Korean Job Discussion Forums

[EMKAYES]

Hi,

I have been offered a job at a college teaching English.
I have 1 year hogwan and 2 years elementary school (EPIK) experience.
ESL is what I want to do for the next 5-10 years, probably all in Korea but maybe Japan/China also.

I'm very happy where I am at the moment but have a notion that this next experience will be of more benefit to me in the future (as apposed to an extra year at the elementary school)

I'm nervous about taking the step out of my comfort zone and into unchartered territory but think its the best move for my career. Am I making a mistake?

If anyone has any pearls of wisdom they will be greatly received.

Thanks.

[bobbybigfoot]

It would surely round out your resume. You may also find that you prefer a uni job to EPIK. But you also say that you want to do this for the next 5 to 10 years. Most likely you will have plenty of opportunites in the future to make the transition from public school to uni. If you are really happy where you are, why give it up? Listen to that little voice inside and f**k making your resume look the way you think other people want it to look like.

[EMKAYES]

Thanks BBF!

You are right about that little voice and it tells me I am happy where I am.
But it also tells me that the elementary school curriculum and text books are a joke and not being allowed to venture too far from either is a crime to those who really want to TEACH English!
I have a few teaching qualifications, and feel underused in EEPIK Elementary school level.
I hope teaching at college level will allow me to get into the nitty gritty of teaching English as opposed to sugar coating everything.

The elementary school curriculum is like telling an art teacher he can only use a blunt pencil to teach "art".

That being said. I am happy with my schools and the kids are great but is that enough if the job isn't that satisfying?

[Zyzyfer]

[PRagic]

If you have your MA, then university teaching experience in a department (not a unigwon) would certainly round out your CV.

[The_Source]

Outside of Korea, it won't help your resume. You would be better off going directly to teaching in Japan or China. But in Japan, you will need a master's degree and publications to land a university job.

If you stay in Korea, it MAY help your resume. However, this is assuming you finish a one-year contract. Leaving early (regardless of who's at fault) would actually make your resume look WORSE. So there's a risk involved, as you might find yourself part of the way through your contract and the job becomes intolerable. Bosses who lie and cheat are alive and well at the university level.

[Jeff's Cigarettes]

Big whoop.