Job Discussion Forums

[chaz47]

Hi, I was most recently employed at a university in Busan, South Korea but there was a new uni president who took over a couple years ago and he decided to "clean house" and opted to not renew the contracts of our EFL department. They wanted MAs and had to wash out the old BAs who had been entrenched for several years. By and large they were fairly successful, they filled 7 of the 9 slots with MAs. But, I digress, the long and the short is that the university situation in Korea has gotten VERY competitive with the recent economic downturn.

So, at the end of that contract I went back to the US to perhaps pursue an online MA in TESOL and/or do some writing. Now, 4 months into my unemployment/sabbatical, I find myself bored to tears and sick of the US. The TESOL programs I want to get into don't seem to accept fresh enrollments until March and my writing enthusiasm is nil.

I want to go abroad again, especially before I eat too far into my savings from the 4 years I worked in Korea.

Ideally I would want to find a university position somewhere but I'm not sure where my qualifications are adequate. With that in mind I would be happy with an adult school in a large, cosmopolitan city.

I have a BA or a BS (my diploma says BFA but the university's system says I have a BS now). A 120 hour TESOL certification backed by the University of Anaheim and 3 other universities in English-speaking nations. And, I have 4.5 years of experience, 2 at university, 1 at an adult private school, 1 at a public middle school and 1/2 a year at a children's private school.

So, with your recommendations for location please consider the following:

*I want to begin to learn test prep for IELTS, TOEFL, etc.

*I'm willing to fly over and look for work. Where should I look? What should I budget? What should I pack?

*What sort of salary/wages should I expect?

*Is private teaching illegal?


Thanks hugely in advance for your advice.

[sojourner]

Hi Chaz,

Have you ever considered China ?

Yes, teaching salaries are considerably below those that are paid in ROK. However, you also need to take into consideration the much lower COL, less teaching hours per week ( at least in the uni sector), less hassles re moonlighting, etc. (Go the the China Job-Related Forum - there's a current thread re whether wages are really that low in in China).

If interested in uni work, and how to apply for such positions, check out some of my latest posts.

Yes, as in ROK, competition for uni jobs in China is becoming more intense .Most unis, it seems, are now asking for FTs to have MAs/PhDs. However, with just a BA, you still might have a chance if you concentrate on colleges/unis in the more remote parts of the country - in other words, forget about getting a job in Shanghai, Beijing,etc, as well as in popular places such as Yunan province. Possibly, you might get a uni job offer in Shanghai, but you'll have to consider the higher COL ,as well as the possibility that you won't be provided with a uni flat (maybe, a housing allowance, which may/may not be enough if you want something decent). Of course, you might be able to get a language school job in Shanghai, but it could involve weekend work, split shifts and long hours.

In my own case, I am working 14 "teaching hours" pw at a uni in a "remote" town - yet, I am only about 5 hours away, by bus, from Shanghai .

As I have mentioned in my earlier posts, at Chinese unis, there are opportunities to teach subjects other than the usual Oral English

For info re IELTS work, contact BC's Shanghai centre.

Check out the Oman forum. Salaries/benefits appear to be quite reasonable

Also, there appears to be opportunities in Turkey and Mexico.

Good luck !

Peter

[Glenski]

Don't waste your time looking for uni work in Japan. Focus elsewhere.