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SE
Joined: 30 Apr 2010
Posts: 3
Location: Gunsan, South Korea
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 Posted: Mon May 24, 2010 7:38 am Post subject: Next move |
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Hi all
I am currently employed in S.Korea as an ESL teacher and was considering my next move. I have only been living in Korea for just over 2 months and am really enjoying it, however I am considering my options for when my contract is up in March.
ABOUT ME:
24 years old
Holds a bachelors (Journalism) and Masters (business adminstration) degree
English and Australian passport holder
I have the following options to consider:
1. As an Australian passport holder I have an opportunity to live their and try and gain a business related job.
2. Stay an extra year in Korea
3. Move to another country and continue being an ESL teacher. (If you think this option is the best, what country would you recommend besides Korea)
4. Move back to England and try and look for a business related job
I am looking for some input on what you think would be the best option for me. At this current stage I am in favor of moving to another country to teach ESL but I would love to hear your thoughts on it.
Your input is much appreciated |
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Sadebugo
Joined: 10 May 2003
Posts: 524
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| Posted: Mon May 24, 2010 11:29 am Post subject: Re: Next move |
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| SE wrote: |
Hi all
I am currently employed in S.Korea as an ESL teacher and was considering my next move. I have only been living in Korea for just over 2 months and am really enjoying it, however I am considering my options for when my contract is up in March.
ABOUT ME:
24 years old
Holds a bachelors (Journalism) and Masters (business adminstration) degree
English and Australian passport holder
I have the following options to consider:
1. As an Australian passport holder I have an opportunity to live their and try and gain a business related job.
2. Stay an extra year in Korea
3. Move to another country and continue being an ESL teacher. (If you think this option is the best, what country would you recommend besides Korea)
4. Move back to England and try and look for a business related job
I am looking for some input on what you think would be the best option for me. At this current stage I am in favor of moving to another country to teach ESL but I would love to hear your thoughts on it.
Your input is much appreciated |
I'm not sure if it's doable these days, but I moved from Korea to Saudi with an unrelated (to TEFL) MA. I would recommend this if possible because the money is great and the lifestyle isn't as bad as everyone makes it out to be. Actually, it's the one time in your life when you can experience what it feels like to be rich. I had a gardener, maid, access to a private beach club, etc., all for minimal (beach club was free) cost. Let me know if you need more info.
Sadebugo
http://travldawrld.blogspot.com/ |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Mon May 24, 2010 12:40 pm Post subject: |
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I wouldn't be too confident about being so marketable at this point. Only 2 months of teaching experience, no certification, and degrees unrelated to teaching.
Get certified.
Get more experience.
Learn a foreign language.
Publish or at least present.
Know the difference between ESL and EFL. Your post shows you don't. |
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SE
Joined: 30 Apr 2010
Posts: 3
Location: Gunsan, South Korea
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| Posted: Mon May 24, 2010 11:38 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for your replies,
The Saudi option is an interesting prospect. It would be a new and exciting experience and something I thnk I would warm to. If you wouldn't mind giving me some more information on the Saudi option that would be great Sadebugo. As you have the Korean experience too, it would be great to hear your thoughts on the working and lifestyle comparisons between Korea and Saudi.
Glenski thanks for your post. Although I have only been working in Korea for two months, I think it's a good thing to get yourself ahead of the game and see what else is on offer. I think what you recommend are good pointers and will fully consider what else I need to do to make myself more marketable. |
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Sadebugo
Joined: 10 May 2003
Posts: 524
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| Posted: Tue May 25, 2010 11:54 am Post subject: |
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| SE wrote: |
Thanks for your replies,
The Saudi option is an interesting prospect. It would be a new and exciting experience and something I thnk I would warm to. If you wouldn't mind giving me some more information on the Saudi option that would be great Sadebugo. As you have the Korean experience too, it would be great to hear your thoughts on the working and lifestyle comparisons between Korea and Saudi.
Glenski thanks for your post. Although I have only been working in Korea for two months, I think it's a good thing to get yourself ahead of the game and see what else is on offer. I think what you recommend are good pointers and will fully consider what else I need to do to make myself more marketable. |
SE,
I have to be careful what I say about Korea because I was warned on another board not to continue my "crusade" against the country. Since I refuse to gloss it over, I will say nothing at all concerning it. Maybe, you could search my past posts to see my overall opinion. As for Saudi, it can be a little difficult socially, but I really enjoyed it. You have all the conveniences with great salary/benefits. Really, you can save a fortune there without doing any private teaching at all. The only thing holding you back right now is your lack of experience as Glenski stated. Initial entry into the kingdom usually requires three to five years of experience and a related degree although I got in without one. Quality control is also tighter there. For example, at my first job, there was a three-month probationary period where the teacher was observed each month. At any time, the Saudis could send you home based on your performance. I didn't like this system at first but it did ensure the people you worked with were of a higher caliber.
Hope this helps a little,
Sadebugo
http://travldawrld.blogspot.com/ |
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SE
Joined: 30 Apr 2010
Posts: 3
Location: Gunsan, South Korea
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| Posted: Tue May 25, 2010 11:27 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks again Sadebugo,
From what I have read on the forums I thought I would need more experience than what I have currently. Anyhow who did you work for and how did you get offered a job in Saudi? |
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mimi_intheworld
Joined: 23 May 2010
Posts: 167
Location: UAE
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| Posted: Wed May 26, 2010 3:13 am Post subject: |
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| Sadebugo - I too would like to hear more (I know, I'll go check out the Saudi Arabia forum, next) about how you got work there, etc. |
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Sadebugo
Joined: 10 May 2003
Posts: 524
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| Posted: Wed May 26, 2010 12:17 pm Post subject: |
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| SE wrote: |
Thanks again Sadebugo,
From what I have read on the forums I thought I would need more experience than what I have currently. Anyhow who did you work for and how did you get offered a job in Saudi? |
My first job was with Lockheed Martin Middle East Services. I began working for them in '98 and was offered the job after answering a TESOL Placement Bulletin ad. At that time, I had only three years experience teaching in Korea and a non-related graduate degree. I got my second job there (Raytheon/SALTS) after five years experience and during the process of acquiring my MATEFL through distance. In both jobs, I worked with some individuals who only had a BA.
The best way to begin is to follow this site looking for the opportunities as they arise. There are other employers in the Kingdom besides military contractors although the latter pay the best.
Sadebugo
http://travldawrld.blogspot.com/ |
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