since the money is so bad you'd be insane to do it for any other reason.
In Korea on the other hand you can save a good bit of money here so you get a huuuuuuuuuuuuuge number of people who only came here instead of another country for the money (me included) and a lot of people only stay here because of the money. Also because of that you have people here who really need the money so get stressed out a lot more about hagwons screwing them out of it. I know I was a lot more stressed out when my first hagwon tried to screw me out of a bit over one month of pay when if I was teaching in China or something I'd be more likely to write it off.
If salaries in Korea dropped 30% you'd probably see a lot more whining on the boards since only the people who really enjoy living in Korea would stay. |
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