ENGLISH TEACHER HOUSING, CHINA vs KOREA: Watch this before signing your next contract!

It seems impossible, but slumlords in South Korea like to mask themselves as English training school directors. They take advantage of a foreigner being vulnerable and not knowing the pitfalls of housing in Korea. Ironically, I found housing to be much better for teachers in China as we were paid a stipend and allowed to select the home of our choice.

[@waftbut]

Great and hilarious presentation.

[@gunsumwong3948]

As an ethnic Chinese living in the west I know in my heart China will never treat foreign teachers the way the South Korea does. In Chinese culture a teacher must be respected. It is that simple.

[@tc2334]

That and just the work culture in Chinese schools is generally more laid back (for the teachers). The students are the ones with all the pressure. lol

[@iGeekozoid]

If you mean as far as housing goes, some employers absolutely will. I work at an "international school" here and the apartment provided is pretty similar in quality to the one in the video, however instead of a child size mattress, I was provided with a wooden board on a bed frame.

[@rm83689]

@@tc2334 Says the idiotic troll who has never been to China, let alone meet the students there. LMAO

[@tc2334]

@@rm83689 You’re the one who’s clearly never been *here* and doesn’t live *here* (China) where I live and work as a *teacher* so I literally see this every day. Maybe try not being an idiotic troll yourself. I understand it may be hard for you. 🙂 ‘You can’t debunk my comment, so you resort to ad hominems, right? Well, nice try for showing your sheer stupidity.’ Sound familiar? 😊

[@tc2334]

@@rm83689 You can’t debunk what I said so you resort to ad hominem? Seems hypocritical based on your other comment on this page. I actually both live and work in China as a teacher and I’m here right now. You probably aren’t given your use of the word “there” and I doubt you’ve even been here yourself.

[@tc2334]

This video isn't an exaggeration. In most of China (not Beijing, Shanghai, or Hong Kong), the apartment featured in the second half of the video is available for around $600/month in rent AND you could be situated in the city center.

[@BenJones1127]

It seems teaching in China is the better deal, I really wanted to go to Korea though but the more I research the more disappointed I am

[@englishteacherdon]

Thanks for watching Ben! My other video "14 Reasons to Reboot Life in China" covers the other reasons more in depth. I would still go back to Korea if I had to, but overall there are more opportunities in China, especially with dating.

[@xinfuxia3809]

The apartment you showed is pretty standard in China. Your employers probably live in better conditions. They would not intentionally punish employees.

[@vjthomas2288]

The poem 🤣🤣

[@elainelee2491]

Wow... I'm surprised the living accommodations in Korea is so bad. Love your rhyme or poem. 😂

[@englishteacherdon]

Thank You Elaine for watching! It was shocking. I hope the message people get is to check your director's homework no matter what their passport says. It's about people, not passports.

[@elainelee2491]

@@englishteacherdon Thanks for sharing.

[@elainelee2491]

What's the salary difference between Korea and China when it comes to being a teacher?

[@englishteacherdon]

You are typically paid 70% more in China, but you will save 330% more in China due to lower cost of living.

[@AlexKaehler-qc8kd]

Thanks, sir! Question: i'm familiar with some of the boards to look at jobs in China, but what are the tipoffs? I mean, do you look for the jobs that say they offer an apartment or simply assist you in finding one? How much is the deposit/key money? It is much more in Korea than what Americans typically pay, I know that, but I'm asking about China. Thanks!

[@englishteacherdon]

I would ask to talk to another foreign teacher about the living conditions. I would also insist on seeing the pictures of the place before you come. China is a big country with lots of variations from region to region.

[@Ivan-zs2ou]

Great video Don. Do you have any advice for securing a chemistry teaching role in China? I’m Cambridge (UK) educated and have significant one to one tuition experience (biology, chemistry and physics) having worked in Hong Kong pre pandemic. However I have no formal teaching qualification - is this a significant barrier to recruitment in China?

[@RedHotTopicsNow]

Tell your the truth, you will get better employment opportunities as a English teacher than a science teacher in China. They normally do not require you have an English education degree! Your Cambridge education will make a great sale than your science degree!

[@Yus-b9e]

Your input is greatly appreciated

[@luckyleafproductions]

i taught 2 years in Korea...i have a way better furnished apartment...you have to choose wisely before signing a contract and request pictures.

[@englishteacherdon]

That's the point to the video. Thanks for watching.

[@luckyleafproductions]

@@englishteacherdon thanks for sharing!

[@thorpizzle]

I have lived in South Korea for about 14 years, and I have never seen an apartment that bad before. I'm currently on my 6th apartment. My worst apartment was bad, but not nearly as bad as that one.

[@englishteacherdon]

I am glad to hear you had a better go of things. I think I was dealing with a terrible director, and probably the rest of Korea is not so bad. I am not aware of any legal problems this director has for mistreating foreign help. I hope this video serves as an alert of just how far south things can go in Korea with a sub-par boss.

[@thorpizzle]

@@englishteacherdon oh, yes, I have heard my share of stories. I have heard of people not getting paid on time or directors not wanting to give out proper severance payments. You probably were not alone when it came to bad apartments.

[@thierrycs1165]

🤣🤣🤣