Teach English in South Korea

Ok, so I have received so many inquiries (and still receiving them) since I moved from Houston to South Korea October 12, 2009. And, I am so excited to answer every question but I have never liked repeating myself so I decided to give as much information as I can about teaching overseas. Now, I may have to split this up into a couple of hubs because there is so much information that goes into but I hope it will be helpful to you.

Ok, so I have received so many inquiries (and still receiving them) since I moved from Houston to South Korea October 12, 2009. And, I am so excited to answer every question but I have never liked repeating myself so I decided to give as much information as I can about teaching overseas. Now, I may have to split this up into a couple of hubs because there is so much information that goes into but I hope it will be helpful to you.

Why did you decide to go overseas to work?

I have always wanted to live overseas. My dream has always been to live in the Caribbean which I believe I will end up eventually. Anyways, I have a friend who has been in South Korea teaching English for about two years and we would randomly talk about her experience. God allowed me to go through a time in my life where everything was completely uncomfortable and all the fears I had about leaving home began to drift away. I had a lot of peace about moving to South Korea and was ready to experience something new and exciting in my life. I wanted to do something no one else was doing. I wanted to move outside of my comfort zone and learn a new culture. I wanted to learn more about myself and I wanted the space and opportunity to go through a complete transformation.

Why did you choose teaching and South Korea?

I chose to live in South Korea because I already knew someone there and after doing some research it seemed like a pretty safe and interesting place to move to. I chose teaching honestly because the money was decent and it would give me time to work on my own goals. I came into this knowing I would not teach forever and since I have been here that has been confirmed…lol (kids have so much energy). But, I also came to teach to give my best in order to help these kids reach their full potential in my English class.

Did you find your job independently or did you use a recruiter?  Why?

Though you can go independently or through a recruiter I chose to go through a recruiter because they offered more direction in the process. Before this I never stepped foot on land outside of the U.S. so I needed all the help I could get.  I actually went through Adventure Teaching (www.adventureteaching.com) and I recommend them to everyone. One thing I will suggest is if your go through a recruiter go through someone you feel comfortable with who is patient with you and answers all your questions.

I have been here for almost five months now and I am really enjoying myself. Does that mean everyday is great…nope. But, it amazes me every day that I am here blessed with this opportunity. From what I hear I adjusted pretty quick. You can always check out how I am at the moment via http://theblackorean2009.wordpress.com . This is definitely a once in the life time opportunity you hear people talk about.

How safe is it?

Of course that is a major issue to consider when going anywhere inside or outside the states. After much research I realized South Korea is one of the safest places to live especially for females moving overseas.  But, it is right next door to North Korea…And? South Korea is actually very popular among females. Females find South Korea very safe. Many ladies have told me and I agree that I feel safer here than in the states. South Korea is actually one of the most law-abiding countries in the world. It is not unusual to see small kids playing and walking around together at any time of day or night. But, please do not use this as an excuse to not use common sense and good judgment. Though crime is extremely low…South Korea like everywhere is NOT crime free.

One of the main challenges I faced was being an African-American woman in a small town (not found on many maps) that only housed their first foreigner three years ago. People have literally bumped into things staring at me, stopped mid-sentence to gasp, and oh yes…I have even been followed. I did not always get the best treatment at first but I received some very good advice from my neighbor who got here about a month before me and happens to also be an African-American woman. She told me to make time everyday to walk around the town so the people become familiar with you. So, even now I still do it. I acknowledge every person I see with a smile and hello (Ayang-hi-sayo). I still have people who stare and gasp now and then but I it makes me feel like somewhat of a superstar so I don’t pay it any mind.

Another major challenge was the 24/7 poker faces. I am from Houston, TX and the south is known for its southern hospitality. So, to move to the other side of the country to live with people who rarely smile (especially when you first get there) can be hard to adjust to. It would actually frustrate me sometimes then I remembered something I was always taught…kill folks with kindness and never let anyone steal your joy. So, I told myself whether I received a smile back or not I will smile everyone and I would hold onto my joy regardless. When I made that commitment to myself things got so much better for me. One of my favorite things to do is to suddenly smile really big at someone who is frowning, which usually catches them off guard and makes them smile even bigger or start laughing. This works the best with the older people for some reason.

Due to the use of certain foods there are some very potent odors here and my nose is very sensitive to smell. Having to smell kimchi, large amounts of garlic and fish everyday can be a bit overwhelming. It all still smells very gross to me but I believe my body has adjusted to it. I knew when to expect it, when to hold my nose, when it won’t be so bad, etc.

Lastly, coming from a large extended family and being close to my family has made this transition in my life both a bit easier and a bit harder. I have so much support and love from my family and thank God for email, Facebook, and Skype. The holidays were very hard for me and if I could do it all over again I would have hung out more with the new friends I made here to keep me from getting lonely. I have decided for the next journey I will wait until after the holidays to start my contract. Since I got here in October it really didn’t make since me to spend the money and use the vacation to come back home for a couple weeks in December. But, I do believe I needed to move far away so I could learn to truly be independent and learn more about myself. I needed to challenge myself and I am thankful as hard as it was my family has supported me in my decision.

You can expect to teach children and/or adults how to speak, read, and write English. You can also expect to have many different levels in one class. In rare cases, you may be asked to teach other classes but this has not happened to me or anyone else I know personally but it is something you will see in a lot of contracts.

Are you on a contract? If so, for how long?

I am on a one year contract. Some schools and programs do offer shorter contracts. Whatever you do always…always…always…read your contract multiple times then have someone else read it (preferably someone close to you and someone else who has some knowledge in the area of teaching overseas). If your go through a recruiter they should be reading over your contract as well.

Do you plan on staying longer than your contract?

I am a huge believer that you never know what life has in store for you. At this moment, I do not see myself staying past my contract. There are other countries I am considering but I am keeping all options open.

What do you miss about home?

What do I miss about home? I miss my family (including my sweet little kitty cats) and my friends! I never thought I would say this but I miss Walmart. I miss my Wingstop French fries. I miss wearing flip flops year round. I miss the holidays in Houston. I miss my Sonic Route 44 Cherry Limeade with a shot of vanilla. I miss soft cookies. I miss Barnes and Noble.

What don’t you miss about home?

I don’t miss the complacency I was feeling. I don’t miss seeing a lot of people just going with the motions and realizing I was doing the same. I don’t miss driving. I don’t miss 5 o’clock traffic that starts at 3. I don’t miss 610, 59, 45, 1-10 or 290. I don’t miss any of exes. I don’t miss being stupid with my money. I don’t miss squished armadillo and opossums in the street.

I cannot tell any other person what is best for their life just as no one could tell me. For me, it was a decision between God and I. For you…you can decide. There is a lot to consider when making a decision like this because it is not a small one. But, do not allow anyone else to make the decision for you. Do not allow people to discourage you if it is something you really want to commit to. RESEARCH!!! RESEARCH!!! RESEARCH!!!

What kind of things should I consider before applying for a teaching job in South Korea?

There is so much to consider that I know I will forget something but off of the top of my head here are some things to think about:

· Why do you want to teach overseas?

· Can you truly live a year in another country with a completely different culture?

· Do you have the patience for kids?

· Can you commit to a one year contract?

· Are you will to think outside the box?

· How will you present it to your family and friends (if this is an issue)

· What grades would you want to teach?

· What kind of things to you need to get straight in your life before going overseas?

· Can you live without some of the luxuries you have at home?

· Do you want to bring a significant other, roommate, child, and/or pet?

· Do you want shared housing or single housing?

· Do you want to live in a rural area or the city?

· Is the amount of vacation you receive important to you?

· What are your goals when you get here?

· Are you able to deal with discrimination if they occasion arises?

· Are you a picky eater?

www.Dictionary.com defines culture shock as a state of bewilderment and distress experienced by an individual who is suddenly exposed to a new, strange, or foreign social and cultural environment. Many say when one goes through culture shock there are three phases that an individual may go through. According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_shock the phases include: the honeymoon phases, the negotiation phase, and the adjustment phase.

Honeymoon phase: basically when everything seems wonderful and new. This is much like in a marriage/relationship when everything is like a fantasy and you have no complaints.

Negotiation phase: this is where the reality of the differences between the old and new culture are acknowledged and anxiety, frustration, depression, and/or other stressful emotions may be formed at this point.

Adjustment phase: this is the point where an individual becomes accustomed to the culture. They have, at least a pretty good understanding how things work. They know what to expect from the culture, they understand the differences between the old and new cultures and the new country no longer feels new.

I actually experienced the Negotiation phase first followed by the honeymoon phase and I have been in the adjustment phase for about 6-7 weeks now.

What is jet lag and how long does it last?

www.dictionary.com defines jet lag as a temporary disruption of the body’s normal biological rhythms after high-speed air travel through several time zones.

I had a jet lag for about 3-4 weeks. I was super exhausted while I was at work and slept a lot. It was so bad at first I thought it was something I will not be able to handle. I was just that tired and it was obvious my body was confused. But, you get past it.

I hope you found this information very useful. Please feel free to contact me if you have any further questions. I will also be adding more information on teaching in South Korea including what are the next steps if you are ready to apply and resources and more questions I have been receiving.