Korean Job Discussion Forums

MrWanderful · Joined: 04 Jan 2008

I've lived in the US for 17 years since I was 7 so obviously I'm fluent. But is the "native speaker" requirement strictly followed? In other words do they check if I'm a native citizen of US?

littlelisa · Joined: 12 Jun 2007 Location: Seoul

If you have a US passport (or other accepted nationality), you should be fine. Otherwise, you're out of luck.

n�fara · Joined: 14 Jul 2007 Location: The Island

I know of at least 3 people who were not born in the 7 official English speaking countries but have lived there for many years (less that you however) and they were hired and work for public schools in Korea.

So no, I don't think you have to be a "born-in" native speaker.

schwa · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap

Its about citizenship rather than birthplace -- you need a passport from one of the 7 designated english-speaking countries. That plus 10+ years living in one of those countries.

MrWanderful · Joined: 04 Jan 2008

Thanks everybody!

Shimokitazawa · Joined: 14 Dec 2007 Location: Seoul

MrWanderful,

I agree. You DO NOT need to be a native English speaker to teach EFL in Asia.

As long as you hold a passport from one of the 5 English speaking countries, you're most likely going to get a job somewhere.

buffygrrl1 · Joined: 05 Jun 2007 Location: Seoul

I movied from Ukraine when I was 9 to the US and didn't have a problem at all getting a job here. They don't really care as long as you don't have an accent.

KYC · Joined: 11 May 2006

you don't have to be BORN in one of the 6 countries. You only need CITIZENSHIP from one of those countries. It is NOT a requirement that you live in that country for at least 10 years.

With that said, some recruiters still don't know what they're doing. Some will require you to obtain documents that you don't even need. I was born in Asia, but I'm Asian-American. I have lived in America for over 20 years. I obtained citizen about 12 years ago. My education from elementary through university was in the USA.

When I contacted several recruiters regarding obtaining an ESL position in Korea, I was asked to supply these ridiculous documents. One recruiter wanted me to show them my "diploma" or transcripts from middle school. I don't even think that's obtainable since I went to 3 different middle schools.

It just makes me upset that they didn't know what they were doing.

CentralCali · Joined: 17 May 2007

It's not 5 or 6, but 7 countries:

Australia
Canada
Ireland
New Zealand
South Africa
United Kingdom
United States

Netz · Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 9:12 pm Post subject:

Zebra12 · Joined: 18 Jan 2006 Location: Ottawa

Hmmm...you're a little off my friends. I know of a [Russian] lady who's currently working FT at an English Village...hired from Canada as a "cleaning lady" but currently running the Englishee Villagee cheesie sandwichy shop. She's here with her Canadian husband, and she does not have official citizenship (only Landed Immigrant status--which is 'official' enough from the Canadian persepective)...making the bucks 'on the table' not under it. But, she's a striking gal with the right village pose. Unfortunately, she's not keen with the rice-paddy world at present, and will soon be returning to the cafes and European charms of Montreal. I also met with a number of clever South Americans in Ulsan, who enjoy working multiple jobs from a variety of angles...even running a small salsa club for added spice. Some have been enjoying the Land of Milk and Honey for more than 10 years...

On a different note:

The funniest thing about Korea is that they focus so much on the wimpy sport of soccer...huffing and puffing all over the field...I'd love to get them on the ice or on a real football field. Watching soccer is a 'snoozer'...can't ever see it taking off in NA...even with Beckman's grin and sexy girl at his side...too much of an [older] gentleman's game; like polo or water-skiing; all hot air and wind. Simply put, the game's not enough of a contact sport that challenges the mind and physique. It's great, though, to see the new gen of kids getting excited about basketball--as the sport will help build their strength to a higher degree.

luvnpeas · Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2008 1:23 am Post subject:

mrsquirrel · Joined: 13 Dec 2006

I knew a Turkish fella called Max who pretended to be a Canadian and taught here four years back. Probably still here now.

alex83 · Joined: 03 May 2007

I was born in a hole-of-a-country in the ex-USSR but have lived in Canada since I was 6. I have even told many people this fact in Korea when i worked last year, none of whom cared.
I think one very important thing to have (aside from passport/citizenship in the aforementioned countries) is a university degree from one of the recognized nations.
I actually worked with a Turkish guy who still had a fairly thick accent, but he also had a US degree and citizenship. No one minded.

little mixed girl · Joined: 11 Jun 2003 Location: shin hyesung's bed~

like other people have said, it doesn't matter where you were born.

what i thought they wanted was someone that had a majority of their education in a native-english country.

two of my friends were born in korea and then immigrated to the US during elementary/middle school, they also have US citizenship.
another person i know is korean, and teaches english at a school that has a majority of korean english teachers (most are people that have lived abroad for a number of years, however).

it all depends on the place.

my two friends worked at CDI. one was going to work for pagoda, but chose cdi instead.