Not everyone is suited to teach or live in Korea. So, before you come to Korea you have to ask yourself, “Am I the type of person who can teach there?” Here’s a list of traits that I believe a person needs to work as an ESL teacher in Korea.
1. You have to have an open mind. Korea is a big adjustment for many people, mainly because they judge Koreans by western standards. You have to realize, that here, you must behave as a Korean and not the other way around. Koreans have westernized in many ways, but their culture is still strong and must be respected if you wish to live harmoniously with them.
2. You have to adjust your personal space. Koreans, especially children, don’t have the same social boundaries that we have and don’t understand the concept. You will be stared at when you walk down the street. Younger Koreans will shout greetings to you to show off to their friends. Often, they will then run away laughing. Don’t be offended. We are still a novelty to them, so we must be tolerant. Korean friendliness is sometimes overwhelming.
3. Speaking of personal space, Don’t be surprised when your younger students poke and prod you, ask you a million questions, some even your own wife wouldn’t ask you. As I’ve said before, Koreans still view us as a novelty and often treat us as a science experiment rather then as human beings. So leave your personal space at home because it won’t be respected here.
4. OK, so let’s talk about food. Even in small cities, you’ll find restaurants that cater to western appetites. But where’s the fun in that. One of the best parts of Korea is its food and if you like spicy food you won’t be disappointed. I have tried many Korean dishes and find that the majority of it is most appetizing. So if you have a taste for the exotic, Korea is a great place to experiment. Of course, If you’re the fussy kind, as I’ve said, you can easily accomodate your western tastes here.
5. They say that patient is a virtue. Well, I hope you’re very virtuous as you will need a lot of patience both inside and outside of class. While there are many things you can do without speaking Korean, you miss a lot if you don’t have at least the basics. The foreigners’ best friend is a pocket Korean-English dictionary or phrase book. I would recommend however to learn some Korean as it will make your stay here that much more enjoyable.
6. A good sense of humor will keep you sane especially through your first few transitional months. Take everything with a grain of salt and you’ll find that Korea can be a wonderful place, with wonderful people, good food, interesting places to visit, great shopping and on the whole can be an experience that you will never forget.
7. Excuse me, is not a phrase used much here. Maybe it's the small town boy in me, but I find that shopping and public events are overwhelming at times. Picture your favorite mall during the Christmas rush and that seems to be the rule for everyday shopping in Korea. Course, I always hated shopping at home too, so maybe it is just me.
8. Driving, too, can be a real adventure here. Koreans are very aggressive drivers, to put it nicely, so if your not I suggest leaving the driving to other braver individuals. Luckily, most cities have excellent public transportation and you can easily get around. I, personally, like the freedom of my scooter. Although, there are times when even I wonder about my sanity driving in Korea.
