Job Discussion Forums

[wordweaver_66]

Hello,

Japan or Korea? I�m interested in teaching English abroad and have read several posts comparing and contrasting the pros and cons of each country, and I�m curious about what others with experience might have to say regarding those two countries and my particular circumstances.

I�m a 27 year old American male who just recently earned my Masters degree in English/Writing. I don�t have any sort of teaching certification, but I do have experience teaching children in after school English/Drama programs and I�ve given a couple lectures and spoken on a few panels at college level English/Writing conferences. I have a few bits of fiction published and my essays won a few awards at school (and, if I dig around�I�m sure I can scrounge up a gold star from a particularly fantastic piece of macaroni art from Kindergarten).

Money isn�t supremely important�except for being able to pay my monthly student debt. I�d need to be able to save roughly $1,000 USD a month to do that. Other than that, I don�t mind living on the cheap side to do it. If I weren�t considering any other factors, Japan is the country I�d rather visit (and I have a friend there�so there�d be at least one person I already know).

Given my circumstances, which country would suit me best? Where can I take the most advantage of my Masters degree? Can I get a university job, with my Masters, right away or is that something that comes down the line? Is there another country that can meet my needs that I'm not considering?

thanks in advance,

Joshua

[White_Elephant]

[VanIslander]

No ESL experience necessary for university jobs here in Korea. A graduate degree is sufficient. There are plenty of such jobs, hiring this fall to begin in March.

Japan is very different, from all indications, though there are different levels of colleges there, but should take longer, need more experience, publications.

Sounds like you'd be best off jumping to Japan at a non-university position, enjoying and adjusting to Asian lifestyle, all the while applying to KOrean universities and keeeping your eyes and ears open for opportunities in Japan. It's under two hundred bucks to hydrofoil ferry from Japan to Korea, so travel light and get going!

Good luck whatever.

[White_Elephant]

[nomadykaty]

Don't think anyone mentioned ferrying from Seoul to Tokyo.

[jennateacher]

I worked at a university with only a BA. You can find many jobs at reputable univeristies with a masters. It is very difficult for non-Koreans to get faculty possitions no matter what qualifications they hold. Not all univeristies have language schools like Elephant referred to. Do your homework and you will be able to find a good job. $1000 a month savings will require some after hours work. It will probably take a few months to get that set up. Best of Luck!

[Leon30]

Hi there.

To be honest, I dissagree with most of the replies you've received regarding Korea IMHO. I can't speak for the others, but I am here now. I've been here for two years. You WILL be able to get a very good job here, no problem. I know people working for PUBLIC schools here on very good contracts with lovely apartments who have neither ever worked in Korea before, have no Masters degree nor any ESL teaching experience. They all take home 2 mill Won AFTER deductions.

With your masters degree you would have NO PROBLEM (providing you apply at the usual hiring time) getting a TOP PAYING private language academy position, with one of the better schools; (many Hakwan salaries are typically coming in at OVER 2million Won these days due to competition fom the public schools, all of which have decided to take on native speakers) or a public High School, Elementary or middle school position. You MIGHT be able to wangle a Uni position, but I agree with the first poster that it would be VERY difficult having no experience in Korea and being hired from abroad is very unlikely. However, with your MA, come here, do a year in a private language academy or a public school and then you would be eligable for uni positions.

Private language schools CAN be a nightmare. Some can be just fine. My last one had me sharing an apartment (we became friends, so not a bad thing in the end) and ripped me off out of a million won - about $1,000. Still, less working hours than I'd be doing back home and saving twice as much money (I had a good job with the British Civil Service) and better lifestyle. You have to look at it in perspective and make it work for you. I'm currently in a Public School position and this is definately the best job I've had.

Either of these positions you will have no probem saving $1,000 a month and living VERY WELL at the same time. I save more than this, I eat out twice a day, party 2 or 3 times a week and watch movies, take vacations abroad etc. I don't even do privates, when I did I was saving around 2 million Won a month, which is currently $2,050 aprox.

From what I've heard from friends and others, without having Japanese LANGUAGE proficiency at least level one and no previous experience in Japan, it would be nigh on impossible to get either a uni job OR a public school job. The JET programme is a possibility though, although I heard that the programme is being scrapped. You would pretty much have to do a year in a private language academy (Eikaiwa.) Then you might be able to get a pubic school job due to your MA. In Japan at a Private academy, you earn the same as in Korea prety much all considered, but can only save about 70% of what you can here, that's living frugally. Live the same lifestyle that you can here and you can save about 40 - 50% max. You will teach more classes and have a smaller apartment also. You do not receive as much in bonus payment and most have to furnish their apartments also. HOWEVER, I think people who go to Japan, especially cities like Tokyo and Osaka are doing so for the experience primarilly. Not that I'm dissing Korea though, but most come here for the moeny and knew nothing about the country before they got here (myself included) then learn to appreciate things about Korea after they've been here a while...

If I've got any of the facts about Japan wrong, anyone who knows better is more than welcome to correct me, both for the poster's information and my own . It may be that once JET is scrapped, the public school positions filled by that programme will got to the hands of recruiters and be offered with different requirements. That's only a wild guess though...!

Good luck!

[jennateacher]

try these universities in Daejon. They start in March so start applying now but be prepaired to wait un the mid of feb for a response.

Woosong
Chungnam
Hannam
Daejon


you could also try the EPIK program to work in public schools. pretty good pay but not as good vacations.

I work at private catholic boys high school. I get three months paid vacation. My salary is on the lower end, but I work alot less. 16 teaching hours and 10 office hours a week.

[Deicide]

Don't come to Korea...it is a horrible place...but if you want to save you can do so here...at the cost of everything else noble and pleasant in life...

[Leon30]

Yes, I agree with deicide. I've 'learned' to like and get by in Korea. At the cost of a lot of stress and hardship though.

Wouldn't be here if the money wasn't so good, nor would most people I know. You CAN make it work for you though, but it takes time to learn how to get around things and how to grin, nod, grit your teeth and bear it at the right times. If you have a sensitive / nervous disposition, you will have problems. If you're laid back and happy go lucky and happy to be saving good ammmounts of money and can swallow your pride, not take your job too seriously then you can do fine, I've met these type and envy them in SOME ways.

Damn I just read the paragraph I've written above and realised I have sold my soul. it's true. Oh well, like I said I do need the cash and it beats working 8 hours a day in grey old England and not being able to party as much as I want and come home to my own (whilst I'm here) 2 bed apartment instead of sharing...

I guess if money is not the main thing for you, then get a CELTA or something under your belt to add to your masters and go elsewhere if you can... Not that other countries are perfect though....