Staying in Korea 1, 2...5...10...20 years
My best estimates:
20% of English teachers who come to Korea stay one year or less
33% (1/3) up to two years
80% up to three years
Those who stay longer than three years are put into another group. I would say those who stay more than 2 or 3 years are a different class of English teacher.
10% 3-5 years
10% 5 - 10 years
less than 1% more than 10 years
One may disagree with those numbers. I put a little thought into it. I don't thing the real figures are too far off.
The attitude of those who stay a few years or less is much different than those who stay longer. In addition the long termers are more likely to have better jobs such as university jobs or to be more settled in Korea. Some own homes, apartments or are married or in serious relationships with Koreans or other foreigners living in Korea.
I decided to write about this because, not only do I think about this sometimes, but recently I met an English teacher who has been in Korea 14 years. She told me that when she first came to Korea she lived in Pundang and had to go into Seoul to use internet cafes, PC rooms. She also had to work six days a week in a hagwon. Things have really changed since then.
Just a few stories I've heard of those hear more than twenty years. They were businessmen, translators, married to Koreans and ... this teacher I met told me she has co-workers who fit into this category.
20% of English teachers who come to Korea stay one year or less
33% (1/3) up to two years
80% up to three years
Those who stay longer than three years are put into another group. I would say those who stay more than 2 or 3 years are a different class of English teacher.
10% 3-5 years
10% 5 - 10 years
less than 1% more than 10 years
One may disagree with those numbers. I put a little thought into it. I don't thing the real figures are too far off.
The attitude of those who stay a few years or less is much different than those who stay longer. In addition the long termers are more likely to have better jobs such as university jobs or to be more settled in Korea. Some own homes, apartments or are married or in serious relationships with Koreans or other foreigners living in Korea.
I decided to write about this because, not only do I think about this sometimes, but recently I met an English teacher who has been in Korea 14 years. She told me that when she first came to Korea she lived in Pundang and had to go into Seoul to use internet cafes, PC rooms. She also had to work six days a week in a hagwon. Things have really changed since then.
Just a few stories I've heard of those hear more than twenty years. They were businessmen, translators, married to Koreans and ... this teacher I met told me she has co-workers who fit into this category.
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