Korean Job Discussion Forums

OneWasJohnny · Joined: 19 Apr 2003

What I've got:

-TEFL certificate.
-2 years teaching experience (in Germany and Spain. Also some tutoring in Senegal and the Gambia, but on an informal basis).
-Proficiency in four languages. Native English speaker.
-Some university courses in both English and Education, but, errrr, not an actual diploma. Made it to my Junior year then split. No regrets, but here, then, is the $64: is anybody here at all teaching without a degree, and if so, how did you get around the immigration's requirements.? Are you teaching under the table, or legit? Did you find your position AFTER coming to Korea, or did you manage to dazzle a recruiter beforehand with your formidible resume, despite your lack of actual documentation?

I'm not a shirker, nor a reprobate. Just curious, really.

waterbaby · Joined: 01 Feb 2003 Location: Baking Gord a Cheescake pie

A Degree is a requirement by Korean Immigration in order to get the appropriate visa for teaching English in Sth K. So the short answer is that without a Degree, no matter how well you sweet talk a recruiter, you won't ever be legally employed here which can lead to a number of problems (... but so can working legally for that matter Wink

)

Here are some threads I've collected about Degree requirements and coming to Korea without a Degree that you might find useful.

Do I Need a Degree?

1. Korea Without A Degree?
2. What�s the Deal if One is on a Tourist Visa?
3. Degree
4. Just TESOL?
5. Degree requirement for Teaching in Korea
6. Visa For Teaching

GirlFromMars · Joined: 15 May 2003 Location: Corea do Sul

if you have been teaching in Germany, I assume you have EU permit of some kind. You can work anywhere in Europe without a degree if you have a CELTA or equivilent (sp?) experience. In Korea it is a legal requirement to have a degree.

GFM

OneWasJohnny · Joined: 19 Apr 2003

Thanks, Waterbaby, for those threads, they're certainly something to chew on.

Sadly, GFM, I do not have EU status, I had legal papers in Germany, but they have long since run out, and never bothered to get them in Spain, because I only stayed six months. As a North American, I have to do it country by country, there's no work visa that I am aware of that would cover me for all of Europe. Also, as a gross generalization, the money's not as good, mainly because you're responsible for providing your own accomadation, which can get quite pricey, especially once you factor in all the deposits and so forth...

I'm going to have to mull over my dwindling options. It's slightly off topic, but anyone know if it's the same story in Taiwan?

waterbaby · Joined: 01 Feb 2003 Location: Baking Gord a Cheescake pie

I taught a winter camp once in Taiwan and was going to get a full-time job there but got cold feet and landed back in Korea so I don't have much to add there. Check out the Taiwan Job Discussion Forum here on Dave's for detailed info and post your questions there.

You're certainly qualified to get a position teaching in China but it doesn't pay very well.

GirlFromMars · Joined: 15 May 2003 Location: Corea do Sul

as far as i know, if you want to work in asia without a degree, try china (outside shanghai where there is an abundance of teachers), indonesia or vietnam. schools still prefer a degree but it's not a legal requirement as far as i know.

GFM

OneWasJohnny · Joined: 19 Apr 2003

When applying for jobs in S. Korea, one hands over their diploma to whom? The recruiter? The school director? The Korean consulate? The immigrations police?

What stops people, besides their personal integrity, from turning in some bogus document forged on the Khao San road, or whereever?

Does the university ever actually get contacted by whoever it is who's got the document?

TheUrbanMyth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired

chi-chi · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

mods you may delete

OneWasJohnny · Joined: 19 Apr 2003