Teachers who are in their 40s - 50s

[cruisemonkey]

So, I can say that as far as the kids are concerned, age is no problem as long as you are fun and not boring. Be young at heart, that is the secret.

Yes... I'm sure if the students (and the administration of my second school - they're 'gutted' to be losing me) had any say in the matter, I wouldn't be leaving. Unfortunately, they don't.

[charlene2011]

As long as you are prepared and interesting, kids do not care about age. They will laugh about it.

[confusedsafferinkorea]

I am not sure what Immigration feels about age and re-contracting, but I know my Principal wants me to stay forever (unfortunately she is leaving in August)

This is why if you're old it's better to work for (and ingratiate yourself to) a school that's "owned" by a private foundation. Your principal my retire or die but if you're in the good books with the family that founded it you'll be up there with the tenured teachers and much more valued than the Korean contract teachers.

Do you know where I can get the names of such schools?  I would be interested for sure, I intend to stay here as long as I can but as you said it depends of the whim of passing people. I would be most grateful if you could tell me where I can get hold of this sort of information.

Thanks so much.

[Yu_Bumsuk]

I am not sure what Immigration feels about age and re-contracting, but I know my Principal wants me to stay forever (unfortunately she is leaving in August)

This is why if you're old it's better to work for (and ingratiate yourself to) a school that's "owned" by a private foundation. Your principal my retire or die but if you're in the good books with the family that founded it you'll be up there with the tenured teachers and much more valued than the Korean contract teachers.

Do you know where I can get the names of such schools?  I would be interested for sure, I intend to stay here as long as I can but as you said it depends of the whim of passing people. I would be most grateful if you could tell me where I can get hold of this sort of information.

Thanks so much.

Go to any rural county (군) and a lot of the secondary schools and some of the elementary schools will be "owned" by a family foundation. This is especially the case with girls secondary schools founded in the 50s and 60s. These 'private-public' schools often get EPIK teachers just like 'public-public' schools, but if you're lucky (like me) the contract could be through the school itself, and not with EPIK. The result is that the school kind of owns you, for better or for worse. If you're on good terms with the school, then it's for the better. If this sounds like what you'd like, find a rural county you like and see if you can get to know anyone there.

There are 'private-public' schools in cities, too, but these tend to be larger and thus there's not so much personal connection amongst staff.

[confusedsafferinkorea]

I am not sure what Immigration feels about age and re-contracting, but I know my Principal wants me to stay forever (unfortunately she is leaving in August)

This is why if you're old it's better to work for (and ingratiate yourself to) a school that's "owned" by a private foundation. Your principal my retire or die but if you're in the good books with the family that founded it you'll be up there with the tenured teachers and much more valued than the Korean contract teachers.

Do you know where I can get the names of such schools?  I would be interested for sure, I intend to stay here as long as I can but as you said it depends of the whim of passing people. I would be most grateful if you could tell me where I can get hold of this sort of information.

Thanks so much.

Go to any rural county (군) and a lot of the secondary schools and some of the elementary schools will be "owned" by a family foundation. This is especially the case with girls secondary schools founded in the 50s and 60s. These 'private-public' schools often get EPIK teachers just like 'public-public' schools, but if you're lucky (like me) the contract could be through the school itself, and not with EPIK. The result is that the school kind of owns you, for better or for worse. If you're on good terms with the school, then it's for the better. If this sounds like what you'd like, find a rural county you like and see if you can get to know anyone there.

There are 'private-public' schools in cities, too, but these tend to be larger and thus there's not so much personal connection amongst staff.

Thanks so much.

[DevilMogun]

I am not sure what Immigration feels about age and re-contracting, but I know my Principal wants me to stay forever (unfortunately she is leaving in August)

This is why if you're old it's better to work for (and ingratiate yourself to) a school that's "owned" by a private foundation. Your principal my retire or die but if you're in the good books with the family that founded it you'll be up there with the tenured teachers and much more valued than the Korean contract teachers.

Do you know where I can get the names of such schools?  I would be interested for sure, I intend to stay here as long as I can but as you said it depends of the whim of passing people. I would be most grateful if you could tell me where I can get hold of this sort of information.

Thanks so much.

Though it isn't particularly helpful to your situation, it may encourage you to know that my local 'public-private' school has recently decided to become the 'immersion' school of the area and so recruited 7 or 8 new teachers - all of them over 30 and - without wishing to unintentionally insult any them as I've only seen their photos so far - mostly in their 40's or 50's.  The school has had a steady flow of one-year-only younger teachers over the past few yeas so I'm guessing they opted for maturer people who will stick around for a whle. 

It may be coincidence but I seem to be hearing of a few people over 50 whose contracts with public schools aren't being renewed this year.  A result of tightening budgets and choosing the cheaper option of inexperienced college leavers?

[confusedsafferinkorea]

'A result of tightening budgets and choosing the cheaper option of inexperienced college leavers'

Oh that is really going to set Korean education on fire !!! Choosing inexperience over experience and maturity, way to go, Korea.......... :o :o :o :o  Just to save a buck or two.

[Merryone]

my suggestion is to go rural.

I am 20 minutes away from great shopping and I have a car.
thats all i need. the more rural you are, the more difficult it is to get a teacher. they don't care as much about the age because they need teachers so much. you'll find fewer english speakers, less bars and entertainment, but hey, the trade off is that you have a job!

my second suggestion is to learn the langauge.
being so rural and not knowing the language is a source of continual frustration.

my third suggestion is cultivate korean friendships.
I have a few people that indicated a desire for friendship and I cultivated it and after one year here, I have more stability and a stronger niche because of certain korean friends who make my life more comfortable and less fearful/stressful. after being here for five months, I went to my doctor, described my symptoms, and (without running any tests) he said there is nothing wrong with you but stress that you live in a foreign country. I then went to Jinju university hospital and got treated for my illness, which was not imagined but real. these korean friends make a world of difference. "my" doctor has no idea how comfortable and welcome I feel in this country!!

good luck!

[adlez]

JC

I moved to Hanam recently..my e;mail: zmenmuir@gmail.com or facebook: Zelda Menmuir
Maybe we should start a new meetup group..LOL

[Cranberryopah]

Taking a similar approach to confusedsafferinkorea, when the students ask my age I respond "oh beck" (500). The Ss look at each other, then at me before saying "oh nooo teacher". I've been here for nearly 3 years and intend to stay a while.  Drop me a PM if you'd like coffee. I'd love some.

[riswyk]

I turned 40 this year, and this is my second year in Korea.  I'm not too far from Guri in Namyangju. 
I can still pass for my 20's on a good day! ;)

[Hooplehead]

Three Alley Pub.  It's where the olds hang out.

[courtneylovesmenot]

Funny thread. I do know what you mean, because you do get stares, but the gray hair gets some respect in this culture.

[Cranberryopah]

Three Alley Pub.  It's where the olds hang out.

  In what city and where (in it) is the Three Alley Pub?

[Koreak]

Three Alley Pub.  It's where the olds hang out.

  In what city and where (in it) is the Three Alley Pub?

In Itaewon... and yes... there are a lot of older foreigners that go there.

[Nita]

I'm 44years old...and have had some good and bad experiences....but the good  :) outweighed the bad experiences...yes rural is the best....I am well respected by my students ,Korean colleagues and community....as long as you have a positive attitude, are prepared workwise and make English exciting ...you will have few to No hiccups....Just a pity I'm leaving in a weeks time...but will be back in a years time...my school & the foundation have asked me to please come back...that's if  the new teacher decides not to stick around too long...lol!

[Merryone]

I live in a very rural place and most of the other waygook in the area are mostly in their 20's. I don't drink at all and I'll give you one guess as to what their favorite past time is. anyway, what I wanted to say is, since we live too far apart to get together, how would you like to email and be pen pals? perhaps we can make a point to meet a few times a year? I've been wanting to see more of korea! I live on an island. its low key in terms of excitement, but has lots of natural beauty, if you want to come  south and experience it for yourself. take care! thanks for reading.

[adlez]

That sounds great!