Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mwg4]

My girlfriend and I are tentatively planning to teach in Korea starting in July or August 2008. We are thinking that public schools are the way to go. I have a couple of questions and appreciate any input you can provide:

1) From perusing this board, it seems like there are three possibilities for applying: through a third-party recruiter (canadian connections, etc), through EPIK/GEPIK/SMOE or other government programs, or applying directly to the schools themselves. What are the pros and cons of each of these?

2) Both my girlfriend and I have bachelor's degrees and plan on doing online TEFL courses. My question: we both went to high-ranked US colleges (she to the University of North Carolina and I to Duke University), but will this give us more leverage in salary and benefit negotiations? Or do the Koreans just see "BA" and check it off the list of requirements?

3) I am white, but my girlfriend is of mixed Japanese and Afghan parentage (but born in the US). I have read (a lot) that Korea is xenophobic and racist to begin with, and I am wondering if she will have a particularly difficult time of it (she doesn't have a Japanese name or anything, but people are bound to ask -- maybe it is best to lie)?

4) Finally, for public school teaching next August, what is the time frame for applying?

Cheers,
Matt

[Thunndarr]

1)As a general rule, try not to use a recruiter if at all possible. They have an agenda and it is only to fill positions as quickly as possible. In short, they will not serve your best interests.

If you contact the schools directly, I think you will have a bit more bargaining power than you would if you went through on of the govt. organizations.

2)You might, but it is doubtful. Schools generally tend to place more value on looks than on quality of education or experience. However, teachers seem to be in short supply right now so that will work in your favor. Keep in mind that no matter what any recruiter or school tells you, you do not have to accept their first (or second, or third) offer.

3)Your girlfriend will probably experience racism, and for that matter so will you. You'll have to adjust and learn to live with it.

4)The school year here starts in March, so positions for late August will start in the second semester of the school. This means there are generally fewer openings at that time. The application process can begin, I'd say, as early as 3 months in advance up until the position actually starts.

[mwg4]

[schwa]

1) First you need to decide where in Korea you'd prefer to live (Seoul, its suburbs, elsewhere). You'll find lots of opinions in discussions here & other places online but you need to determine your personal priorities. Applying through a recruiter or to govt programs directly is pretty much same-same. I believe private hires are becoming rarer.

2) The university you attended wont affect your payscale.

3) Your girlfriend should be fine. No racial profiling I know of in the public school hiring process.

4) I suggest you start making inquiries in may or june.

Best luck.

[Rockwell Bergstrom]

Personally, I don't see the point in doing an on-line TEFL certficate course. You will get a 100 times more out of actually doing a course in person. Doing either of the courses I point out below will cost you more than the on-line course, but inevitably you will enjoy your teaching experience much more.

Some of the two more reputable courses are the CELTA course (see below) or SIT's certificate course.

http://www.cambridgeesol.org/exams/teaching-awards/celta.html

CELTA Centers In The USA

There currently are 10 CELTA centers in the USA. Most of these offer 1-month intensive CELTA courses but some offer only part-time courses.

Denver www.bridgetefl.com
Honolulu www.icchawaii.edu
Houston www.cy-faircollege.com/TransitionalStudies/Celta.cfm (Cy-Fair College)
Houston http://celta.nhceducatesu.com (North Harris College)
Illinois http://clconline.clcillinois.edu/celta
New York www.embassyces.com
(No hot link is provided because the New York site does
not allow visitors to leave using the back browser button.)
Oregon www.ih-usa.com
San Diego www.ih-sandiego.com
San Francisco www.stgiles-usa.com
Santa Monica www.ih-usa.com

The School for International Training's certificate course

http://www.sit.edu/tesolcert/index.html

Now, if after doing one of the courses, you want to teach somewhere where you can put into practice what you've learned, try a university's language center instead of 35 high school students packed into a classroom. I have even heard of people getting university jobs with a CELTA or SIT's certificate without any experience.

This place now only requires a BA to work. And with a certificate, you'll be more knowledgeable than most people there. http://www.ysfli.com/
Look for the instructors job application on the bottom left of the page.

Good luck!

[bassexpander]

I have a BA.

I didn't need the CELTA for my university job. I didn't need a TEFL International certificate for my university job.

I didn't need ANY certification.

You don't need a CELTA (or a certificate from TEFL International) in Korea -- especially if you are going to teach kids. Can you learn something taking the CELTA? You bet. I knock the CELTA a lot, but I like the British Council's website for Task-Based Learning activities.

The rule of thumb I tell people to follow goes something like this:

If you are....

... in Korea for just a year or two, and have no plans to teach elsewhere after, don't bother with any TEFL certification.

... in Korea for 3 to 4 years, plan to move on and teach in another country, or stay working a public school job, get a low-cost, approved TEFL course (many are below $400, and can be done via distance. Just make sure they are over 100 hours). If you plan to move around the world and teach in countries that respect the British system, then get a CELTA. All of these certifications (including the CELTA) are useless in the USA.

... in Korea for 5 or more years, you should get, or make plans to get, some kind of teaching certification or an MA in Education/TESOL. You could get a CELTA, but if you've been teaching for more than 4 years, I'd say it's a waste of money.

Remember, the CELTA costs about US $1,500 to $2,500, depending on where you take it. The full TEFL International course is going to be similiar in price (it was last I checked). Korea is naturally much more expensive for the CELTA. One could almost say they gouge you here (when they even offer it), but maybe it's the extra cost of buildings or something -- who knows. Don't forget to factor in flight costs, housing costs, and lost work costs for up to 5 weeks. Any flight costs you'd save by taking it in Korea are squashed by the high price of taking it here (unless prices have changed that I'm not aware of).

I added it all up, and found that I'd be out over 4 million won if I took the CELTA, counting lost work time. Even at a 100,000 won per hour raise for having it, that will take you more than a few years to recoup the costs at a public school job.

Not worth it, given my situation. Neither is TEFL International.

By the way, CELTA now has a long-term course that you can do over several months. I'm not up to speed on what that entails, so I can't comment. I'm sure you'll pay just as much for the base costs, as if you did the full 5 week CELTA.

Remember: MANY OF THESE CERTIFICATES ARE ONLY ACCREDITED BY THE COMPANIES/GROUPS THEY ARE OFFERED BY.

Would you seek medical care from a doctor who is only a doctor because he passed his own accreditation to become a doctor, and therefore certified himself? Now how about paying that doctor $1,500 to $2,500 for medical care which you don't need, and missing 5 weeks of paid work in the process?

Again, I work at a university, and I didn't need a CELTA or a piece of paper from TEFL International to get my job here. You don't need one to work at a hagwon, either.

[mwg4]

[Shimokitazawa]

Bassexpander wrote:

[mwg4]

Also, how much do teaching experience such as volunteer ESL tutoring for immigrants, volunteer teaching Spanish classes at a local elementary school, etc. count? Will that even be considered, or do they only look at full-time positions?

[bassexpander]

Of the five foreigners we have working here, not a single one has a TEFL/TESL certification of any kind. A few of us have masters degrees (BAs are in the English Department too). We are spread out between the English Department and what would be classified as a Unigwon, but our pay, hours, and vacation are identical. We all enjoy over 4 months of paid vacation per year, and the opportunity to do winter/summer courses, which double our pay for those months we do them in.

This is Korea. You simply don't need a CELTA here. Period. You want to argue Europe? Fine.... go teach there. The simple fact is that a CELTA is not needed here.

It should also be noted that the CELTA is geared toward teaching adults.

If you want a CELTA for a public school job, you're paying too much. You can get an inexpensive online certification (must be over 100 hours) and get the same 100,000 to 200,000 won per month raise (depending on your school system) as you would with a CELTA.

Again... CELTA = $1,500 to $2,500 to complete, plus approximately $2,500 in lost work time (5 weeks). At a 200,000 won per month raise, you're looking at over two years to get your money back. At a 100,000 per month raise, you're looking at 4 years.

Do you plan on teaching ESL for another 2 to 4 years?

If you are, you're better off getting a real degree in teaching or education. Consider a Masters in TEFL/TESL, or teachers college.

[Shimokitazawa]

Interesting.

Bassexpander, do you have caps on contract renewals at your university? Sounds like a good situation for you guys, then.

[bassexpander]

We were worried about that, but one employee just signed for her 4th year, so none so far.

[bassexpander]

[esetters21]

[mwg4]