Korean Job Discussion Forums

[loochbird]

Is it possible to get a job at a school in Korea without having a degree. I was thinking of using a tourist visa to get there and then find a job. Any suggestions? Is this a major no no? Does anyone know of any schools that would hire an "unqualified teacher from Canada with TESOL".

[Mody Ba]

You need a degree to get the work permit(usually an E-2).Any school that lets you work with just a tourist visa for more than a short time is risking official action and a fine(if you could find a school that would do that...but almost anything is possible in the nether,murky TESOL world here)But even if you COULD find a school that would do that for you,,,it is a very bad idea.You could also be fined.

I know some people are going to post and say,hey dude(!)...don't listen to that guy Ba...LOTS of people come to Korea and teach with no degree.

My advice to you.Don't try it.Not all people get caught,but some DO get caught.And no,I do not work for the government,a private school or anything like that.
It is your life.But try to get your degree.otherwise you will wind up getting the crummy,semi-sam jobs that no one else wants...in TESOL and elsewhere in life.Best of luck.

[Mody Ba]

A typo.Before anyone out there has a "cat fit".

[rudyflyer]

moody is dead on, unless you have a BA don't come here, you can't teach legally and the risks not only legal (immigration) and employer related (not getting paid etc) are way to great

[waterbaby]

Have you considered teaching in China? You don't need a degree there. TESOL alone will secure you a job. Pay's not as good as Korea (about one third), but usually the hours are much, much lower and your uni or school should be able to set you up with extra hours to make extra money.

[loochbird]

thanks for the replys..i have some reconsidering to do. Does anyone know what legal actions I could face if I got caught teaching without the proper visa...a fine etc...

[Pyongshin Sangja]

Nonsense. Do it. I am on my fifth tourist visa. I have friends that have been here as tourists for 7 years.

[Mody Ba]

Yeah,I know. I told the original poster at least one guy would post and say it is "okay" to teach on a tourist visa.As for that business about his friends being on their seventh tourist visa and so on,,,well,maybe,but I would take all that with a grain of salt.

Will you get caught if you teach illegally? Maybe not.I can guarantee you one thing ,though...if you do get caught,Mr.Sangja and his "friends" will not be atound anywhere to help you out. People DO get caught.Not all of the time ,but sometimes.It is the individual's choice and risk if he or she wants to play with fire.

[The King of Kwangju]

[Pyongshin Sangja]

A grain of salt? Where do you guys live? Most of the teachers in Itaewon don't have visas.

[Mody Ba]

Most of the "teachers" in Itaewon are not really teachers,either.Still,it is their business(and their necks,if they get caught) teaching illegally.Conditions in Itaewon are in no way representative of Korea in general.Thank God."Hey,Mister,want to buy a nice imitation Rolex today?How about a "mink" blanket?"

[The King of Kwangju]

[Mody Ba]

Actually,K.,you miss the point. Neither the guy with the B.A. in Political Science NOR the other group you mention are really teachers.But yeah,I agree with your point on non-education ,non-English majors "teaching"English.My favorite example was the entomology major who came to "teach" English.Guess the "bug business" was bad.

[Pyongshin Sangja]

Aww, who cares? These people are teachers, or they wouldn't have survived here for so long. Not representative of Korea in general? Where do you live? Does it have a concentration of teachers like Itaewon? I doubt it.

[itchy]

yupper