Which Asian country is easier for a Middle Eastern to live and work in: Japan, South Korea, HK or Singapore?
Thanks Ahm, Also do you have any opinion on South Korea by any chance?
Other - Asia Pacific - 2 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
Japan definately
2 :
Historically Japan and its people do not welcome foreigners to live in their land, that's why they make it so difficult for foreigners to survive there without learning Japanese and behaving like them. On the surface they try to appear polite but they never bother to even guess what a foreigner is trying to say. Hong Kong and Singapore are just the opposite since they're more used to be visited by foreigners. These 2 places are quite similar, English is widely used, people are extremely helpful towards foreingers. Many say Singapore is less fun/vibrant and freedom of expressions are restricted by its govt.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Anyone ever thought about teaching English in South Korea
Anyone ever thought about teaching English in South Korea?
I work in South Korea teaching English and it has been one of the most interesting experiences of my life. I actually don't want to leave my school but have to in a couple of months. Anyone out there ever thought about doing a job like this?
Teaching - 2 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
Before I teach there I will ave to learn about their language and study it real hard. I don't want them to ask me a queston and I don't know what it means. I do look forward to becoming a teacher one day though.
2 :
I actually plan on doing this at some point. I think it would be a great experience both in teaching and just regarding life in general.
I work in South Korea teaching English and it has been one of the most interesting experiences of my life. I actually don't want to leave my school but have to in a couple of months. Anyone out there ever thought about doing a job like this?
Teaching - 2 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
Before I teach there I will ave to learn about their language and study it real hard. I don't want them to ask me a queston and I don't know what it means. I do look forward to becoming a teacher one day though.
2 :
I actually plan on doing this at some point. I think it would be a great experience both in teaching and just regarding life in general.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
If I buy an electronic device in South Korea will it work in Japan? Do they use the same plugs
If I buy an electronic device in South Korea will it work in Japan? Do they use the same plugs?
Like a laptop or something similar.
Other - Electronics - 1 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
If they don't, get an adapter.
Like a laptop or something similar.
Other - Electronics - 1 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
If they don't, get an adapter.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Anyone have any experiences (good or bad) while living and working in South Korea
Anyone have any experiences (good or bad) while living and working in South Korea?
Im currently living and working as a teacher in china. Got a job offer from South Korea but i don't know much about korea. I can stay in china for another year by extending my contract. Don't know what to do. please let me know your experience in South Korea. PS: I will be working with EPIK. The salary is 2.3million p/m. Is it a good job?
Korea - 8 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
I have been here for 3 years. The language is difficult but I have picked up enough to get by. Get a reference of the employer that you intend to work for. You can expect to get modest housing and income of 2.2-2.7 million won. The exchange rate is down, but is still a pretty good deal. I work in public school. I like that more than an academy. But it is a huge industry and there are many good companies with a solid reputation. I have met more people with good experiences than bad and I have met many teachers here. There are always little hassles but for the most part it is a really nice lifestyle.
2 :
The shopping is good and the food is great. Don't expect to much hospitality. You might get shoved around a lot and smoke blown in your face. Don't expect someone to say excuse me or I am sorry. Don't see to many people smiling. It looks like everyone there has had a rough life and are unhappy. Maybe you should visit first before you take the job. I think it might be cleaner than China according to my wife who has been to China. We have both been to Korea and still go there ever so often since it is right across the ocean from Japan where we live.
3 :
As a stranger to the culture, of course you're going to run in to some hassles. But like the first poster, I'm going on my third year here and have had primarily good experiences. Any bad things have been minor nnoyances at best. As far as looking for a new job, just follow a couple basic rules before accepting and you should be fine. 1) Be upfront about what you're looking for when it comes to hours and age levels, vacation time, etc. Don't take anything for granted. And if they look as if they don't want to honor the agreement, hold your ground. You have all the power in the relationship, not them. 2) Make sure you talk to a previous teacher who is no longer employed by them. IF you can't get a phone call lined up or an email address,for the former teacher, don't bother taking the job. This way you can interview them about the school, working conditions, apartment, etc. and they have no reason to lie because they're already free and clear. If they are still working there and don't like the job, were stiffed on pay or something, they may lie to you just to get you to sign on just so they can get the hell out. Other than that, Korea is just like China in that you'll get out of it what you put in to it. If you take some time to learn a bit about their culture, pick up some language and go out and mingle with the natives, you'll probably have a great time. If you become a hermit and only leave your apartment to teach, you'll most likely be miserable and tell everyone it sucked. It's all in how you play the game. -S-
4 :
Epik is public school so you'll most likely get your money. Don't accept any assignments in the hinterland they suck.
5 :
2.3 mil is about standard and is a pretty good living, as long as you get a free apartment thrown in on top. Will you be in Seoul? There's a LOT of fun things to do in Seoul. Some people take jobs in more rural areas and love it, but I've heard of many people who get stuck in some village and end up hating it. Of course, South Korea's not a huge country and it has a highly efficient transportation network, so few corners of the country are more than a few hours train or bus ride from the capital. With only a little discipline, you can save a pretty reasonable amount of money working in Korea. In China it's much harder since the actual pay is far lower (as you know, it's balanced out by the very low cost of living which makes China a great place to live but not nearly as good as Korea for saving money). Korea is far cleaner than the big cities in China. Even Seoul, while polluted by American standards, almost always has blue skies. The exceptions are during the yellow dust season (which extends for a week to a couple of months and is in fact dust from China's Gobi Desert blowing across the peninsula in late winter and into spring) and a few weeks in summer when there's a bit of a smog problem. Anyway, yes, come to Korea. You'll love it. The streets are safe, the people are very kind, the pay is good, the lifestyle is wonderful and there's so much to do and see.
6 :
i havent worked in public schools, just hagwons. i think the biggest complaints from the friends that i had that worked at public schools were overbearing, control freak co-teachers. or the other extreme...the co-teacher who is never there in ur class doing their job. 'desk-warming' is also an annoyance for my friends. if u dont have a class for the rest of the day and are caught up w/ lesson plans and ur school work, why stay there and not just go home? i dont know the number of students u teach per class in china but in public schools its usually about 30-35+. on the plus side, vacation (from what my friends tell me) are much better than hagwons. 4+ weeks for ps as opposed to usually 10-14 days for a haggie. the most difficult part work-wise can be the communication (or lack there of) from ur korean co-workers and upper management. from my experience, the foreigner is usually the last one to know. or at times, they hold a meeting completely in korean and dont tell u whats going on. or they dont tell u plans have changed until the last minute (sometimes done to keep 'harmony' throughout instead of telling u this upfront). while i totally agree w/ the previous poster that said u get what u put in. there also can be some truth in what my friend told me as well...sometimes u can only be as good as ur school allows u to be.
7 :
EPIK is probably one of the best ways to get started in Korea and 2.3 million won is pretty good. Hagwons are run by robber barons just out to make a quick buck, and public schools are far less corrupt. I worked at a Korean elementary school as well as hagwons. The former was the best young learners teaching experience I've ever had, and the latter, well, was barely bearable. Honestly I'd recommend you stay in China simply because you're already set up and adjusted there, and Chinese is a more useful language. Your standard of living in China will be much higher than the standard of living for EFL teachers in Korea -- they are strictly "middle class" in Korea, whereas in China you're probably upper-middle class. Korea is probably a little bit more racist than China, and the visa system is stricter than China. Are you working at a public school in China? If so, I'd recommend you stay in China. The short-term money isn't worth it, and honestly, these days, the savings gap is narrowing between China and Korea. Food, beverages, and basic things in Korea are much more expensive than they are in China, and this will eat into your savings. A teacher making 8,000 RMB in China would probably save the same amount as a lowest-rung EPIK or SMOE teacher making 1.8 million a month in Korea due to the difference in the cost of living. In China, you can get a meal for $1, but you'd be hard pressed to find one in Korea for less than $3, and even those are getting rarer with inflation over the past year or two.
8 :
I've heard poor reports on EPIK. I was in Korea and worked in a university which was good as far as the teaching went i.e. good students. I was at a top rated school though. The administration was erratic and didn't respect English education. I am now in China. I like it more than Korea as there are better travel and weekend opportunities here. I love Chinese food, whereas in Korea I liked a few of the dishes, but not that many. Wages are stagnant in Korea. 2.3 mill is typical and you should be able to save, but not much. A far better deal is the JET Programme. You might have missed their deadline. They offer the best pay and decent work conditions. I liked living in Japan better than Korea.
Im currently living and working as a teacher in china. Got a job offer from South Korea but i don't know much about korea. I can stay in china for another year by extending my contract. Don't know what to do. please let me know your experience in South Korea. PS: I will be working with EPIK. The salary is 2.3million p/m. Is it a good job?
Korea - 8 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
I have been here for 3 years. The language is difficult but I have picked up enough to get by. Get a reference of the employer that you intend to work for. You can expect to get modest housing and income of 2.2-2.7 million won. The exchange rate is down, but is still a pretty good deal. I work in public school. I like that more than an academy. But it is a huge industry and there are many good companies with a solid reputation. I have met more people with good experiences than bad and I have met many teachers here. There are always little hassles but for the most part it is a really nice lifestyle.
2 :
The shopping is good and the food is great. Don't expect to much hospitality. You might get shoved around a lot and smoke blown in your face. Don't expect someone to say excuse me or I am sorry. Don't see to many people smiling. It looks like everyone there has had a rough life and are unhappy. Maybe you should visit first before you take the job. I think it might be cleaner than China according to my wife who has been to China. We have both been to Korea and still go there ever so often since it is right across the ocean from Japan where we live.
3 :
As a stranger to the culture, of course you're going to run in to some hassles. But like the first poster, I'm going on my third year here and have had primarily good experiences. Any bad things have been minor nnoyances at best. As far as looking for a new job, just follow a couple basic rules before accepting and you should be fine. 1) Be upfront about what you're looking for when it comes to hours and age levels, vacation time, etc. Don't take anything for granted. And if they look as if they don't want to honor the agreement, hold your ground. You have all the power in the relationship, not them. 2) Make sure you talk to a previous teacher who is no longer employed by them. IF you can't get a phone call lined up or an email address,for the former teacher, don't bother taking the job. This way you can interview them about the school, working conditions, apartment, etc. and they have no reason to lie because they're already free and clear. If they are still working there and don't like the job, were stiffed on pay or something, they may lie to you just to get you to sign on just so they can get the hell out. Other than that, Korea is just like China in that you'll get out of it what you put in to it. If you take some time to learn a bit about their culture, pick up some language and go out and mingle with the natives, you'll probably have a great time. If you become a hermit and only leave your apartment to teach, you'll most likely be miserable and tell everyone it sucked. It's all in how you play the game. -S-
4 :
Epik is public school so you'll most likely get your money. Don't accept any assignments in the hinterland they suck.
5 :
2.3 mil is about standard and is a pretty good living, as long as you get a free apartment thrown in on top. Will you be in Seoul? There's a LOT of fun things to do in Seoul. Some people take jobs in more rural areas and love it, but I've heard of many people who get stuck in some village and end up hating it. Of course, South Korea's not a huge country and it has a highly efficient transportation network, so few corners of the country are more than a few hours train or bus ride from the capital. With only a little discipline, you can save a pretty reasonable amount of money working in Korea. In China it's much harder since the actual pay is far lower (as you know, it's balanced out by the very low cost of living which makes China a great place to live but not nearly as good as Korea for saving money). Korea is far cleaner than the big cities in China. Even Seoul, while polluted by American standards, almost always has blue skies. The exceptions are during the yellow dust season (which extends for a week to a couple of months and is in fact dust from China's Gobi Desert blowing across the peninsula in late winter and into spring) and a few weeks in summer when there's a bit of a smog problem. Anyway, yes, come to Korea. You'll love it. The streets are safe, the people are very kind, the pay is good, the lifestyle is wonderful and there's so much to do and see.
6 :
i havent worked in public schools, just hagwons. i think the biggest complaints from the friends that i had that worked at public schools were overbearing, control freak co-teachers. or the other extreme...the co-teacher who is never there in ur class doing their job. 'desk-warming' is also an annoyance for my friends. if u dont have a class for the rest of the day and are caught up w/ lesson plans and ur school work, why stay there and not just go home? i dont know the number of students u teach per class in china but in public schools its usually about 30-35+. on the plus side, vacation (from what my friends tell me) are much better than hagwons. 4+ weeks for ps as opposed to usually 10-14 days for a haggie. the most difficult part work-wise can be the communication (or lack there of) from ur korean co-workers and upper management. from my experience, the foreigner is usually the last one to know. or at times, they hold a meeting completely in korean and dont tell u whats going on. or they dont tell u plans have changed until the last minute (sometimes done to keep 'harmony' throughout instead of telling u this upfront). while i totally agree w/ the previous poster that said u get what u put in. there also can be some truth in what my friend told me as well...sometimes u can only be as good as ur school allows u to be.
7 :
EPIK is probably one of the best ways to get started in Korea and 2.3 million won is pretty good. Hagwons are run by robber barons just out to make a quick buck, and public schools are far less corrupt. I worked at a Korean elementary school as well as hagwons. The former was the best young learners teaching experience I've ever had, and the latter, well, was barely bearable. Honestly I'd recommend you stay in China simply because you're already set up and adjusted there, and Chinese is a more useful language. Your standard of living in China will be much higher than the standard of living for EFL teachers in Korea -- they are strictly "middle class" in Korea, whereas in China you're probably upper-middle class. Korea is probably a little bit more racist than China, and the visa system is stricter than China. Are you working at a public school in China? If so, I'd recommend you stay in China. The short-term money isn't worth it, and honestly, these days, the savings gap is narrowing between China and Korea. Food, beverages, and basic things in Korea are much more expensive than they are in China, and this will eat into your savings. A teacher making 8,000 RMB in China would probably save the same amount as a lowest-rung EPIK or SMOE teacher making 1.8 million a month in Korea due to the difference in the cost of living. In China, you can get a meal for $1, but you'd be hard pressed to find one in Korea for less than $3, and even those are getting rarer with inflation over the past year or two.
8 :
I've heard poor reports on EPIK. I was in Korea and worked in a university which was good as far as the teaching went i.e. good students. I was at a top rated school though. The administration was erratic and didn't respect English education. I am now in China. I like it more than Korea as there are better travel and weekend opportunities here. I love Chinese food, whereas in Korea I liked a few of the dishes, but not that many. Wages are stagnant in Korea. 2.3 mill is typical and you should be able to save, but not much. A far better deal is the JET Programme. You might have missed their deadline. They offer the best pay and decent work conditions. I liked living in Japan better than Korea.
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