Korean Job Discussion Forums

[digsydinner]

Example:
http://www.eslcafe.com/jobs/korea/index.cgi?read=37704

I know of one gyopo who makes serious bank doing this. Would like to know if anyone on this board does the SAT/AP test prep thing as well.

I would apply, but I come from a pretty mediocre school with mediocre SAT scores. Anyone else able to get one of these type of gigs without having an IVY league degree or super high SAT scores? I've taken some sample tests recently... and I guess the older, wiser me can now consistently score in the top percentile. Wondering if that would have any merit...

[Chambertin]

Its simple. You are the advertisement for the school.

For example if you got a lazy kid, have money, and you want them to go to school in the US but the test scores are low you go with the fancy looking school. They want a walking billboard, not a teacher.

Programs like that are about the advertising. If you want to get good scores, STUDY. That goes for everything in life, you dont need anything but a library and hard work.

[waynehead]

I applied for a few of these jobs a while back. I had a 1510, which is fairly high, and my BA is from UNC, a top 25/30 school.

I never heard back.

[cruisemonkey]

[Intrepid]

One problem with such jobs is that they are seasonal--most places need a lot of teachers in the summer, and at Christmas, and at US spring break (and some of them send groups of Korean teachers over to a hotel in the US--in Boston or New York--to grill the Korean kids during US THanksgiving break).
They don't necessarily need you at other times (often the hagwons are closed)--so an F visa is almost a must.
And you are a poster-child for the hagwon, but I've known people from less-than-Ivy schools who do it; it takes a certain confidence in vocabulary (for CR) and grammar (for writing); you never want to get caught not knowing, say, "vituperate" or the difference between Each other and One another...because the students learn that kind of stuff.
It's interesting work in some ways, and remunerative, but a pain to organize as a foreigner.

[Mr. Pink]

[tenchu77491]

Because education is not that simple in university. I think these days university education has become much more standardized and bland. Read your text book, memorize some things, take a test and go on until you get your paper degree. University is just a 4 year school to pick up a piece of nice paper at the end of it all.

Back in the good ol' days (way before me) when university was actually a form of higher education, such vocabulary and writing skills would set you apart from your colleagues or at least set you equal with them... giving you a chance to do well with your colleagues and professors. Any one with sub par vocabulary and writing skills would have not been taken seriously.

Can you imagine Noam Chomsky writing like some of these 'university graduates' do on Dave's? I can't believe some of these people graduated. Writing does reflect on you as a person.

In the earlier days writing was the cornerstone of a good education.

[robot]

Back to the OP's question: you don't necessarily need to come from an Ivy or top uni. Nor do you need to be a gyopo or have an F visa.

These things might help, but the key is proving your ability to do well on the SAT and pack students into your lectures.

I know Sehan well. Their offer is OK, but last I checked they had some rules about being at the school a few hours before your class. Like other places, they will expect to first write part of the SAT then perform a short sample class.

If you're thinking about getting into test prep, now could be the perfect time. Try it on a summer contract and see how it goes from there.

[Insomnia]

I've always wanted to take the ACT again to see what I could score now.

[Intrepid]

[quote="Mr. Pink"][quote="Intrepid"]--IMO this is the problem with standardized testing. What the hell does knowing rare academic English in grade 12 have to do with the ability to do well in university? It just means you are good at memorizing or have an extended vocabulary.[quote]



I don't know--such knowledge shows hard work and an attention to detail, traits that are easily as conducive to success as is, say, intelligence.

[Mr. Pink]

[quote="Intrepid"][quote="Mr. Pink"][quote="Intrepid"]--IMO this is the problem with standardized testing. What the hell does knowing rare academic English in grade 12 have to do with the ability to do well in university? It just means you are good at memorizing or have an extended vocabulary.

[digsydinner]

[digsydinner]

[quote="Mr. Pink"][quote="Intrepid"][quote="Mr. Pink"]