Teaching in Korea – Big City or Small City???

by: Joey Bennett

When you ask most people who are from the western hemisphere what they know about Korea, the answer is most likely, “Not too much”; ironically enough, this is pretty much the same response you will get when asking a teacher who is about to go to Korea for a year. Seoul, Busan and possibly Daegu are the cities most recognized by people who are looking for the perfect school, in the perfect location; Seoul, because it is the capital; because it has the most variety; and simply because teachers have heard the name more than once. Busan is where the beach – people know that. Why not spend a year of your life teaching in a school that has the glorious vista of a beach in a city that lies neatly on the southern tip of the country? What people should be asking themselves is, “Why not?”. Well, the answer is simple – because you would be missing out on what Korea really has to offer: culture. Large metropolitan areas like Busan and Seoul are great cities, they really are, but they are not exactly what you would call the ideal place to learn about Korean life. They are the result of outside influences, and have therefore been ‘westernized’ – to what extent is hard to say, but westernized all the same. Seoul offers what any international city should: a wide variety of ethnic restaurants, from Italian to Indian, a bustling nightlife, great shopping, etcetera, etcetera. Busan on the other hand, is a port city, so there are a lot of different people from different countries coming and going. In regard to the beach, on any given summer day, there is around 10,000 people covering it with umbrellas, making it difficult to get yourself to the water – but hey, it’s still a beach, right? But what about the smaller cities that fill in the country side? Places like Kumi, Cheonan, Keumsan, Masan, Gwangju, or Gangneug to name a few – is it because these names are too difficult to pronounce? Or is it because they are simply unknown to most people? I think that it is probably a combination of both, which is understandable. What people often forget about is the reason why they are taking off for a year of their lives. Sure, a lot of people go to Korea to make money, or get experience in the teaching field, but what about the experience of a lifetime, being immersed in a culture other than your own? How much do you really know about Korea and Koreans, their history, their values, the reason they do things that you think are weird or rude? Life in one of Korea’s smaller cities can be much more fulfilling, as I have learned. People are friendlier, the air is cleaner and the quality of life is simply better. To add to this, you find yourself in a setting that doesn’t cater to you, rather one that you have to adjust to – and isn’t that the whole point? Why would you travel to the other side of the world only to seek the pleasures of home? Why not embrace another culture to the fullest extent? I think if you do, you will find yourself returning home with a lot more than what you left with.

About The Author
Joey Bennett runs Joey's ESL Room, at http://www.esl-teach.com

A Comprehensive Review of Filling Medical School Applications

by: Sandra Stammberger

A medical school is an institution that teaches medicine and trains its students into becoming successful medical practitioners. Different medical institutes across the world provides quality education in the theoretical as well as practical aspect of the medical training. Some of the most renowned institutions include the Cincinnati Medical School, Caribbean Medical School, Arizona medical schools, and Mayo Medical School. The entry criteria in all of these medical schools vary considerably, ranging from the eligibility criteria including grades obtained and co-curricular activities undertaken. But with a properly filled out medical school application a medical student can seek admission in various medical schools in Canada and the United States of America. There are a number of medical school applications through which medical aspirants can seek admissions in different medical schools across the globe. Some of the commonly used application forms that are most sought after for gaining admission in a medical college have been listed below: * AMCAS - American Medical College Application Service * AACOMAS - American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service * TMDSAS - Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service * OMSAS - The Ontario Medical Schools Application Service Through the American Medical College Application Service, prospective medical aspirants can seek admissions in different medical schools in Canada and the U.S. The AMCAS is a service regulated by the American Medical Colleges Association. AMCAS acts as a common application among the various medical schools. The American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service (AACOMAS) offers the medical aspirants a very convenient and centralized medical application service for the recognized medical schools and it is provided online. In this online application service, students can submit one electronic application. After verifying the application, the AACOMAS distributes the information inscribed by the applicants to the different medical schools selected by the students. The admission in an Osteopathic medical school is very competitive and the different schools select their candidates from a very large chunk of the highly qualified students. It is advised to apply very early in order to get your information processed without being delayed. The Ontario Medical Schools Application Service is a non-profit application service. It is a very convenient and centralized application service for seeking admissions in one of the six Ontario medical schools. They are namely: * Michael G.DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University * Queen's University * Schulich School of Medicine, University of Western Ontario * University of Ottawa * University of Toronto * Northern Ontario School of Medicine. Hence, those who wish to apply for the Ontario Medical Schools have to submit only one set of information with regards to their qualification and regardless of the number of the medical schools they wish to apply for. Similarly, for taking admission in a Texas medical and dental school, there is Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service through which applicants can apply to different medical colleges or schools in Texas.

About The Author
Sandra Stammberger owns and operates http://www.medicalschooladmission.net Medical School Admissions

Demand For Professionals With A Criminal Justice Degree Online Grows

by: Andy West

If you love the television program CSI and others like it, that may be an indication that you have an interest in criminal justice. You may crave a rewarding and fulfilling career that allows you to make the streets of your area safer. If this describes you, but if you are hesitating simply because of the cost or time involved in getting the appropriate education for your career choice, getting a criminal justice degree online may be a great option for you. This sort of degree program prepares you for a career in corrections, law enforcement, or security. You can also use the degree program as a stepping-stone to a bachelor's degree program. Right now is an ideal time to get a criminal justice degree online. According to The U.S. Department of Labor, by 2012, there will likely be a 24 percent increase in corrections across the country. Quite simply, national and private security is becoming more and more of a concern and as a result the demand for professionals in the field continues to grow. Since September 11, 2001, the need for criminal justice professionals has dramatically increased. Professionals are required for assisting in investigations, for working in prisons, for homeland security, and for protecting property. Governments at all levels as well as private companies and even private individuals can hire someone who has pursued a criminal justice degree online. Thanks to the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security and thanks to funding provided by security grants throughout the nation, security jobs are more plentiful and offer more room for advancement than ever before. If you want to get in on the ground floor of this exciting career opportunity, getting a criminal justice degree online is a great option. The fact is, although there are many more jobs in the field than ever before, educational requirements for those positions are also higher than ever before. Most law enforcement departments today require employees to have at least an associate degree. Most private security firms are also looking for individuals with a strong education. Today, it is not enough to have an interest in justice to pursue this sort of career opportunity. You also need a very strong education and impressive skills to get ahead. Getting a criminal justice degree online is a great option because it allows you to gain the education and skills set you need for an exciting career, but does not require you to give up your current life to do so. This sort of program is designed especially for adult learners, so there are no lengthy commutes to classes that take place while you are working. Instead, you have the option of studying when it is convenient for you to do so. You study from the comfort of your own home, while still maintaining your current job and responsibilities. Thanks to the fact that you do not have to pay for parking and for building fees, your program of study can also be very affordable. Getting a criminal justice degree online doesn't upset your entire life. Instead, it prepares you for a new career on your own terms. If you are prepared to study and fit time into your current schedule for doing the coursework, this online program is flexible enough to set you on the path to success quite easily. There is even financial aid available for students who qualify. The costs of this program are lower than many traditional on-campus programs, however you will still have financial assistance if you need it. Getting a new career shouldn't turn everything topsy-turvy and an online degree program in criminal justice can prepare you for a new opportunity while you gradually make the transition to a new job.

About The Author
Andy West is a freelance writer for Virginia College. Virginia College Online offers an accredited Criminal Justice Degree Online program. Please visit Virginia College Online at http://www.vconline.edu/site/department.cfm?Department_ID=2 to select the program that is right for you.