Korean Job Discussion Forums

[The Badassassino Family]

My wife and I are well qualified and would like to teach in a Korean public school. Can anyone recommend the best way to go about scoring one of these jobs while in the States? I'm aware of some agencies, but who knows what's good and what's not? Any recommendations are welcome. Thanks.

Tony

[ttompatz]

[The Badassassino Family]

Thanks. That helps a lot.

Best Regards,
Tony

[aarontendo]

If you're a certed teacher back home you might want to look into international schools I think they offer a bit more benefits. The public school contracts aren't entirely generous when it comes to being certified, though I was told that you can count your years there as experience back in the States schools.

Not being a certified state teacher back home though I wouldn't even know.

[soju pizza]

I agree

[bosintang]

Depends by what you mean by "well-qualified". If it means teaching qualifications and experience in your home country, you *may* find work in a Korean public school unrewarding. I'd try the International school route first. Better conditions in every way....

Otherwise, take ttompatz's advice.

[The Badassassino Family]

I use the term "well qualified" in relative comparison to other people I've seen take the public school route. I have a couple of Master's degrees, one in literature with some ESL/linguistics courses and another degree in History. I've also taught college composition and history courses for ten years, but only as adjunct faculty for supplementary income. As both teacher and student, I'm a product of American state universities. I do have one semester teaching ESL at an English center at a large American university, three months teaching ESL in a former Soviet state, and about a year in other stateside locales. I've also been out of ESL teaching for a while and don't have a teaching certificate. Having read my teaching career synopsis, would you say I'm looking for work in the right places?

[Curious George]

If you are looking for a job in the Seoul public schools one of the authorized recruiters they use is called worknplay.

I was placed by them in an excellent Gunpo (Seoul suburb) public elementary school last year and used them again this year for placement into the Seoul Public school which is hiring now for an August start.

I am not sure if they have hired all the teachers yet or not for next year. Their ads have been up for a couple of weeks already and there is alot of teachers in Korea trying out for the positions as well (because working for a public school is 100x better than the dodgy hogwans here). I don't know what your chances are because both times I have had to go for a face to face interview before I was hired. You may have to bite the bullet and come over and work for a hogwan for your first year and then switch to a public school the second year.

http://www.worknplay.co.kr/

Look for the public school positions webpage on their website.

[kat2]

It sounds like you are more than qualified for a Uni job here. They should start advertising in the next month for the September semester. The pay isn't great, but there's usually plenty of opportunity for privates and/or overtime. And the vacation is much better as are the hours.

[The Badassassino Family]

Thanks everyone. Kat2-Where can I find Uni job ads?

[SACK]

Curious George, You would have to be a social retard or one ugly looking fool to be turned away from SMOE or any public school position with their qualifications. Public schools are the new Hogwons, any warm body will do.