While I have had many wonderful Korean students in my classes and numerous invitations to teach in Korea, the prospect has always intimidated me. Unless I join a well-known university, how would I know what to really expect? What does one do if there is a considerable gap between promises and realities of an English teaching position? Your discussion of contracts is exceptionally illuminating, and provides a cultural context for some comments that I’ve heard over the years. I appreciate both your candor and professionalism in this balanced, informative article.

Your article is both a gentle nudge to carefully reflect before embarking on an English teaching assignment, and a magnet for qualified, focused English language professionals. Perhaps next summer I will be able to take advantage of the information that you have so carefully assembled.