Korean Job Discussion Forums

[molotovwars]

I have recently applied for EPIK and have passed the phone interview and am now in the process of rounding up all the different documents. I had a good interview with the guy and I asked about the possibility of Seoul and apparently very recently EPIK has begun some contracts with Seoul, but the requirements for teachers are more than just a bachelor�s degree. Anyways, I was told there was a possibility of getting to go to Seoul if I got a TEFL certification first (which I think would need to be over 100 hours) and that he would ask about the process for me.

Even if Seoul is not an option I still think it would be beneficial to complete a TEFL course, and preferably not online. I live in the Washington, D.C. area (USA) and the only thing I have found is: http://www.teflcourses.com/weekend-tefl/ - There is a 120 hour course, but the whole thing seems a bit meh.

This forum has an FAQ on �Further Study � TESOL MA, CELTA, TEFL etc.� but it wasn�t too helpful. I did read through the links and it seems that CELTA doesn�t really do much for Korea (and I am fortunate enough to have those blue eyes, blond hair, and white skin) but it does seem that if I do get any sort of qualification that I would want it backed by a University and not just some online company.

So now I am trying to find a decent TEFL course during the summer in the Washington D.C. area. I won�t be working this summer so I can do it full-time for 4 weeks or however long the program is, I just haven�t been able to find anything reliable.

Advice?

[ahsieee]

this won't really answer your question fully, but EPIK doesn't deal with Seoul or Gyeonggi- a province surrounding Seoul.
If you want to work in Seoul, you have to go with SMOE. This is a safer bet than trying to get to Seoul from EPIK. Most of the positions for Seoul with EPIK is usually filled right away with renewing teachers.
If you want to be close to Seoul and work in Gyeonggi, go with GEPIK.
They separated sometime last yr or the beginning of this year.. not sure when. It happened after I came to Korea, which was July 2008.

for a breakdown of pay for SMOE here's the link for a recruiter that has it~
http://reachtoteachrecruiting.com/seoul-metropolitan-office-of-education.html

Having teaching experience and being TEFL certified does give you more money, but you don't need it. The pay will be considerably less though.

If you want to wait to come to Korea to take classes to be TESOL certied, there is a university Sookmyung where a lot of foreigners take classes.
http://tesol.sookmyung.ac.kr/ - view in IE. Korean sites are best viewed in IE.
They offer weekend classes or depending where you're working, you may be able to take afternoon classes. hope this helps!

[bassexpander]

There are two routes you can take for the TEFL certification:

1. Cheap online course. It'll work for the pay bump. It's fast.

2. More expensive courses like Sookmyung, Trinity, or CELTA.

Make your choice based on what you plan to do in the future. If your long-term plans are to stay in ESL, then #2 would be a good choice if you plan to use it as initial credit toward an MA. Those two programs both have schools that will apply the credit toward an MA (but they may not be schools you want an MA from -- do your research). In my opinion, if you follow the goal of reaching an MA eventually, then these extremely expensive courses are well worth it (so long as you're getting an MA from the schools which accept them as credit). By themselves, they are good, but overpriced for what you'll see in return in the Korean job market.

If you don't see yourself teaching ESL 3 years from now, and feel confident enough in your teaching abilities, then go the cheaper route. It makes no difference to employers here.

The next two levels higher than general hagwon/public school jobs here are universities and international schools. TEFL certifications of ANY sort are merely a feather in your resume cap in terms of these jobs in Korea. Universities want an MA, in most cases. That's what gets you looked at (not TEFL certifications by themselves, unless they're desperate). International schools will usually require a true teaching certification with experience teaching in public schools back home, from what I've read.

[afsjesse]

[molotovwars]

double post.

[molotovwars]

How accepted are the cheap online classes? I don't want to take the course and then find out I wouldn't even get a pay boost from it.

I would look at teaching english in Korea while taking language classes to move towards fluency before entering a Master's program for foreign service or international relations. I would like to actually be able to benefit from the class and I would definitely get TEFL certification before continuing a second year.

This is the link I posted above:
http://www.teflcourses.com/weekend-tefl/

Does this website seem good enough (I would go for the 120 hours) or would it not stand out from any other online site (at which point I would just be paying them more money without really any benefit)?

Also, is Incheon a popular destination, I guess right now that is my top choice because of its proximity to Seoul.

[bassexpander]