Korean Job Discussion Forums

[panthermodern]

Hello;

Let me introduce myself ...

Some of you may remember me.
Some of you may know me, some the mods most certainly do ...

I worked in Korea for many years; taught, managed, consulted.

But, I have been home for over 2 years.

I have been involved in recruiting both teachers for Korea and Students from Korea, and I was wondering, what it like there now?

What I mean is, how has Korean ESL changed since the "new rules".

Have the backpackers moved on, or has a new "golden time" for illegal teachers begun.

See, I was an IMF survivor.

I was in Korea from 1996 to 2006 and during that time there were two big "eras" in the world of Korean ESL: Pre-IMF and Post IMF.

I see the "new rules" being the next era in Korean ESL.

How is the new era different then the post IMF era.

I can see that the legal background check may eliminate a lot of scum, as would the drug test. The time invovled to get a E-2 visa strikes me as being a barrier to the all but deterinemed to go to Korea.

If I wanted to come back to Korea, It would take 2 or so months despite the fact I worked in Korea almost 10 years, with an E-2 visa, legally with out a problem. I would still need a crimal record check even though I lived in Korea for 10 of the last 12 years.

So, tell me, what is it like, today.

This brave new world of Korean ESL.

My best is that is even more dull, and lacking in the certain excitement of the "good old bad days"

[schwa]

Teaching in public schools has taken over in your absence, in the last 2 years precisely.

Thats where the money & perks are now (unless you have an F-visa). Hagwons are struggling to recruit people due to application hurdles & their deserved dicy reputation, & many universities are busy hagwonizing. There are exceptions, sure, but not so many.

I've been predicting this change on this forum for 6 or 7 years to much skepticism. Now there are thousands of newbies pouring into public schools & vets switching over from hagwons.

Theres going to be a backlash. As recruitment penetrates deeper into the public school system, its rubbing against K-teachers who could previously avoid it but are dead-set against it. I see signs of a confrontation.

Nothing lasts for long.

Interesting question as I prepare to orient 200 newcomers to Gangwondo the week after next week which will make 400 total when we had 16 in all just 2 years ago. I really hope most will do well but it really comes down to individual initiative.

Not a care-not backpacker opportunity like it once was but Korea is still an evolving & exciting place to teach for now.

Real qualifications & a proven track record will come into play over the next few years.

[KoreanAmbition]

OP,

If you are recruiting teachers for Korea and students from Korea, why why are you coming back? To teach?

[ldh2222]

57% of Koreans are fluent English speakers.

[Joe Boxer]

[schwa]

Yeh, maybe 80 or 90 of them.

I should have said help orient them, definitely a team effort.

[KoreanAmbition]

Panthermodern,

Are you working in the ESL industry in Toronto?

[ontheway]

[SirFink]

[Oreovictim]

[Tobias]

So, Panther....when are you coming back?

I'm trying to figure out how it was in the 'good ol' bad days' when there was (supposedly) so much pondscum working here. Maybe TESOLers didn't know how good they had it back in those days. Today requirements are higher, there are more hoops, and the pay is less/prices are higher. Bring back those days.

If you are coming back, and Korea probably beats the US right now, know that a recession is stalking all the western economies. The bottom could fall out at any time in a lot of these places we've come to love so well.

[panthermodern]

[KoreanAmbition]

Panthermodern,

Did the people you work for/with ever have anything to do with Seoul National University in Korea by chance?


Cheers