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The information below is Complied by Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Consular Affairs Bureau, Government Canada. This can help you in your decision to become an English Teacher in South Korea.
There are many different types of people teaching English in Korea. Some are professionally trained with degrees in TESOL; some hold postgraduate degrees in other disciplines and are teaching in Korea because they want to experience another culture; some are teaching English while doing other work, such as research; some are teaching English while looking for other jobs; and some are merely passing through.
Most of these people bring their own unique expectations to their English teaching jobs, as well as their own individual reactions to the circumstances in which they find themselves. Being aware of cultural differences before you start employment as a teacher in Korea will help you prepare for any situations you may encounter.
Korean society makes a sharp distinction between an individual's inner circle of family, friends and business colleagues, and outsiders. Members of the inner circle must always be treated with absolute respect and courtesy, while strangers are treated with indifference. Korean society is not egalitarian: a person's status is strictly defined in relation to others. How do foreigners fit into this scheme? The simple answer is they don't.
Most Koreans who travel abroad do so in group tours, which limit their interaction with the foreign environment. Korean society thus remains very inwardly focused.
Living in Korea as a foreigner requires patience and fortitude. Most foreigners have found that Koreans can be quite friendly and warm, but you should not expect to be accepted as a member of a Korean's inner circle.
The Status of Teachers in Korea
Most teachers in Korea, are treated with great respect by their students. However, it is important for teachers to exhibit the personal qualities and behaviour that help to maintain that respect. A foreign teacher who acted disrespectfully would be regarded with great disdain by most Koreans, and would run the risk of getting into serious trouble with both his/her employer and the Korean immigration authorities. In other words, you should always act in a respectful manner and with discretion.
As a foreigner in Korea, you will be very visible: you may find everyone around you watching what you do with great interest (most are just inquisitive). Always remember that Korean society is much more conservative in many ways than North American society; you should try to be sensitive to cultural norms and expectations.
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