KMK: Reader Email 6

Love the blog, great nom de plume. I am wondering what it is like being an “older” ESL teacher there, most tend to be in their 20s.

I lived in Seoul a long while back and want to return to teach ESL and diving. Does Yongsan still have a big US military presence there? How bad is the pollution? Do the students still hang out and play guitar and sing on University St.? They always loved to make me sing “Hotel California”.
I might teach at University or in a smaller town. Do you think public school is better than University?
I’ve wanted to return to Korea every since I left!

I don’t know you, but I like your Twilight comments, I’m a vamp lover too, but sure do like the wolf in this series. Ha ha.

I was in Mexico last year and heard the weirdest thing playing on the radio in a clothing store: a song by Joi popular in 86 “Korean Girl”. That is the last place I thought I would hear a Korean pop musician! Are there many US pats there? All my friends were Korean, I didn’t know any Americans when I lived there.

Enjoy some dried squid and red bean treats at Itaewon for me. Kimchi goes without saying..yum!

Oh, PS, did your employer pay for your move, or only airfare? Have you been with the same school all these years?

Thank you for your response. I plan to relocate in 2010.

Peace, Gina

Hey Gina,

I have to say that for myself I don’t feel like there’s that big of a difference between teaching in your twenties and thirties. In the classroom if it’s your first time teaching then you are in the same boat as any other teacher. A few extra years may offer more life experience to draw upon, but that’s not necessarily true in every case. As far as life outside of the classroom it really depends on how sociable you are and what you’re into and where you are in Korea. Opportunity abounds in the big cities, but you may be more limited in the country if you’re big on city adventures to museums, galleries and the like.

The big army base is indeed still at Yongsan, but the plans are to move it down south in the coming years though it doesn’t seem to be happening in the foreseeable future though.

I have never taught University but I’ve heard from those who do and in my opinion it’s a better situation if you enjoy teaching adults. University positions typically have better hours, better vacation, disciplined students ready to work and a dedicated staff on the job with plenty of resources to draw upon. Go that route if you can.

My employer did not pay for my move but they do offer a moving stipend to help defray costs as well as flights to and from Korea

Stay tuned for my New Moon Review!.