Common Questions About Korea

I've compiled a list of the most common questions I've received from friends about South Korea. Please stop asking them.

1. Why are you doing this?
- Lots of reasons! For one, I've always wanted to go to another country. I love teaching/coaching. I love kids. I wasn't doing anything else in 2009. And finally, I didn't want to be an old man and wonder if I should've tried it...

2. Do you speak Korean?
- No, I don't speak the language. It is literally just a mess of symbols and sounds to me.

3. How will you teach if you don't speak Korean?
- Kids in Korea learn to read and write English starting before Kindergarten, so most of them are already fluent. However, since they rarely come in contact with native English speakers, they need help with pronunciation, slang, etc.

4. Are you teaching at a public school?
- No, it's a private language school called a "hagwon." Basically, kids go to school all day just like in the U.S. After school, they go to various academies (hagwons) for a few more hours for subjects like math and English. Yes, they are smarter than us.

5. Why South Korea?
- I had it narrowed down to Japan, China, and Korea. Korea just offers the best combination of a low cost of living and relatively good pay. The country is also fairly isolated from the rest of the world, so they absolutely love Americans. It's always nice to be adored!

6. Isn't Korea one of those "Axis of Evil" countries?
- No, don't be ignorant. That's North Korea. Please learn about it here. South Korea is one of our strongest allies.

7. Where is Korea?
- Between China (to the west) and Japan (to the east). Still unsure? Start in California. Go left.

8. Are you attracted to Asian girls or something?
- You tell me you're not attracted to her or her

9. Are you scared?
- More than you could imagine.

10. What are you going to do after a year?
- Maybe I'll go to Poland...