Whenever
you travel and live abroad, regardless of your
destination, you’re going to need money to make ends meet, and
understanding
the economy and currency of your new home is important to ensuring your
experience will be a success. So, what are the basics you’ll need to
know to
get you started on the right foot with your finances? How far will your
paycheck get you, really?
For our second
issue, the team at Aclipse is bringing you
information about the costs of living and working in Korea. Read on to
find out
more about Korea’s won and how it compares to the U.S. dollar, how much
you can
expect to pay for groceries and bills, as well as how to ask the locals
about
prices so that you can always feel prepared at the check-out counter.
Also, be sure
to check out the Teaching Tutorial section for a guide the terms and
lingo (and
all those confusing acronyms) you’ll need to know as a teacher in the
EFL (English
as a Foreign Language) community.
Would
you like to suggest a topic that we should cover in
future issues or comment on what you’ve already read?
Let us know what’s on your mind! Contact us
at esljobs@aclipse.net. We’d love
to hear from you!
Sincerely,
The Aclipse Team
Teaching
Tutorial
EFL Terminology: Learning the Lingo
So, you’re counting down to
your departure with enthusiasm, eagerness, and perhaps a little
trepidation—all
at the same time. You have a million things on your mind, trying to
anticipate
and solve challenges before they arise. One of the challenges of
starting any
new job is managing the lingo—those unfamiliar words or phrases that
could
catch you in conversation and make you feel unprepared. A quick
introduction of
English teaching and EFL (English as a Foreign Language) specific
jargon will
be helpful.
EFL terminology is a huge
area to cover, so don’t feel too intimidated. You will be able to learn
as you
go, through training sessions, faculty feedback, and with help from the
friends
and colleagues you will soon be sharing soju with after work. For now,
we’ll
restrict this article to some of the more common and practical terms
relating
to testing and teaching and provide you with some online resources to
look into.
Click
here to read
the full article and for resources on this topic.
Cultural
Tips
All about the Korean Won
Today’s won (or KRW) has been South Korea’s sole legal tender
since 1975. Unlike in the U.S., where plastic is king, Koreans still
primarily use cash for their everyday transactions—a practice you’ll
find is common throughout Asia. This means it is important for you to
understand the won, how the different denominations look, and how you
can manage your money while in Korea. We' also go over what you'll need
to know to open your Korean bank account.
Click
here to learn more about money in Korea
Cost Comparisons: KRW vs. USD
One easy way to understand what those numbers on your paycheck
really mean to the bottom line of your budget is to know how the won
compares to a currency you are likely familiar with—the U.S. dollar.
Because currency exchange rates are constantly in flux, it can still be
useful to keep in mind an average rate. The information in this article
will help you understand how the won compares to the U.S. dollar and
show you just how comfortably you can live in Korea.
For
the full article that will help you crunch the numbers, click here!
Coming up in our next newsletter!
We know you are curious about where you will be living in
Korea and what it will be like. We'll look at accomodations and offer
tips on how to make your living space work for you. Next up in the
Teaching Tutorial, we'll show you effective strategies for
teaching vocabulary to your students.
Hometown:
Overland Park, KS
Degree From:
Kansas State University
Years Teaching:
2.5
Location in Korea: Junggye
Motivation for Teaching Abroad: Every job
I've ever had has been working with children. I worked at Club Med
after university and enjoyed traveling. I taught 6th grade for a year,
and then decided I wanted to combine all three.
Best thing about the experience: The
friends I have made.
Best thing about Korea: When you go out,
you never know who you're going to meet of what's going to happen. I
like being able to travel cheaply to places like Thailand and Cambodia.
Advice to future teahers: Leave behind
your preconceptions about who you are and what kinds of friends you
think you should have, and you'll be happier meeting new people and
finding out that there are other aspects to life that you didn't
realize before.
