Korean Job Discussion Forums

[TBirdMG]

All of Korea, it seems, doesn't value advanced degrees. I have an MBA from a respected top 50 international program, and have been trying to communicate its value to recruiters for some time now. The best I could do being recruited from outside the country was 2.6 + housing, and that was on top of the three years of teaching experience in middle/high schools in Korea and Japan from several years ago.
I explained: Look, I have language skills. Decent Japanese, Spanish, an undergraduate in applied linguistics, an MBA, AND I can use little silver chopsticks, and that's the best you can do?
Recruiter's response: Housing will be very nicee.
Sigh....if only the universities didn't require full application packages AND a face to face interview. That's not gonna happen, and I don't feel like spending a year in a PS just to re-establish myself in country.
Ideas? Tips? I'm just not in the mood to go back to Japan, although that would be easier in the long run. But I'd like to work in Korea for the next 2-3 years and then back to the home country to return to business when all the financial issues are resolved.

[Otherside]

I've got to ask, how does an MBA make you a better English teacher (outside of Business-English)?

The rest of your resume is good. But with that experience, you should know that ceiling in EFL is very low.

[FMPJ]

There are Unis that do English in their Bus. depts that have good jobs. Easy work, good pay. Right now the unis are under pressure to gain in int'l rankings, and part of that means they're trying to get more foreign "professors."

I know an MBA who did very well the last four-five years at a uni teaching bus. English.

[pkang0202]

The best Uni jobs won't be found through recruiters.

An MBA in the ESL industry isn't worth that much. Seriously, how many "English" classes did you take in that MBA? Probably just 1 Business Communication class. Why is an MBA any better than a MA TESOL?

I wonder if the OP can explain how understanding Balance sheets, micro economics, and supply chain management is going to make then a better ESL teacher.


I'm getting an MBA too. I don't expect my MBA to carry much weight in any other field than Business.

[sarbonn]

[MattAwesome]

MBA doesnt mean jack in the ESL industry sorry. I have a BS in computer science from a good school in the states, and I had to understand that.

Your options are this. Work in a company or teach business english. you will probably need a CELTA too for extra bank.

[TBirdMG]

Does an MBA make me a better teacher? That depends on how you define 'better teacher.'

If the teaching position requires a profound understanding of global political economy, economics, marketing, supply chain, finance, etc. then the answer is yes. Just line up the job candidates for a position where the students focus on business subjects, and ask the question: "Who will be the best teacher?" The teacher with an MFA or the teacher with an MBA?

Granted, having an MBA doesn't necessarily guarantee that I can communicate my knowledge in an eloquent, easy to follow fashion....but at least I have that knowledge. And with more than a year of experience in Korea, I can gauge students' rate of learning and mood.
Yes, the business Uni route does seem to be the way to go, and I'm sure it's significantly more lucrative than the PS/Hagwon path. It's just a bit frustrating not being able to access the majority of the decent Uni positions from abroad.

I have corresponded with a dozen recruiters, all of which have offered me some decent high schools and adult Hagwons. But yes, there is a monetary, and intellectual, ceiling on those positions.
And the unfortunate reality is that I would best be suited teaching undergrad or grad level business oriented classes through a private company or a Uni.

I had the pleasure of tutoring a small group of LG executives on 'education leave' in Los Angeles for a three month period recently. Very intelligent group with intermediate language skills. The whole idea was to encourage them to access all the English they already knew and develop a conversational rhetoric that translated well in western culture. They gained valuable interpersonal and intercultural skills, and I saw a dramatic improvement over a period of just 2 months.

The gig paid $40 an hour for 2 90 minute classes, twice a week. That's close to a thousand a month for a stress free PT job. I tell you: Korean companies would be smart to import a couple of MBAs such as myself. The corporation would save all that paid 'EDUvacation" they dole out, and their executives could still get the real deal in terms of the language experience. And don't kid yourself about the immersion benefits: these guys just went back to their short term furnished apartments to drink, and went straight to the golf courses after drinking.

If the universities were truly sincere about recruiting foreign "professors" to improve their standing internationally, I wish they would create a more transparent and open hiring policy. I understand the value of in-country networking (the 'ole boys club), but that limits the pool. Some of us would risk a year or 2 for the right school.

[Juregen]

[sobriquet]

Is it a distance MBA or did you actually attend the university?

[michaelambling]

[bogey666]

btw.. you may have your MBA but you're not observant.

the buzzword for 2008, 2009 and going forward into the immediate future is DELEVERAGING.

the time of "leverage" is over.. at least for the immediate future