| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Ingodsgraz
Joined: 25 Apr 2007
Location: Los Angeles
|
 Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2007 4:38 pm Post subject: Is it possible for non-native speakers to get an ESL job? |
 |
|
I'm neither a Caucasian nor a Gyopo; but rather, a Malaysian by nationality and Chinese by race, who is currently residing in LA under my F-1 Student visa that will expire in Feb1st 2008.
I'm actually looking into teaching English in Korea after my visa expires and I'm currently in the midst of getting TESL certified. I have a BA in Mass Comm with a Broadcast concentration.
Despite my fluency in English (people always mistake me for an American born Asian even thuogh I've only been in the States for 2 years), I've noticed that not being a native speaker, nor a citizen of an English speaking country is a huge disadvantage for me. I would like to know how I could still get a well paid English teaching job (I need to pay off my student loan) in South Korea despite my disadvantage.
Also, I would like to find out whether there's any certification courses that I could take in order to be an accent coach. I heard that Accent coaching is a big thing in Korea
|
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Young FRANKenstein
Joined: 02 Oct 2006
Location: Castle Frankenstein (that's FRONKensteen)
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2007 5:09 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| I was under the impression that if you are not from one fo the 7 approved native speaking countries, you cannot get a work visa unless you majored in English or Education. Indians and Malaysians are supposedly working in Korea under E1/E2 visas, but only because of their major. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
safeblad
Joined: 17 Jul 2006
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2007 5:34 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| I met a guy from Poland who was teaching in a Hagwon in Jeju. I have no idea about the legality of this. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Saxiif
Joined: 15 May 2003
Location: Seongnam
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2007 5:38 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Don't think you can do it legally but a lot of people who are not native but fluent (or not so fluent) end up teaching on various visas. Seen Moroccans, Turks, etc. doing it. Wouldn't recommend it since teaching illegally is just asking to get screwed around. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Captain Corea
Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Location: Seoul
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2007 5:50 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| No dice legally. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
VirginIslander
Joined: 24 May 2006
Location: Busan
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2007 5:56 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Marry a Korean and split the profits. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2007 7:49 pm Post subject: Re: Is it possible for non-native speakers to get an ESL job |
|
|
| Ingodsgraz wrote: |
I'm neither a Caucasian nor a Gyopo; but rather, a Malaysian by nationality and Chinese by race, who is currently residing in LA under my F-1 Student visa that will expire in Feb1st 2008.
I'm actually looking into teaching English in Korea after my visa expires and I'm currently in the midst of getting TESL certified. I have a BA in Mass Comm with a Broadcast concentration.
Despite my fluency in English (people always mistake me for an American born Asian even thuogh I've only been in the States for 2 years), I've noticed that not being a native speaker, nor a citizen of an English speaking country is a huge disadvantage for me. I would like to know how I could still get a well paid English teaching job (I need to pay off my student loan) in South Korea despite my disadvantage.
Also, I would like to find out whether there's any certification courses that I could take in order to be an accent coach. I heard that Accent coaching is a big thing in Korea
|
Unless you hold a passport from one of:
USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, or South Africa you cannot get an E2 visa to teach English in Korea.
Immigration will NOT issue an E2 for a "teacher of English" to anyone who is NOT holding a passport from one of the above 7 countries.
Last edited by ttompatz on Fri Apr 27, 2007 12:55 am; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
TOMODACHI-KID
Joined: 24 Apr 2007
Location: LAND OF THE RISING SUN: TAKASAGO-KATSUSHIKA
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2007 11:14 pm Post subject: Non-Native English Speaker |
|
|
Your chances of landing a teaching job in Korea would be very difficult, close to none, since you are not originally from one of the English speaking countries that Korean Directors, as well as Korean recruiters seek, even though your English, as you mention, is up to par. The thing is--Koreans want a person born of the English speaking language--English as his or her first language. I know of Asian-Americans teaching with moderately good paying jobs in Korea, but they got the job because they are Americans, born or raised all their lives in America. The difference is you are Malaysian and Chinese, which is all good, but "touchy" when it comes to the foreground of the Korean teaching arena.
You can call a Korean school directly, however, and try to sell yourself, if you will. By that I mean, explain your situation, etcetera. Keep your fingers crossed...
GALOSHES~  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
VanIslander
Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
|
| Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2007 2:00 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Saxiif wrote: |
| ...a lot of people who are not native but fluent (or not so fluent) end up teaching on various visas. Seen Moroccans, Turks, etc. doing it.. |
I have seen that too. Thought they were doing it legal somehow.
Aren't there Europeans from Poland and Russia and other such countries working at the English Villages? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
passport220
Joined: 14 Jun 2006
Location: Gyeongsangbuk-do province
|
| Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2007 3:13 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Unfortunately for the OP if he is Asian in appearance with a Malaysian passport he will likely have less �under the table� opportunities than someone who is European (Polish, Russian) in appearance, even if his English skills are superior. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Woland
Joined: 10 May 2006
Location: Seoul
|
| Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2007 3:24 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| I know of one Russian working here who has a US passport by marrriage; I don't know how she gets past the issue of where her degree is from, though. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
chronicpride
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
|
| Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2007 3:27 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Young FRANKenstein wrote: |
| I was under the impression that if you are not from one fo the 7 approved native speaking countries, you cannot get a work visa unless you majored in English or Education. Indians and Malaysians are supposedly working in Korea under E1/E2 visas, but only because of their major. |
This is true. It's technically legal for non-native citizens to receive an E2. E2 is a visa for teaching foreign languages. I once knew a prof from France teaching French at a university here, who was on an E2. I've also heard that there were a few Russians in Busan who were hired to teach Russian, but are apparently teaching English, according to another teacher at that university.
And yes, there apparently is law that allows non-natives to teach english on an E2, as long as your major is English or Education-related. There are a few Filipinos or Malaysians (can't remember which) who are doing that in Busan. But its really not common and I'd imagine that its quite discretionary and not upheld, for the most part. A couple guys on EFL-Law know the particulars of this one a little better than me. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
tzechuk
Joined: 20 Dec 2004
|
| Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2007 3:28 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| VirginIslander wrote: |
| Marry a Korean and split the profits |
I wouldn't recommend that, virginislander. I know someone who did just that and got royally screwed. He was blackmailed for a lot of money from his *wife*. But instead of paying her, he just uprooted and left, leaving her in the lurch, so to speak... but then I don't think he can come back to Korea either... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Young FRANKenstein
Joined: 02 Oct 2006
Location: Castle Frankenstein (that's FRONKensteen)
|
| Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2007 4:45 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| chronicpride wrote: |
| This is true. It's technically legal for non-native citizens to receive an E2. E2 is a visa for teaching foreign languages. I once knew a prof from France teaching French at a university here, who was on an E2. I've also heard that there were a few Russians in Busan who were hired to teach Russian, but are apparently teaching English, according to another teacher at that university. |
Yeah, they can get E2s to teach their own language, but then once here get roped illegally into teaching English. I worked with 2 like that years ago. A woman from Paris, passing herself of as French-Canadian (and sleeping with the boss to get the block schedule; wife working oblivious to it all at the front desk... Story for another day). And a Russian woman. Both on E2s but neither of them teaching their native languages.
| Quote: |
| A couple guys on EFL-Law know the particulars of this one a little better than me. |
According to the EFL-Law Guy... "E2 can be given to Fillipinos with English Majors or Ma Linguistics-- already some here - this is not new --I knew 3 girls who weer in Pusan Kotesol back 4 years ago -E2s from Philippines." |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
mrsquirrel
Joined: 13 Dec 2006
|
| Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2007 6:46 pm Post subject: |
|
|
One of the student teachers at school was talking about Filipino English teachers that she knew. She lived and studied in Suwon.
Not sure if they were legal or not but she seemed to think so. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
