So basically to cut to the chase, in the last 2 years post-uni I've been struggling my to make ends meet as a freelance sound engineer(I have a BsC in Audio Design & Production) while producing music on the side. During this time I have had the opportunity to teach a few music technology workshops at my old school and have kind of made my Plan B should I be unable to feed myself through my own business, to attend teacher's college and become a music teacher. Up till recently my plan had been to attend teacher's college in Canada or the UK.
But recently I've been considering going abroad to get some more hands-on experience, and top of my list is Korea. I've always liked the culture I have been exposed to and it seems like a great place to go. Besides everyone and their grandmother goes to Thailand which I think is a lot less interesting of a place(IMO). Maybe I'm just biased because I want to be able to be a regular GOM studio whore. FYI I would be going there to teach ESL.
So I figured since I'm sure there's a few people on here who know alot about Korea if anyone has any advice they could give me, so far I've been googling and seen loads of links but I don't want to get screwed. I posted the one link I received from someone who apparently went there and it was all well and safe but I really feel like a blind man. Has anyone else went to Korea for this? http://www.gone2korea.com/
I don't expect you guys to hold my hand through the process but I figured I could get some info and advice, hopefully from some people who have done this/ Koreans.
From stories on TL i doubt that you are going to find work in korea if you are not planning to teach english.
Looks like you studied something which is not in high demand, maybe you should look and see if there are any countries where your profession is in fact in high demand and go there instead?
I clearly stated I want to go to Korea to teach ESL if you read beyond the first few sentences
I realize that going abroad to teach music technology is not going to happen unless I get very, very lucky as there is not a lot of demand for it. I was lucky enough to be able to do some lectures at the high school(year 10-12) level but I realize no one is hiring people from abroad in Korea for this. Teaching people to use programs like Logic and Cubase is hard enough without it being in a language you are not familiar with!
I want to go to Korea to teach ESL because of the experience it will provide me, both professionally(as stuff like that looks great for teacher's college and in order to find work after that) but also because I spent my gap year in between uni and high school working at a supermarket not going anywhere so I could stay close to my studio and continue producing music. However the time is come in my life that I am ready to go to Asia for the first time.
If I wanted to do something related to my degree I would probably either stay in the UK and do a PGSE for Music or do the same thing in Canada.
On a side note, the lessons of my course may not seem to be in high demand, but you'd be surprised by how quickly this is changing. A lot of schools are seeing the importance of teaching these skills early so that kids see them as an option. I bet there's not a lot of kids who would grow up thinking "I would love to arrange music for adverts" "i would love to be the sound engineer at the football stadium" and it's something that is being pushed a lot because ATM it's very much a "boys club".
try India instead. Im indian and I can say music a HUGE part of the culture. I know thers no starcraft but maybe uc an find a job thats in ur field there.
I've been teaching here about 9 months. Got a job through http://www.eslcafe.com/ which has a message board full of positions available. I just emailed my details to a few of the recruiters and got several offers. The documents take a while to put together so get started on that asap and triple check the requirements before sending them off. If you've got any specific questions feel free to PM.
On March 24 2013 10:32 WikidSik wrote: try India instead. Im indian and I can say music a HUGE part of the culture. I know thers no starcraft but maybe uc an find a job thats in ur field there.
I know India is a nice place but I'm fairly sensitive to food especially Indian, I couldn't see myself living there at all. I think I would spend more time on the toilet than doing anything else!
I have a bunch of friends who have been and every single one of them lost major amounts of weight, one of them even got full-on dysentery from a 5-star hotel and dropped something like 60 pounds and ended up having to be hospitalized...considering I'm 6'1 70 KG I don't think I would survive if that happened to me, frankly not worth the risk. I eat Indian once a week anyways haha.
besides Korea has fascinated me for years now. I love Korean/Japanese/Chinese/Vietnamese/Thai cuisines(I know they are all different but i've ate them all alot!) and I guess at the bottom of it all the idea of spending a year there, getting to go to GSL studios, maybe even try to pick up the language would be awesome. Who knows I could meet someone and make the new Gangnam Style haha
Read the forums on eslcafe.com, they have tons of good information there. Korea can be a great country, but remember that what you see in Kpop or Kdrama isn't quite what real life in the country looks like. Also, ESL market in Seoul is highly competitive these days - you'd probably need to invest in a CELTA or similar degree to be able to get a position somewhere not too terrible around Seoul. If your main interest in Korea is the GOM studio though, you'd probably be better off going someplace like China or Dubai - the working conditions are better, the choice of jobs is better, and you'll save more money without having to worry about getting the final bits of your salary or whatever (Korean private institutes in particular are notoriously bad at that).
Not to be a party pooper - if you have your mind set firmly on doing ESL in Korea, you can have a great time there as long as you do your research and don't just blindly sign the first contract you get without reading it. Just don't base your decision on the fact that you could see Starcraft live somewhere in that country - the novelty of seeing it inside a studio wears off pretty fast. :p
Haha yeah it's not the only thing. I'd say its more like my interest in Starcraft and the ensuing relationship I have had with a few Koreans at university has opened my eyes to the country. I mean realistically if I was to be working during the days I could only really go to GOM studio during the weekend GSTL depending on my work hours so. I just really like the food I have tried, I heard Seoul has cheap and good nightlife, best telecoms in the world, and I have always been fascinated by the customs/manners of Asian countries.
I could definitely do Dubai as an alternate but the religious overtones(I know people who work there who had to lie about their religion) and just my dealings with rich middle easterner a has kind of turned me off their country. I know that's a big generalization but even in my lectures the things some of the rich Arab kids say are disgusting...wouldn't be able to deal with that kind of shit everyday without going on my own jihad lol
On March 24 2013 08:47 GaNgStaRR.ElV wrote: I clearly stated I want to go to Korea to teach ESL if you read beyond the first few sentences
Since you stated your background and your plan-b to become a music teacher i assumed that ESL was something audio related. Also, you talk about hands-on experience but which hands-on experience would you get teaching english in korea?
Seems white foreigners are more like a mascot rather than respected teaching personal. Because it makes no sense to let people teach english without any education in that subject at all.
On March 24 2013 08:47 GaNgStaRR.ElV wrote: I clearly stated I want to go to Korea to teach ESL if you read beyond the first few sentences
Since you stated your background and your plan-b to become a music teacher i assumed that ESL was something audio related. Also, you talk about hands-on experience but which hands-on experience would you get teaching english in korea?
Seems white foreigners are more like a mascot rather than respected teaching personal. Because it makes no sense to let people teach english without any education in that subject at all.
Assuming things is generally a way to get yourself into trouble. And sorry but you obviously are not from a English-first country as I first noticed ESL( English second language) when I was in grade 3, it's for people who are raised speaking a foreign language to get a passable understanding of English. You teach them what a book is and other everyday phrases not read them Shakespeare.
Your reply makes it pretty clear you lack the understanding to provide any useful feedback in this thread. If you can't see why I would want to TEACH to get more experience at TEACHING then you have a substantial lack of understanding in how the professional world works. It's not about the content you teach it's about developing your skills as an educator which will assist me when I look to get a job post-teaching college as it's an extra bit on your résumé that shows you are capable.j
Also your last sentence is just appalling , I've spoken to numerous people who have done this and they certainly are not "mascots". I think you take it for granted that as an English native speaker I have been "educated" in my language from the day I was born. Did you ever consider that getting a dedicated English teacher with qualifications to teach ESL isn't logical as those people would generally be way overqualified for this kind of position. I mean when I was in elementary school in Canada the ESL teachers were english-first volunteers from high school..
Bra whoever recommended CELTA course, thank you. Spoke to my gf's parents and they highly recommended I do this even if I don't end up going abroad as it is a useful qualification to have. I found one 10 minutes from me in a decent college for 1000£ seems pretty reasonable for what you get.
Do it. From everything you stated it sounds like you would like it, and no one would dissuade you unless you try it. As long as you can have a job lined up before going to Korea then seriously just go for it. Everything else is just semantics.
On March 24 2013 08:47 GaNgStaRR.ElV wrote: I clearly stated I want to go to Korea to teach ESL if you read beyond the first few sentences
Since you stated your background and your plan-b to become a music teacher i assumed that ESL was something audio related. Also, you talk about hands-on experience but which hands-on experience would you get teaching english in korea?
Seems white foreigners are more like a mascot rather than respected teaching personal. Because it makes no sense to let people teach english without any education in that subject at all.
Assuming things is generally a way to get yourself into trouble. And sorry but you obviously are not from a English-first country as I first noticed ESL( English second language) when I was in grade 3, it's for people who are raised speaking a foreign language to get a passable understanding of English. You teach them what a book is and other everyday phrases not read them Shakespeare.
Your reply makes it pretty clear you lack the understanding to provide any useful feedback in this thread. If you can't see why I would want to TEACH to get more experience at TEACHING then you have a substantial lack of understanding in how the professional world works. It's not about the content you teach it's about developing your skills as an educator which will assist me when I look to get a job post-teaching college as it's an extra bit on your résumé that shows you are capable.j
Also your last sentence is just appalling , I've spoken to numerous people who have done this and they certainly are not "mascots". I think you take it for granted that as an English native speaker I have been "educated" in my language from the day I was born. Did you ever consider that getting a dedicated English teacher with qualifications to teach ESL isn't logical as those people would generally be way overqualified for this kind of position. I mean when I was in elementary school in Canada the ESL teachers were english-first volunteers from high school..
Bra whoever recommended CELTA course, thank you. Spoke to my gf's parents and they highly recommended I do this even if I don't end up going abroad as it is a useful qualification to have. I found one 10 minutes from me in a decent college for 1000£ seems pretty reasonable for what you get.
To be fair, the guy who said that ESL teachers aren't much more than mascots and that you won't get a lot in terms of real teaching experience wasn't far off point, at least as far as ESL in Korea is concerned. It depends on the school you end up with because different places have different approaches, but in most schools / academies you'll have no real control over your students or the curriculum, and honestly won't do much of actual 'teaching', either - mostly you're there to give kids some confidence in saying things they already learned before out loud and little beyond that. Even if you do end up working for a quality academy that actually hires you as a teacher rather than a glorified classroom assistant to replace a CD with pronunciation drills, no serious employer back home will consider your ESL experience as a substitute for actual teaching experience.
This isn't to say that such an experience would be completely worthless or whatever, but if you're planning a serious career in education (not talking about ESL-education but actual certified teaching), you'd be far better off investing into a teacher cert back home; if going to Korea is another goal you want to fulfill at some point while improving your teaching career, assuming you completed a teacher cert in Canada, you could then get a job at an international school in Seoul which would give you real teaching experience that would actually be recognized and respected, as well as earn more.
IMHO ESL teaching is a waste of time if you are looking to develop yourself professionally. If you want to have a good time, it's fine. Edit: speaking from experience. Remember:
I know it can be frustrating to find work in this market, but being an engineer would be a lot more profitable and rewarding than teaching English imo. If you want to travel and see the world a bit, I guess it's not a bad option but switching your career altogether feels like a bit of a waste.
On March 25 2013 01:19 nbaker wrote: I know it can be frustrating to find work in this market, but being an engineer would be a lot more profitable and rewarding than teaching English imo. If you want to travel and see the world a bit, I guess it's not a bad option but switching your career altogether feels like a bit of a waste.
Audio engineering is more like a nicer way to say technician, teaching would probably be more reliable and profitable in the long term.
On March 24 2013 10:32 WikidSik wrote: try India instead. Im indian and I can say music a HUGE part of the culture. I know thers no starcraft but maybe uc an find a job thats in ur field there.
I know India is a nice place but I'm fairly sensitive to food especially Indian, I couldn't see myself living there at all. I think I would spend more time on the toilet than doing anything else!
Might be worth noting that Korean food also has a tendency to make you shit fire.
On March 24 2013 10:32 WikidSik wrote: try India instead. Im indian and I can say music a HUGE part of the culture. I know thers no starcraft but maybe uc an find a job thats in ur field there.
I know India is a nice place but I'm fairly sensitive to food especially Indian, I couldn't see myself living there at all. I think I would spend more time on the toilet than doing anything else!
Might be worth noting that Korean food also has a tendency to make you shit fire.
I'm actually fairly tolerant of spicy ass food, it's more a concern about intestinal bugs. India is notorious for people getting sick and even dying. I know alot of people who went there/sent employees there and every single one of them has a story like this. Like i said im super skinny so getting sick and losing weight poses a serious health risk! Pretty sure if I can handle Brazilian street food I can handle Korean food
And yeah I realize this in no way replaces a teachers cert. I'd say 60% is me wanting to explore, the other 40% thinks it will look good on a teachers college application(it's super competitive in Canada, I have at least 6 family members of various ages in the business, guess it runs in our blood). Frankly the "mascot" thing doesn't bug me, if they just want me to speak the words fine, less work for me. If they want me to plan lessons and teach il enjoy that too. I just think what the 1st guy said was a gross generalization and certainly undermines the value of some of the people I spoke to!
I have worked as a sound engineer for the last 2 years in various capacities. Producing music for artists and advertising agencies, worked in a music studio for a few months, dj'ed on an average 3-4 times for me and had a great time doing it. But I'm realizing that if I want to raise a family and had a stable income it's not the field for me as although the money is great, it's an everyday hustle and should anything happen to my health there's only as much as you have on your bank to fall back on. Whereas as a music teacher I can still be in touch with my passion without having the financial liabilities. If something changes radically then I would reconsider but I'm pretty bad at dealing with rejection/being snubbed which is basically a daily occurrence for me at the moment.
On March 24 2013 10:32 WikidSik wrote: try India instead. Im indian and I can say music a HUGE part of the culture. I know thers no starcraft but maybe uc an find a job thats in ur field there.
I know India is a nice place but I'm fairly sensitive to food especially Indian, I couldn't see myself living there at all. I think I would spend more time on the toilet than doing anything else!
Might be worth noting that Korean food also has a tendency to make you shit fire.
. If something changes radically then I would reconsider but I'm pretty bad at dealing with rejection/being snubbed which is basically a daily occurrence for me at the moment.
ESL might not be the best thing to do for you, then... :p
well, everyone I know who has visited India has not been enthusiastic about its livability or even visitability....and I know some fairly well traveled individuals. So I wouldn't recommend that route unless like that guy said there really is a great job opportunity.
On March 24 2013 10:32 WikidSik wrote: try India instead. Im indian and I can say music a HUGE part of the culture. I know thers no starcraft but maybe uc an find a job thats in ur field there.
I know India is a nice place but I'm fairly sensitive to food especially Indian, I couldn't see myself living there at all. I think I would spend more time on the toilet than doing anything else!
Might be worth noting that Korean food also has a tendency to make you shit fire.
. If something changes radically then I would reconsider but I'm pretty bad at dealing with rejection/being snubbed which is basically a daily occurrence for me at the moment.
ESL might not be the best thing to do for you, then... :p
I mean as in everyday getting my proposals/pitches turned down. Applying for jobs/internships and hearing nothing, day in day out. Hearing people tell you "yeah we are putting together a package to get you on tour" and that support doesn't come. Having to chase people endlessly just to make ends meet. Its mentally exhausting snd effects your confidencd. i don't see how your comment is relevant aside from being snide.
In the workshops I teach, I'm dealing with 10-30 16 year olds, most of whom have no interest in music technology. I have no problem with that because there's always at least 1 kid who wants to learn so you focus on them. It doesn't bug me because i was part of that 85% in high school.
As a ESL teacher in Korea specifically, you WILL have your ideas and suggestions turned down if not downright ignored very often. You'll come up with lesson ideas or suggest new materials that you know are better than what you are doing right now, and be told to just stfu and do what you're told. You'll have a bunch of job applications denied because you don't have blonde hair, your accent doesn't sound american / british / canadian / natural / powerful / whatever enough, because you're not tall enough, or don't smile well enough. You WILL end up having to work hours you didn't know you'd need to, doing tasks you weren't supposed to, and losing benefits you were sure you'd get. Many people will consider you a failure who is only there because you can't get a "real" job at home and pretend to not understand you even if they know exactly what you are saying or asking. Kids will ignore you at their convenience and parents will bitch about your performance even if you have no control of the things they complain about, and if anything goes wrong you'll always be the first scapegoat everyone will turn to.
It's possible that despite dozens of potential problems and issues you might run into you'll still enjoy yourself, but if you're not very patient and incredibly resistant to bullshit drama, blaming, and being bossed around then it is not a good job for you. If you get offended easily and aren't good at just taking whatever bullshit your boss feeds you and doing as you're told even though you know what you're being told is incredibly stupid, you'll have an awful time.
My comment wasn't meant to be snide at all - it's just that Korean ESL market is in pretty big downturn right now and it was always a pretty shitty country to ESL in to start with. I'm not saying it's impossible to enjoy yourself as a ESL teacher in Korea - there are plenty of people who do; just, don't expect to be treated as an actual teacher there or to be respected by your students or your co-workers - that doesn't happen very often. Most people deal with it by just not giving a damn, but from the tone of your posts it seems like you're pretty sick of exactly the kind of stuff you'd have to put up with as an ESL teacher.
I'm actually going to Korea for my final semester of unviersity (I will be in Daegu). If you want you can add me on skype and we can chit chat about it (PM me for my skype info).
On March 25 2013 04:43 Salazarz wrote: As a ESL teacher in Korea specifically, you WILL have your ideas and suggestions turned down if not downright ignored very often. You'll come up with lesson ideas or suggest new materials that you know are better than what you are doing right now, and be told to just stfu and do what you're told. You'll have a bunch of job applications denied because you don't have blonde hair, your accent doesn't sound american / british / canadian / natural / powerful / whatever enough, because you're not tall enough, or don't smile well enough. You WILL end up having to work hours you didn't know you'd need to, doing tasks you weren't supposed to, and losing benefits you were sure you'd get. Many people will consider you a failure who is only there because you can't get a "real" job at home and pretend to not understand you even if they know exactly what you are saying or asking. Kids will ignore you at their convenience and parents will bitch about your performance even if you have no control of the things they complain about, and if anything goes wrong you'll always be the first scapegoat everyone will turn to.
It's possible that despite dozens of potential problems and issues you might run into you'll still enjoy yourself, but if you're not very patient and incredibly resistant to bullshit drama, blaming, and being bossed around then it is not a good job for you. If you get offended easily and aren't good at just taking whatever bullshit your boss feeds you and doing as you're told even though you know what you're being told is incredibly stupid, you'll have an awful time.
My comment wasn't meant to be snide at all - it's just that Korean ESL market is in pretty big downturn right now and it was always a pretty shitty country to ESL in to start with. I'm not saying it's impossible to enjoy yourself as a ESL teacher in Korea - there are plenty of people who do; just, don't expect to be treated as an actual teacher there or to be respected by your students or your co-workers - that doesn't happen very often. Most people deal with it by just not giving a damn, but from the tone of your posts it seems like you're pretty sick of exactly the kind of stuff you'd have to put up with as an ESL teacher.
Sorry for being a bit off topic, but is it really true that the ideal white person you have described benefits more than, say, a Korean American who can speak both fluent Korean and American (with a strong American accent I might add)? I figure the latter may be more advantageous since homogenous nations tend to favor their own race more than others, and the fact that knowing both languages well can translate to better understanding the students and thus teach better overall.
I've had a couple of my Korean American friends travel to SK to teach ESL for a few years as a work experience, and it seemed like they fit in really well. This is just my first time reading (from the other thread as well) that white person seem to be better off teaching ESL in SK--intuition tells me otherwise.
On March 25 2013 04:43 Salazarz wrote: As a ESL teacher in Korea specifically, you WILL have your ideas and suggestions turned down if not downright ignored very often. You'll come up with lesson ideas or suggest new materials that you know are better than what you are doing right now, and be told to just stfu and do what you're told. You'll have a bunch of job applications denied because you don't have blonde hair, your accent doesn't sound american / british / canadian / natural / powerful / whatever enough, because you're not tall enough, or don't smile well enough. You WILL end up having to work hours you didn't know you'd need to, doing tasks you weren't supposed to, and losing benefits you were sure you'd get. Many people will consider you a failure who is only there because you can't get a "real" job at home and pretend to not understand you even if they know exactly what you are saying or asking. Kids will ignore you at their convenience and parents will bitch about your performance even if you have no control of the things they complain about, and if anything goes wrong you'll always be the first scapegoat everyone will turn to.
It's possible that despite dozens of potential problems and issues you might run into you'll still enjoy yourself, but if you're not very patient and incredibly resistant to bullshit drama, blaming, and being bossed around then it is not a good job for you. If you get offended easily and aren't good at just taking whatever bullshit your boss feeds you and doing as you're told even though you know what you're being told is incredibly stupid, you'll have an awful time.
My comment wasn't meant to be snide at all - it's just that Korean ESL market is in pretty big downturn right now and it was always a pretty shitty country to ESL in to start with. I'm not saying it's impossible to enjoy yourself as a ESL teacher in Korea - there are plenty of people who do; just, don't expect to be treated as an actual teacher there or to be respected by your students or your co-workers - that doesn't happen very often. Most people deal with it by just not giving a damn, but from the tone of your posts it seems like you're pretty sick of exactly the kind of stuff you'd have to put up with as an ESL teacher.
Sorry for being a bit off topic, but is it really true that the ideal white person you have described benefits more than, say, a Korean American who can speak both fluent Korean and American (with a strong American accent I might add)? I figure the latter may be more advantageous since homogenous nations tend to favor their own race more than others, and the fact that knowing both languages well can translate to better understanding the students and thus teach better overall.
I've had a couple of my Korean American friends travel to SK to teach ESL for a few years as a work experience, and it seemed like they fit in really well. This is just my first time reading (from the other thread as well) that white person seem to be better off teaching ESL in SK--intuition tells me otherwise.
A Korean American who is fluent in both English and Korean will likely not be doing the same jobs as the recently graduated blue-eyed kid from Minnesota. Korean Americans can get a specific visa which makes it much easier for them to find jobs and switch jobs. Majority of the best jobs in Korea will only hire either Korean Americans or people who have long-term resident visa in Korea. Even if the Korean American and white American will be doing the same job, the Korean American will usually have an easier time getting along with his boss and coworkers, is less likely to get screwed on his salary / benefits, etc, in no small part due to the 'us' and 'them' mentality. It's not even that many Koreans are racist in the western sense of the word, but a lot of them are just not so comfortable communicating with foreigners and aren't as likely to become really close friends with one (not to say that it's impossible, but it's definitely more difficult for a white guy vs a Korean American guy).
Anyway, a lot of 'entry-level' ESL jobs do in fact prefer the starry-eyed white guy (or better yet, girl, as long as she isn't overweight) because they are easier to force into working longer hours, aren't as experienced in terms of what salaries and what benefits are normal, can be talked into coming into the country without the airfare or housing being covered by employer, and so on. It is completely normal for academies and even government funded school programs to refuse renewals for well-performing ESL teachers with many years of experience only to replace them with fresh off the plane graduates who have no clue, simply because it's cheaper, and also because the parents who enrol their kids into said English classes like to see the stereotypical young blonde white teacher as opposed to perhaps more skilled and knowledgeable, but less presentable ESL veteran.
edit: again, I'm not saying that anyone going to Korea to work in ESL is signing up for a hellish time - I think it's a very interesting culture and country, and you can have a nice time there. Just don't expect it to be a serious work experience that'll give a lot of credit to your resume or teach you anything about, well, teaching, because it probably won't.
On March 25 2013 04:43 Salazarz wrote: As a ESL teacher in Korea specifically, you WILL have your ideas and suggestions turned down if not downright ignored very often. You'll come up with lesson ideas or suggest new materials that you know are better than what you are doing right now, and be told to just stfu and do what you're told. You'll have a bunch of job applications denied because you don't have blonde hair, your accent doesn't sound american / british / canadian / natural / powerful / whatever enough, because you're not tall enough, or don't smile well enough. You WILL end up having to work hours you didn't know you'd need to, doing tasks you weren't supposed to, and losing benefits you were sure you'd get. Many people will consider you a failure who is only there because you can't get a "real" job at home and pretend to not understand you even if they know exactly what you are saying or asking. Kids will ignore you at their convenience and parents will bitch about your performance even if you have no control of the things they complain about, and if anything goes wrong you'll always be the first scapegoat everyone will turn to.
It's possible that despite dozens of potential problems and issues you might run into you'll still enjoy yourself, but if you're not very patient and incredibly resistant to bullshit drama, blaming, and being bossed around then it is not a good job for you. If you get offended easily and aren't good at just taking whatever bullshit your boss feeds you and doing as you're told even though you know what you're being told is incredibly stupid, you'll have an awful time.
My comment wasn't meant to be snide at all - it's just that Korean ESL market is in pretty big downturn right now and it was always a pretty shitty country to ESL in to start with. I'm not saying it's impossible to enjoy yourself as a ESL teacher in Korea - there are plenty of people who do; just, don't expect to be treated as an actual teacher there or to be respected by your students or your co-workers - that doesn't happen very often. Most people deal with it by just not giving a damn, but from the tone of your posts it seems like you're pretty sick of exactly the kind of stuff you'd have to put up with as an ESL teacher.
I appreciate the concern, but I'm a blonde haired blue eyed Canadian man standing at 6'2 who is extremely patient and I don't really care what people think about me or anything I do. The "rejection" thing is very hard to explain; maybe I've just been banging my head against a wall for so long and putting so much pressure on myself that "I need to make it in music or be a failure". I'm used to dealing with ass holes on a day to day basis; if you think Korean mothers are bitchy try dealing with micromanaging coke head club owners who have egos the size of 3rd world countries! Most of my friends know me as the guy who stays calm no matter how crazy shit gets; I only really get in fights if you take the first shot or threaten my friends safety. My girlfriend says I'm her perfect counter point as she loses her temper easily but no matter what shit she hurls at me I won't fight fire with fire and wait till she's calm before I explain my issues with her actions.
My dad got it right about me by saying that I am friendly and helpful but I have little tolerance for those I deem to be fools. If someone wants to ignore my suggestions or treat me like an idiot I usually respond by thinking your an idiot on the inside. In this case I'd deliver the shit lesson plan as ultimately it's not my problem; it's their school! To be honest I appreciate your posts as I realize some people simply aren't cut out for this kind of stuff; I was just replying negatively to you as I could not honestly tell if you were posting for the sake of being a troll.
On March 25 2013 04:43 Salazarz wrote: As a ESL teacher in Korea specifically, you WILL have your ideas and suggestions turned down if not downright ignored very often. You'll come up with lesson ideas or suggest new materials that you know are better than what you are doing right now, and be told to just stfu and do what you're told. You'll have a bunch of job applications denied because you don't have blonde hair, your accent doesn't sound american / british / canadian / natural / powerful / whatever enough, because you're not tall enough, or don't smile well enough. You WILL end up having to work hours you didn't know you'd need to, doing tasks you weren't supposed to, and losing benefits you were sure you'd get. Many people will consider you a failure who is only there because you can't get a "real" job at home and pretend to not understand you even if they know exactly what you are saying or asking. Kids will ignore you at their convenience and parents will bitch about your performance even if you have no control of the things they complain about, and if anything goes wrong you'll always be the first scapegoat everyone will turn to.
It's possible that despite dozens of potential problems and issues you might run into you'll still enjoy yourself, but if you're not very patient and incredibly resistant to bullshit drama, blaming, and being bossed around then it is not a good job for you. If you get offended easily and aren't good at just taking whatever bullshit your boss feeds you and doing as you're told even though you know what you're being told is incredibly stupid, you'll have an awful time.
My comment wasn't meant to be snide at all - it's just that Korean ESL market is in pretty big downturn right now and it was always a pretty shitty country to ESL in to start with. I'm not saying it's impossible to enjoy yourself as a ESL teacher in Korea - there are plenty of people who do; just, don't expect to be treated as an actual teacher there or to be respected by your students or your co-workers - that doesn't happen very often. Most people deal with it by just not giving a damn, but from the tone of your posts it seems like you're pretty sick of exactly the kind of stuff you'd have to put up with as an ESL teacher.
It depends a lot on your attitude I feel. If you try to fight the system, revolutionize Korean ESL or go there thinking you're going to teach up a storm you'll be very disappointed. Some classes it's better to just chill out and make it fun enough so the kids don't complain (basically childcare) whilst others will actually listen and work so you can really help them which is gratifying. Most of my coteachers have come back to Korea to teach for a second year so the experience can't be that bad and I've met a tonne of others that have been teaching 2+ years and enjoy it (particularly those who teach Kindergarten/Uni students/Adults). Considering I've worked at the worst hagwon I've heard of with a boss from hell and still don't regret it, it can't be so bad. Just do your own thing as long as you get through the textbooks/whatever else they want you to do and slip in a bit of organic teaching on the side. I also work with a mild-mannered 6 ft 2ish blonde, blue eyed canadian (like the OP) who is adored by the korean coteachers and his kindergarteners. He also said he loved his job up until he had to teach 13 yo's, so if you can avoid that age group you'll probably be better off.
I believe that! Considering how much trouble I was at that age it's probably karma for me. Something about pouring my teachers coffee in her fish tank....
On March 25 2013 04:43 Salazarz wrote: As a ESL teacher in Korea specifically, you WILL have your ideas and suggestions turned down if not downright ignored very often. You'll come up with lesson ideas or suggest new materials that you know are better than what you are doing right now, and be told to just stfu and do what you're told. You'll have a bunch of job applications denied because you don't have blonde hair, your accent doesn't sound american / british / canadian / natural / powerful / whatever enough, because you're not tall enough, or don't smile well enough. You WILL end up having to work hours you didn't know you'd need to, doing tasks you weren't supposed to, and losing benefits you were sure you'd get. Many people will consider you a failure who is only there because you can't get a "real" job at home and pretend to not understand you even if they know exactly what you are saying or asking. Kids will ignore you at their convenience and parents will bitch about your performance even if you have no control of the things they complain about, and if anything goes wrong you'll always be the first scapegoat everyone will turn to.
It's possible that despite dozens of potential problems and issues you might run into you'll still enjoy yourself, but if you're not very patient and incredibly resistant to bullshit drama, blaming, and being bossed around then it is not a good job for you. If you get offended easily and aren't good at just taking whatever bullshit your boss feeds you and doing as you're told even though you know what you're being told is incredibly stupid, you'll have an awful time.
My comment wasn't meant to be snide at all - it's just that Korean ESL market is in pretty big downturn right now and it was always a pretty shitty country to ESL in to start with. I'm not saying it's impossible to enjoy yourself as a ESL teacher in Korea - there are plenty of people who do; just, don't expect to be treated as an actual teacher there or to be respected by your students or your co-workers - that doesn't happen very often. Most people deal with it by just not giving a damn, but from the tone of your posts it seems like you're pretty sick of exactly the kind of stuff you'd have to put up with as an ESL teacher.
It depends a lot on your attitude I feel. If you try to fight the system, revolutionize Korean ESL or go there thinking you're going to teach up a storm you'll be very disappointed. Some classes it's better to just chill out and make it fun enough so the kids don't complain (basically childcare) whilst others will actually listen and work so you can really help them which is gratifying. Most of my coteachers have come back to Korea to teach for a second year so the experience can't be that bad and I've met a tonne of others that have been teaching 2+ years and enjoy it (particularly those who teach Kindergarten/Uni students/Adults). Considering I've worked at the worst hagwon I've heard of with a boss from hell and still don't regret it, it can't be so bad. Just do your own thing as long as you get through the textbooks/whatever else they want you to do and slip in a bit of organic teaching on the side. I also work with a mild-mannered 6 ft 2ish blonde, blue eyed canadian (like the OP) who is adored by the korean coteachers and his kindergarteners. He also said he loved his job up until he had to teach 13 yo's, so if you can avoid that age group you'll probably be better off.
EPT
