Korean Job Discussion Forums

[LeChuck]

Hey folks,

I've been lurking on Dave's for a month or two now and I must say, I've found the stickies and other important topics to be incredibly helpful. That said, I still have a few unanswered questions and was hoping you guys could clear them up for me:

1. I will be convocating from university in December and, after having spoken with a few people in the dean's office, have managed to convince them to send me the necessary paperwork indicating that I will have graduated by the middle or end of January (I would normally get it in April). This leads me to the first question: assuming I have all of the other related paperwork ready to send off to prospective employers, is the end of January too late to apply for full-time TEFL positions? I've heard tell that the Korean school year starts in March, but I've also heard that the 'good jobs' are all gone by January.

2. I've been looking at contracts on my own, but I've also been looking at a few different job placement services (i.e.: tefljobplacement.com, teflonline.net, etc.). For a first-timer, would you recommend I go about the entire application process on my own, or should I use one of the services?

3. I'm not going to rehash the public school vs. hogwan debate, but I was wondering if you could give me an idea of which type of school is better suited to someone who is not just fresh off the boat, but also new to the whole teaching thing.

That's it. Hopefully they're worthwhile queries, and hopefully a few other people will be able to get some use out of the responses as well. Thanks a lot!

[Tobias]

This is the first time I've heard of someone who was thinking of doing this.

I don't believe a mere letter will get you past the gatekeepers. You will need an actual copy of your degree. Unless you can get that from your alma mater before you formally graduate, you will be dead in the water, more than likely.

But perhaps you CAN use the letter if it's notorized. After all, you will have graduated. All you would need is the degree in hand. See if your local consulate will notorize this letter.

I doubt this will pass muster, though.

[LeChuck]

My understanding is that the letter is, in effect, a notorized document from the university saying that I graduated there. I figure if the letter gets me over there, I can just have my roommate mail me the real deal after the fact should I choose to stay longer.

[stacyrb]

[LeChuck]

I will have graduated by the time I start applying.

Thanks for clearing up the first part of the question. What about the timeframe? Will I be able to find a decent job if I don't start applying until later in January, or will I just be sifting through leftovers by then?

[ttompatz]

[LeChuck]

No, no, Tom - that's the kind of kind of brutal honesty I'm looking for.

I'm certainly not expecting (though I will certainly apply for) the top-end positions. I was just curious as to whether or not I'd be missing hiring season.

Thanks, Tom.

[ajuma]

How comfortable would you be in front of a class of 30-40 students in a public school? If you've never taught before, chances are you'll be pretty uncomfortable. Classroom management is tough for all new teachers of any level, but on this scale, it can be daunting.

I suggest that you start out in a hagwon. Class sizes are smaller and classroom management somewhat easier. Look for a school that has several foreign teachers so they can give you some ideas both for teaaching and for discipline. If you can find a school where you'll be teaching both kids and adults (evening classes, not split shifts!), you'll get a good insight into the minds of Koreans.

[cobright]

I recieved my Visa Issuance Number after only sending in my college transcripts (sealed) and a notarised and apostilled letter from my school stating that I had graduated.

The letter needs to be in the past tense. It can't say "graduation canidate" or "will have graduated..." So if it's December 25th a letter stating that you will be officially graduated on Dec. 31 is no good.

[subicslugger]

Immigration will accept a confirmation letter in lieu of an actual copy of the diploma.

The best thing to do is get the letter notarized and get the apostille. Also, get a second identical letter in a sealed envelope.

Immigration has and will accept this as long as you have accompanying transcripts.

[BrianInSuwon]

I would recommend a hagwon position for you if :
1. The hagwon has been in business for 5 or more years. New schools can easilly shut down. The first two years are always the toughest for any new business.
2. There are 3 or more foreign English teachers at the hagwon already and the hagwon owner gives you the email addresses and a contact phone numbers for all 3 teachers. They will tell you what the apartments are like and what the working conditions are like. And you will have people to talk to and hang out with as soon as you arrive. More than likely, they will share worksheets with you and talk you through culture shock and homesickness


The hagwon is better than a public school for new teachers in my opinion because:
1 You will only be teaching 10-15 students instead of 30-40.
2 You will see the students progressing day by day and week by week which is good for your self-esteem. You are making a difference.
3 You will have other foriegners to lean on for social and teaching related support.
4 The hagwon will give you a workbook from a series and tell you what pages to work on for that week. Having that kind of structure can help a new teacher.

[LeChuck]

Thanks for all of the advice.

[travelhappy]

I am in exactly in the same position as you, starting without a degree but a confirmation letter stating that I will finish by January. I have talked to a private school and a recruiter for a public school and this is what they said:

If you want to work at a private school you will be unable to start work until at least July or so (depending on when you graduate, I grad in May) since the Immigration office looks after the visa issuing, and they only accept an actual degree. However, I got the impression that if the private school really wants you and are confident that your confirmation letter and stuff is valid, there might be a chance that immigration will wave you in. But what I gather is that a lot of private companies, including the one I really wanted, was leery of this this tactic because there is a possibility that you get stopped on your travel to Korea, because you have inadequate documents -not a degree or notarized degree in hand.

So.. your other possibility is going through a recruiter and apply to public school because since they are a government run organization they will do the visa process through the government instead of through the immigration office, therefore they accept a degree confirmation letter. But, I gather that they would rather hire someone that has a degree in hand, since the process is easier. So it is a little harder for someone who only has a degree confirmation letter to get in, but not impossible.

Hope this helps