I lived a taught in Korea for a year in 1996-7 and absolutely loved it. It depends on your mindset and why you want to go. I wanted to learn about a different place, and have fun. The price you pay for the experience and the memories is a year away from friends, family, and everything familiar. That in itself is probably the biggest learning experience ? since any place with a McDonalds in every city center really isn?t that different from the US.
I worked for Wonderland and taught from age 3 (really!) to adult, didn?t speak any Korean and it worked out fine. Most of my students wanted to learn, and I believe the experience really taught me a lot about communicating. By the end I was able to sit in the teachers room, surrounded by Koreans speaking Korean, and just from knowing them all well, and the voice inflections & tones, and knowing a few works here and there ? I swear I was able to know what they were talking about most of the time. Not knowing English will not be a problem.
I lived in Pusan ? the second largest city. I?m happy I wasn?t stationed in Seoul, but might have been happier in a smaller city. Basically ? the smaller the city ? the more isolated and unique you?ll be. In Pusan, I?d usually run into at least one other westerner when I was shopping or whatever. In some of the small cities I visited I was even more unique. Seoul is a big, international city, with plenty of foreigners. It depends on what you want. Being in too small of a city would mean a lot less to do of course.
I was able to save 10k. I had to be a little cheap, but I also didn?t teach many private classes ? which were not allowed with my contract. Everyone did them anyway, although some teachers did get kicked out because of it. My school was a chain catering towards kids called Wonderland. It was pretty good, although I believe my franchise shut down shortly after I left. Schools are hit or miss ? I haven?t heard of the one you mention. Worst case about that ? if you hate something about the school, they cheat you, or the living conditions they supply are bad ? you can always try to change when there.
Next topic ? food. Korean food rocks. Koreans love their food ? they are passionate about it like Italians. And with good reason because it is simply fantastic. Most dishes are very spicy, and you?ll have to ?grow into it? a bit. In the beginning I was gulping down water between bites. By the end I was taking hot peppers and dipping them into hot pepper sauce just like the Koreans. I have lost some of my appreciation for Korean food now because I?m not immersed and having it every day. But I love to be able to go to a Korean restaurant in the states and say ? let me have it hot ? Korean hot, not American hot.
Overall ? if you are in the mindset to try something new, get out and experience the world and experience life ? then I say definitely go for it. Teaching in Korea is a pretty easy and profitable way to get the experience. Many people get hooked, get the travel bug, and barely never come back ? they stay in Korea or travel to different countries teaching English. Be prepared to grow as a person.
I worked for Wonderland and taught from age 3 (really!) to adult, didn?t speak any Korean and it worked out fine. Most of my students wanted to learn, and I believe the experience really taught me a lot about communicating. By the end I was able to sit in the teachers room, surrounded by Koreans speaking Korean, and just from knowing them all well, and the voice inflections & tones, and knowing a few works here and there ? I swear I was able to know what they were talking about most of the time. Not knowing English will not be a problem.
I lived in Pusan ? the second largest city. I?m happy I wasn?t stationed in Seoul, but might have been happier in a smaller city. Basically ? the smaller the city ? the more isolated and unique you?ll be. In Pusan, I?d usually run into at least one other westerner when I was shopping or whatever. In some of the small cities I visited I was even more unique. Seoul is a big, international city, with plenty of foreigners. It depends on what you want. Being in too small of a city would mean a lot less to do of course.
I was able to save 10k. I had to be a little cheap, but I also didn?t teach many private classes ? which were not allowed with my contract. Everyone did them anyway, although some teachers did get kicked out because of it. My school was a chain catering towards kids called Wonderland. It was pretty good, although I believe my franchise shut down shortly after I left. Schools are hit or miss ? I haven?t heard of the one you mention. Worst case about that ? if you hate something about the school, they cheat you, or the living conditions they supply are bad ? you can always try to change when there.
Next topic ? food. Korean food rocks. Koreans love their food ? they are passionate about it like Italians. And with good reason because it is simply fantastic. Most dishes are very spicy, and you?ll have to ?grow into it? a bit. In the beginning I was gulping down water between bites. By the end I was taking hot peppers and dipping them into hot pepper sauce just like the Koreans. I have lost some of my appreciation for Korean food now because I?m not immersed and having it every day. But I love to be able to go to a Korean restaurant in the states and say ? let me have it hot ? Korean hot, not American hot.
Overall ? if you are in the mindset to try something new, get out and experience the world and experience life ? then I say definitely go for it. Teaching in Korea is a pretty easy and profitable way to get the experience. Many people get hooked, get the travel bug, and barely never come back ? they stay in Korea or travel to different countries teaching English. Be prepared to grow as a person.
Can you enable private messages or send me an IM on AOL Instant messenger: LordJezo?
I want to talk to you more about this.
I want to talk to you more about this.
I kind of remember getting scanned by some "kid's college" or something in Korea once... Sorry, it was fairly off topic
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