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Tefl in South Korea
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Squeaky here was dancing on a bar top in this new club...*tut tut tut*
There was another Boardsie who Squeaky can name because I've forgotten it but the rest were other people from different forums invited by Squeaky.
Ah, excuse you! I have pictures of you and I practising our one, two threes on the bar too! POT KETTLE BLACK!!!! :P
The other boardsie is G86. Actually met her for the first time on Saturday night Red Bairn. It's nice to hang out with Irish people though!
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After looking into this a bit more me and my girlfriend have decided that we will be better off going down the hagwon route in order to be placed close together. Did even find a recruiter that said it would help couples etc.
So now the decision is where do we want to go. Anyone have any general advice on this, is there anywhere people hated/really loved. Obviously it is at the end of the day down to personal preference but if anyone has any reccomendations on places to avoid and places that are great id appreciate it.
Also the other thing is what ages to teach, from previous experience i found very young children quite hard to teach and control and with older ones it was easier. What are the age groups available, does it go all the way to secondary school too? Also is it better to have a set age group you want so you can narrow your search a bit or be completely open to it?
Regards criminal background check, i know EPIK wanted ones which were no more than 6 months old, so im reluctant to get them just yet (is also a pain because i need one from britain too as i was born there). Anyone know the story with private schools? Is it the same, i also want to make sure i dont leave it too late if getting the british one is hassle.
One question about airfare, do all hagwons cover it or does it depend. Also is it paid upfront generally or in installments.
Any other general advice on the application process? I know its early and nearly a year away but i would like to get clued up on it now rather than leaving it too late 0 -
After looking into this a bit more me and my girlfriend have decided that we will be better off going down the hagwon route in order to be placed close together. Did even find a recruiter that said it would help couples etc.
Some places in Dave's cafe often ask for couples. Some recruiters asked if I had a spouse etc. Best way to find out is to ask which ever rectuiter you are working with!Anyone have any general advice on this, is there anywhere people hated/really loved.
Busan, Daegu and Seoul would be the 3main cities of choice, each of these cities are at worst like 2/3/4 hours away on a train so not so bad. I'm loving Seoul, I'm 1.5 hours away from it on the metro...but I just keep needing to go back again and again!
Kindergartners wreck my head sometimes I like teaching middle school kids. kindie/elementary school are decent hours, middle school is a little later. I only work till 7.30 and I teach from kindie to middle school and one class of adults. I've not thought high school kids. But elementary/middle school kids are lovely.Also the other thing is what ages to teach, from previous experience i found very young children quite hard to teach and control and with older ones it was easier.
As long as they are within 6 months it will be grand. It usually takes about 5-10 days to get an Irish one, can't speak for the British one TBH.Regards criminal background check, i know EPIK wanted ones which were no more than 6 months old, so im reluctant to get them just yet
Depends on the hagwon. Usually the airfare is paid for you and they buy you a flight back at the end of your contract.One question about airfare, do all hagwons cover it or does it depend. Also is it paid upfront generally or in installments.0 -
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catweasel10 wrote: »I think you might only be allowed bring on one piece of luggage as carry on. You can check the number of cases allowed on the Etihad website. Their excess baggage charges are quite steep. I brought a laptop bag with a few books, my laptop and a jumper...it came to 7kg. I was going to bring a little wheeled suitcase as carry-on, but the case itself weighed two kilos! 7kg isn't really a lot, so maybe weigh it before you leave.
I printed out my boarding passes when I checked in online, but was issued with different ones at Dublin. You'll get a pass for Dublin to Abu Dhabi, and one for Abu Dhabi to Seoul. The latter might not have the gate number on it, so when you get out at Abu Dhabi, there will be a desk for travel information. I can't remember exactly what the desk is called, but go there (they'll be a bit of a queue...look out for people with their passports and boarding cards in their hands... you'll know it when you see it!), and ask for the gate number for your flight. They didn't have it on the screen when I looked, so asking will stop you from panicking. There's free wifi there, in case you want to message your family, and if you'll be waiting for a few hours, exchange a few euro and grab yourself a coffee!
When you get to Incheon, follow the signs for baggage reclaim. You have to go down a floor, after a bit of a walk, and get the train to the next stop. I didn't know this, and was wondering where all my stuff was!!! There are a few currency exchange desks at the airport, so don't worry about exchanging your money at home.
Hope that helps a bit!
What an awesome post - thanks so much! I'm literally gonna print this one out.
Etihad doesn't say anything on their website about only bringing one case through the security, so I think I'll be okay with bringing the hold-all bag (hopefully)! 0 -
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What an awesome post - thanks so much! I'm literally gonna print this one out.
Etihad doesn't say anything on their website about only bringing one case through the security, so I think I'll be okay with bringing the hold-all bag (hopefully)!
Give yourself some time to get to the gate in Abu Dhabi too, it could be a bit of a jaunt over to it and you don't want to miss the flight!
I brought a laptop case (crammed with airport purchases too!), and a pretty big bag on to the plane, and a large coat which I couldn't fit in the bag, and a plastic bag...:p It was no problem at all.0 -
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RadioClash wrote: »I've an Irish mate who's been in country four years and he can't even order a cheeseburger in Korean.
Cheesburger in Korean is basic Konglish, geezburgerahh. Fairly poor example there.
Me thinks it's you that can't speak a word of Korean. 0 -
Cheesburger in Korean is basic Konglish, geezburgerahh. Fairly poor example there.
Me thinks it's you that can't speak a word of Korean.
Not really, You want me to scan my TOPIK results up?
Waving your arms and pointing saying Cheeseburger in Konglishy style fashion is just barely getting your point across, and it's a bit rude to your host culture. That's the point I was trying to make.
Anyway, asking directions to the museum is basic stuff in any language, you should be able to do that after a few months and understand any directions given to you. What I'm saying is don't be that guy that can't even read or string a basic sentence together. Lot's of people actively avoid learning the language, and language is culture after all. The choice is expat bubble or making an effort to integrate to the society and culture that surrounds you.
The fact that many expats don't bother with the language is a big factor in how 'we' are treated and perceived here. It's not a d*ck waving contest, it's a quality of life thing. I enjoyed the fact that I could do all my banking in Korean and not have to call a friend/hotline to do so. And you know what my banking teller treated me with more respect because I could do so.0 -
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RadioClash wrote: »Waving your arms and pointing saying Cheeseburger in Konglishy style fashion is just barely getting your point across, and it's a bit rude to your host culture.
Disagree. It isn't rude at all.
Anyway, I've taught and met lots of Koreans overseas, who after 10-15 years living in Western countries, still speak Korean (when abroad), most of the time, and their level of English is often still atrocious!
Guess what? Those same Koreans still eat only Korean food and bring suitcases of kimchi on the plane!:rolleyes: 0 -
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Disagree. It isn't rude at all.
Anyway, I've taught and met lots of Koreans overseas, who after 10-15 years living in Western countries, still speak Korean (when abroad), most of the time, and their level of English is often still atrocious!
Guess what? Those same Koreans still eat only Korean food and bring suitcases of kimchi on the plane!:rolleyes:
Depends what standards you set for yourself. If you think ordering food making hand gestures and not using the host language isn't rude then carry on doing it. Just consider how you are perceived. Koreans are generally better at English(including those that have never left the peninsula) than Western expats are at speaking Korean. And I've met Koreans in Ireland that can talk rings around the biggest of bull****ters. That I can respect. Expats in country living their lives through sign language and English tourist hotlines, not so much, and I'd imagine your average Korean feels the same way.0 -
RadioClash wrote: »Depends what standards you set for yourself. If you think ordering food making hand gestures and not using the host language isn't rude then carry on doing it.
Over 70% of human communication is non verbal, making gestures and using body language is perfectly normal.RadioClash wrote: »Just consider how you are perceived. Koreans are generally better at English(including those that have never left the peninsula) than Western expats are at speaking Korean. And I've met Koreans in Ireland that can talk rings around the biggest of bull****ters. That I can respect.
Well duhhhhhh, Koreans have been learning English for 20 - 30 years + Einstein!!!!....even still a lot of them can barely say, My name is, in English!!! My university students (a top ten uni in Seoul), is a prime example! Koreans bull**** as well, didn't you know that?
I've met some Koreans who speak excellent English, and they've generally put in the hard graft and spent lots of money doing it. I've also met overseas Koreans, who are still terrible at English, and speak Korean overseas, meaning they waste their own time and their parents money.
I have a few friends that are fluent in Korean and you're COMPLETELY WRONG, if you think speaking Korean always gets them respect. One friend that works on TV, told me that he gets more respect when he uses English with his boss (meaning he doesn't get treated like a Korean in a lower position). Another Gyopo friend told me the exact same thing.RadioClash wrote: »Expats in country living their lives through sign language and English tourist hotlines, not so much, and I'd imagine your average Korean feels the same way.
The reality is, you speak for yourself and your experiences, you have absolutely no idea what the average Korean thinks or feels. I pity you, if that's how you live your life.
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Over 70% of human communication is non verbal, making gestures and using body language is perfectly normal.
Well duhhhhhh, Koreans have been learning English for 20 - 30 years + Einstein!!!!....even still a lot of them can barely say, My name is, in English!!! My university students (a top ten uni in Seoul), is a prime example! Koreans bull**** as well, didn't you know that?
I've met some Koreans who speak excellent English, and they've generally put in the hard graft and spent lots of money doing it. I've also met overseas Koreans, who are still terrible at English, and speak Korean overseas, meaning they waste their own time and their parents money.
I have a few friends that are fluent in Korean and you're COMPLETELY WRONG, if you think speaking Korean always gets them respect. One friend that works on TV, told me that he gets more respect when he uses English with his boss (meaning he doesn't get treated like a Korean in a lower position). Another Gyopo friend told me the exact same thing.
The reality is, you speak for yourself and your experiences, you have absolutely no idea what the average Korean thinks or feels. I pity you, if that's how you live your life.
Don't go throwing insults around, it's unbecoming.
I never said it always get's respect, don't put words in my mouth. Generally those who learn it get accorded more respect from Koreans, that is more than a fair statement and I'll stand behind it. Humans have moved on from grunting and pointing, I'm glad, and thanks for the non verbal statistic you got from day one of your TEFL course.
It doesn't matter about the standard of English of your students. I know who I respect more, those that try (way to insult your students btw, a top teacher you'll make). Am I right in thinking that their English is far superior to your Korean? Many students of English have never set foot in a country where English is widely spoken, what's your excuse for your poor Korean? You live here for goodness sakes.
As for your friend as you said, that's all individual experience. Gyopo's and foreigners alike get their knickers in a twist about honorifics and the level to which they are spoken to. I'm not surprised, it's an aspect of the language very difficult to digest when you learn it and how to respond to it. But you wouldn't know much about that.
Anyway, Correct me if I'm wrong but you seem to be suggesting that in lieu of learning the native language, people pointing and grunting for years of their life are accorded equal respect to those who actually have by Koreans? You actually think that? Here's a tip, ask your Korean workmates/friends who they actually respect more. Expats level of Korean is probably the main gripe that Koreans have with 'us'. Astonishing stuff, you live in a fantasy land.
Good news everyone, no-one has to learn languages anymore, we've been doing it wrong all along according to Chalad.0
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