Daves ESL Cafe was Wrong
- 02.05.10
- General Info, daves esl cafe
- 12 Comments
I searched Daves ESL Cafe to find teaching jobs when I first decided that I wanted to teach in South Korea. I still visit the forums there. I use the site now, mainly to read the teacher banter. Now that I’m teaching in South Korea, I can see that a lot of the discussions about South Korea are jaded. Visitors are always complaining about South Korea. They don’t like the culture in Korea. They say that the people are rude, and on and on. People are always in trouble in Daves ESL Cafe. They didn’t get paid by their school or they are having trouble with their visa, or the school’s owner is not adhering to the contract. People go there to vent. They rarely post, saying that they love their jobs.
Today I wasted time by reading a discussion from someone in his 20s complaining about people over 30 who were wasting time by coming to South Korea, because anyone over 30 is too old to travel the world, teaching, experiencing a different culture, and earning a living. Yes. There are trolls or crazy people on Daves ESL Cafe, but it’s still a good site.
Dave’s ESL Cafe Will Scare You
The discussions there will scare anyone into not coming to South Korea. I wanted to come to Korea ten years ago. Well, I thought about Korea or Japan. I didn’t because I thought that racism was so bad that I would be spat on or physically attached, have no friends, and have strangers screaming obscenities at me whenever I went out. It’s nothing like that here at all, but I got that idea from reading the discussions on Dave’s site. My own imagination contributed, too.
I have also read that it’s difficult for black people to find a job in South Korea. You do have to submit your photo to apply for teaching jobs. In my opinion it may be easier for Caucasian people to get private school jobs, but I don’t think that it’s difficult for black people to find a job here, overall. I think that black people will get offers from private schools, but maybe not as many as Caucasian applicants. It’s similar to the U.S., but I don’t know to what extent. I am just giving my impression here. I had no problem at all getting a public school job. I simply submitted my application to the recruiter. I had an interview. Within a few days, I had an offer. There appear to be a lot of jobs here.
Daves ESL Cafe and the Quality of Life in Korea
People are usually dissing the quality of life in Korea on Daves ESL Cafe. I feel that life is good here. Life is easy. There’s plenty to do. I have Korean friends and friends that I met through EPIK. I get the correct change back when I go out shopping in the market. If I drop something, a Korean person will hand it to me. If I am lost, and an English-speaking Korean person sees me in conflict he or she will try to help. I can walk around at night and feel safe. My students see me in the street and yell out my name, and wave. It isn’t easy being a foreigner, but my life isn’t bad here.
For Teacher Resources
So, the Cafe has a lot of fed up people. Teaching overseas is not for everyone. If you are a person who cannot easily adapt or go with the flow, you will have a tough time here. You don’t have to agree to or accept poor treatment here, but there are some cultural differences that seem strange. Those things are not going to change, and I know that I am just a visitor here. The cafe is a good place to ask questions, research jobs, and get teaching ideas. Understand that coming to a new country is risky, but South Korea is doable.
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Very true… very true. Dave’s scared me to death before coming to Korea… I can’t even read the stuff anymore. I stick to the bloggers who seem to be enjoying life here.
adamgn´s last blog ..Bracket update
Lived in Korea for four years and I saw plenty of people who always complained about pretty much everything in Korea. Makes me tired very quickly. So as soon as I get a feeling that negative nagging is about to come out from the person – “nice meeting you! let’s catch up later… some time… over email… maybe…”
If you can’t adopt and see positive side in every situation – stay home and travel your backyard. Don’t pollute others with your pessimism.
@ Claudine: Hey! It’s been a while!
I recently joined Dave’s ESL Cafe and have found helpful info on the forums. I like to think I’m helping someone out there, even if the posts were originally started in 2003.. It’s true there are some pessimistic people out there. Some even like to sabotage others misfortune. With any site, like YouTube/MySpace/wherever you have the real, fake and the haters.
@ adamgn: Any good blogs? check out mine. I <3 Korea!
@ Andre: yes, so true. Where in Korea did you live? 4 years is a long time, did you move around?
@Khadijah Lived in Seoul. Didn’t move around Korea much apart from traveling and visiting relatives on south (my wife’s Korean). But did move around the globe a while. Born in Ukraine, studied in China for 5 years, than moved to Korea for work. Now in Australia for past 8 years and there’s a slight chance of me going back to Korea later this year.
Ahh, Dave’s ESL Cafe. The home of internet commentators and spies who will hack your computer when you post there to attempt to find out who you are. I’ve had my computer hacked there many times after posting truths, and even had a 409eater send me emails after hacking me. Never have I had problems with hackers invading my computer and hacking my emails. Never until I started blogging on Dave’s ESL, that is.
What is more, the internet commentators that hang out on Dave’s (because it’s their JOB) like flower pots will follow you around like a puppy dog harrasing you when you post the truth (and of course they’ll hack your computer as well).
Let us band together and get Dave’s ESL shut down. I’ve complained to the FBI about that site and my hacker problem. If you have had such problems, let me know. The power is in our numbers.
Teaching overseas is definitely not for everyone. My friend taught in South Korea for over a year, and he had a blast. I’m seriously considering it. Daves ESL Cafe was recommended to me as THE forum to read. I agree it can be depressing, but it’s just people typing away their worst frustrations. My friend really enjoyed his year, found it immensely rewarding, even met his current fiance in SoKo.
I just want to say hello and thank you for having this blog/site up it has helped me out so much. I will be leaving to South Korea next month to teach and have been so concerned with a lot of things. Dave’s Cafe tends to be so negative and scary.
They put all these doubts in my mind about how I will be perceived living there. I’m not white, I’m actually Latina, and I know its different being an American English teacher who is non Caucasian — but those folks at Daves Cafe are horrible.
They also said that if you are overweight you will be harrassed and asked to go home at the airport. WOW. I know Koreans are faily small and a U.S size Medium is like XX Large to them etc. I understand having a hard time finding clothes and I’m ok with that but those folks over there are insane. lol
Anyway, thank you for your detail information about your journey and the advice/tips it has helped me out a lot so far.
Cheers,
M
You are welcome! I do feel like I am on display a lot and that people are always watching the foreigner. I never really got used to it, but many people do.
Are you still in South Korea? Would you say your time there was mostly enjoyable?
I’m so nervous to be going real soon. I’m going to make it the most enjoyable situation above the craziness. Did you get the constant stare all the time? I know I will have to get used to the stares and the like. Hopefully, it won’t be too bad.
Thanks for taking the time to reply, it means a lot.
M
Dave has problem with muslims!!!
Phew, I’m glad to get confirmation that the people who post on Dave’s are mostly nuts! I have been trying to research aspects of life as an ESL teacher in South Korea, so Dave’s is the place to go, but I am pretty put off by all the bickering and moaning that happens on those forums.
Did you have any teaching experience before going straight into a public school job? If not, what was it like for you? I may have a public school job offer, but I am slightly nervous about jumping right into a big classroom in a foreign country as a newbie teacher!
Best wishes to you!