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I have an opportunity to go to South Korea to teach English to elementary school kids there. I love South Korea, for a lot of reasons. I've wanted to go for a long time now. I'm learning Korean, slowly.
I'd get paid $1300 a month, while my accomodations are paid for, to work 15 hours a week, 3 hours a day after school. Weekends off, the rest of the day to myself.
I'm really 100% sure that I want to do this buttttt; it means taking a semester off of school. And I just started getting really good at cello, like I climbed a wall and now I'm getting steadily better.
I want your opinion on this. I've already invested $70,000 in my education (fuck private school), my parents think it's not the best career choice to leave for a semester right now. I disagree, I think my cello playing will get better from the new styles of music, also I'd probably teach private lessons and I'd take private lessons in Seoul on the weekend. I think I have a lot to gain, musically through going.
What do you think? What haven't I thought of?
 
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You haven't thought of social life I guess. You might meet a lot of people in SK (cough TL) but also be leaving behind a lot of people in the USA (? I just assume that's where you live because you're teaching English, could be other places too). It really depends a lot on how you will be able to resume studies when you get back though.
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On December 08 2009 05:27 Pokebunny wrote:
You haven't thought of social life I guess. You might meet a lot of people in SK (cough TL) but also be leaving behind a lot of people in the USA (? I just assume that's where you live because you're teaching English, could be other places too). It really depends a lot on how you will be able to resume studies when you get back though.
Well I'd be leaving my relationship here but I think it'll survive the time. And yeah, it's all about my studies.
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This sounds exactly like the program I enrolled in last year called "TaLK" program.... same exact benefits and pay and etc... sounds wayyyyyyyyyy too similar....
Well congrats, gl hf, oh and if you are going to be stuck in the rural area in which is EVERYWHERE BUT SEOUL, Daegu and Busan, you're in a whole journey of boredom in which you'll probably end up watching OGN and MBC in your room ALL DAY LONG and playing SC....
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On December 08 2009 05:32 QuickStriker wrote:
This sounds exactly like the program I enrolled in last year called "TaLK" program.... same exact benefits and pay and etc... sounds wayyyyyyyyyy too similar....
Well congrats, gl hf, oh and if you are going to be stuck in the rural area in which is EVERYWHERE BUT SEOUL, Daegu and Busan, you're in a whole journey of boredom in which you'll probably end up watching OGN and MBC in your room ALL DAY LONG and playing SC....
This is the TaLK program! Tell me more about it!
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It's seems to me you really want to go, you're just asking us if your parents arguments are strong enough.
I say go, have a great time, meet a lot of people, enjoy music, and then get back, to your normal life.
As you said, you'll survive 
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On December 08 2009 05:32 Mekhami wrote:Show nested quote +On December 08 2009 05:32 QuickStriker wrote:
This sounds exactly like the program I enrolled in last year called "TaLK" program.... same exact benefits and pay and etc... sounds wayyyyyyyyyy too similar....
Well congrats, gl hf, oh and if you are going to be stuck in the rural area in which is EVERYWHERE BUT SEOUL, Daegu and Busan, you're in a whole journey of boredom in which you'll probably end up watching OGN and MBC in your room ALL DAY LONG and playing SC.... This is the TaLK program! Tell me more about it!
Oh really?? That's very interesting... nice to hear someone else taking up the program that's still around and promoting college students like us...
Well, I was around when the TaLK program just started and began last year, so I suppose I am known as the "First generation" TaLK scholars... based on what I heard, it started out as 400 for us and then it expanded to 700 and I assume they have around 1000 now?
But yea, basically it's like this, there are 9 different provinces you'll be assigned to... did they tell you which region you'll be located to teach at?? Based on what I'm seeing, I'm guessing you're doing the 6 month program like I did rather than 1 year like others would which is a good amount...
Hmm... don't know what else to say.. I heard the orientation method changed too where ours were 1 month orientation and now it's like 2 weeks? You get to choose your type of dorming throughout, whether it's a studio room all by yourself, a homestay where you stay with some Korean family, or with roommates with fellow other scholars or a college dorm I think.... all depends...
EVERYWHERE but Seoul tend to have their weird unusual accents that's different from the main typical average accent we hear on TV and etc... so that's something to get used to... hmm.. are you Korean by any chance? What else do you want to know about it?
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51712 Posts
if you wind up anywhere but seoul you are going to have a miserable time.
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Wow thats funny, just a week ago, I was offered this TaLK program thing..
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On December 08 2009 05:38 GTR wrote:
if you wind up anywhere but seoul you are going to have a miserable time.
my words exactly.... though I would say, if it wasn't for living in middle of nowhere of pure isolation for 6 months, I wouldn't have discovered TL nor get into habit of watching PLs, OSLs, MSLs, and Starcraft like I do now ^_^
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do it! tbh I think this is the best move you could possibly make. taking time off from school will prevent burn out PLUS you will have so much time to practice your cello every day plus you'll be in the land of boxer :D.
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I think it's good that you also go for reasons other than watching pro-gaming in Korea.
15 hours/week and one semester in Korea? I would hit it. No matter how you look at it you will be in for an adventure.
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On December 08 2009 05:38 QuickStriker wrote:Show nested quote +On December 08 2009 05:32 Mekhami wrote:On December 08 2009 05:32 QuickStriker wrote:
This sounds exactly like the program I enrolled in last year called "TaLK" program.... same exact benefits and pay and etc... sounds wayyyyyyyyyy too similar....
Well congrats, gl hf, oh and if you are going to be stuck in the rural area in which is EVERYWHERE BUT SEOUL, Daegu and Busan, you're in a whole journey of boredom in which you'll probably end up watching OGN and MBC in your room ALL DAY LONG and playing SC.... This is the TaLK program! Tell me more about it! Oh really?? That's very interesting... nice to hear someone else taking up the program that's still around and promoting college students like us... Well, I was around when the TaLK program just started and began last year, so I suppose I am known as the "First generation" TaLK scholars... based on what I heard, it started out as 400 for us and then it expanded to 700 and I assume they have around 1000 now? But yea, basically it's like this, there are 9 different provinces you'll be assigned to... did they tell you which region you'll be located to teach at?? Based on what I'm seeing, I'm guessing you're doing the 6 month program like I did rather than 1 year like others would which is a good amount... Hmm... don't know what else to say.. I heard the orientation method changed too where ours were 1 month orientation and now it's like 2 weeks? You get to choose your type of dorming throughout, whether it's a studio room all by yourself, a homestay where you stay with some Korean family, or with roommates with fellow other scholars or a college dorm I think.... all depends... EVERYWHERE but Seoul tend to have their weird unusual accents that's different from the main typical average accent we hear on TV and etc... so that's something to get used to... hmm.. are you Korean by any chance? What else do you want to know about it?
I'm not Korean, I'm a US native. I speak some Korean which I'm learning from my string quartet, who are all Korean.
I don't know what province I'll get assigned to but I don't think that bothers me as I'm going to be doing a lot of travelling on weekends and such. That's the goal anyway. I'd probably stay in a studio room because I'm a musician and would be practicing often and wouldn't want to bother roommates or the family I'd stay with.
And @GTR and others who say I'd be miserable, I'd also travel to Seoul probably every weekend to stay with a friend there and enjoy the city, also I plan on taking a trip to Japan and one to China, which TaLK helps arrange. also, I'm big on books, music, etc. so quiet time in a rural setting sounds perfect to me 
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On December 08 2009 05:39 Xenocide_Knight wrote:
Wow thats funny, just a week ago, I was offered this TaLK program thing..
Yea... as the deadlines come to close, they seem to always be short of applicants or desperate in need of more applicants that they just pretty much OPEN advertise it... that's how I pretty much got in, at the last minute...
On December 08 2009 05:40 iSiN wrote:
do it! tbh I think this is the best move you could possibly make. taking time off from school will prevent burn out PLUS you will have so much time to practice your cello every day plus you'll be in the land of boxer :D.
That is true, it can be helpful... IF YOU CAN HANDLE KIDS FROM 1ST TO 6TH GRADE..... who can possibly play SC better than you!!!
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On December 08 2009 05:45 QuickStriker wrote:Show nested quote +On December 08 2009 05:39 Xenocide_Knight wrote:
Wow thats funny, just a week ago, I was offered this TaLK program thing.. Yea... as the deadlines come to close, they seem to always be short of applicants or desperate in need of more applicants that they just pretty much OPEN advertise it... that's how I pretty much got in, at the last minute... Show nested quote +On December 08 2009 05:40 iSiN wrote:
do it! tbh I think this is the best move you could possibly make. taking time off from school will prevent burn out PLUS you will have so much time to practice your cello every day plus you'll be in the land of boxer :D. That is true, it can be helpful... IF YOU CAN HANDLE KIDS FROM 1ST TO 6TH GRADE..... who can possibly play SC better than you!!!
There were a couple kids born in 97 (age 12 or so) in the recent courage tournaments. Insane...
PS - you better tell us how it goes :D
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On December 08 2009 05:59 Pokebunny wrote:Show nested quote +On December 08 2009 05:45 QuickStriker wrote:On December 08 2009 05:39 Xenocide_Knight wrote:
Wow thats funny, just a week ago, I was offered this TaLK program thing.. Yea... as the deadlines come to close, they seem to always be short of applicants or desperate in need of more applicants that they just pretty much OPEN advertise it... that's how I pretty much got in, at the last minute... On December 08 2009 05:40 iSiN wrote:
do it! tbh I think this is the best move you could possibly make. taking time off from school will prevent burn out PLUS you will have so much time to practice your cello every day plus you'll be in the land of boxer :D. That is true, it can be helpful... IF YOU CAN HANDLE KIDS FROM 1ST TO 6TH GRADE..... who can possibly play SC better than you!!! There were a couple kids born in 97 (age 12 or so) in the recent courage tournaments. Insane... PS - you better tell us how it goes :D
I'll be on TL every day
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sounds like once in a lifetime opportunity
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omg taking care of 1st grade kids :CCCCCCCCCC
now THAT would be miserable
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what program is this? because that sounds like a hell of a deal
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EPT
