There is also this saying called "Riding the white horse." which applies to Korean people just trying to sleep with a foreigner just to have the merit of doing so. So if you do want a relationship with a Korean person, make them work for it and check they are genuine. You deserve to treated like a human.
Put down the crackpipe dumbass. You're the type of person who probably believes that "chasing the dragon" involves a nationwide search and destroy mission for huge, flying, fire breathing reptiles.
I don't get how people don't immediately start working on learning the language of the country they're moving to, like wtf, why would you not learn their language if you've decided to live there, it's mind boggling, it's not even that hard. Especially when you have speakers of the language surrounding you everywhere.
Yes! Even if you are visiting another country for vacation, it's common sense to learn common words or phrases to talk to the locals. Moving or working in a different country requires one to actually put in the effort to learn the language.
Steph F When you’re going to a korean country, where most of the population is koreans and where korean is the main language then no, they should not be expected to know english.
If you are dark-skin person prepare yourself for a lot of racism and discrimination by a LOT of koreans. The old people have strong problems with foreigners in general, some of them hit you in the street "by accident". It will be really hard to do good korean friends. And forget about your privacy, they will be always looking at you, what are you doing in your free time, who are your friends, all the aspects of your life.
Well... I guess my experience was different for the 3 years I taught ESL there. I'm a black man and it was the older koreans that I had the best experience with. If anything, I found the younger person or people in larger cities more of an issue. But again that just me.
Yes and as he said, you are in another country, which they’re more than likely have or have not seen foreigners of many backgrounds, which this will happen generally in many different countries. I could be in freakin Sweden as the only Asian there and be stared at. Stop putting such a negative connotation or your own projection of racism, being more than likely you have underlying racism towards them. Just as he said in the beginning of video. There’s always two sides. If you’re open you can have an understanding “okay, I am different, they most likely have never seen my kind, although I’m traveling here and it’s helping me break out of my comfort zone” you don’t travel to be comfortable. You travel to break open and learn of the world through an expanded lease..
The UK should be like it is in Korea but it's turned the other way and they make the British assimilate with the foreigners to the detriment of British culture otherwise it's seen as racist . Some people from certain cultures take advantage of this and try to impose there values above ours and ordered and disrespect our culture. Though most accept the open hand of respect and flexibility and it is returned. But to a growing number it is not. No prizes for guessing who !
+kol kat its called he was being sarcastic but you had to bring race into this . Didn't know there was British trailer trash that lived down south. You sound wordly and intelligent (sarcasm)
I did exactly that; it was pretty awkward to be honest. I had to duck a few tornado kicks before I was able to get to safety. I definitely should have watched this video first.
I came in just like that with my dick hanging out because I heard that all Koreans have tiny dicks. Needless to say, I got a Shitload of pussy. Fuck what this guy says, he is just a douchebag.
You've missed one of the central points. 99% of foreigner gripes relate to dishonest employers and practises (late salary, no salary, contracts broken, the list goes on). I enjoyed my year in Korea 17 years ago, the people and the country. The Korean guy who employed me at his Hagwon is a different story. His constant lying made the experience less pleasant than it might have been, and I left Korea for China, where I taught happily for the next decade, without any employer problems. On balance, I found Koreans pleasant and easygoing. I also found them to be inherently dishonest, top to bottom. There is no western "personality type" who's going to cope with that.
I had a Korean friend in America, I gave up on her because she showed me every time we met that she is too good for anyone. Me, not American, I said, "Bye, bye, good luck and go to h.e.l.l." I do not need this bullcrap.
It's really sad when people go to other countries and act like a damn fool. It breaks my heart that in 2016 you have to tell adults how to act like a human being. I just hope Koreans know that all Americans are not racist asses.
Man in video have a mental illness. He needs to treat his illness. You can't genalized Korean men after seeing this mental mental patient. In reality Korean men is willing to help or rescue people in danger. m.wikitree.co.kr/main/news_view.php?id=246891 Watch this video. This kind of video Korean men rescue people , we can see often all the time
+Mark CM Korean men are usually only racist towards western men. I believe this is because they know that a lot of western men come over just to date and have sex with korean girls. I'm pretty sure korean guys feel threatened by that. Obviously not all western men do this and not all korean men are racist. These are just two stereotypes.
***** I find your clarity/perception refreshing and fair. There's too much 'victim' mentality BS floating around out there. Koreans, etc., *need to be way more decent* if they want to claim "Dynamic" "Advanced" "Civilised" "Polite" cultural/social status. For now, the vast majority of them deserve all the open clarification and frank expose they're getting.
Even though I'm not Korean & was born and raised in America, I kind of find it rude & disrespectful when someone goes to another country not learning the language, religion, nor laws. They prefer to act how they are in there country instead of keeping it low & calm. It kind of hurts that some people in Korea think we act wild & disrespectful because of those types of people who goes to Korea for their benefit.
For the record many Koreans come to America and could care less about learning the language or the culture. That knife cuts both ways. People are people. Good and bad.
Thank you for posting this video.... this will be very helpful for someone who wants to be a English teacher in Korea. I saw some comments in some video, some teachers' experience was terrible in Korea or they appear to be very bitter towards to Korea or Korean. As a Korean-American, it breaks my heart when I see hate comments about my beautiful country Korea, and I hope your video helps them to have fun and valuable experience in Korea. Thanks again!
It's nice to see a person who teaches English to foreigners...who can speak English so well instead of filling their vocabulary with "likes'. "awesomes" or "actuallys". Good Job.
People judge others everyday based on how they dress,act and speak (not talk)every day whether you like it or not. If you want to speak like an idiot in your real life that's your business. But when you put yourself out there on the Internet ,like youtube then you need to hold yourself to a higher standard. Everyone thinks its so easy to get in front of a camera and speak.......its NOT. You are the one who makes no sense. "It's unfair to judge someone when all you know is what you see" WTF??? What are we supposed to judge people on?.. what we DON'T see????
Red Dragon Diaries hye man . I am a Pakistani and i have been teaching koreans for about 7 years now in Malaysia but i learnt alot from your video. I had some problems in the beginning. I have tried to learn alot about Koreans and their culture.its not easy but thats the challenge. i love Soju and Bulgogi......
Would add to this: don't get sucked into the drinking culture. You can easily get drawn into going out almost every night and hanging out at oeguk bars. Go make some Korean friends, learn their language and culture, explore and keep a journal of your experiences.
I use to tutor on line for students and ran into a teacher that was abusing students. I became concerned and very angry with the teacher. I threatened to go to the Dean of the school. I chose a close neighbouring town as a false location so he didnt feel so out of reach. He did leave the school and a replacement carried on. The two students i had in his class helped me with my bluff. It worked but the unfortunate part is the experience set a bad image which is hard to erase. I never did go overseas to teach, one of lifes regrets. To me a teacher is a real teacher when they have the students first and foremost, secondly to learn from culture and students and never for selfish reasons. There are so many self serving type people out there!
This video was suggested to my by RUclips for some odd reason. I am not trying to become a Teacher, but I stayed for the video because it was quite intriguing. Some of the topics you discussed seemed pretty straight forward and to be expected. It astonishes me people think otherwise when they arrive. But anyways, I might need to look up this teaching gig, not just for Korea, but I heard English teachers in Saudi Arabia make a great living. Anyways GREAT video!
Ever since I was little I was really into Korean culture because my uncle married a wonderful Korean woman and she taught me quite a lot about Korea. Now that I'm currently in grade 12 and gradually learning Korean, I've actually set a path for myself so after I finish college I would go and teach English in Korea. Before thinking about teaching in Korea, I actually always want grow up being around kids. If I end up really enjoying myself and become adjusted to Korea, I might plan on staying there longer. The only problem is that I only have my mother who's supporting me with my dream. My friends and the rest of my family (not including my uncle and his wife) look down upon it, being completely racist.
I am a Korean and those damn Kdrama and Kpop vids are giving some people false hopes. South Korea is not that fancy place. If you have lots of money you will have nice life here but it applies to all over the world I think.
I am living for the subtle shade in this video. I am sure it applies just as much today as it did in 2013. Thanks for this video, it's a much needed reality check for many.
Koreans should be PROUD of being Korean! They are amazing people and they have an incredible culture! I am Mexican and I have a lot of Korean friends here in the US - We have a similar background yet being from such different parts of the world! Thank you for this video!
This is pretty spot-on. Having interviewed many folks for teaching positions here, I would have to say 70% of them come here to escape something back home. Could be something as harmless as being too smothered by family and wanting to branch out, but most of it is the fact that they are creepy as hell and have no social skills. Just because they can speak their own native language decently (should be a given, right?), they assume they will be worshiped by Koreans. Sometimes, I am embarrassed to be a foreigner (specifically American) due to the caliber of people who come here and do such a piss-poor job of representing their country.
I have dated white American males, whom I later discovered had yellow fever. "Creepy" indeed. I've also worked with many of them who're uberwealthy and socially awkward, but incredulously are treated like kings when they go East. I suppose if you're uberwealthy, you're treated like a king anywhere, huh? But these fellas really enjoy the East.
I'm have to admit I was feeling a little apprehensive about the possibility of teaching English in various foreign countries, Korea being on the top of my list as the ideal location to try... This video really set me at ease.. Everything you spoke about just made me more and more excited about this amazing opportunity! Thank you so much for the advice and for sharing your experience! I'm really looking forward to it now!
As I possibly prepare to teach in Korea, your video amuses me at all the fun that I could be having soon. I have lived and worked in China, Thailand, and Vietnam. I have had some of the best times of my life teaching abroad! Korean people are very wonderful and I have known many in Southern California! Thanks for bringing a smile to my face to what's on the horizon for me!
The same is true in China. There's a school near me that has an arrangement with a Canadian school system and teachers come here on 2-year contracts. I've met a bunch of them over the years and they only know other expats. If you're not going to expose yourself to the culture what's the point?
To be honest, I had to reconsider my dream of teaching English in Japan. Once I started looking up the requirements, I came to see it would be like teaching anywhere else. You have to have a lesson plan, you need a curriculum, and you need to have a plan or something in place to keep your students engaged. It's not going to be easy and you certainly aren't just going to walk into the classroom and everything's going to go real smooth...etc., etc. Grading homework, doing lesson plans, etc.--the thought of it makes my skin crawl. I really don't want to teach and I dread being in a classroom setting. However, I have considered that once I become fluent, I can still teach dual language or english to Spanish/Japanese--it'll probably be in a video format on here though. Not quite the same...but I can still do want I love and not feel the stress or deal with the anxiety I have with public speaking and being in a classroom. Thanks for making this video and for your honesty! :)
That's very true. Many teaching jobs abroad are full on work which can impact your overall experience. If teaching doesn't do anything for you, it's probably not worth it. That said, it's still the very best way to see a country and just get there.
You may enjoy teaching at first, but eventually the little things you have patience for will wear thin. A time will come where you cannot tolerate the negativity in that environment. Besides this job isn't a professional career. I made a video about teaching in Korea and I recommend you watch it on my youtube channel. Most my videos are about china. Living in any asian country can be a great experience for many. But one you come to realize how racially proud locals are you will eventually leave. I remember during my first year teaching in China everything came off to a good start. Nothing could compel me to leave. After 4 years, nothing could compel me to stay. The discrimination and social segregation will always be there. You can't avoid it. You ARE going to face Discrimination. For instance, any time a local is causing you grief. You can't defend yourself. If you do, other locals will jump in and side with the local. When someone hurts you or causes you grief in any way, you have to yield and compromise your honor, dignity, and overall integrity. If you are in a conflict with someone,myou may be the victim, but you're the one who's going to pay. And you have no legal rights. Everything I said just now. Every foreigner needs to know what I just said bedore they come to Asia. I warn people of this sort of thing because almost nobody else will. If you are in Asia now and you meet another foreigner who's been there only a short time so far, please make sure they know this.
Alias1983 Honestly, discrimination and prejudice is everywhere. We can be the same way to each other here in the US. I really think it depends on how badly someone wants to teach and how great is one's desire to teach in another country. However, it is good that you're being honest. Some people (especially us Americans) forget that we are not back home when we go to another country. The culture and laws are very different, and just because one can do something back home doesn't mean they can do the same things somewhere else.
The culture and laws may be different. I get that. But I always thought that as an individual person, you'd be judged based on personality. Not skin color. I went there thinking "when in rome". For instance, if two locals are in a conflict with each other neither one has to worry about other people jumping in to take the side of whoever his opponent is. So I just assumed that a local against a foreigner would be no different. Not saying that I wanna go cause trouple. Of course I'' gonna be as respectful as I can. But if someone tries to steal my wallet, I should be able to defend myself. Going from Canada to China should be no different than going from Canada to the UK. The other thing too is that social segregation shouldn't be there. If you are willing to adapt and immerse yourself and if you follow all the rules and do everything you are told, in my opinion you should have no problem fitting in with people. Whether your skin color matches theirs or not. But that's just my opinion. I understand not everybody feels the way that I do, but when I was a young 23 year old going to Asia for my first time I believed that I would be accepted based on my personality and willingness to adapt. Unfortunately that's not the case. The harsh reality is that you will always be segregated and kept at arms length by society. No matter how good and well behaved you are. Society will always Collectively watch you and they will always look upon you with suspicion. I cannot stress these facts enough. Anyone reading these com,ents.,please share these harsh facts and make them go viral. Because when I first taught in China, I looked for information on blogs and everything else and I did not stumble upon these facts. Nobody told me about the segregation and discrimination. Nobody told me. I had to learn it the hard way. This information should be so viral and transparent that anybody who looks into teaching abroad should easily stumble upon these facts.
Unfortunately most of the things you've mentioned are things that I, at 28, have either personally experienced in the US or have witnessed being done to others here. I'm surprised that other countries have those same stigmas, and then again, I'm not because I kinda figured that you have issues like: prejudice, discrimination and even racism in other countries besides the US. I do agree with you though that people should be made aware; I don't agree with sugarcoating the truth. I'm sorry to hear you had to experience that, especially if it's something you've never had to endure before.
As a former English teacher in China these points were really legit! I loved teaching but knew another foreigner who hated it, and I could see a lot of these points in her and other people who've complained about it.
When I went to Neili in Taiwan (2016) to teach English, locals that I met there told me during my stay that they saw me as integrated within just a week. They said that they were very surprised at how quickly I adjusted to life there. I would love to try live in Korea aswell in the near future too. Since I love to study languages, I would be thrilled to try learn Korean too!
I am not from the US, but yes I think the general public in the us is quite dumb, but the professionals, skilled ppl, scientists etc.. are the best in the world , thats my impression. and its these people that make the country so strong.
I love this video it was very informative. I am still not sure where I want to go teach. Top on my list was always Thailand however recently I have been thinking about going to somewhere I have never been. I have heard great things about Korea and I also hear there is opportunities to make decent money and have some great experiences
Hacken Lee Obviously you've never been in Iran, nor Cuba, to compare them to the others, as they are today. Or met legit people and made serious researches about them. A good joke takes more than poor cliché buddy.
so was ur joke that everyone thought you were serious until they hit show more or am i not following? the best part is if im right i ruined a joke that was elegantly placed yet right on the cusp of not being funny or even being a joke
I’m wanting to go teach English in Korea once my son graduates high school. In the mean time I want to become conversational in Korean. I want to learn how to cook Korean food. I’m fascinated with other cultures. Especially Korean culture. I’m kinda obsessed with their Kdramas and music. I’ve been trying to learn about their culture so I don’t accidentally offend people. So after watching this I feel confident I really could this😊 plus I’m a very friendly and have a desire to make learning fun!
Thank you for this I am in Cambodia and this helped a lot We don'"t have the free apartment and eating at school. Cambodia was a shock in the begging but i am finding the people so helpful and loving this side everyone is always bribing me fruit and sharing this is such a humble place but worth it if you can get past the heat 12 months of the year, Education is very big here and very important Cambodia is fast growing and you can see it all around you
Really? You've met most Americans? Assuming a nation of nearly 400 million fits a particular attribute is idiotic. America in general has the most diverse culture in the world. Not many places on earth can you find so many different types of foods and races. Ill grant you some areas especially in the south are more close minded, the majority of Americans aren't like that.
ESA that's funny... what you got so bent out of shape at bacchanalia for, you just did yourself. "Ill grant you some areas especially in the south are more close minded"... where is New Orleans? San Diego? Tampa? Atlanta? Austin? Miami? the south it just as open minded or narrow minded as the north. " Assuming a nation of nearly 400 million fits a particular attribute is idiotic." so assuming half a nation or even a third especially in the south is okay and allows you to make snide comments? i find you laughable that not only are you the pot calling the kettle black but you if anything are more the fool.
ESA I said MOST and not all and I am certain of what I said. I am a Culinary Arts major and the Chef says that "Americans" ("-Americans without the hyphen if you catch my drift") are and have always been "spoiled" meaning that they have always eaten the good parts of the animal which is basically just the skeletal muscle tissue of cattle among other animals. And the American diet consists of the good parts of chicken, pork, beef, and "X" animal; SeoulTee, is right and agree with his point that if you go to Korea you are not going to find your standard diet of meat and potatoes. Those cuisines that you listed are laughable because the chef said they have been "Americanized" and some of those "Americanized" food items are not even relatated to their homeland (i.e., California rolls; "Japanese", taco bell; "Mexican", Chop suey; "Chinese"). Just to let you know that Italians in Italia think that "Starbucks" faux-talian coffees are disgusting and the only Starbucks that you will find in Italy is in the airport catering to American tourist because Italians were not buying faux-talian coffees. Other cultures eat stuff that you will never eat once you know what it is or see the animal it is coming from. In Mexico you walk into a taco shop and they will have a broiled cow's head waiting for someone to order tacos de cabeza, sesos (beef brains), buche (pigs intestines), tripas (beef guts), chipilines (grass hoppers), escamol (ant's eggs), huitlacoche (corn smut), and would you like a taco de ojo? (beef's eye taco?). I know what I am talking about.
I would say most conservative Americans are reluctant to try new foods and when I say, conservative, I don't mean it in a political way at all, like more segregated cities.
Speaking of being alone, is there much volunteer work? I mean, is there something like an animal shelter or orphanage or something? I'm fine being alone, but I need community-related activities. Can you survive as a vegan? How's the access to fresh fruits and veggies. I can live off of fresh raw fruit and different types of salads, if I can get my hands on various types of fruits/veggies, olive oil, a food processor, and a good blender.
+jdstep97 Yes many things. There are both orphanages and animal shelters. Also homeless outreaches and things like that. Maybe your coteacher can help you navigate when you first get here. There is a Facebook group called Busan Volunteer.
+jdstep97 I've heard that it's really hard to be a vegan in Korea because Koreans love their meat. I would do a lot of research on how to survive that. Most likely you'll end up making your own meals 95 percent of the time and that can be quite expensive based on what I've seen of Korean prices for produce.
FiyaFlameSpitta Thanks. I always make my meals anyway, and considering that I get most of my food organic, from Wholefoods, I'm used to paying a lot. I'd just have to make sure I budget like crazy.
I'm living in Korea now. There are lots of fresh produce here. To me the prices are great. Meat cost are a bit high but you are vegan so you don't need to worry about that. I see there are lots of organic produce. And there are Organic grocery stores here and there. For example, there is one at Yongsan Station, same floor as the eMart. Although Koreans do love meat, you can find lots of meatless dishes. Maybe you can request them not to add meat. I haven't tired that so I'm not sure how they will react haha....shopping for fruits and veges seem a lot cheaper at the smaller neighborhood markets than the big stores like Lotte Mart and eMart.
I questioned whether he was American because of his accent, (in American) then he said "I'm willing to go hunting for a cow right now for a good steak". Then I knew #American
Ask some english Creepypasta guys they always search for guest narrators, but I'm not really into english Creepypastas, I only know of MaddMike and he is top notch :D Maybe you would like to record something for me if I'd ever be in the need for someone who speaks english :)
Thanks for the info. The creepypasta might be a little dark for me, but I'll still look into it. I guess it's called voice over actors or something like that?
Narrator is the right word usually, voice over is for movies when you have visually a talking character but his voice isn't used so you have to voice him over. Narrators or narration can be many found and requested at reddit. But I guess if you find the right guy on youtube they wouldn't be mad if you directly asked them.
I went to Korea last month and will be going again in a near future. The biggest issue I had was in fact overcoming the communication barier as many few Koreans I've met were able to speak in English which is very demoralizing specially when you're alone and end up not talking that much for an entire day, for an entire week, etc. The food issue is also spot on. I was craving for some potatoes and even a steak by the time I came back home as I couldn't eat noodles or rice any longer, and even the airport burger tasted like heaven back then. But not all things are bad. For the communication barrier even though Koreans might not know how to speak in English they do try to help and talk to you. They are very kind and I really appreciated their efforts everytime I was having trouble trying to ask or explain something. For the food part you just need to get used ir there's nothing more than that. Another thing that surprised me is how much more organized Koreans are about everything. I had no problems using public transportation in fact I really enjoy using KTX and visiting all kinds of places. And then you just have this amazing scenery all around the country with so many beautiful yet incredible landscapes and monuments and temples. Traveling to Korea was one of the greatest experiences of my life and I'm looking forward to go there soon.
I'd learn the language. It's not too hard but it's better than expecting every Korean to learn English. Your coming to their country, it's just basic courtesy to learn their language and culture. It takes a while, yes, but it's worth it. It also makes you appear as less of an ass.
Great video and pretty much dead on. I was there a few years ago and will be going back this year. I'd just add that the people in general over there are very cold which I wasn't used to. Also the main thing I learned was that Korea is the most superficial country I've ever been to. Young people there only care about image, what you look like, what you wear, and money. The mindset there is pretty sad tbh. Your food info was a great point. My first month there was a nightmare. I literally got sick everyday and lost tons of weight. I missed American food so much it was painful but it does get better slowly lol. Oh yeah and I couldn't believe how obsessed Koreans are to their cell phones good lord. It's like a sickness over there, not good.
Lol, I felt pretty much the same about Latinas when I taught English is Peru. I was like wow, who would've thought that American girls are so much more down to earth than a lot of these girls
Yes bro, good advice for teaching English in *any* country, or for that matter teaching *anything* in any other country. I don't have those traits, so I've succeeded. Dammit, wish I had done this video.
I lived there in the military, met a girl that i was with for 6 1/2 years, even past the military. The reality of it is like you said (in different words): girls are girls. No matter the country. I want to get back there because I felt a connection with the culture. I learned to read, speak, and write it for her, to reciprocate her learning English (it's only fair, I'm a Libra). I miss the lifestyle. The people were so nice. The history was so rich. I would give anything to go back right now to live as I had there before. P.S. Jim Jil Bangs are the best. I spent many a day there (nakedness isn't an issue; I am ex-army!). The food is phenomenal. KKal Guk Su and Doen Jang Chi Gae are the best (damn this not korean writing keyboard).
I do not recommend a Christian to work in non-Christian English 학원. Many non-Christians including your boss in Korea will insist that you drink a lot of alcohol with them during their office parties. If you don't drink, it can seriously hurt your job performance evaluation. This happened to me when I was working in South Korea.
good points. hadn't thought about the second point. worked with a Korean in Canada and always wondered about the difference in teaching styles between us. he was the professorial/lecturer type who would spend a lot of time on grammar. i realize now my job was to just speak with them, do some interactive exercises and correct their usage yes, and with the older more advanced one, help them with their essay writing.
omg Korea here I come! !!!!!! I'm so close to getting my ba I CAN not wait to come , I'm the opposite of everything you described and I love korean food
And that's why they're usually hated. Most people that go to ESL abroad are people that just have a BA and don't even have language proficiency in wear they're going. I would honestly like to travel and probably teach English Second Language, but I would personally feel like it's the minimum requirement to be adequately proficient in the foreign language.
yup agreed. why go to korea to teach english when you dont even speak korean lmao there will be this barrier between teacher and student and they will both lose
Thank you for this. :) I have always been intrigued and fascinated with Korean culture and food, and have been considering possibly teaching in Korea for a year. The biggest challenge for me would probably be learning Korean since it is so different from the other languages, but I really do want to learn enough to hold a conversation with a native Korean speaker. I do also need to think about the "challenge" of being away from family for so long. This did reassure me that I would be a good fit as an ESL teacher, though, so thanks again!
Korea is one of the few countries that are still very ethnocentric. They are extremely proud of their heritage. They do not want non Koreans invading and getting powerful positions. So really, allowing these guest teachers and stuff is a massive step for them. I can respect Korea in a lot of ways for their pride in their race and their traditions.
+Sarah Campbell Nazi Germany was one of few countries that are still very ethnocentric. They were extremely proud of their heritage. They did not want non whites invading and getting powerful positions. So really, allowing non guest whites and stuff was a major step for them. I can respect Nazi Germany in a lot of ways for their pride in their race and their traditions. If it's okay for Koreans to be ethnocentric (which is just racist but with a softer tone) then we westerners should be following that example. Are you are going to criticize me for suggesting we whites behave the exact same way towards korean guests the same way koreans act and behave towards us? If it's okay for koreans to be that way, then I think we should treat koreans the exact same way in our country as we are treated in theirs. Same social limitations imposed, same visa policies imposed, and us having the same pride. You cannot criticize me for this. Because all I am doing is merely suggesting that we as a western world should follow the korean example.
Even some of Korea originally from Shandong province China. The east culture have long history and complicated, but mostly influenced by Tang Dynasty, Song Dynasty in China
Being ethnocentric is different from being a disrespectful jerk, xenophobic hypocrite, or genocidal militarist. The US has said they welcomed outsiders, integrated them to varying degrees, preached "we need immigration" for decades, told naturalized citizens "this is your country now". Korea (and a number of other nations) have been clear from the start, "This Is Our Country" and consistently carried out that policy.
I've seen some of these "national" type people when I taught abroad and they def. didn't last. Open mind and open heart when "guest's" in another's country.
Hello, I can only hope that all is well back there in Korea. Those were some very good tips that you shared, to those who want to embarked into the journey of a ESL teacher. I was an assistant teacher, a few years back while living in China and trust me, it was the most incredible experience of my life. You are so correct, some people have this mental attitudes that if is not American, the rest of the world is below their standards. For anyone, planning to do any work outside of the United States, it is so important to leave your patriotic beliefs or American values at the airport terminal, and accept the values of the county that you are about to visit. The worse thing that can ever happen to anyone while living abroad is for the host to sense that you have a superiority attitude, you are arrogant to their culture and have this selfish me-me-me attitude. You will be called out and crushed like a bug. Concerning the issue of hooking up with specimens of the opposite sex, that’s a given. I am sure that many of these youngsters, plan to go there with the main intention of meeting a nice lady and perhaps to start a solid relationship. Maybe it will or maybe it won’t. but, do not get your hopes too high. Reality is that, just like a large percentage of woman all around the planet, these ladies are in search for a man, that not only brings home the steak (kimchi), but is also carrying lots of Benjamin's on their pockets or have a very healthy bank account. Sad to said, but this reality, money talks and the rest is just an illusion. 좋아, 친구. 훌륭하고 환상적인 한 해를 보내십시오. Congratulations, on a job well done. God bless and have a fantastic 2017.
i like your video. it's like a back to earth video. yeah. living and working abroad is not a bed of roses, but it has its perks, as long as you are willing to adapt to the environment you're in.
It seems a simple solution to people feeling wounded by Koreans living their way in their country, is to simply not go there. You have no "right" to their country...it's theirs. I find it a shame that having pride in your nation is now somehow wrong. Very sad. If you don't like the culture stay away. That applies to any country. No one is responsible for your feels. The world's full of wimps & that's a shame.
If foreign immigrants in korea feel discriminated against, they have a right to complain. Nobody has a right to discriminate against somebody just because of skin color. Culture is one thing. Racism is another. No matter how much you respect their culture, you will alway be kept at arms length by people. You will always be discriminated in some way. It doesn't matter how open minded you are. Immigrants in korea only complain mainly because of the racism they have to endure. The same way ethnic minorities in weatern countries have a right to stand up for themselves in the face of discrimination... Well... Foreign immigrants in korea have the same right. Yes it is their country, but we are residents there. A guest is only someone who visits for a few weeks and leaves. A resident is someone who works there and lives there among the people. Plain and simple. Immigrants have their rights in my country, therefore it is our right to be in korea.
+trailer trash infidel he didn't sat anything about having pride in your country he meant that you shouldn't go there believing your country is superior to theirs. Basically it's a warning for americans and their obnoxious patriotism.
luis719251 if you lack pride in yourself, your family, your home, your work, your nation, you will not give it the best you have. To be proud of something you & you're family helped build, shed your blood for, invested your heart & soul into is exceedingly honorable! Perhaps the lack of pride other nations/people's have is why so many have so little. It also explains the envy of others & their accusation of our being "obnoxious". Indeed, they have pride in their nation, their culture, their history...as they should! If others don't like the expectations placed on them when they enter Korea, perhaps they should go back where they came from. It's their birth-right, not the foreigners. That applies to every nation.
Many of our fathers and grandfathers fought in the korean war and are the only reason today why South Korea has the Liberty and Freedom today which North Korea's people doesn't have. Also, being proud of your country doesn't mean you negatively discriminate against foreign immigrants. If someone wishes to immigrate to my country or your country, that is our choice. And it should be respected. For those of us who reside in South Korea, regardless of whether we are there over the short or long run, we should have the same fair treatment as others. For instance, look at the way halfbreed koreans are treated. They should be able to live free of discrimination, as should we. Culture is one thing. I understand that the same culture in the west isn't going to be like that in Korea. I get that. If we want to live in their country, we should learn their culture and language. But when foreign immigrants are abused by our ESL schools the way we are, and also the fact that we are singled out by society just based on our skin color. That is wrong. If I am to be rejected by someone, I want it to be based on my personality. Not based on my skin color.
I'm a black female and I love literature and writing. English was my favorite class in school and I was so good at it. After being introduced to a certain something (I refuse to announce because I don't want to be attacked lol) I am making it my goal to go to college and get my degree to teach English in Korea. Its fine if none of them like me or if I don't find love, I will most definitely bring my american friends along with me because we will all live in the same house and do work to make a living. I just want the experience and I really want to make a difference and teach them with excitement and give them a new perspective of westerners.
I hope you have a good days in S.Korea. and thank you for sharing the experience :) and i'm very sorry about the bad experience you have to go through ;( and God bless the mighty FRIED CHICKEN!!!
When I lived in Thai, it was largely the same as you describe on many points. I went out of my way to avoid other foreigners, most of whom seemed to lack any kind of moral compass. The locals were wonderful people, and the farther I got from population centers, the more wonderful they became! I can say, that after six months, life without cheese and life without steak was sometimes frustrating. I did finally manage to get a steak in Uthai Thani. Turns out, they actually had to go to the local meat market and find someone selling beef! LOL! I was wondering why it took so long! Anyways, thank you for bringing a dose of reality here for people to see before they head over there. I would rather people represent us in other nations with an honest outlook and a good face to show. I recall a few embittered farang I met in Thai who were less than pleasant people to be around.
I appreciate your sincere advice on cultural differences they will face. As a Korean exchange student in UK, I met many Erasmus and American students and realised how different we are. I think it's just the opposite of the western cultures. I found it quite interesting and yet frustrating at some points. I think this is the very mind set you should prepare for.
"Put on a good face" "don't try to change things" And thats whats wrong with the whole education system around the world.You want teachers to come and just keep their head down.Get paid and leave the class room to do the exact same thing the next day.Where is the passion of teaching and make the world a better place?! I know i sound cheesy as fuck right now but i don't believe in doing anything in life without passion and love for what you do as a living..Especially when it comes to being a teacher.No wonder why teachers don't get the respect as they used to get back in the days
This is English teaching. English teachers are not there to teach a college class. They are there to teach a language. The teachers who teach that kind of stuff are in universities. If English teachers were teaching that kind of stuff w/o the credentials, I'd be very afraid for the students. The disgusting sexpats who teach English should be nowhere near influencing groups of people.
When you are a guest in another country, you are not allowed to criticize the local norms. So if they eat dog you can't talk shit about it just go with the flow. When it comes to the girls, you need to lower your standards because the prettier ones (depends on what you consider pretty) will always go for the money. One more thing , in Asia you smell different so shower a least twice a day scrub your feet, winter is no excuse and take off your shoes.
SeoulTee i will be in korea for vacation since its my first time there..is there anything to expect since i am japanese and jamaican lol. ps i do speak japanese lol
This comment is sarcastic, I hope! You're definitely allowed to abstain from eating dog; in fact, it's not very common for foreigners to eat dog and many Koreans are taken aback if a foreigner does eat dog. Eating dog doesn't come up that much anyway. What you said about women is awful (I know you are agreeing with the video, but the video isn't accurate about women, either). Sure there are always a few people (men and women) who only care about money, but most don't make it their priority (though I concede that more do in Korea than elsewhere). And shower twice a day? Maybe if you go to the gym! Otherwise there's no reason - bring deodorant with you when you go to Korea!
Red Dragon Diaries Not every one's cup of tea, like Korea I guess. Pay is good and work hours easy, there are lots of Koreans here not sure what they do but all seem well off, sadly Judo is weak here....
I don't live in a compound. But then I am Muslim.. but yes it's doable//UAE and Saudi are worlds apart and I think Bjj was a fad there and hasn't lasted
I agree with what you said. I am an English teacher in Hong Kong and I eat mostly local foods. My wife is from across the border (Chinese) I am from England. But yes at first it was hard to find where I fit in, till I made friends. Once I made friends life became much better. But here we are expected to do the same or more than local teachers . I have to write a six months study programme to teach history, science, geography, and English followed by an exam.
wao everything you said is soo true, I was in Korea once I worked for Samsung and I agree with you on everything 100% the trick here is to have an open mind and heart and even with that it will be challenging sometimes but as you said, you can meet people using apps as meet up and couch surfing even tinder! I live in Ireland now and this apps came in handy for meeting travelers etc. go to Korea people is an awesome place to be!
I taught English in Korea back in 2004 and 2005 and agree with everything you said here. I really really love Korean food but I was absolutely starving for American style food by the end of each tenure. As for romance, I had dated Korean girls (not Korean-American girls) back in the States and they were great but all the same I decided before going to Korea that I was not going to even think about doing anything abroad. This was feasible for me because I was only in Korea for a relatively short time on both assignments. If I had been there for a year or more, I guess it would have been a different story. But at the time, I felt very liberated to put dating out of my mind completely and just enjoy teaching, eating good food, making friends, and occasionally some sightseeing. In a sense, I just sort of looked at everyone my age as a sibling.
Such a well expressed, well-balanced and presented video. I hope so many more people who are considering going to South Korea or elsewhere abroad to teach watch this. You talk about such valid points. We can't just go somewhere expecting to find what we see in TV shows or to be one of the neighbours just because we imagine it so. It would be great but it sadly doesn't work that way. It does help if we know the language and culture as much as possible before moving there though...Thanks for sharing your insight with all!
I lived and taught in Korea from 2005 to 2007. I don't know where you were at the time of this video, but I lived near Seoul and Taejon. There was never a problem finding steak either at the supermarkets or at Outback Steakhouse and it was just as good there as it was back in America. I also had no problems finding plenty of potatoes in the supermarket. Most of the good Korean restaurants would also have it as a very nice side dish. You never mentioned the xenophobia. It's a serious issue that needs to be dealt with! Nothing could have prepared me for this hostility and abuse that I suffered under in Korea. You could have mentioned something about all the yelling, violence, spitting, slurping and shoving, especially on the subways and buses. That all takes something to get used to. I never liked these aspects of Korea! Going to a market and accidentally being face to face with dog butchers with dog meat all cut up and live dogs next to that listening to dogs being butchered, beaten to death are things I just can't get out of my mind. Good luck if you go there. That's all I can say!
Here I am looking for LED strips and somehow someway I ended up here. Man oh man. I never thought about being a teacher in Korea. And frankly, I am no good at English. I never watched a video this long. Accept/Exxcept not. (lol, I told you.) But you are awesome at doing videos. It was like you were talking directly to me. Then I thought how much I suck at it because of watching you. Anyway, thanks for the lesson. Quite interesting information about Korean culture and people. I absolutely loved this video and I am subscribing to your channel to watch and learn from your presentation skills. Un planned, very honest and extreemly likable. Great Job my friend. I think you should do product reviews. I really think people would listen to your advise.
And yes, Koreans will say "You're very beautiful" or "You're very handsome" as a polite thing to say. It doesn't mean they really think you're beautiful or handsome or want something with you. So, it's important not to let it go to your head.
There are many American, Italien, French restaurants especially at major hotels that are EXCELLENT. The class system is very strong: what family you come from, what shcool you went, etc. I think it's same everywhere
You're really nice! I'm happy it's not all negative aspects about Korea like some English Teachers have, I'm also happy in your videos you don't ignore common issues that foreigners have in Korea. There's loads of videos saying Americans aren't liked there at all, but some Americans do just fine.
projectmicky1226 everyone will have an opinion based on their experience, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's based in truth. Korean society, just like all societies around the world, has its pluses and minuses. My opinion is this - there will be some that love you, a great majority that are neutral and treat you like anyone else, and some that won't like you. By and large you'll be fine. Much of it depends on how, and where, and with whom you spend your time.
projectmicky1226 In this video I made /watch?v=lG3_2UqeNfI I have described common issues foreigners need to be aware of in china and I found that almost everything I said in my video applies to foreigners in korea as well. Some say my video was quite negative, however I did try my best to say that foreigners in china overall should be able to make friends and have a good time. In terms of dating, everything said by Tom is true. The only thing he forgot to add was that many korean girls get harassed by locals if they date a foreigner. So if discrimination like that or any negative discrimination bothers you at all, I would at least reconsider your plans to teach abroad. Every video ever made about teaching abroad should warn foreigners about the discrimination they are going to face. And if you are sensitive towards discrimination, teaching abroad may not be for you. And I'm not talking about life in the classroom. I'm talking about life on the streets. Outside the workplace.
harassed? Not any different from the USA with AMWF couples lol. They openly date each other. Sure you might get stares but so did i when i was in the USA with a white girl. lol what are you talking about Korean girls date who ever they want...the reason many dont is because they simply prefer not to date foreigners -_- I dont think you know a Korean woman's temperament. They do what ever the fuck they want lol It seems like white guys cant wrap that around their head. You guys think they arent dating out because they are afraid of Korean men harassing them? lol EDIT: If anything the White women and Asian men dating in the West gets a lot of shit Also, Korean men dating white women (especially if they look above average) Korean women talk shit and give you looks.
I went to school in Glasgow - I'm also retired Navy which means I've lived all over the world (Thailand, Turkey, Spain, London) :D This is a good, realistic list of advice for anyone thinking about working overseas anywhere :D Oh the things I've seen! I mean, I knew a young couple from Georgia, who got stationed in HAWAII who had a really hard time adjusting (I can't stand the water, it's like a bath) says the young wife about one of the most beautiful beaches in the world ~major facepalm~ In Edsel, Scotland, a Navy wife who was supposed to help the new girls adjust LOL told me 'oh I never go into the village' sheesh. I did the first day, walked thru the farm which was the right of way - a thing there - people all thought I was a local (ok I AM a Henderson but a Southern one...) - I went to Thailand & bunked w/some girls who refused to eat ANY food except MREs (OMG, poor things - authentic THAI food ~sigh~) cause they got warned about stomach bugs & such. So wouldn't eat in the wonderful hotel restaurant LOL Those kinds of people really should not go abroad - they tend to be the kind that does no good for the reputation of Americans anyway, bless their little hearts. Bless them, in that traditional Southern style....
Very fair assessment. You're a thoughtful and sensible guy. Just about everything you say sounds 100% true. I never cared much for ESL forums, because they've proven to be so toxic. I've been working in China for nine years, and I am still a bit surprised by what I see every day. While it was a bit of a hump to overcome a few obstacles in my first years, I found my niche here. I love it, and I try to help out as much as I can. I'm insanely lucky, and just as grateful.
![Eminem - Somebody Save Me (feat. Jelly Roll) [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Vwa0HenQMi4/mqdefault.jpg)
i have an exam tomorrow and i haven't even opened my book yet, i have no idea why the hell did i started watching a video on teaching english in korea
Omg, me too! Except that I have test right now and yet, I'm watch this video about some guy talking about teaching english in Korea.
I literally take my fucking SAT tomorrow what the hell am I doing I was on here watching SAT math crash course videos
0955interactive Me right now hahahaha
0955interactive LITERALLY ME RIGHT NOW I HAVE THIS BIG TEST FOR FRENCH TOMORROW AND I DIDNT EVEN START
same same I have psychology tomorrow..what am i doing here
dude, ur voice is so nice
+hewkii9 It does!
I KNOW! It's so smooth....
yeah
he sould seriously get a job on doing audiobooks
For an English video, it is a joke that you'd use "ur". You've clearly failed in this life.
There is also this saying called "Riding the white horse." which applies to Korean people just trying to sleep with a foreigner just to have the merit of doing so. So if you do want a relationship with a Korean person, make them work for it and check they are genuine. You deserve to treated like a human.
Keli chan We know that korean men are racist and think white race is superior
Ummm....ppl I've heard say that were talking about a specific brand of heroin. Lol
Put down the crackpipe dumbass. You're the type of person who probably believes that "chasing the dragon" involves a nationwide search and destroy mission for huge, flying, fire breathing reptiles.
I do deserve to be treated like a human. But I don't mind being being a the horse for a pretty girl every now and then. NEEEEEEEEEEEIGHHHHHH!!!!
@@brucemercer7753 hi ho silver awayyyyyy yeehaw 😉
I don't get how people don't immediately start working on learning the language of the country they're moving to, like wtf, why would you not learn their language if you've decided to live there, it's mind boggling, it's not even that hard. Especially when you have speakers of the language surrounding you everywhere.
Good point, I 100% agree with you
I totally agree with you.
Yes! Even if you are visiting another country for vacation, it's common sense to learn common words or phrases to talk to the locals. Moving or working in a different country requires one to actually put in the effort to learn the language.
I think everybody should be able to speak English, at least the basics.
Steph F When you’re going to a korean country, where most of the population is koreans and where korean is the main language then no, they should not be expected to know english.
Lol this has no relevance to me at all but I can't stop watching it.
INSPIR.ED LOL! SAME!!!! I was drawn in by his handsome attractive self haha
exactly my situation
savage
Same here 😂
Also, dont go to korea if you think it's all about kpop and dramas and what you see there is what it's like in real life. lol
Korea would be so much better if that was the case.
hmj414 Well that'd be like basing America on Earth, Wind & Fire songs and Peewee's Playhouse tbh. :p
I know you must be right. Koreans work hard and the relaxation is only a small part of life.
hi Ryan I believe. Can Jesus get me to Korea now? For free ofc.
Sebastian Lestrange Maybe.
If you are dark-skin person prepare yourself for a lot of racism and discrimination by a LOT of koreans. The old people have strong problems with foreigners in general, some of them hit you in the street "by accident". It will be really hard to do good korean friends. And forget about your privacy, they will be always looking at you, what are you doing in your free time, who are your friends, all the aspects of your life.
Caro Mx11: thank you for sharing your info on this.
I went to Seoul and Busan on my own and I definitely felt the negativity from older people. I met a white girl on a tour and she did as well.
Well... I guess my experience was different for the 3 years I taught ESL there. I'm a black man and it was the older koreans that I had the best experience with. If anything, I found the younger person or people in larger cities more of an issue. But again that just me.
@@heartdonations2532 glad that you had a generally good experience with the locals
Yes and as he said, you are in another country, which they’re more than likely have or have not seen foreigners of many backgrounds, which this will happen generally in many different countries. I could be in freakin Sweden as the only Asian there and be stared at. Stop putting such a negative connotation or your own projection of racism, being more than likely you have underlying racism towards them. Just as he said in the beginning of video. There’s always two sides. If you’re open you can have an understanding “okay, I am different, they most likely have never seen my kind, although I’m traveling here and it’s helping me break out of my comfort zone” you don’t travel to be comfortable. You travel to break open and learn of the world through an expanded lease..
basically, be cultured or don't come...
Ted Chaffman or assimilate.
If you're white and western, then that automatically makes you cultured TBH.
Joey Central no...
The UK should be like it is in Korea but it's turned the other way and they make the British assimilate with the foreigners to the detriment of British culture otherwise it's seen as racist . Some people from certain cultures take advantage of this and try to impose there values above ours and ordered and disrespect our culture. Though most accept the open hand of respect and flexibility and it is returned. But to a growing number it is not. No prizes for guessing who !
@@gravyboat2370 No one imposes his rules on another. Unless having the freedom to live the way you want offends you.
I have no interest in teaching abroad but I still watched this whole video! Interesting info👍🏼
same
Awwwwww man, I was gonna come waving an American Flag yelling "Where's the steak and potatoes at my Korean Bitches?!?!?!?!?!?!"
then Koreans would wave Korean flag and say like "JUST GO EAT MCDONALD YOUR AMERICAN! HAHA" lol
+kol kat wtf
+kol kat its called he was being sarcastic but you had to bring race into this . Didn't know there was British trailer trash that lived down south. You sound wordly and intelligent (sarcasm)
I did exactly that; it was pretty awkward to be honest. I had to duck a few tornado kicks before I was able to get to safety. I definitely should have watched this video first.
I came in just like that with my dick hanging out because I heard that all Koreans have tiny dicks. Needless to say, I got a Shitload of pussy. Fuck what this guy says, he is just a douchebag.
you look like an asian matt damon
Lol
thats what ive been thinking too matt damon in korea no way xD
HAHAHHA!!! MATTUU DEMORON
And sounds like Seth mcfarlane
Orca Gang
Jesus Christ it’s Jason Bourne
You've missed one of the central points. 99% of foreigner gripes relate to dishonest employers and practises (late salary, no salary, contracts broken, the list goes on). I enjoyed my year in Korea 17 years ago, the people and the country. The Korean guy who employed me at his Hagwon is a different story. His constant lying made the experience less pleasant than it might have been, and I left Korea for China, where I taught happily for the next decade, without any employer problems. On balance, I found Koreans pleasant and easygoing. I also found them to be inherently dishonest, top to bottom. There is no western "personality type" who's going to cope with that.
Beautifully said 😄
I had a Korean friend in America, I gave up on her because she showed me every time we met that she is too good for anyone. Me, not American, I said, "Bye, bye, good luck and go to h.e.l.l." I do not need this bullcrap.
Amen
Maybe this guy was paid to cover up for those horror stories?
Interesting. What you are saying is the same as many Japanese people say about those Koreans living in Japan.
It's really sad when people go to other countries and act like a damn fool. It breaks my heart that in 2016 you have to tell adults how to act like a human being. I just hope Koreans know that all Americans are not racist asses.
they do, I believe. good and bad apples on both sides
Man in video have a mental illness. He needs to treat his illness. You can't genalized Korean men after seeing this mental mental patient.
In reality Korean men is willing to help or rescue people in danger.
m.wikitree.co.kr/main/news_view.php?id=246891
Watch this video. This kind of video Korean men rescue people , we can see often all the time
+Mark CM Korean men are usually only racist towards western men. I believe this is because they know that a lot of western men come over just to date and have sex with korean girls. I'm pretty sure korean guys feel threatened by that. Obviously not all western men do this and not all korean men are racist. These are just two stereotypes.
***** I find your clarity/perception refreshing and fair. There's too much 'victim' mentality BS floating around out there.
Koreans, etc., *need to be way more decent* if they want to claim "Dynamic" "Advanced" "Civilised" "Polite" cultural/social status. For now, the vast majority of them deserve all the open clarification and frank expose they're getting.
I know. it's really sad
Even though I'm not Korean & was born and raised in America, I kind of find it rude & disrespectful when someone goes to another country not learning the language, religion, nor laws. They prefer to act how they are in there country instead of keeping it low & calm. It kind of hurts that some people in Korea think we act wild & disrespectful because of those types of people who goes to Korea for their benefit.
William gerard, You mean asian women like black men with big dongs?
William gerard humongous penises are disgusting.
Kind of asking a lot if you can't go to another country without learning their language...
Amaterasu Saito sounds like Muslims
For the record many Koreans come to America and could care less about learning the language or the culture. That knife cuts both ways. People are people. Good and bad.
Thank you for posting this video.... this will be very helpful for someone who wants to be a English teacher in Korea. I saw some comments in some video, some teachers' experience was terrible in Korea or they appear to be very bitter towards to Korea or Korean. As a Korean-American, it breaks my heart when I see hate comments about my beautiful country Korea, and I hope your video helps them to have fun and valuable experience in Korea. Thanks again!
It's great you're a Korean American because a Korean American was also discriminated against in the school he taught English
i think you should become an actor, action movies will suit you ;)
lol sign me up!
Red Dragon Diaries I echo that
you have a real good face profile and man that voice
go for it 👍
fightinnnnnng
Asian Jason Bourne
+Steve Zero Magical underrated comment!
Maryan Ali Batman
It's nice to see a person who teaches English to foreigners...who can speak English so well instead of filling their vocabulary with "likes'. "awesomes" or "actuallys". Good Job.
Good point. This was well presented in just about every way.
Thank you Bill Kirchenbauer
***** Wrong. Uneducated or poorly educated young people are like this.
Most people are not objective when faced with their own bad speech habits/ They get indignant.....which is the true indicator of an amateur.
People judge others everyday based on how they dress,act and speak (not talk)every day whether you like it or not.
If you want to speak like an idiot in your real life that's your business. But when you put yourself out there on the Internet ,like youtube then you need to hold yourself to a higher standard. Everyone thinks its so easy to get in front of a camera and speak.......its NOT. You are the one who makes no sense. "It's unfair to judge someone when all you know is what you see" WTF??? What are we supposed to judge people on?.. what we DON'T see????
I'm just here to watch a handsome Asian guy.
Let me know when you see one...lol
Red Dragon Diaries Yeah you're sexy!If you are single let me know...(Athens,Greece)
Red Dragon Diaries hye man . I am a Pakistani and i have been teaching koreans for about 7 years now in Malaysia but i learnt alot from your video. I had some problems in the beginning. I have tried to learn alot about Koreans and their culture.its not easy but thats the challenge. i love Soju and Bulgogi......
Sounds like you adjusted well. That's the key I think.
Red Dragon Diaries yeah man but the most difficult class to teach is the Ajuma class. The wives. They are so moody.lol
Would add to this: don't get sucked into the drinking culture. You can easily get drawn into going out almost every night and hanging out at oeguk bars. Go make some Korean friends, learn their language and culture, explore and keep a journal of your experiences.
I'm not even two minutes in but I know the first rule he brings up is: Don't Be Racist
Adrian Balderrama ...but he left out saying that you must accept that THEY are racist.
YES
teaching in another country for dating should NOT be the forefront reason to teach overseas.
Right on.
I use to tutor on line for students and ran into a teacher that was abusing students. I became concerned and very angry with the teacher. I threatened to go to the Dean of the school. I chose a close neighbouring town as a false location so he didnt feel so out of reach. He did leave the school and a replacement carried on. The two students i had in his class helped me with my bluff. It worked but the unfortunate part is the experience set a bad image which is hard to erase. I never did go overseas to teach, one of lifes regrets. To me a teacher is a real teacher when they have the students first and foremost, secondly to learn from culture and students and never for selfish reasons. There are so many self serving type people out there!
Whoa, do people really go over to teach english in Korea with that motive? Ridiculous
Some do
"teaching in another country for dating should NOT be the forefront reason to teach anywhere."
Fixed it for ya.
If he was my English teacher I would show up 5 mins early everyday... He's cute!! :p
They constantly remind you that "you may walk among us you will never be one of us" It's very homogenous there and they want to keep it that way.
hah! I just saw that episode last week! Stranger in A Strange Land -Lost.
This video was suggested to my by RUclips for some odd reason. I am not trying to become a Teacher, but I stayed for the video because it was quite intriguing. Some of the topics you discussed seemed pretty straight forward and to be expected. It astonishes me people think otherwise when they arrive. But anyways, I might need to look up this teaching gig, not just for Korea, but I heard English teachers in Saudi Arabia make a great living.
Anyways GREAT video!
Ever since I was little I was really into Korean culture because my uncle married a wonderful Korean woman and she taught me quite a lot about Korea. Now that I'm currently in grade 12 and gradually learning Korean, I've actually set a path for myself so after I finish college I would go and teach English in Korea. Before thinking about teaching in Korea, I actually always want grow up being around kids. If I end up really enjoying myself and become adjusted to Korea, I might plan on staying there longer.
The only problem is that I only have my mother who's supporting me with my dream. My friends and the rest of my family (not including my uncle and his wife) look down upon it, being completely racist.
I am a Korean and those damn Kdrama and Kpop vids are giving some people false hopes. South Korea is not that fancy place. If you have lots of money you will have nice life here but it applies to all over the world I think.
Am I one of the only people who are interested in Korea, but HATE the K-Pop shit?
Joey Central I’m the same man. I came to korea because I love Korean culture and history but most of my fellow expats are here because of K-Pop...
HistoryIsLove kpop is my life
So is punk rock. I like lots of music 😂
really!! i have bcm highly delusional tho. bt still i dunno i feel like probably i ll like it in korea
weeb nation you prob think japan is fantasy land tho from those animes lmao.
I am living for the subtle shade in this video. I am sure it applies just as much today as it did in 2013. Thanks for this video, it's a much needed reality check for many.
Koreans should be PROUD of being Korean! They are amazing people and they have an incredible culture! I am Mexican and I have a lot of Korean friends here in the US - We have a similar background yet being from such different parts of the world!
Thank you for this video!
This is pretty spot-on. Having interviewed many folks for teaching positions here, I would have to say 70% of them come here to escape something back home. Could be something as harmless as being too smothered by family and wanting to branch out, but most of it is the fact that they are creepy as hell and have no social skills. Just because they can speak their own native language decently (should be a given, right?), they assume they will be worshiped by Koreans. Sometimes, I am embarrassed to be a foreigner (specifically American) due to the caliber of people who come here and do such a piss-poor job of representing their country.
I hear you. It looks like some of the requirements are getting tougher so that should help invite more serious teachers. Hopefully...
I am with you Jen, Great comment!
I have dated white American males, whom I later discovered had yellow fever. "Creepy" indeed. I've also worked with many of them who're uberwealthy and socially awkward, but incredulously are treated like kings when they go East. I suppose if you're uberwealthy, you're treated like a king anywhere, huh? But these fellas really enjoy the East.
I'm have to admit I was feeling a little apprehensive about the possibility of teaching English in various foreign countries, Korea being on the top of my list as the ideal location to try... This video really set me at ease.. Everything you spoke about just made me more and more excited about this amazing opportunity!
Thank you so much for the advice and for sharing your experience!
I'm really looking forward to it now!
As I possibly prepare to teach in Korea, your video amuses me at all the fun that I could be having soon. I have lived and worked in China, Thailand, and Vietnam. I have had some of the best times of my life teaching abroad! Korean people are very wonderful and I have known many in Southern California! Thanks for bringing a smile to my face to what's on the horizon for me!
This dude said "you're gonna have to become a hunter gatherer"
im done XD
Amen brother. You're telling the truth. I've been in many countries and educated my self in their way of life in each country
you're so handsome and your voice is nice
YES, he is really handsome
I agree. B-)
Masculine Buddha fuck off
Masculine Buddha What is wrong with you? Jealous, aren't you? 😤
Masculine Buddha You need to work on those anger issues buddy
The same is true in China. There's a school near me that has an arrangement with a Canadian school system and teachers come here on 2-year contracts. I've met a bunch of them over the years and they only know other expats. If you're not going to expose yourself to the culture what's the point?
To be honest, I had to reconsider my dream of teaching English in Japan. Once I started looking up the requirements, I came to see it would be like teaching anywhere else. You have to have a lesson plan, you need a curriculum, and you need to have a plan or something in place to keep your students engaged. It's not going to be easy and you certainly aren't just going to walk into the classroom and everything's going to go real smooth...etc., etc. Grading homework, doing lesson plans, etc.--the thought of it makes my skin crawl. I really don't want to teach and I dread being in a classroom setting. However, I have considered that once I become fluent, I can still teach dual language or english to Spanish/Japanese--it'll probably be in a video format on here though. Not quite the same...but I can still do want I love and not feel the stress or deal with the anxiety I have with public speaking and being in a classroom.
Thanks for making this video and for your honesty! :)
That's very true. Many teaching jobs abroad are full on work which can impact your overall experience. If teaching doesn't do anything for you, it's probably not worth it. That said, it's still the very best way to see a country and just get there.
You may enjoy teaching at first, but eventually the little things you have patience for will wear thin. A time will come where you cannot tolerate the negativity in that environment. Besides this job isn't a professional career. I made a video about teaching in Korea and I recommend you watch it on my youtube channel. Most my videos are about china.
Living in any asian country can be a great experience for many. But one you come to realize how racially proud locals are you will eventually leave. I remember during my first year teaching in China everything came off to a good start. Nothing could compel me to leave. After 4 years, nothing could compel me to stay. The discrimination and social segregation will always be there. You can't avoid it. You ARE going to face Discrimination. For instance, any time a local is causing you grief. You can't defend yourself. If you do, other locals will jump in and side with the local. When someone hurts you or causes you grief in any way, you have to yield and compromise your honor, dignity, and overall integrity. If you are in a conflict with someone,myou may be the victim, but you're the one who's going to pay. And you have no legal rights.
Everything I said just now. Every foreigner needs to know what I just said bedore they come to Asia. I warn people of this sort of thing because almost nobody else will. If you are in Asia now and you meet another foreigner who's been there only a short time so far, please make sure they know this.
Alias1983 Honestly, discrimination and prejudice is everywhere. We can be the same way to each other here in the US. I really think it depends on how badly someone wants to teach and how great is one's desire to teach in another country. However, it is good that you're being honest. Some people (especially us Americans) forget that we are not back home when we go to another country. The culture and laws are very different, and just because one can do something back home doesn't mean they can do the same things somewhere else.
The culture and laws may be different. I get that. But I always thought that as an individual person, you'd be judged based on personality. Not skin color. I went there thinking "when in rome". For instance, if two locals are in a conflict with each other neither one has to worry about other people jumping in to take the side of whoever his opponent is. So I just assumed that a local against a foreigner would be no different. Not saying that I wanna go cause trouple. Of course I'' gonna be as respectful as I can. But if someone tries to steal my wallet, I should be able to defend myself. Going from Canada to China should be no different than going from Canada to the UK.
The other thing too is that social segregation shouldn't be there. If you are willing to adapt and immerse yourself and if you follow all the rules and do everything you are told, in my opinion you should have no problem fitting in with people. Whether your skin color matches theirs or not. But that's just my opinion. I understand not everybody feels the way that I do, but when I was a young 23 year old going to Asia for my first time I believed that I would be accepted based on my personality and willingness to adapt. Unfortunately that's not the case. The harsh reality is that you will always be segregated and kept at arms length by society.
No matter how good and well behaved you are. Society will always Collectively watch you and they will always look upon you with suspicion.
I cannot stress these facts enough.
Anyone reading these com,ents.,please share these harsh facts and make them go viral. Because when I first taught in China, I looked for information on blogs and everything else and I did not stumble upon these facts. Nobody told me about the segregation and discrimination. Nobody told me. I had to learn it the hard way. This information should be so viral and transparent that anybody who looks into teaching abroad should easily stumble upon these facts.
Unfortunately most of the things you've mentioned are things that I, at 28, have either personally experienced in the US or have witnessed being done to others here. I'm surprised that other countries have those same stigmas, and then again, I'm not because I kinda figured that you have issues like: prejudice, discrimination and even racism in other countries besides the US. I do agree with you though that people should be made aware; I don't agree with sugarcoating the truth.
I'm sorry to hear you had to experience that, especially if it's something you've never had to endure before.
The Korean food alone is worth the trip.
hj Lee not totally true, dont know if your actually korean or a fake mate but that statement itself proves your trolling
hj Lee not all, not all.
Brad Cooper wow really?
thats like saying vegetables taste too bitter therefore its bad for you... What?@@rozenbluth2999
most agreed:) just know the right places to eat and it’s guaranteed you’ll go back for the food.
As a former English teacher in China these points were really legit! I loved teaching but knew another foreigner who hated it, and I could see a lot of these points in her and other people who've complained about it.
When I went to Neili in Taiwan (2016) to teach English, locals that I met there told me during my stay that they saw me as integrated within just a week. They said that they were very surprised at how quickly I adjusted to life there. I would love to try live in Korea aswell in the near future too. Since I love to study languages, I would be thrilled to try learn Korean too!
"I am willing to go hunting for a cow right now." Literally me
Ema Shearin i see vernon and i love it
Ema Shearin 😂😂🤣💀what?
I love how you say "thank god for fried chicken".
That's right. I may have died by now without it.
hi
@@younussikder3663 hi
i dont plan on teaching in kroea, but dang, you have great insight and a lot of wisdom that i can take from here and apply elsewhere.
"and thank God for fried chicken in Korea." Hahah
Great video! Truly honest and intelligent information. The world is desperate need of more people like you. Keep up the good work!
I have reverse superiority complex...I think other countries are better than the us XD
Yes same here
Same here lol I'm from the us and I feel like it's a trash country I've always felt that way
***** I feel like it now is becoming trash
Yeah the US is such a mess repeatedly screwing over other countries - thank god I'm not american lol
I am not from the US, but yes I think the general public in the us is quite dumb, but the professionals, skilled ppl, scientists etc.. are the best in the world , thats my impression. and its these people that make the country so strong.
I love this video it was very informative. I am still not sure where I want to go teach. Top on my list was always Thailand however recently I have been thinking about going to somewhere I have never been. I have heard great things about Korea and I also hear there is opportunities to make decent money and have some great experiences
There's always north korea, syria, iran, cuba, Afghanistan
Hacken Lee Hilarious.
Hacken Lee Obviously you've never been in Iran, nor Cuba, to compare them to the others, as they are today. Or met legit people and made serious researches about them.
A good joke takes more than poor cliché buddy.
so was ur joke that everyone thought you were serious until they hit show more or am i not following? the best part is if im right i ruined a joke that was elegantly placed yet right on the cusp of not being funny or even being a joke
I’m wanting to go teach English in Korea once my son graduates high school. In the mean time I want to become conversational in Korean. I want to learn how to cook Korean food. I’m fascinated with other cultures. Especially Korean culture. I’m kinda obsessed with their Kdramas and music. I’ve been trying to learn about their culture so I don’t accidentally offend people. So after watching this I feel confident I really could this😊 plus I’m a very friendly and have a desire to make learning fun!
Thank you for this I am in Cambodia and this helped a lot We don'"t have the free apartment and eating at school. Cambodia was a shock in the begging but i am finding the people so helpful and loving this side everyone is always bribing me fruit and sharing this is such a humble place but worth it if you can get past the heat 12 months of the year, Education is very big here and very important Cambodia is fast growing and you can see it all around you
That is very true because most Americans are extremely reluctant to try new foods.
Really? You've met most Americans? Assuming a nation of nearly 400 million fits a particular attribute is idiotic. America in general has the most diverse culture in the world. Not many places on earth can you find so many different types of foods and races. Ill grant you some areas especially in the south are more close minded, the majority of Americans aren't like that.
ESA that's funny... what you got so bent out of shape at bacchanalia for, you just did yourself. "Ill grant you some areas especially in the south are more close minded"... where is New Orleans? San Diego? Tampa? Atlanta? Austin? Miami? the south it just as open minded or narrow minded as the north. " Assuming a nation of nearly 400 million fits a particular attribute is idiotic." so assuming half a nation or even a third especially in the south is okay and allows you to make snide comments? i find you laughable that not only are you the pot calling the kettle black but you if anything are more the fool.
erica m Learn the definition of "some".
ESA I said MOST and not all and I am certain of what I said. I am a Culinary Arts major and the Chef says that "Americans" ("-Americans without the hyphen if you catch my drift") are and have always been "spoiled" meaning that they have always eaten the good parts of the animal which is basically just the skeletal muscle tissue of cattle among other animals. And the American diet consists of the good parts of chicken, pork, beef, and "X" animal; SeoulTee, is right and agree with his point that if you go to Korea you are not going to find your standard diet of meat and potatoes. Those cuisines that you listed are laughable because the chef said they have been "Americanized" and some of those "Americanized" food items are not even relatated to their homeland (i.e., California rolls; "Japanese", taco bell; "Mexican", Chop suey; "Chinese"). Just to let you know that Italians in Italia think that "Starbucks" faux-talian coffees are disgusting and the only Starbucks that you will find in Italy is in the airport catering to American tourist because Italians were not buying faux-talian coffees. Other cultures eat stuff that you will never eat once you know what it is or see the animal it is coming from. In Mexico you walk into a taco shop and they will have a broiled cow's head waiting for someone to order tacos de cabeza, sesos (beef brains), buche (pigs intestines), tripas (beef guts), chipilines (grass hoppers), escamol (ant's eggs), huitlacoche (corn smut), and would you like a taco de ojo? (beef's eye taco?). I know what I am talking about.
I would say most conservative Americans are reluctant to try new foods and when I say, conservative, I don't mean it in a political way at all, like more segregated cities.
Speaking of being alone, is there much volunteer work? I mean, is there something like an animal shelter or orphanage or something? I'm fine being alone, but I need community-related activities. Can you survive as a vegan? How's the access to fresh fruits and veggies. I can live off of fresh raw fruit and different types of salads, if I can get my hands on various types of fruits/veggies, olive oil, a food processor, and a good blender.
+jdstep97 Yes many things. There are both orphanages and animal shelters. Also homeless outreaches and things like that. Maybe your coteacher can help you navigate when you first get here. There is a Facebook group called Busan Volunteer.
+Red Dragon Diaries Thanks!
+jdstep97 I've heard that it's really hard to be a vegan in Korea because Koreans love their meat. I would do a lot of research on how to survive that. Most likely you'll end up making your own meals 95 percent of the time and that can be quite expensive based on what I've seen of Korean prices for produce.
FiyaFlameSpitta Thanks. I always make my meals anyway, and considering that I get most of my food organic, from Wholefoods, I'm used to paying a lot. I'd just have to make sure I budget like crazy.
I'm living in Korea now. There are lots of fresh produce here. To me the prices are great. Meat cost are a bit high but you are vegan so you don't need to worry about that. I see there are lots of organic produce. And there are Organic grocery stores here and there. For example, there is one at Yongsan Station, same floor as the eMart. Although Koreans do love meat, you can find lots of meatless dishes. Maybe you can request them not to add meat. I haven't tired that so I'm not sure how they will react haha....shopping for fruits and veges seem a lot cheaper at the smaller neighborhood markets than the big stores like Lotte Mart and eMart.
I questioned whether he was American because of his accent, (in American) then he said "I'm willing to go hunting for a cow right now for a good steak". Then I knew #American
(I'm American) is what I meant to say
lol
Nina Abebe Shi...he sounds 100% american to me!
Nina haha
...He sounds a lot like the people in Idaho or Utah to me. With the drawl. His vowels are a little Canadian/Upper Midwest though.
With that voice you should consider narrating stories, like creepypastas or audiobooks or whatever. I do Creepypastas btw but only in German so far...
cool idea
Ask some english Creepypasta guys they always search for guest narrators, but I'm not really into english Creepypastas, I only know of MaddMike and he is top notch :D Maybe you would like to record something for me if I'd ever be in the need for someone who speaks english :)
Thanks for the info. The creepypasta might be a little dark for me, but I'll still look into it. I guess it's called voice over actors or something like that?
Narrator is the right word usually, voice over is for movies when you have visually a talking character but his voice isn't used so you have to voice him over. Narrators or narration can be many found and requested at reddit. But I guess if you find the right guy on youtube they wouldn't be mad if you directly asked them.
great info. thank you
I went to Korea last month and will be going again in a near future. The biggest issue I had was in fact overcoming the communication barier as many few Koreans I've met were able to speak in English which is very demoralizing specially when you're alone and end up not talking that much for an entire day, for an entire week, etc. The food issue is also spot on. I was craving for some potatoes and even a steak by the time I came back home as I couldn't eat noodles or rice any longer, and even the airport burger tasted like heaven back then. But not all things are bad. For the communication barrier even though Koreans might not know how to speak in English they do try to help and talk to you. They are very kind and I really appreciated their efforts everytime I was having trouble trying to ask or explain something. For the food part you just need to get used ir there's nothing more than that. Another thing that surprised me is how much more organized Koreans are about everything. I had no problems using public transportation in fact I really enjoy using KTX and visiting all kinds of places. And then you just have this amazing scenery all around the country with so many beautiful yet incredible landscapes and monuments and temples. Traveling to Korea was one of the greatest experiences of my life and I'm looking forward to go there soon.
Diogo Martinho do you plan on teaching in Korea by any chance ?
you don't like it because you refuse to learn their language? is it not good enough for you?
I'd learn the language. It's not too hard but it's better than expecting every Korean to learn English. Your coming to their country, it's just basic courtesy to learn their language and culture. It takes a while, yes, but it's worth it. It also makes you appear as less of an ass.
I watched, I liked, I subscribed.
thank you
Alem Bess same
I unliked, I unsubscribed, I unwatched.
wait.
I’m glad I’ve found this channel. I learn something new.
RUclips has been recommending this video to me for a thousand years so I just went ahead and finally clicked it
Great video and pretty much dead on. I was there a few years ago and will be going back this year. I'd just add that the people in general over there are very cold which I wasn't used to. Also the main thing I learned was that Korea is the most superficial country I've ever been to. Young people there only care about image, what you look like, what you wear, and money. The mindset there is pretty sad tbh. Your food info was a great point. My first month there was a nightmare. I literally got sick everyday and lost tons of weight. I missed American food so much it was painful but it does get better slowly lol. Oh yeah and I couldn't believe how obsessed Koreans are to their cell phones good lord. It's like a sickness over there, not good.
You do not get obsessed to something, you get obsessed with something. Probably you meant attached ; )
Lol, I felt pretty much the same about Latinas when I taught English is Peru. I was like wow, who would've thought that American girls are so much more down to earth than a lot of these girls
@@ansuriojug5059 I thought he did mean obsessed with cell phones . Sadly I observe the same behavior in America especially among the young people.
You've stressed out some wonderful points. Great video.
Somebody give this man a bigger salary. This was so informative, down to earth and dynamite. Thanks man.
Yes bro, good advice for teaching English in *any* country, or for that matter teaching *anything* in any other country. I don't have those traits, so I've succeeded. Dammit, wish I had done this video.
I lived there in the military, met a girl that i was with for 6 1/2 years, even past the military. The reality of it is like you said (in different words): girls are girls. No matter the country. I want to get back there because I felt a connection with the culture. I learned to read, speak, and write it for her, to reciprocate her learning English (it's only fair, I'm a Libra). I miss the lifestyle. The people were so nice. The history was so rich. I would give anything to go back right now to live as I had there before. P.S. Jim Jil Bangs are the best. I spent many a day there (nakedness isn't an issue; I am ex-army!). The food is phenomenal. KKal Guk Su and Doen Jang Chi Gae are the best (damn this not korean writing keyboard).
Cody Moore What's holding you back??
Red Dragon Diaries Good sir, is this Greenscreened?
Dave De Beer no. my classroom in Korea
Red Dragon Diaries Strange... It does feel like it.
Cody Moore but on the opposite guys are running after the foreign girls...especially in Hongdae >.>
I do not recommend a Christian to work in non-Christian English 학원. Many non-Christians including your boss in Korea will insist that you drink a lot of alcohol with them during their office parties. If you don't drink, it can seriously hurt your job performance evaluation. This happened to me when I was working in South Korea.
good points. hadn't thought about the second point. worked with a Korean in Canada and always wondered about the difference in teaching styles between us. he was the professorial/lecturer type who would spend a lot of time on grammar. i realize now my job was to just speak with them, do some interactive exercises and correct their usage yes, and with the older more advanced one, help them with their essay writing.
omg Korea here I come! !!!!!! I'm so close to getting my ba I CAN not wait to come , I'm the opposite of everything you described and I love korean food
icic5 Don't you need two years of teaching experience first?
How did it go for you?
Höhöhö
And that's why they're usually hated. Most people that go to ESL abroad are people that just have a BA and don't even have language proficiency in wear they're going. I would honestly like to travel and probably teach English Second Language, but I would personally feel like it's the minimum requirement to be adequately proficient in the foreign language.
yup agreed. why go to korea to teach english when you dont even speak korean lmao there will be this barrier between teacher and student and they will both lose
Thank you for this. :) I have always been intrigued and fascinated with Korean culture and food, and have been considering possibly teaching in Korea for a year. The biggest challenge for me would probably be learning Korean since it is so different from the other languages, but I really do want to learn enough to hold a conversation with a native Korean speaker. I do also need to think about the "challenge" of being away from family for so long. This did reassure me that I would be a good fit as an ESL teacher, though, so thanks again!
Korea is one of the few countries that are still very ethnocentric. They are extremely proud of their heritage. They do not want non Koreans invading and getting powerful positions. So really, allowing these guest teachers and stuff is a massive step for them. I can respect Korea in a lot of ways for their pride in their race and their traditions.
+Sarah Campbell Nazi Germany was one of few countries that are still very ethnocentric. They were extremely proud of their heritage. They did not want non whites invading and getting powerful positions. So really, allowing non guest whites and stuff was a major step for them. I can respect Nazi Germany in a lot of ways for their pride in their race and their traditions.
If it's okay for Koreans to be ethnocentric (which is just racist but with a softer tone) then we westerners should be following that example. Are you are going to criticize me for suggesting we whites behave the exact same way towards korean guests the same way koreans act and behave towards us? If it's okay for koreans to be that way, then I think we should treat koreans the exact same way in our country as we are treated in theirs. Same social limitations imposed, same visa policies imposed, and us having the same pride.
You cannot criticize me for this. Because all I am doing is merely suggesting that we as a western world should follow the korean example.
yes, but they will take over black haircare business from blacks but stay true to their own.
Even some of Korea originally from Shandong province China. The east culture have long history and complicated, but mostly influenced by Tang Dynasty, Song Dynasty in China
Being ethnocentric is different from being a disrespectful jerk, xenophobic hypocrite, or genocidal militarist. The US has said they welcomed outsiders, integrated them to varying degrees, preached "we need immigration" for decades, told naturalized citizens "this is your country now".
Korea (and a number of other nations) have been clear from the start, "This Is Our Country" and consistently carried out that policy.
Sarah Campbell agree
I've seen some of these "national" type people when I taught abroad and they def. didn't last. Open mind and open heart when "guest's" in another's country.
Hello, I can only hope that all is well back there in Korea. Those were some very good tips that you shared, to those who want to embarked into the journey of a ESL teacher. I was an assistant teacher, a few years back while living in China and trust me, it was the most incredible experience of my life. You are so correct, some people have this mental attitudes that if is not American, the rest of the world is below their standards. For anyone, planning to do any work outside of the United States, it is so important to leave your patriotic beliefs or American values at the airport terminal, and accept the values of the county that you are about to visit. The worse thing that can ever happen to anyone while living abroad is for the host to sense that you have a superiority attitude, you are arrogant to their culture and have this selfish me-me-me attitude. You will be called out and crushed like a bug. Concerning the issue of hooking up with specimens of the opposite sex, that’s a given. I am sure that many of these youngsters, plan to go there with the main intention of meeting a nice lady and perhaps to start a solid relationship. Maybe it will or maybe it won’t. but, do not get your hopes too high. Reality is that, just like a large percentage of woman all around the planet, these ladies are in search for a man, that not only brings home the steak (kimchi), but is also carrying lots of Benjamin's on their pockets or have a very healthy bank account. Sad to said, but this reality, money talks and the rest is just an illusion. 좋아, 친구. 훌륭하고 환상적인 한 해를 보내십시오. Congratulations, on a job well done. God bless and have a fantastic 2017.
i like your video. it's like a back to earth video. yeah. living and working abroad is not a bed of roses, but it has its perks, as long as you are willing to adapt to the environment you're in.
It seems a simple solution to people feeling wounded by Koreans living their way in their country, is to simply not go there.
You have no "right" to their country...it's theirs.
I find it a shame that having pride in your nation is now somehow wrong. Very sad.
If you don't like the culture stay away.
That applies to any country. No one is responsible for your feels.
The world's full of wimps & that's a shame.
If foreign immigrants in korea feel discriminated against, they have a right to complain. Nobody has a right to discriminate against somebody just because of skin color. Culture is one thing. Racism is another. No matter how much you respect their culture, you will alway be kept at arms length by people. You will always be discriminated in some way. It doesn't matter how open minded you are.
Immigrants in korea only complain mainly because of the racism they have to endure. The same way ethnic minorities in weatern countries have a right to stand up for themselves in the face of discrimination... Well... Foreign immigrants in korea have the same right. Yes it is their country, but we are residents there. A guest is only someone who visits for a few weeks and leaves. A resident is someone who works there and lives there among the people. Plain and simple. Immigrants have their rights in my country, therefore it is our right to be in korea.
+trailer trash infidel he didn't sat anything about having pride in your country he meant that you shouldn't go there believing your country is superior to theirs. Basically it's a warning for americans and their obnoxious patriotism.
luis719251 if you lack pride in yourself, your family, your home, your work, your nation, you will not give it the best you have.
To be proud of something you & you're family helped build, shed your blood for, invested your heart & soul into is exceedingly honorable!
Perhaps the lack of pride other nations/people's have is why so many have so little. It also explains the envy of others & their accusation of our being "obnoxious".
Indeed, they have pride in their nation, their culture, their history...as they should!
If others don't like the expectations placed on them when they enter Korea, perhaps they should go back where they came from. It's their birth-right, not the foreigners.
That applies to every nation.
Many of our fathers and grandfathers fought in the korean war and are the only reason today why South Korea has the Liberty and Freedom today which North Korea's people doesn't have.
Also, being proud of your country doesn't mean you negatively discriminate against foreign immigrants. If someone wishes to immigrate to my country or your country, that is our choice. And it should be respected.
For those of us who reside in South Korea, regardless of whether we are there over the short or long run, we should have the same fair treatment as others. For instance, look at the way halfbreed koreans are treated. They should be able to live free of discrimination, as should we.
Culture is one thing. I understand that the same culture in the west isn't going to be like that in Korea. I get that. If we want to live in their country, we should learn their culture and language. But when foreign immigrants are abused by our ESL schools the way we are, and also the fact that we are singled out by society just based on our skin color. That is wrong.
If I am to be rejected by someone, I want it to be based on my personality. Not based on my skin color.
+trailer trash infidel No harm in having pride in your nation and/or culture, just not to the exclusion of others.
I'm a black female and I love literature and writing. English was my favorite class in school and I was so good at it. After being introduced to a certain something (I refuse to announce because I don't want to be attacked lol) I am making it my goal to go to college and get my degree to teach English in Korea. Its fine if none of them like me or if I don't find love, I will most definitely bring my american friends along with me because we will all live in the same house and do work to make a living. I just want the experience and I really want to make a difference and teach them with excitement and give them a new perspective of westerners.
So right! Have been in Korea now for 5 months. Couldn't agree more with everything that you've said
I hope you have a good days in S.Korea. and thank you for sharing the experience :) and i'm very sorry about the bad experience you have to go through ;( and God bless the mighty FRIED CHICKEN!!!
Great! I love fried chicken!
When I lived in Thai, it was largely the same as you describe on many points. I went out of my way to avoid other foreigners, most of whom seemed to lack any kind of moral compass. The locals were wonderful people, and the farther I got from population centers, the more wonderful they became! I can say, that after six months, life without cheese and life without steak was sometimes frustrating. I did finally manage to get a steak in Uthai Thani. Turns out, they actually had to go to the local meat market and find someone selling beef! LOL! I was wondering why it took so long!
Anyways, thank you for bringing a dose of reality here for people to see before they head over there. I would rather people represent us in other nations with an honest outlook and a good face to show. I recall a few embittered farang I met in Thai who were less than pleasant people to be around.
Really appreciate the honesty and actually the part that you don't want to talk about is prob the most important to hear
I appreciate your sincere advice on cultural differences they will face. As a Korean exchange student in UK, I met many Erasmus and American students and realised how different we are. I think it's just the opposite of the western cultures. I found it quite interesting and yet frustrating at some points. I think this is the very mind set you should prepare for.
Hi Red Dragon, I really enjoyed watching this vlog. You are one of the few vlogger's that doesn't make me cringe hahaha...thanks ;)
***** I try to be anti-cringe!
haha, good job :)
"Put on a good face" "don't try to change things" And thats whats wrong with the whole education system around the world.You want teachers to come and just keep their head down.Get paid and leave the class room to do the exact same thing the next day.Where is the passion of teaching and make the world a better place?! I know i sound cheesy as fuck right now but i don't believe in doing anything in life without passion and love for what you do as a living..Especially when it comes to being a teacher.No wonder why teachers don't get the respect as they used to get back in the days
This is English teaching. English teachers are not there to teach a college class. They are there to teach a language. The teachers who teach that kind of stuff are in universities. If English teachers were teaching that kind of stuff w/o the credentials, I'd be very afraid for the students. The disgusting sexpats who teach English should be nowhere near influencing groups of people.
You will probably like my video response to this video. To access it just go to my youtube channel.
Very insightful observations. As an American who has lived, studied, and worked in several other countries, I can affirm everything you said.
Very interesting info! Thank you, dreamlike-man-with-a-gorgeous-voice!
When you are a guest in another country, you are not allowed to criticize the local norms. So if they eat dog you can't talk shit about it just go with the flow. When it comes to the girls, you need to lower your standards because the prettier ones (depends on what you consider pretty) will always go for the money. One more thing , in Asia you smell different so shower a least twice a day scrub your feet, winter is no excuse and take off your shoes.
That's so funny, but so true about being clean! Good one. Yes, take care of the feet!
SeoulTee i will be in korea for vacation since its my first time there..is there anything to expect since i am japanese and jamaican lol. ps i do speak japanese lol
Just do your best to be cordial and flexible. You should be ok, but there will be times when you'll have your work cut out for you.
SeoulTee ok thank you..ahhhh im so excited.
This comment is sarcastic, I hope! You're definitely allowed to abstain from eating dog; in fact, it's not very common for foreigners to eat dog and many Koreans are taken aback if a foreigner does eat dog. Eating dog doesn't come up that much anyway. What you said about women is awful (I know you are agreeing with the video, but the video isn't accurate about women, either). Sure there are always a few people (men and women) who only care about money, but most don't make it their priority (though I concede that more do in Korea than elsewhere). And shower twice a day? Maybe if you go to the gym! Otherwise there's no reason - bring deodorant with you when you go to Korea!
Well said, mate. I teach in Saudi Arabia and all you said applies to here as well.....
Maybe some day I'd like to go to Saudi. How is it?
Red Dragon Diaries Not every one's cup of tea, like Korea I guess. Pay is good and work hours easy, there are lots of Koreans here not sure what they do but all seem well off, sadly Judo is weak here....
I'm not convinced of the compound life. Is it doable? UAE is big into BJJ.
I don't live in a compound. But then I am Muslim.. but yes it's doable//UAE and Saudi are worlds apart and I think Bjj was a fad there and hasn't lasted
Oh I see. Really, I thought BJJ was becoming a huge things there. What happened?
I agree with what you said. I am an English teacher in Hong Kong and I eat mostly local foods. My wife is from across the border (Chinese) I am from England. But yes at first it was hard to find where I fit in, till I made friends. Once I made friends life became much better. But here we are expected to do the same or more than local teachers . I have to write a six months study programme to teach history, science, geography, and English followed by an exam.
Oh my dear what a voice!!! Amazing advice. 😊 Seriously, it's sad that they don't line up for you. You are an handsome man! 🤭🤭🤭
oh!
Everything you said made me want to teach in Korea..
If I was a teacher I wouldn't want to go on a field trip.
same lol
wao everything you said is soo true, I was in Korea once I worked for Samsung and I agree with you on everything 100% the trick here is to have an open mind and heart and even with that it will be challenging sometimes but as you said, you can meet people using apps as meet up and couch surfing even tinder! I live in Ireland now and this apps came in handy for meeting travelers etc. go to Korea people is an awesome place to be!
For anyone looking to teach English in South Korea, this is the most informative video I have seen. I was an English teacher there for 3 years.
I taught English in Korea back in 2004 and 2005 and agree with everything you said here. I really really love Korean food but I was absolutely starving for American style food by the end of each tenure. As for romance, I had dated Korean girls (not Korean-American girls) back in the States and they were great but all the same I decided before going to Korea that I was not going to even think about doing anything abroad. This was feasible for me because I was only in Korea for a relatively short time on both assignments. If I had been there for a year or more, I guess it would have been a different story. But at the time, I felt very liberated to put dating out of my mind completely and just enjoy teaching, eating good food, making friends, and occasionally some sightseeing. In a sense, I just sort of looked at everyone my age as a sibling.
Know that you are inspiring Mr. Tom Gates! Watched many of your videos. You're admirable.
Thanks very much!
Such a well expressed, well-balanced and presented video. I hope so many more people who are considering going to South Korea or elsewhere abroad to teach watch this. You talk about such valid points. We can't just go somewhere expecting to find what we see in TV shows or to be one of the neighbours just because we imagine it so. It would be great but it sadly doesn't work that way. It does help if we know the language and culture as much as possible before moving there though...Thanks for sharing your insight with all!
I lived and taught in Korea from 2005 to 2007. I don't know where you were at the time of this video, but I lived near Seoul and Taejon. There was never a problem finding steak either at the supermarkets or at Outback Steakhouse and it was just as good there as it was back in America. I also had no problems finding plenty of potatoes in the supermarket. Most of the good Korean restaurants would also have it as a very nice side dish. You never mentioned the xenophobia. It's a serious issue that needs to be dealt with! Nothing could have prepared me for this hostility and abuse that I suffered under in Korea. You could have mentioned something about all the yelling, violence, spitting, slurping and shoving, especially on the subways and buses. That all takes something to get used to. I never liked these aspects of Korea! Going to a market and accidentally being face to face with dog butchers with dog meat all cut up and live dogs next to that listening to dogs being butchered, beaten to death are things I just can't get out of my mind. Good luck if you go there. That's all I can say!
Thai Dee Maew Cattery: you mentioned xenophobia. May I ask what your ethnical background is?
Here I am looking for LED strips and somehow someway I ended up here. Man oh man. I never thought about being a teacher in Korea. And frankly, I am no good at English. I never watched a video this long. Accept/Exxcept not. (lol, I told you.) But you are awesome at doing videos. It was like you were talking directly to me. Then I thought how much I suck at it because of watching you. Anyway, thanks for the lesson. Quite interesting information about Korean culture and people. I absolutely loved this video and I am subscribing to your channel to watch and learn from your presentation skills. Un planned, very honest and extreemly likable. Great Job my friend. I think you should do product reviews. I really think people would listen to your advise.
Thanks very much Johnny Kelly I appreciate the encouragement. I hope you find the right LEDs too!
And yes, Koreans will say "You're very beautiful" or "You're very handsome" as a polite thing to say. It doesn't mean they really think you're beautiful or handsome or want something with you. So, it's important not to let it go to your head.
lol - so true
There are many American, Italien, French restaurants especially at major hotels that are EXCELLENT. The class system is very strong: what family you come from, what shcool you went, etc. I think it's same everywhere
I am 16 years old and I'm learning many different languages because I want teach abroad! Useful video :)
You're really nice! I'm happy it's not all negative aspects about Korea like some English Teachers have, I'm also happy in your videos you don't ignore common issues that foreigners have in Korea. There's loads of videos saying Americans aren't liked there at all, but some Americans do just fine.
projectmicky1226 everyone will have an opinion based on their experience, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's based in truth. Korean society, just like all societies around the world, has its pluses and minuses. My opinion is this - there will be some that love you, a great majority that are neutral and treat you like anyone else, and some that won't like you. By and large you'll be fine. Much of it depends on how, and where, and with whom you spend your time.
projectmicky1226 In this video I made /watch?v=lG3_2UqeNfI I have described common issues foreigners need to be aware of in china and I found that almost everything I said in my video applies to foreigners in korea as well. Some say my video was quite negative, however I did try my best to say that foreigners in china overall should be able to make friends and have a good time.
In terms of dating, everything said by Tom is true. The only thing he forgot to add was that many korean girls get harassed by locals if they date a foreigner. So if discrimination like that or any negative discrimination bothers you at all, I would at least reconsider your plans to teach abroad. Every video ever made about teaching abroad should warn foreigners about the discrimination they are going to face. And if you are sensitive towards discrimination, teaching abroad may not be for you. And I'm not talking about life in the classroom. I'm talking about life on the streets. Outside the workplace.
harassed? Not any different from the USA with AMWF couples lol.
They openly date each other.
Sure you might get stares but so did i when i was in the USA with a white girl.
lol what are you talking about
Korean girls date who ever they want...the reason many dont is because they simply prefer not to date foreigners -_- I dont think you know a Korean woman's temperament. They do what ever the fuck they want lol
It seems like white guys cant wrap that around their head.
You guys think they arent dating out because they are afraid of Korean men harassing them? lol
EDIT: If anything the White women and Asian men dating in the West gets a lot of shit
Also, Korean men dating white women (especially if they look above average) Korean women talk shit and give you looks.
I went to school in Glasgow - I'm also retired Navy which means I've lived all over the world (Thailand, Turkey, Spain, London) :D This is a good, realistic list of advice for anyone thinking about working overseas anywhere :D Oh the things I've seen!
I mean, I knew a young couple from Georgia, who got stationed in HAWAII who had a really hard time adjusting (I can't stand the water, it's like a bath) says the young wife about one of the most beautiful beaches in the world ~major facepalm~ In Edsel, Scotland, a Navy wife who was supposed to help the new girls adjust LOL told me 'oh I never go into the village' sheesh. I did the first day, walked thru the farm which was the right of way - a thing there - people all thought I was a local (ok I AM a Henderson but a Southern one...) - I went to Thailand & bunked w/some girls who refused to eat ANY food except MREs (OMG, poor things - authentic THAI food ~sigh~) cause they got warned about stomach bugs & such. So wouldn't eat in the wonderful hotel restaurant LOL
Those kinds of people really should not go abroad - they tend to be the kind that does no good for the reputation of Americans anyway, bless their little hearts. Bless them, in that traditional Southern style....
Very fair assessment. You're a thoughtful and sensible guy.
Just about everything you say sounds 100% true. I never cared much for ESL forums, because they've proven to be so toxic. I've been working in China for nine years, and I am still a bit surprised by what I see every day. While it was a bit of a hump to overcome a few obstacles in my first years, I found my niche here. I love it, and I try to help out as much as I can.
I'm insanely lucky, and just as grateful.
I taught while my dad was stationed there 76-78 .... I enjoyed myself ..made some great friends ...
Wish I could have stayed..... ❤