Tefl in South Korea

red_bairn

groovyspiderguy wrote: »

*Bear in mind that in Korea, American English is used - so first off - changing things like 'CV' to 'RESUME' and ensuring American spelling is used are no harm!

Also, obviously it has to be appropriate!
You want to emphasize any teaching/mentoring type roles you've undertaken and experience/time spent with younger people.

They'd have little interest in things like sales targets reached and the like.

Little things like these can make a difference.

Bloody American English.

cloneslad

rich1874 wrote: »

Are you sure about the Commisioner for Oaths thing? ..

Yes, very sure.

I think it has to be a public notary

No, it doesn't

i would suggest looking for a Public Notary from the outset and avoiding the Commisioner for Oaths minefield.

There's no minefield. A public notary is generally more expensive and is not needed.

Gingervitis

This could spark a worrying trend...
Hagwons not affected (yet)


Seoul to Phase Out Native English Teachers

Most native English-speaking teachers in about 300 high schools in Seoul could lose their jobs next year. In its budget for 2012, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education cut about W4 billion (US$1=W1,126) for 225 native speakers teaching at high schools.

If the budget is approved by the city council, most of the high schools in Seoul except for 30 English "immersion" and international schools, can no longer afford a native speaker.

Currently 1,245 native speakers teach English conversation at primary and secondary schools in Seoul, 895 of them subsidized by the city office of education and the rest by the city government or district offices.

"A native speaker earns on average W42 million a year, and we concluded that they are not effective enough to justify the cost," a spokesman for the city office of education said. "A survey conducted for us showed that Korean teachers with outstanding English and teaching skills are more effective in the long term."

The office also plans to reduce the number of native speakers teaching at elementary and middle schools from 2013.

Students from low-income families will likely bear the brunt of the policy. "Students from well-to-do families may find lessons from native English-speakers dull because they've been attending private tutoring institutes since they were young," an education official said. "But those from poor families should be given the opportunity to learn English with native speakers at school." He added it is "too early to reduce the number of native speakers as long as Korean teachers aren't good enough to replace them."

kraggy

Worse than that, they're initially cutting it to 705 teachers which means they'll be cutting from middle and elementary schools too.

So there'll be no native teachers in high, middle, or elementary eventually. That's what a lot of people reckon here. Supposedly, the government have seen no real improvement to the English standards of the students and they took a survey of said students. The goverment says that the students said they prefer to be taught by the Korean teachers.

That's not an accurate survery though, because, us native English teachers are not the only ones who teach the students anyway. Both Korean and navtive English teachers teach the kids. So it's not an either/or scenario.


Edit: Here's an article from Korean Times website dated yesterday:

Summary: Practically all high school teachers will not have their contracts renewed but for now, elementary and middle school teachers will be kept on next year. But that's ominous-looking:


About 85 percent of foreign English teachers at high schools in Seoul face not being rehired next year due to a budget cut, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (SMOE) said Thursday.

The education office said it cut its budget allocation for foreign teachers at high schools for 2012 by 4.4 billion won ($3.9 million). This means 225 teachers out of 266 teachers there will not have their contracts renewed upon expiration.

“We submitted the budget plan for foreign teachers at high schools to the Seoul Metropolitan Council,” said an official from the education office. “We decided to cut the budget to maximize cost efficiency in hiring foreign teachers. We concluded that foreign English teachers at high schools were less efficient than those at elementary and middle schools.”

Although the education office plans to gradually reduce the number of foreign English teachers at elementary and middle schools as well, it plans to go with the current number at least until next year.

“We have yet to decide on the budget allocation for foreign English teachers at elementary and middle schools,” the SMOE official said. “The adjusted number is near to final for high schools.”

Of the 266 teachers at high schools, the education office pays for 255 teachers, with the remaining 11 funded by district offices. The 30 teachers who will retain jobs with support from the education office are those at international or science high schools or schools specializing in the English language.

“The district offices may increase or decrease their budget for foreign English teachers on their own discretion,” the official from the SMOE said.

Although high school English teachers will be let go starting next year, this doesn’t mean the foreign teachers will be immediately laid off. Once their contracts expire, they will have fewer opportunities to renew their contracts, especially if they received poor evaluations from their employers.

The public reaction was mixed. Some welcome the education office’s budget cut, saying it is more cost efficient.

“For the past seven years, I co-taught with four foreign English teachers at my school but the quality of teaching students receive is up to luck. Some will be taught by qualified teachers where as those less fortunate will be taught by teachers who aren’t so well versed in teaching,” said a Korean teacher at an elementary school in Seoul.

“Besides, it costs too much to employ foreign English teachers. They receive housing and other expenses from the education office along with their monthly pay. I wish the office would invest more for Korean English teachers with that money.”

She said that even without the English teachers in regular classes, students will still be able to receive lessons from foreign teachers through afterschool programs.

Others are more skeptical about the education office’s decision, saying students will now have to pay for their own private English lessons.

“Kids who can afford private English lessons will be okay, but those who are less privileged will be victimized by this decision. They are stripped of the opportunity to receive education from foreign teachers. Regardless of the quality of teachers, I think foreigners play a positive role in reducing the cultural gap with students,” said a parent in his 40s.

cloneslad

Gingervitis wrote: »

"A native speaker earns on average W42 million a year, and we concluded that they are not effective enough to justify the cost," a spokesman for the city office of education said.

That's bullshít right there. They may cost 42 million a year when you factor in housing, flights, insurance, tax, pension etc. But there is no way that's an average wage. I'd imagine the average wage is about 2.2million per month multiplied by 13 months (to include severance) which is just over 28million per year.

"A survey conducted for us showed that Korean teachers with outstanding English and teaching skills are more effective in the long term."

A survey? How would a survey prove anything?

Also, 'with outstanding English and teaching skills' - How many of the public school teachers can even hold a proper conversation in English?

Cool Running

Hey Guys,

It's fairly getting cold here in Seoul. Anybody heading to the Irish Association of Korea's Christmas party in the Wolfhound in Itaweon on Saturday night?

Heres the link http://irishassociationofkorea.wordpress.com/2011/12/02/iak-invites-you-to-an-irish-christmas-on-sat-dec-17th-1930-til-late-at-the-wolfhound-flyer/

I was at it last year, met a fellow boardsie, won a bottle of Baileys and had a great night.

squeakyduck

Cool Running wrote: »

Hey Guys,

It's fairly getting cold here in Seoul. Anybody heading to the Irish Association of Korea's Christmas party in the Wolfhound in Itaweon on Saturday night?

I was at it last year, met a fellow boardsie, won a bottle of Baileys and had a great night.

It snowed here in Osan on Saturday morning. I'll be heading to Cambodia on Saturday. Must get a boards meet going in Seoul. Anyone interested?

roosh

Does anyone have any tips on how to go about coming up with a plan for a 5 day winter camp (9-12 daily). I've been having a look on waygook, but nothing is jumping out at me.

EDIT: I'm not sure if it is just me, but stuff seems to be a bit disjointed on there.

red_bairn

squeakyduck wrote: »

It snowed here in Osan on Saturday morning. I'll be heading to Cambodia on Saturday. Must get a boards meet going in Seoul. Anyone interested?

When are you back?

kraggy

roosh wrote: »

Does anyone have any tips on how to go about coming up with a plan for a 5 day winter camp (9-12 daily). I've been having a look on waygook, but nothing is jumping out at me.

EDIT: I'm not sure if it is just me, but stuff seems to be a bit disjointed on there.

It is, it takes ages to sift through all the crap. And the layout of the website is muddled once you go looking for stuff.

Try googling "waygook elementary camp". (or middle/high if you're not elementary)

You can see the titles of each thread that way without having to go into each one and reading through it all.

roosh

kraggy wrote: »

It is, it takes ages to sift through all the crap. And the layout of the website is muddled once you go looking for stuff.

Try googling "waygook elementary camp". (or middle/high if you're not elementary)

You can see the titles of each thread that way without having to go into each one and reading through it all.

cheers kraggy, I found the camp index alright, but even that is just ordered chaos. Haven't a notion what to do for a camp, and have zero input from my CT, so just looking for something that I can throw together.

squeakyduck

red_bairn wrote: »

When are you back?

Flying in the morning of the 26th!

Gonna try and get a group up to Seoul for new years if any of ye want to join? :)

red_bairn

squeakyduck wrote: »

Flying in the morning of the 26th!

Gonna try and get a group up to Seoul for new years if any of ye want to join? :)

Will be a quiet one with the gf. :P

kraggy

roosh wrote: »

cheers kraggy, I found the camp index alright, but even that is just ordered chaos. Haven't a notion what to do for a camp, and have zero input from my CT, so just looking for something that I can throw together.

Are you elementary or what? What standard is the kids' English?

Pick a theme that can be divided in to 4 or 5 pieces. For example

Do a continent each day, Australia on the Monday, Africa on the Tuesday etc and shur Friday will be a doss anyway, no need to plan anything.

Pictures, wildlife youtube videos, drawing, painting animals and places, a simple PPT each day as an introduction, look up games on the internet for fillers. Also, there are loads of wordsearches and colouring sheets on the internet.

Just google "Africa wordsearch" etc.

You'll be grand don't worry. Just sit down and make a start and then the ideas will start flowing.

Dhoff

Hi Guys

I am really considering going to Korea in January/Feb 2012. I have a degree in Civil Engineering and finished the 120hour tefl advanced course.

Recently I started the visa application for a skilled visa for Australia but that takes over one year to process, so I thought i'd give teaching a try. I have already spent 2 years in Oz but since nothing is happening here I dont have much of a choice other than move abroad.

Just looking for a bit of advice on whether I should just travel to Korea with my papers and try find a teaching position or should I apply before leaving. I heard you can just find a school then leave the country and get your visa sorted that way. I dont really care about the price of the flights or accommodation just once I can find a job when im there. I understand that maybe things are more difficult but I would really love to try this opportunity..

Do the schools help with the teaching in the class as I dont speak any Korean and have never held a teaching position before...I am hoping to meet up with a Korean guy in Dublin to help with his english and get some advice on this matter.

If any one has any tips on websites or who to contact about positions this would be greatly appreciated...Could do with a few boardies when I get out there also...

Thanks

groovyspiderguy

Dhoff, It's always better to have something lined up before you travel. You've just missed the deadline for application with Epik but have a look here: http://www.gone2korea.com/when-to-apply.html and on Dave's eslcafe.com.

If you get a job in a public school, you will have a Korean co-teacher - If you work in a hagwon (private English academy) I don't think you'll have one!

Of course you don't need to be able to speak Korean in a class situation. You just need it to survive outside of the classroom!

cloneslad

Dhoff wrote: »

Hi Guys


Just looking for a bit of advice on whether I should just travel to Korea with my papers and try find a teaching position or should I apply before leaving. I heard you can just find a school then leave the country and get your visa sorted that way. I dont really care about the price of the flights or accommodation just once I can find a job when im there. I understand that maybe things are more difficult but I would really love to try this opportunity..

Typically, as you will be on your first E2 visa (or korean visa for that matter) you will have to have an interview with the embassy in your home country, so unless you want to pay your flights to korea, find a job, then fly back home again, I wouldn't go down this route.

Also, you have zero korean, don't seem to have any connections in Korea and know little about teaching or the process of getting a teaching job, so i'd stick to getting one in Ireland, then getting your free flight out to korea.

Do the schools help with the teaching in the class as I dont speak any Korean and have never held a teaching position before...I am hoping to meet up with a Korean guy in Dublin to help with his english and get some advice on this matter.

No, they don't, even the public school teachers, who are supposed to work alongside you, rarely help out.

Why would you need to speak Korean in the class room? You are teaching English.

If any one has any tips on websites or who to contact about positions this would be greatly appreciated...Could do with a few boardies when I get out there also...

Go to daves esl, there's a discussion board there, most of it is people giving out and crying about stuff that their mother used to do for them, now they have to figure it out for themselves, but you'll find some good information there too. There is also a job forum on that website, it's got a **** layout for a jobs board, but if you can read, then you can understand it.

Dhoff

@ Groovyspiderguy and Cloneslay

Thanks for your reply,

I know some people may think you are lazy by asking for help and not figuring out by yourself..

I just want to do as much research as possibe before I go...

R.D. aka MR.D

Dhoff wrote: »

@ Groovyspiderguy and Cloneslay

Thanks for your reply,

I know some people may think you are lazy by asking for help and not figuring out by yourself..

I just want to do as much research as possibe before I go...

If you start and read through this thread you can get loads of info. I've been researching going now for about 3 months (Can't leave Ireland until Feb) and i just ask the odd question that i need cleared up.

The recruiters have great info on their website too like footprints.

dapto1

squeakyduck wrote: »

It snowed here in Osan on Saturday morning. I'll be heading to Cambodia on Saturday. Must get a boards meet going in Seoul. Anyone interested?

I'd be up for that. I'm only down the road in Incheon so Seoul is handy for me.

squeakyduck

Anyone else up for a boards meet? I tried to get one going before but it was small and merged with another internet forum meet but it made for a ridiculous night! :D:D

JFitzgerald

yeah, i'd be on for a meet up. i'm living in seoul. arrived here in october.

hyperbaby

I would be up for a meet up but it would have to be February or March.
Saving hard for my holidays! Woo

squeakyduck

Any fun with ye for new years?

I want to go to club eden for Astrovoize I'm pretty excited! Anyone who wants to tag along is more than welcome!

clancy wiggum

Hi all, I am considering teaching in South Korea next August. I received a email from the careers division at my uni saying there is a recruiter coming in march for interested parties. I have taught previously in mexico for my co-op so have some experience.

These are the terms the recruiter is offering :
Free single furnished accommodation(utilities not included)
Entrance allowance of c.€800 & Settlement Allowance of c.€190
Monthly salary of c. €1,000
Paid Vacation for 18 working days
Severance pay (about one month salary)
Exit Allowance of c.€800 .

Is this a good deal on average? or should I look around for better pay/conditions?

Also I have read online that it is possible to safe 60% of wages while still having a good standard of living, do you think that is an accurate figure given the above wage/conditions?

cassi

Im assuming the entry and exit allowence ia your flight?! Make sure you can actually get flights at that price, some schools will book your flight for you, some will pay full flight price, depends where you get really.

Housing is standard.

€1000 is very low, you should be looking at nothing under 2.2million won, which is about €1,400 right now (pre tax).

Severance pay is standard, its one month pay.

The MOST IMPORTANT thing to do is look for a good school, find out about the working hours, speak to the teachers there, ask what standard the housing is etc.

If you can trawl through this thread and find out the issues people have had, what questions they asked/told to ask etc. Find out what area of Korea you'd like to be in.

ekevosu

If you are going for a year, the pay is very low as stated above. Looks like a public school job so rest is standard. If it is with the TALK program then they usually get lower pay as they are for 6 months I think and teach less. If it is with EPIK then you shoul be looking at at least 2.2 million won as stated above, especially with experience and a teaching degree?

clancy wiggum

I presume the exit and entry fees are to cover the cost of flights, it just said entry/exit fee in the email I received. The email was sent on behalf of EPIK, its a 12 month contract. I would ideally like to be based in Seoul. I have read through the first few pages of this thread, there is a recruiter in Waterford, "tiger recruitment" I think is the name of it, does anybody have any experience of them?

My degree is not in education, its a joint honors in Economics and Sociology. Is EPIK a recruiter for public schools? Do ye reckon it is possible to negotiate with them? I'm getting the impression they are trying to get fresh Grads on the cheap...
If the standard is 1400 euro pre-tax, what could one expect after tax/ deductions ? Do ye reckon it is possible to save 50% plus of earnings while maintaining a good standard of living (drinks at the weekends etc.)

Thanks for the replies, I appreciate ye're input.

squeakyduck

clancy wiggum wrote: »

there is a recruiter in Waterford, "tiger recruitment" I think is the name of it, does anybody have any experience of them?

I think they were terrible. Not quick at getting back to questions I wanted answered for days on end. When I stopped emailing they didn't even bother to email as to why I wasn't replying. No effort at all.

I used ATC recruiting and I thought they were brilliant. If I wasn't emailing they would ask why and always kept me on tabs with everything.

cassi

clancy wiggum wrote: »

I presume the exit and entry fees are to cover the cost of flights, it just said entry/exit fee in the email I received. The email was sent on behalf of EPIK, its a 12 month contract. I would ideally like to be based in Seoul. I have read through the first few pages of this thread, there is a recruiter in Waterford, "tiger recruitment" I think is the name of it, does anybody have any experience of them?

My degree is not in education, its a joint honors in Economics and Sociology. Is EPIK a recruiter for public schools? Do ye reckon it is possible to negotiate with them? I'm getting the impression they are trying to get fresh Grads on the cheap...
If the standard is 1400 euro pre-tax, what could one expect after tax/ deductions ? Do ye reckon it is possible to save 50% plus of earnings while maintaining a good standard of living (drinks at the weekends etc.)

Thanks for the replies, I appreciate ye're input.

Yep, Epik is public schools, but beware that you can only apply once for public schools, multiple applicants will be rejected.

Search Jobs in seoul on the net and see what comes up, seach on facebook too, there will ofen be groups set up. If your salary is 2.2million you should be come out with approx 2million after tax.

Seoul will be more expensive than smaller cities, it also depends on your typr of lifestyle eg, shopping alot, eating in western restaurants etc but yep its quite possible to save 50% of your pay.

clancy wiggum

Thanks for the info guys .
One more quick question: Should I do a tefl course before going to south korea, or is being a native speaker and having a degree enough?
I am considering doing the 120 hour combined course here http://www.teflireland.com/tefl-courses/120-hour-combined-course/
As I said before I "taught" in Mexico and all I had was some cert the uni gave me after one day , realistically I knew nothing about teaching English, my job was more just to engage with the students and have basic English conversations with them. Will it be the same deal in South Korea or will I be expected to know grammar rules etc.

cloneslad

clancy wiggum wrote: »

Thanks for the info guys .
One more quick question: Should I do a tefl course before going to south korea, or is being a native speaker and having a degree enough?
I am considering doing the 120 hour combined course here http://www.teflireland.com/tefl-courses/120-hour-combined-course/
As I said before I "taught" in Mexico and all I had was some cert the uni gave me after one day , realistically I knew nothing about teaching English, my job was more just to engage with the students and have basic English conversations with them. Will it be the same deal in South Korea or will I be expected to know grammar rules etc.

The 120hour courses probably won't teach you much. I would expect you to know grammar rules and to know how to explain them. We taught a lot of grammar in my school.

Doing the course will give you a bump in pay within the public system, but won't really provide much bargaining power for you within the private system.

Google various grammatical queries you have, it'll probably work out much better for you than a 120 hour course (I didn't click on the link, I'm lazy like that)

clancy wiggum

Tbh id rather keep the 300 odd euro a course is going to cost in my own pocket, and just get an English grammar book( and google) if I could get away with it.
How do ye get by with no Korean at the start? is it hard to pick up? this is the only aspect that is worrying me.

squeakyduck

clancy wiggum wrote: »

Tbh id rather keep the 300 odd euro a course is going to cost in my own pocket, and just get an English grammar book( and google) if I could get away with it.
How do ye get by with no Korean at the start? is it hard to pick up? this is the only aspect that is worrying me.

Don't worry about that at the beginning. There will be people there to help you. I have only basic Korean, hello, goodbye, please, thank you, how much is? yes and no. I'm going to throw myself into learning how to read, write and speak Korean now soon!

clancy wiggum

But what about the social side of life? like when on nights out / conversing with other teachers of different subjects in the school? does it not get somewhat lonely not being able to communicate ? I had some Spanish when I went to Mexico and alot of the people I knew had very good english....

squeakyduck

clancy wiggum wrote: »

But what about the social side of life? like when on nights out / conversing with other teachers of different subjects in the school? does it not get somewhat lonely not being able to communicate ? I had some Spanish when I went to Mexico and alot of the people I knew had very good english....

There is conversation both in Korean and English. Half of the fun is in the learning.

In my school we have 5 foreign teachers. 3 Irish 1 New Zealand and 1 American so it never gets lonely. We also have 2 Korean teachers who are great and have fantastic English. Not every school will be like that though.

Before you choose your school make sure to talk to the foreign teacher about the housing, the other teachers and most importantly about the school!

japasca

Hey guys,
Is anyone teaching in the busan or okpo region at the moment?

cloneslad

japasca wrote: »

Hey guys,
Is anyone teaching in the busan or okpo region at the moment?

I taught 10 mins from Okpo until this March. There are a couple of teachers teaching close to it right now, that do/used to use this forum. Search for the geoje teachers page on facebook too, if you need information.

SpatialPlanning

japasca wrote: »

Hey guys,
Is anyone teaching in the busan or okpo region at the moment?

I am in Busan if you need any information on anything.

roosh

Seoul Electronic Music Festival

Anyone going?

I'm a bit sickened I can't go.

R.D. aka MR.D

Hi everyone!

Just had my first telephone interview with a recruiter there.

I was just wondering how long you all were waiting between when you started looking for jobs and you actually went to Korea?

I would love to be over there by March but he kept going on about the Summer.

Is it unrealistic to think i would be over in March?

I'm looking at Hagwons and would like the coast but open to anywhere really.

Thanks!

cloneslad

R.D. aka MR.D wrote: »

Hi everyone!

Just had my first telephone interview with a recruiter there.

I was just wondering how long you all were waiting between when you started looking for jobs and you actually went to Korea?

I would love to be over there by March but he kept going on about the Summer.

Is it unrealistic to think i would be over in March?

I'm looking at Hagwons and would like the coast but open to anywhere really.

Thanks!

If you have all your documents ready, you could be over in less than a month. My last time going over, I decided on Christmas day that I would go back, I had no documents ready at all. Got everything sorted and was over at the end of february.

I had the school contacting me to work for them though, so it's slightly different than having a recruiter find something for me, but I know some people on here were set to go to one school with one recruiter but got let down, then ended up over in korea 3 weeks later using another recruiter and working for a different school.

If you are flexible, contact as many recruiters as possible, that way you'll have more of a chance. They want to get their fee for placing you, so the sooner you go over, the quicker they get their money.

squeakyduck

roosh wrote: »

Seoul Electronic Music Festival

Anyone going?

I'm a bit sickened I can't go.

I'm going. My friend works in promotions and got me a cheapy ticket. Why cant you go?

so excited for justice

roosh

squeakyduck wrote: »

I'm going. My friend works in promotions and got me a cheapy ticket. Why cant you go?

so excited for justice

my mother's landing on the 14th and we're doing a temple stay down south.

Crystal Castles are supposed to be pretty good as well

vicecreamsundae

Hi all

a quick admin question! I went to get a copy of my degree and my police clearance cert notarised the other day, and they notarised the degree, but said "you shouldn't need your police cert notarised as you'll probably need to send the original".
can anyone confirm for me whether i need to send the original police cert or a notarised copy (or the notarised original?!).
i'm bringing my notarised degree to be apostilled... just double checking I don't need to get the police cert apostilled too?

also, anyone know what the story is with tiger english?! i was in touch with them just a couple weeks ago, but looks like their website's gone!

cassi

vicecreamsundae wrote: »

Hi all

a quick admin question! I went to get a copy of my degree and my police clearance cert notarised the other day, and they notarised the degree, but said "you shouldn't need your police cert notarised as you'll probably need to send the original".
can anyone confirm for me whether i need to send the original police cert or a notarised copy (or the notarised original?!).
i'm bringing my notarised degree to be apostilled... just double checking I don't need to get the police cert apostilled too?

also, anyone know what the story is with tiger english?! i was in touch with them just a couple weeks ago, but looks like their website's gone!

Your police cert doesn't need to be notarised just apostilled, since the police superintendants signiture is on it its good enough.

Ive never used Tiger English so I can't comment on them.

ARGINITE

vicecreamsundae wrote: »

also, anyone know what the story is with tiger english?! i was in touch with them just a couple weeks ago, but looks like their website's gone!

My girlfriend and I used Tiger English when we went to Korea, they were very helpful and also found us a job together in the same school. But there website does seem to have disappeared

kraggy

roosh wrote: »

my mother's landing on the 14th and we're doing a temple stay down south.

Crystal Castles are supposed to be pretty good as well

Crystal Castles are awesome but when the hell were Justice added to the line-up?

That's news to me.

The tickets are very pricey though. 110,000 on the door. Considering the other groups aren't up to much, that's quite expensive.

squeakyduck

kraggy wrote: »

Crystal Castles are awesome but when the hell were Justice added to the line-up?

That's news to me.

The tickets are very pricey though. 110,000 on the door. Considering the other groups aren't up to much, that's quite expensive.

My friend is selling me a ticket for 50k. Justice were added a few months back but it had to be kept hush hush. I guess this was to get people people excited so the price hike wouldn't be so ridiculous. It is pretty damn ridiculous if you ask me

kraggy

squeakyduck wrote: »

My friend is selling me a ticket for 50k. Justice were added a few months back but it had to be kept hush hush. I guess this was to get people people excited so the price hike wouldn't be so ridiculous. It is pretty damn ridiculous if you ask me

I've seen Crystal Castles twice. They're one of my favourite bands but can't make it on Saturday. Money is too tight at the moment.

Would give anything to see them. Saw them in Galway and at Electric Picnic. Alice the lead singer even held my hand for one whole song at the Galway gig (I was at the front obviously). That's my sad mini claim to fame lol

So to see them here would be unreal but it ain't gonna happen at that price. Wouldn't mind but this is the first time I've had to put money aside for "more important" things since I got here. Bad timing or what.