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smaulik
Joined: 01 May 2009
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 Posted: Thu May 21, 2009 11:59 pm Post subject: SMOE chances? |
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| I just found out about SMOE after being offered a job at CDI and now I'm wondering about my chances. I just graduated from a top-ranked university with a B.A. in English Lit with a minor in Linguistics. Should I apply? How much harder is it to be accepted compared to a hagwon? How much better is working at a public school in Seoul compared to a private school? |
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Bibbitybop
Joined: 22 Feb 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Fri May 22, 2009 12:35 am Post subject: |
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English major from a top uni? Very good chances.
Start working on an online TEFL, like ITTT, so you can say that's in the works, too. |
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winterfall
Joined: 21 May 2009
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| Posted: Fri May 22, 2009 9:19 am Post subject: Same question |
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Hey I just graduated from Syracuse University. Not sure if you would consider that a 'top' university but, I don't what Korean standards are. B.A. in Political Science with a minor in Middle Eastern Studies. G.P.A. in the lower 3 range on a 4.0 scale. And I have done high level graduate work while I was an undergrad. I do not have teaching certificate, not sure if I'll be able to get one since I still need to prepare for my GREs.
Not to give the wrong impression by the mentioning the GRE, I'm doing public schools because I believe in it. Not to pay off loans or the like. The main reason I'm going to Korea is to take care of my family they're going through a rough patch. Otherwise I would just kept going until I got my doctorate. I have a few years of tutoring experience though not with an institution so I guess I have the basics down.
Wondering what my chances are with SMOE? |
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Bibbitybop
Joined: 22 Feb 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Fri May 22, 2009 10:10 am Post subject: Re: Same question |
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| winterfall wrote: |
| Hey I just graduated from Syracuse University. Not sure if you would consider that a 'top' university but, I don't what Korean standards are. B.A. in Political Science with a minor in Middle Eastern Studies. G.P.A. in the lower 3 range on a 4.0 scale.? |
Not as good as the OP's chances, but I know people who have been hired with less. |
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esetters21
Joined: 30 Apr 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Fri May 22, 2009 10:40 am Post subject: |
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I hate to be that guy, but you need to polish up on your writing skills if you want to teach English (even the hermit kingdom has some standards).
Your chances with SMOE are decent as long as it is an oral interview and they don't request anything in writing from you. |
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winterfall
Joined: 21 May 2009
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| Posted: Fri May 22, 2009 10:49 am Post subject: |
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| esetters21 wrote: |
I hate to be that guy, but you need to polish up on your writing skills if you want to teach English (even the hermit kingdom has some standards).
Your chances with SMOE are decent as long as it is an oral interview and they don't request anything in writing from you. |
Ouch... actually I do worse in interviews. If they ask for a writing sample they can either look at my personal statement or I can give them copies of coursework.
But, in any case I appreciate your honest perspective. |
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smaulik
Joined: 01 May 2009
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| Posted: Fri May 22, 2009 11:27 am Post subject: |
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| Winterfall, why are you interested in SMOE and not a hagwon? I'm just trying to figure out how public and private schools compare. I bet with your credentials you'd be hired by CDI in an instant. |
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smaulik
Joined: 01 May 2009
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| Posted: Fri May 22, 2009 12:33 pm Post subject: |
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| Also, and I know this question has been asked ad nauseam, but what are my chances as a non-white applicant? Will it be more difficult, or does it really not make a difference? |
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winterfall
Joined: 21 May 2009
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| Posted: Fri May 22, 2009 2:51 pm Post subject: |
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| smaulik wrote: |
| Winterfall, why are you interested in SMOE and not a hagwon? I'm just trying to figure out how public and private schools compare. I bet with your credentials you'd be hired by CDI in an instant. |
Thanks for your vote of confidence. This might come off as cheesy, I'm a realistic idealist. If such a thing exists. But here's my reasons: I transferred to Syracuse in 07 with an Associates Degree from my community college. For a variety of reasons I was having issues with my family at the time and they wouldn't back my schooling. So I got two jobs and took a combination of online classes and night school. After I got into Syracuse that wasn't an issue anymore.
So why am I so bent on public school went I private? Don't get me wrong I really enjoyed studying at Syracuse even though it had a hefty price tag and the professors were just great. Not all but a decent amount of the kids at Syracuse were just brats. No values, don't know the meaning of hard work, all they care about is money, blah blah blah.
When it comes down to it, making a living in the public system is honest and private work just doesn't seem right. No offense to anyone out there that teaches private.
But anyway from reading the good info posted on this board and talking to a few recruiters. The working conditions in the public schools seems to be better than private school. For me that's not really an issue, if I can clean bathrooms at taco bell, I can teach spoiled brats.
As for you last comment I'm in the same boat with you. I'm Korean but, can't speak a word of it. I understand just enough to get by. From the perspective of Koreans your in a category all by yourself. Not to come off as racist but, the impression I always got was 'Its not their fault that they're white' but if you look Korean yet can't speak it. Than that's like blasphemy. |
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alphakennyone
Joined: 01 Aug 2005
Location: city heights
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| Posted: Fri May 22, 2009 3:04 pm Post subject: |
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| A snowball's chance in hell |
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cruisemonkey
Joined: 04 Jul 2005
Location: Hopefully, the same place as my luggage.
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| Posted: Fri May 22, 2009 3:22 pm Post subject: |
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CDI = probably 'independent contractor' = illegal.
SMOE = big city crapshoot. Guaranteed no LoR. |
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smaulik
Joined: 01 May 2009
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| Posted: Fri May 22, 2009 3:49 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the response winterfall, although I can tell you coming from a public university that there are plenty of spoiled brats here too.
I'm actually not Korean, but southeast asian, so who knows how that will affect my application. |
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gogohorrorshow
Joined: 13 May 2009
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| Posted: Fri May 22, 2009 4:11 pm Post subject: |
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smaulik,
i was actually in the same boat as you. i'm southeast asian as well (vietnamese-american to be exact) and have just gotten through the whole hiring process with SMOE. Heck, i was born in Vietnam, do NOT have an English-related major such as yourself and my university is middling rank, not top rank. And they offered me a job. So i'm sure you'll have no trouble at all. One thing is to hurry up and apply; i'm not sure but my recruiter told me the deadline was a few weeks ago? I'm not 100% sure about this so someone more knowledgeable please correct me. good luck, you'll do fine! |
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cruisemonkey
Joined: 04 Jul 2005
Location: Hopefully, the same place as my luggage.
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| Posted: Fri May 22, 2009 5:21 pm Post subject: |
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| gogohorrorshow wrote: |
i was actually in the same boat as you. i'm southeast asian as well (vietnamese-american to be exact) |
Unfortunately, a significant number of Ks look upon S.E. Asians as being 'dirty' people.  |
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gogohorrorshow
Joined: 13 May 2009
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| Posted: Fri May 22, 2009 7:04 pm Post subject: |
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| cruisemonkey wrote: |
| gogohorrorshow wrote: |
i was actually in the same boat as you. i'm southeast asian as well (vietnamese-american to be exact) |
Unfortunately, a significant number of Ks look upon S.E. Asians as being 'dirty' people. |
well, i'll be sure to bring plenty of soap then |
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