Teaching English in Korea

**Diff-chan** · 26 Jul 2004, 01:45 AM

Eh, I said that yes, people in Asia (from who I've talked to, I have talked to people who have went to Korea to do this stuff) do not really love all the foreigners teaching english and what not. So yes, I did that. Was it a breach in logic, to say "Asia" instead of "Korea & Japan"? Sure! And Ill admit that. But was it such an enormous breach in logic that it deserves harping on? Not really. In any case, what does it matter? The point remains the same. Stop being such a gigantic tool and just stop talking to me.

pixel, there's no doubt you can get some good shit out of it but it's not all peaches and cream... thats what I was saying. Shoot $1500-$2000 is not a lot of money, you know.

**blueskied** · 26 Jul 2004, 02:22 AM

In an effort to post something more constructive:

Anyone interested in teaching English in Japan should check out the
job listings at www.gaijinpot.com. That's where I snagged my job. The forums are useful for info, but there's a lot of weirdos there so browse (and post) at your own peril.

Above all, avoid the "big 3 (or is it now 4?)" English schools in Japan: Aeon, Nova, GEOS, and I forget the other one. Awful, awful places (especially Nova). You'll be much happier at a smaller, independent school. These places tend to be better because they care more about quality (they have to in order to compete with the bigger schools with all the advertising money). They also generally pay better with more opportunities for raises, treat you better, and give you more perks like vacation time. But on the flipside they care more about the quality of your teaching so you can't half-ass it like at Nova or AEON or one of those crap places.

LOL · 26 Jul 2004, 02:29 AM

Originally Posted by blueskied

You lumped Japan (and every other Asian country) in with Korea when you made a generalising comment involving "Asia" within the context of Korea. Japan is in Asia. Check a map if you don't believe me.

There's no point in arguing with you, your ignorance is too pervasive. You obviously know very little about quite a lot.

Now I'll wait for you to show your intelligence and maturity by coming back with a brilliant, clever comment like "lighten up faggot-chan".

Seriously, lighten up.

**Doc Holliday** · 26 Jul 2004, 02:58 PM

I taught ESL in East St. Louis once. I imagine it's not much different.

I never should have quit. I've forgotten most of the Jive I once spoke fluently.

**Yoshi** · 26 Jul 2004, 03:27 PM

Originally Posted by Doc Holliday

I taught ESL in East St. Louis once. I imagine it's not much different.

I never should have quit. I've forgotten most of the Jive I once spoke fluently.

lol How the fuck is English a second language in East St. Louis? Ebonics is not a language, so that can't be first...

**Mman** · 26 Jul 2004, 03:32 PM

East St. Louis is about one of the dirtiest and scariest places Ive ever been.

**StriderKyo** · 26 Jul 2004, 03:52 PM

If you're going to have a university degree, skip the Korea thing (unless you're really interested in Korea, and there's certainly alot of interesting things there). That money's horrible. The JET program is the Japanese government's own esl program for its high schools, and it pays 36k rather than 24 like the link you posted. Yes, the cost of living is much higher in Japan, but it's really only the big cities (Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka) that are prohibitively expensive, and odds are they won't stick you there. And since it's run by the government, you don't have to worry about the usual Yakuza-following-you-home-so-you-quit horror stories you get from private schools.

Another bonus is that Canada is one of like three countries that get VISA preference (sorry, the US isn't one) in Japan and have working holiday VISAs, which can make you life alot easier.

As far as whether people will like you, it's not like folks in asia think with one hive mind. You get "traditionalists" (ie., bigots) who don't like anyone who doesn't have their pure and superior blood, whatever nationality that blood happens to be. You also get the whitey-worshippers who think you're dynamic and exciting for getting to make up your own mind about alot of things their society tends to pressure them into accepting. Most people will find you somewhere in between; a curiosity they're willing to accept if you're polite with them.

Of course, this changes where you are - if you're in Tokyo or Seoul, you're just another dumb outsider like they see every day. If you're in a small town you could end up a local celebrity and the local girls' only chance ever at someone who isn't their own nationality before they're married off. The general rule of thumb is this: learn as much as you can about the local customs and culture, and accept it for what it is without judgement. Seek out the things you find beautiful in that culture. Learn the language, the proper way to get along with people.

It would suprise you how many people never really think to do this, and it goes a long way with pretty much anyone anywhere. Especially in Japan, where they're used to loud-mouthed gaijin trying to upset all their cultural applecarts and knocking anything that's different or that they don't understand.

Oh yeah, never, never tell anyone you like anime (hopefully you don't - it's bad for you). Especially women. They never tell people here, but anime is japanese for "my testicles don't work properly".