One of my brother’s best friend is taking the plunge and coming over to Korea to teach.  He graduated with a History major less than a year ago and has just been hanging out, wanting to travel and experience something new before starting a “real” job.  Hmmm, sounds eerily like myself six years ago!  He had a phone interview recently and asked me for advice.  I didn’t take too much time thinking about what to say, but wrote what I’ve come to learn from living here.  I’m posting the email below to help other newbies that might be interesting in teaching for a year here.  Looking back at this, there’s a lot more I could have added, but this should give you an idea.  [ ] are comments I’ve adding while posting this blog entry.

I’m not really sure what they’re going to ask you [during the interview], since I’ve only had a phone interview once, and that was for a summer English camp.  Other than hearing your accent, here’s what I think they might ask you:

• Why do you want to work in Korea?
• Have you ever taught children?
• How would you discipline a student?

Really, I wouldn’t get too hung up on the interview.  I’m sure you’ve looked at this page already: http://www.eslcafe.com/jobs/korea/index.cgi?  As you can see, there are TONS of jobs out there.  Remember, they need YOU, more than you need them.  If you’re not sure about a school, don’t rush into it.  As for question you should ask, there are plenty.

1. How many foreigners work at your school?  (Gives you an idea of how big the school is.  Plus, your co-workers will be a good resource for questions about Seoul, and will help you adapt socially to a new country.)
2. How long have they been in Korea?  (Are they all newbies like you?  That could mean the school is not that good, and they have a high turn around rate.  Are there teachers that have been there for a 2nd or 3rd contract?  If so, that tells you volumes about the school.)
3. How many hours will you be working?  (Does one 50-minute class equal 1 work hour?  Or does 50 minutes equal 50 minutes?  [Meaning, some schools will try to squeeze every last working minute out of you].)
4. Will you be working a split shift?  (VERY IMPORTANT.  Sure, you’re only working 30 hours a week, but a morning and afternoon split shift just wastes your whole day and tires you out.  I would NOT recommend teaching kindergarten students.  [My first year teaching kindergarten was torture!])
5. Make sure overtime is OPTIONAL.  (You don’t want to be forced to work a 40 hour week when you don’t want to.  You should get this in writing on your contract.)
6. Can you take your vacation anytime?  (Most likely, they’ll want you to take one week off in the summer, and one in the winter.  These are the peak vacation seasons, when at least 75% of Koreans have those weeks off.  Remember it’ll be really expensive to travel during that time.)
7. How far is the school from your apartment?  (10-20 minutes by foot is ok, but you don’t want to travel by subway every day to work.)
8. How big is your apartment?  ( IMPORTANT.  The unit of measurement for apartments is called “pyeong” or “pyong.”  1 pyeong = 3.305 square meters.  Don’t take an apartment 10 pyeong or less - that’s small.  Even if you end up hating Korea, your job, and co-workers, your apartment will be the only place of solitude you have.  If it’s too small, you’re really going to hate life.  12 pyeong and up is a decent size for 1 person.  Also, make sure you’re not sharing your apartment with a co-worker.  You should have a 1 bedroom or studio apartment by yourself.  Sharing an apartment = a cheap school.)
9. Can they send you pictures of the school and apartment?  Schools don’t usually go to the effort of doing this, but it couldn’t hurt to ask.  EVERYONE here has a cell phone, and those cell phones have cameras, so it’d be very easy to snap a couple pictures.  Remember - most likely, you’ll be going through a recruiter.  Their job is to place teachers in 5, 10, or 50 schools they have contracts for.  They get about $500-1500 for each teacher they place in a school.  Most of the time, they’ve never even visited these school, and that’s why they probably won’t be willing to send you pictures of the school or apartment.  This is also the reason why they might be pushy about having you sign a contract right away.  Take your time.
10. Last but not least, ask for the email addresses of your future co-workers.  If it’s a good school, they should have no problems having you email current teachers to ask about the work conditions there.

He doesn’t write me often, since I usually see him anyway, but when he does, it’s pretty funny.  Names have been erased for their protection but I’m sure you can figure out who it is.

Jack*sses
Everywhere jack*sses.
Thanks for reminding me of your jack*ss boyfriend’s
day of emergent jack*ssedness.  He had neglected to
remind me and ******* as we played travel scrabble at
the pool and sat around for three hours.  Also
neglected a little buildup for the event in the week or so before.
Let us find out by web-surfing, which made us feel like jack*sses.
Thanks for your reminder,
Hope sh*t is going well enough for you.
*******

Well, the weekend’s coming up.  You can buy him a drink then.

I received this random email from Rachael recently, who’s in Ghana. There was nothing to preface the situation that led up to this email, but it looks like I was added to her mass email list. It’s not hard to pick up the pieces and figure out what’s going on: someone stole money from the office where she works, and it was returned. It’s just amazing to see what completely different worlds we’re living in.

So it turns out the one million magically appeared in the
secretary’s desk this morning. She noticed it about 9am, when
almost all the staff was in the office (save me and one other
member – innocent, naturally). The money was not in the desk
when she closed the office yesterday evening at 5pm. The
messenger boy and the cleaning ladies hold the keys. They are
the prime suspects.

No one knows who took the money, but the threat of the oracle
obviously made an impact. Most of the staff is still demanding
the ritual be performed so we can determine who the thief was
(is). I am amazed at the steadfast belief in voodoo (ju ju, as
they call it here). I don’t know if my boss will follow
through. I’ll keep you posted.

I’m a bit disappointed that I don’t get to be involved in the
oracle, but I’m relieved the secretary has her money back. Her
family is using it to buy cement for their home. She was
rejoicing this morning. Meanwhile, the innocent staff members
are feeling anxious. Someone among us can’t be trusted, and
that’s not a good feeling.

I’ll let you know if there are any more developments.

Rachael

PS. Spent the day in the field this morning. We traveled to a
village where they are trying to change a customary law
regarding the dowry system. There is an increase in bachelors
in this area because they simply can’t afford to offer 4 cows to
their in-laws in exchange for their bride. The village is trying
to get the dowry down to 2 cows. On our way home, we passed
three women carrying crates of beans on their heads. Since we
were in a pick-up truck, we were able to offer them a ride to
where they were going. Turns out they were walking to the mill
to grind their beans, 17 kms away. Had we not picked them up,
they were in for a 32km walk. The sun was already setting when
they began their journey. I’ve been in Ghana for 4 months, and
the heat, garbage and beliefs don’t shock me like they used to.
Or at least I think that until I come across situations like the
one today.

Ras has been in Korea for about a week now, and spent a couple days catching up with friends in Kangneung. I received this from him today:

i’m in myongdong with reardon right now, watching crazy ajumas overturning a street vendor’s table. good stuff.

I hope Reardon is a little more cautious, or THIS could happen to him.

…as it did with a normally mild-mannered blogger.

While in Bangkok, I’m going to get two root canals re-done…

sewasdee krap!

sperma lou and i are now photoshopping our dive photos.  we will then start a flickr acct. and alert all.  we fly to sipadan on tuesday!!!  hopefull lots of sharks and sea-shit.  how is razzy pride?  i never see him online.  busy with the japolese?  when we return from sipppy dan, we are doing some exploritory dives with a friend here that owns a dive shop.  you would have shit your pants in lembeh strait.  many fab lil creatures to photograph.

NOW, as far as thailand goes, do NOT be afraid to get enormous white choppers that do not fit in your mouth.  you can always get collagen in your lips to balance them.  when people look at you, their first impression should be, " she really likes teeth".

i’m just about to look at your website.  ciao ciao.

regards,

noodles

Noodles and I, we’re both teeth people, and can appreciate a good set of pearly whites.  There were times when Noodles would describe teeth that he’d seen that were brown, black with rot, and spotted with green algae… we would both throw up a little in our mouths.