Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Daphilia]

Hey,

I just finished my stint in Korea in March and I am seriously considering coming back. This time instead of a private school I am considering a public school or University simply for more vacation time.

I have a good reference from my director but just curious as to which jobs people think are better. Are University jobs better and are they difficult to get if you don't have a masters?

Any help is appreciated.

[ttompatz]

[PRagic]

REAL university jobs are impossible to get here unless you have your Ph.D., are published, and have experience.

[chriswylson]

Is this our insecure 'Professor' tooting his horn once again?

[IlIlNine]

Universities aren't worth it.

[HapKi]

Universities are worth it, and I'd recommend everyone give a shot at trying to get one. If you're dedicated at EFL in Korea, it's the obvious progression from hagwon work.

[PRagic]

Chriswylson,

Whatever. Just making a clarification. I have always been highly supportive of anyone's interest in teaching at university here or elsewhere, and I have been an outspoken critic of the deteriorating employment conditions for MA (and, to a less extent, BA) instructors in Korea. However, having had different positions at different levels at several universities, from visiting instructor with an MA to tenure-track with a Ph.D., I do try to keep it honest. If it makes you feel better, define 'REAL' any way you see fit.

[PRagic]

Oh, but don't expect any of your Korean co-workers or anyone in administration at your university to agree with you!

[Paji eh Wong]

[ella]

Yes, here, too. I wanted to teach adults without split shifts so a university job is perfect for me. No one looks over my shoulder, no chasing hyperactive kids around a classroom trying just to get them to sit down, no snotty noses to wipe or poopy pants to change, and I don't have to spend every day repeating, "This is a pencil." I get to have have real conversations with students who really want to learn.

[hubba bubba]

[PRagic]

The second most Ph.D.s from Berkley granted to any graduates of any university? SNU. I'm not even a big fan of SNU, but you have to admit they're learning something. Yonsei's GSIS has put at least 5 people through into Harvard Ph.D. programs. I graduated from a top-10 university in my dicipline, and the Koreans there, all trained in Korea, were highly competitive - actually stronger quantitatively than students from other countries, including the US and Canada.

There are no real universities here? Come again. In fact, most of the more prominent departments in most of the more well known universities house scholars that are internationally known and respected. ESL? Couldn't tell you.

OK, now here come the quips about rampant plagarism and low levels of scholarly publications in international journals. Enjoy, and feel good about yourself. You don't have to worry about that end of the job. No wonder a lot of the foreign university teachers here have a bad reputation with their departments.

[Pyongshin Sangja]

[happygirl]

Not if you work at some unis. 8:30 am class. 1:45 hour break, 1 class, 1:45 hour break, 2 classes. 1 hour mandatory tutoring per week, no severence, no airfare, 18 hours teaching per week, mandatory intensive classes during breaks ( yes you get paid for them but not a reasonable amount) which means you cannot take more than 2 weeks consecutive vacation, 20 min bus ride to campus......

freshman classes with students who cannot, or will not, answer "What is your favorite food?" with a complete sentence. constant talking, cell phones in class, rampant accepted cheating

[FUBAR]