Topic: New to the Forum...

[tob55]

I just wanted to drop a quick hello to other members of the forum who are presently working in Korea...If you have lived and worked in Korea you should be applauded for taking the chance to an entirely different culture than you might be accustomed to...Living and working in South Korea can be the best of times, but it has proved to be the worst of times for some people...

[airpuka]

amazing i have been waiting for 2 months for someone to post something in the korean board

thanks

[tob55]

I wanted to join TEFL Watch for several reasons, but I am going to try and see what is being said about the different training providers out there. I have an involvement in the training industry and even though I don't want to infringe on the advertising policies of the forum, I will say it pays to keep track of other programs and what is being said about them...I truly believe high quality delivery and student support is vital to a successful program. With that said, I work and live in Korea, a wonderful place for the most part...I will see if I can drive more traffic to the forum and get a few more people posting in this area...Thanks for your reply...I hope it is the beginning of many posts in this area of the forum...

[Nemesis]

I wanted to join TEFL Watch for several reasons, but I am going to try and see what is being said about the different training providers out there. I have an involvement in the training industry and even though I don't want to infringe on the advertising policies of the forum, I will say it pays to keep track of other programs and what is being said about them...I truly believe high quality delivery and student support is vital to a successful program. With that said, I work and live in Korea, a wonderful place for the most part...I will see if I can drive more traffic to the forum and get a few more people posting in this area...Thanks for your reply...I hope it is the beginning of many posts in this area of the forum...

You were kind of enough to pm me about your training. That's for a different thread. I see no problem with anyone putting a link to a site they have in their signature as long as it doesn't link to spammy or illegal content. The way I look at it, everyone has a voice to share and every opinion counts. The least I can do to repay my users is to let them link to other content..and not just let them, encourage them.

[tob55]

Good points, I am just thankful a place like this exists for the benefit of people in the EFL-ESL industry around the world. I know in Korea there is a lot of skepticism about many things...I am the member of several other forums, and I have seen the good and bad of several...I thought this would be a good place to come since I hear quite a bit about it through other boards...I am interested in seeing what can be done to improve the perception of Korean instruction...I honestly find Korea a wonderful place to live and work, but many people are quite turned off with Korea for their own reasons...

It is time to start highlighting some of the benefits we have in this country, because it truly is one of the best places to work as an EFL-ESL instructor... 

[airpuka]

I think the biggest problem with korea is the slimy old corrupt principals and hogwon owners that dont give a crap about the improvement of their students.An example would be trying to squeeze as much students into one class as possible. and another is making their own english books that are written by koreans.How the hell is a korean going to write a book about how to speak english.The only reason they do it is so they can force the parents to buy their books to study at their hogwons and the grammar and spelling in those books are ridiculous.Also koreans are too nationalistic for me, everything here is ether samsung or LG and its starting to piss me off.I only got a couple more months on my contract then me and the wife are headed back to thailand.

[wangsuda]

I had a great time teaching in Korea. Once I proved my worth, many doors opened up for me to supplement my income. IF I wasn't so settled in Thailand, I would go back.

[tob55]

As a general rule, what are the significant differences between teaching in Thailand and South Korea, besides the obvious language and culture thing? I have visted Thailand on vacation, but I am sure living and working there would be quite different. Once upon a time I thought it would be interesting to see about starting a training business there, but opted against it since my life in Korea is so good and my circumstances are getting better as time passes...