Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Fat Sam]

Hello

I'd like to become a high school Maths teacher in the future, preferably at an International School rather than my home country of England. I've been in Korea for a number of years and recently married a Korean woman. Other than my degree, experience in a public elementary school, and a TEFL certificate, I have no teaching qualifications.

I could go back to England for nine months to do a PGCE, which would enable me to teach anywhere. However, I'd rather not be away from my family for such a long time. What is the best way for me to get teaching accreditation that is accepted in any country around the World, but without having to spend much time, if any, away from my wife in Korea?

Would an on-line Masters in Education be the best option, and if so, where would you recommend? Are there distance-learning courses equivalent to the PGCE that I could take from Korea or have I no choice but to spend a substantial amount of time in a school overseas?

I've only started to research this in the last few days, so if you can point me in the right direction, it'd be a big help, as I can't seem to get very far with my Google searches.

[chickyabroad]

I can't answer your question about qualification or certification, but I do have some links for job board and placement agencies for international schools. Maybe one of them will have an answer for you. From what I've heard, math teachers are in demand everywhere so they might be more lenient over what qualifications are accepted.

Here are the links:
http://www.search-associates.com/main.html
http://www.educatorsoverseas.com/
http://www.iss.edu/
http://www.tieonline.com/default.cfm
http://jobs.tes.co.uk/Jobs.aspx?regionId=4228
http://www.joyjobs.com/
http://www.cois.org/

[MarionG]

Your question about certification for any country in the world...I can't answer for other countries, but in the US, teaching certification is by state, and there are 50 of those! WHile similar, each state has a different set of qualifications. For example, New York state requires a Master's degree (although you can start teaching without it) North Carolina requires a certain grade point average in your major. While some states will happily accept degrees from foreign universities, other states won't.

[OiGirl]

National Board Certification, baby! If I want to go back to the States and teach (in the next 10 years...) I am certified in all 50.

[oxfordstu]

If you want to work at an International School, you will need a minimum of the following:

1. Teaching Credential
2. 2 years teaching experience IN YOUR HOME COUNTRY under contract
3. A masters degree (preferred, but not always required)

These are some of the most coveted jobs in the world. Who wouldn't want to work in Thailand or Indonesia and make $3,000 a month? Go look on the webpages of the international schools and look at the faculty. You'll see how qualified they are. Many have Ph.Ds and at least 10 years experience.

[jellobean]

[Fat Sam]

Thanks for all the advice.

I'll start researching International schools in the area to see which ones might take me on while I study for a teaching certificate. If it's not possible, I might have to bite the bullet and go home for nine months, although the prospect of teaching high school students back in England doesn't thrill me too much. I would, however, be eligible for a bursary from the government so I'd have to weigh up the financial side of things as well -paying 15 million over two years whilst working and getting paid in Korea, versus getting given 12 million yet having to provide for myself in my expensive home country for almost a year.

Decisions, decisions...

[ceesgetdegrees]