Korean Job Discussion Forums

[TECO]

High Fidelity - A cool movie.

Cusack was good as was Jack Black and the others..

Champions Vinyl owned by Rob Gordon.

[Clutch Cargo]

I understand what you're saying in the op. It's sort of about how the attractions of this type of job can be a smokescreen to hide the reality of possible consequences such as finacial and employment problems etc and then realising too late that you have spent too much time doing something that is not related to what you want to do with the rest of your life.
For me this work is directly related to my chosen field so I consider myself to be in my career now and trying to learn what I can to be a better teacher. When I eventually get back home I'm going to try and get a niche in a public school as an ESL teacher. The main drawbacks I can picture are the friendships and family relationships back home which are hard to keep current after a while away.
I got a house a couple of years ago and still owe most of the money on it, but it has helped to keep me tied to home in a way, through financial obligations if anything. These are a few normal things to remind me that there is a reason for my time here. I've tried floating in a previous life and found it to be an unsettling experience that left me aimless and frustrated.
The only answer I can come up with is to relate this work to your career somehow, or do it for a while then get back to what you want to do. I know a few teachers who have decided to make teaching their profession by returning home to do the dip ed after being here a while.

[BTM]

Some succeed, some fail. This is the way of things.

I think Butterfly's post basically advises caution, and that's pretty obvious advice. Also to get well away from the private school kiddiechaos, if you plan to do this for more than a year or two.

A TEFL teaching career is viable, if you're smart and resourceful and know business, and are willing and able to live the light-on-your-feet lifestyle. For my part, it's a fall-back career, and has served me well as such when the IT stuff isn't happening, or I need a quick-and-easy cash cow job for a while. I'm in the process of merging the IT career and the education career at the moment, and this is one way to make it out of the scrum. There are others, both in EFL and outside.

The trick is always to decide what you want - money? security? an easy job? early retirement? freedom from debt? - and then make the plans to achieve that. If a well-managed career in teaching can achieve the goals, and you like teaching, it's as good a choice as any other.

[richardIII]

[Butterfly]

[waggo]

Are you still here Butterfly?

[mike in brasil]

This is a great topic because it brings up many difft questions important to all of us.

What I want to bring to this duscussion is this:

The question of the legitimacy of teaching EFL in the eyes of our peers, ie family, is often ridiculed. Dad says, "come home and get a real job" or we see friends who have "real" jobs and we feel the pressure to "get our lives together" etc. Going off to teach in Korea is beacuse you "can�t find a real job back home." etc etc

The fact is that our profession is the opposite of this. We are, the world is, changing. Teaching EFL is actually not an "alternative". It is a new trend.

Factory jobs that are getting drained out of the US and moving to China. The trend is all the labor intensive stuff is migrating to where its cheaper. Anybody taking a factory job in the US today ain�t gonna keep that job. . . .

BUt there is another trend, the wave we ESL teachers are riding, that is, the EFL Industry is a huge wave AND that is why we are here. It�s growing, busting out - and it is legitimate as a career.

[Butterfly]

[kimcheeking]

I do believe that there is a future in EFL now more than in the past. The industry is becoming more and more professional with more standards to adhere to. Though this is still lacking in Asia & Korea in particular.

I forsee that in the next 5+ years a Masters will be required for any serious job in Korea (re: university) and also in the rest of Asia. Actually right now most Universities in Korea ask for it, but will take a BA if they need to.

Personally, I have done extensive reading on Linguistics and Language teaching pedagogy both before I started my MA and during it. I have found this useful to my teaching at the university level. I can imagine it would be less useful at a hogwan, but not irrelevant. I strongly recommend anyone to at least do some readings on theory. It will make you a better teacher and perhaps give you motivation to go on and do an MA.

In fact one of my friends got a job at a top university without an MA, because he knew the theory and could answer questions intelligently during the interview. It also helped that he is a damn good teacher and blew them away during his teaching demo.

KK

[Gary B]

Wha'z up?
Mike in Brazil is spot on. I've just recently received my Masters in TESOL and when my family or friends ask me, "What is THAT? I respond by saying, "Teaching English to foreign students." They just say, "Ohhh, well good luck!" This goes back to a thread several months ago debating if ESL/ESL was a legitimate profession. I say for the most part it's not, but that's a topic that would open a can of worms.
What's so frustrating about checking out daveseslcafe is that the opinions about teaching in Korea go from one extreme to another. As an instructor thinking about teaching in Korea bringing along an Ecuadorian wife, it's hard to figure out if it's a good move or a bad move. I hear on the one hand that you can save a decent amount of money, and on the other, it's horrible and not worth it. As a single man, I wouldn't give a flying you know what, I would just enjoy the ride. Coming with a wife from a Latin background, is a big risk I think, but we're willing to take, at least so far. So I can't say the posts I have read have been encouraging.
Chow for Now,
Filled With Mixed Signals In Motown Gary B.

[TheUrbanMyth]

[Butterfly]

[TheUrbanMyth]

[FierceInvalid]

[Butterfly]

Urban man, we are making the same points. Did you read my post? I dont really understand your response. EFL sucks, not Korea.

I'm not criticizing EFL in Korea exclusively, far from it, Korea, despite what many say is one of the better destinations for EFL teachers, but only because the market is strong. I'm criticizing the industry globally for the way it treats teachers.

Yeah, you get a good amount of disposable income here, you can save, enjoy, get laid. How many other countries like this, EFL-wise? But eventually we are going to want to leave, and go home, in part because we get too old for the game here but mostly because we miss our families. You've seen the old Korea burnouts Urban, you dont want to be one of them. And what are you going to do when you get home? Teach TEFL - resign yourself, not only to never being rich, but to being poor, piss poor, for the rest of your career while the people for whom YOU are the principal product sold get very very rich. It aint right Urban, it aint right. We deserve a liveable wage globally, and a fuggin contract, and shouldn't have to relocate to South Korea to get it.

Invalid, you have got to love that Kevin Lisbie haven't you? Bring on the Pompey.