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TESL in Seoul Mike Risi
Sup /trv/

Has anyone taught English in Seoul? I'm doing my TESL certification this month, and will be heading there at the end of the summer. Any input would be great!

Pic related.
>> Anonymous
dont go
>> Anonymous
The market for teaching English in Japan is certainly more crowded but I'd recommend it over Korea for a few reasons. With a TESL you shouldn't have a problem getting a job there anyway. First, however much anyone likes to talk about Japan being racist, it's certainly less so than South Korea. Rather than sling anecdotes back and forth, just look up the percentage of marriages to Westerns in each country; far higher in Japan. On a related front, relationships in Japan nowadays don't differ that much from those in the West. On the other hand, in Korea you'll find loads of girls in their 20s who still have an 11PM curfew. Finally, South Korea is developing nicely but it's still not nearly as developed/first world as Japan.
>> Anonymous
I'm in Seoul now, what do you want to know? You can pick up some major cash tutoring on the side. I love Seoul and I think I might do a third year here. Yeah lots of girls live with thier families, but it doesn't stop anything. It's weird all the couples venues that pop up when you can't go over to each others homes. And yeah, lots of South Koreans are racist I've noticed. But what do you expect? They've only really been open to other races that aren't asian for about 50 years. I've got a beautiful Korean girlfriend, and its never caused an issue.
>> Anonymous
>>26459
Well it sounds like you're making the best of your situation and having a good time; good for you. I'm not saying South Korea is bad, I just think Japan is a better choice unless the OP has some specific interest in Korea.

BTW, my Japanese girlfriend's parents quite like me and today gladly gave me permission to marry their daughter when I asked out of courtesy. Their response probably would have been quite different if it was South Korea and not Japan.
>> Anonymous
>>26461
Yeah my girl has mentioned how "conservative" her parents are, but I haven't even met them yet so we'll give it time. And yeah I've heard of ESL teachers going to japan on vacation and either not coming back or wishing they were in japan. I.E. the "wish i was in japan" tshirts... which I wouldn't recommend. If I were you OP, I'd do a few years in both. I've loved the time I spent here so far, getting to know the Korean culture and its people has been horizon widening to say the least.
>> Anonymous
jews of asia
pig disgusting
>> Anonymous
>>jews of asia

I believe that honor goes to chinks.
>> Anonymous
>>26469
Good quality responses and you follow up with this shit. Great.
>> Anonymous
>>26436
Korean here, lulz.

Despite being Korean, though, I'm planning to go to both Japan and Korea. Korea certainly has close minded view compared to Japan but like>>26459said, it's not because people in Korea are exactly racist but it's rare to see anyone other than Koreans there so people really don't know how to act around foreigners.

But to be realistic, it's a different experience for everyone: I've heard of people teaching in Korea loving it there and saying stuff like how they feel really welcomed and vice versa. Give a chance and if you don't like it there, gtfo there is my advice.
>> Mike Risi
>>26459
OP here. How did you meet her? How's the language barrier?
Also, have you got in any trouble with tutoring on the side? I've heard of people being deported because of that.

Are drinks as expensive as I've heard? I've heard 20,000 won for one drink!
>> Anonymous
>>26491
soju is cheap as all fuck
>> Anonymous
Korean chicks are hot.
>> Anonymous
How long does it take to get TESL certified? can you do online courses?
>> Anonymous
OP here

My course is 60 hours, but I will be doing an extra 40 hour module. Most schools want 100 hours to get any extra pay, but a TESL certification will help you get jobs more easily.

You just need a university degree to teach English in Korea. I am doing the TESL to ensure I will get a better paying job, hopefully with the SMOE (Seoul Metro Office of Education)

There are online courses, I'm sure. My course is with Oxford. I don't think they do online TESL certification.
>> Anonymous
>>26461
STFU and your weeaboo love. I'm married to a Korean and I met her parents and they loved me. So did all of her aunts, uncles, and grandmother. Koreans aren't as racist as you think. It's just because they hate the japanisu.
>> Anonymous
>>26491
Koreans drink like crazy so domestic stuff is dirt cheap but imports are really expensive.
>> Anonymous
>Koreans drink like crazy so domestic stuff is dirt cheap.

True, but that's largely due to the fact that theirs is the only beer horrible enough to rival American beer in replicating that stale dog-piss taste.
>> Anonymous
Actually Hite isn't bad. It's the only light beer I like.
>> Anonymous
>>26491
I met her for a language exchange and we just started seeing each other all the time and dating. Yeah you can get deported for tutoring on the side, but everyone does it. 20000 for one drink? Never heard of it. Some bars in the Hongdae district let forginers drink for free, hoping it will bring in Koreans. Which it does sometimes. And yeah, Soju is cheap as fuck, but it gets old real quick.
>> Anonymous
>>26700
That's awesome. I will be doing a language exchange for sure. I am very partial to Korean girls, that's for sure. That's a lot of what influenced me to go there, aside from the governmental policies that don't scare the shit out of me (see China).

Thanks for the opinions. Keep em coming.
>> Anonymous
>>26586

Korean chicks are fucking bat shit insane psycho loco.
>> Anonymous
5 dollah me love you long time.
>> Anonymous
>>26459
>beautiful Korean
you lost me
>> Anonymous
>>26917
Care to elaborate?
>> Anonymous
Do you need TESL certification to teach in Korea?
>> Anonymous
>South Korea
Enjoy the corruption/bribery
Anyway, all Koreans I already encoutered in my life were really nice. I don't know if there is really racism there... I guess it won't be more important than in other Asian countries

>Jews of Asia
You're talking about the Chinks, am i right ?
>> Anonymous
>>27535
No but you do need at least a bachelor degree. In fact you need one to teach English in just about any country that's not a shithole.
>> Anonymous
>>27722
What if you went to art college?
Does that count?
>> Anonymous
>>27729
As long as you have a bachelor's degree in something, you should be able to teach.
>> Anonymous
Korean chicks have the best feet evar. Srsly.
>> Anonymous
Korean chicks taste like chicken and scream too LOUD! They can take a few good punches before going down too.
>> Anonymous
>>27992

my ex was a korean she had really big feet for such a small girl was kinda a turn off
>> Anonymous
Head to North Korea, it's better than the fascist puppet government in the south.
>> Anonymous
How visible is Pump it Up over there?
>> Anonymous
Has anyone actually experienced racism or anti-American sentiment in South Korea, particularly Seoul? I am Canadian, but to them I guess Canadians and Americans are the same.
>> Anonymous
>>28221
lol, hello thar Kim!
>> Anonymous
>>28822
Sometimes I read about in the news and sometimes solderers stationed there tell me about it. Asians tend to be more racist than you think but that is true for most of the world.
>> Anonymous
>>28822
I didn't experience any the 3 weeks I was there. I was mostly in the southeast where tourists are less common so I got a lot of looks and school kids would say "hi!" and try to talk to me in English. I didn't draw nearly as much attention in Seoul, I think because they get more tourists .

I know there is some anti-American sentiment because of us having military over there and some incidents that have occurred with the military (rapes and a tank running over two junior high girls).
>> Anonymous
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Also decided this was a good time to post a picture!
>> Anonymous
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>> Anonymous
This might sound stupid, but I don't know anything about teaching languages in foreign countries, so bear with me.

Do you have to learn at least somewhat their language first? I just imagine it would be pretty hard to start teaching someone the very basics of English if you have no common words to speak to each other first.

Also, do you teach people who are completely new to English, or is it a semi-advanced group, where people at least know somewhat what the fuck you are talking about?

Thanks for the input, anon.
>> Anonymous
>>29209
no you dont need to know any korean to be able to teach. You'll be working at a hagwon, which is like a after school school kids go to. Most of the kids you will teach will already know enough english to communicate, you're just there to reinforce it and make it better.

>>28822
I've been swore at when I was with my korean girl, thats about it.

And yeah, American, Canadian, British, if you are white then you're white. All foreigners are looked down on though, regardless of your skin color. See they don't discriminate...but really they've only had an open society since what 1960? It's hard to blame them.
>> Anonymous
>>29219

Thanks for answering my question. I definitely need to look into this more, sounds like a great fucking experience.
>> Anonymous
I remember these bitches giving me the stink-eye all the time when I was working in Seoul

But otherwise it's was fine
>> Anonymous
>>29255
>> Anonymous
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>>29255
No problem. Here's a cityscape photo I took last Saturday to entice you.
>> sage
Shit, I'm black and headed east to teach english. Got two cousins, one in China, one in Korea teaching. Figured I'd follow their lead. Hope I don't have people staring and whispering everywhere I go. >_<
>> Anonymous
>>29271
Nice picture. Did you take that near the North Seoul Tower? I have some pictures from up there but it was with a crappy camera late at night so they're all blurry and can't see much.
>> Anonymous
OP here...
These are the kind of replies I was hoping for. Thanks everyone.

>>29205
>>29204

Thanks for the pictures. Makes me even more excited. :)

>>29209

As others have said, they do know some basic English, and it will be my job to improve on it.

To anyone thinking of teaching English, consider doing a certification course. It gives you more opportunities and options for who you will actually be teaching. I'd prefer to teach young adults myself.
>> Anonymous
>>29277
I did. I pressed my camera against the window to keep it stabilized and set my shutter speed for as long as possible. Came out nice I think.

If anyone wants more photos of Seoul and surrounding area, check out my picasa shit:
http://picasaweb.google.com/vagrant
>> Anonymous
>>29273
You will. If you're a black male though, you will be able to pick up chicks even easier than a white guy.
>> Anonymous
>>29342
keep telling yourself that nigger and maybe it will come true. the only asian chicks that the average nignog gets are wh0res, girls looking for a way to get into the US, or really ugly.

And above also applies to white guys also except the girls - instead of being really ugly - will be just a little ugly.
>> Anonymous
>>29349

Aww butthurt cuz your still a virgin and daddy doesn't think your mouth is pretty anymore?