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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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thedubester
Joined: 01 Aug 2009
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 Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2009 1:55 pm Post subject: Teaching with no degree? |
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Hello all,
I am very much interested in teaching ESL in Seoul starting early next year. However, I do not have a Bachelor's degree. I will be registering for a TESL course in early September and I have been told by many friends that that is sufficient.
Can anyone recommend reputable hagwons/ institutions in Korea that are more likely to accept a teacher with only TESL and no Bachelor's degree?
In the employer's eyes, is taking you TESL course online still considered to be equal to attending a course in person?
How long does it usually take from the time of application to receiving a response, and then getting an offer?
Please give me some tips in the application process. Thank you! |
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CentralCali
Joined: 17 May 2007
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| Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2009 2:07 pm Post subject: |
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| Reputable hagweons don't hire those lacking a baccalaureate. |
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andrewchon
Joined: 16 Nov 2008
Location: Back in Oz. Living in ISIS Aust.
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| Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2009 2:52 pm Post subject: without a diploma |
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| You've been given very much an outdated information. There were times when someone of your type could teach ESL in hagwons illegally. Not now. Seoul is swamped with over-qualified economic-refugees oozing CELTA/TESOL/teaching experience qualifications. If the money is not the issue, but making a living teaching then there are other countries that don't demand degrees. Vietnam, Kambodia, Mongolia etc. |
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E_athlete
Joined: 09 Jun 2009
Location: Korea sparkling
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| Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2009 3:17 pm Post subject: |
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| maybe if you lie about experience you may have a shot in Korea or Japan. But it's true though that with the world economy in the toilet the competition is growing like never before. The more you wait the more jobs disappear. For starters I wouldn't aim for Seoul but rather a more rural location. Ask around with recruiters to see what they say. |
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Carla
Joined: 21 Nov 2008
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| Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2009 3:31 pm Post subject: Re: Teaching with no degree? |
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| thedubester wrote: |
I am very much interested in teaching ESL in Seoul starting early next year. However, I do not have a Bachelor's degree. I will be registering for a TESL course in early September and I have been told by many friends that that is sufficient. |
They lied.
| thedubester wrote: |
| Can anyone recommend reputable hagwons/ institutions in Korea that are more likely to accept a teacher with only TESL and no Bachelor's degree? |
Considering that it is illegal to hire someone for teaching without a Bachelor's degree, and school that would hire you is knowingly breaking the law.... so no, I can't recomment any reputable ones.
| thedubester wrote: |
| In the employer's eyes, is taking you TESL course online still considered to be equal to attending a course in person? |
If they hire someone without the bare minimum requirements, then it doesn't matter what online courses you have. They just want you because you're white.
| thedubester wrote: |
How long does it usually take from the time of application to receiving a response, and then getting an offer?
Please give me some tips in the application process. Thank you! |
If we're talking about LEGAL jobs, then it varies. It took me about a week to find jobs, apply, do interviews, and receive several job offers from which I picked the one I liked the best after talking to the school/leaving teacher/etc. But I have never applied through SMOE or EPIC, so I'm not sure. There are people on the boards who haven't been waiting a while for them to get back to them, but some seem to be fairly quick. After you send your paperwork, it takes about 2 weeks for your visa issuance number, and a few days to get your paperwork back, then a couple of days for your consulate interview/visa issuance.
Seriously, if someone is telling you that you can work here without a degree, they mean you can work here illegally without a visa. |
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T-dot
Joined: 16 May 2004
Location: bundang
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| Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2009 5:05 pm Post subject: |
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| you can't. |
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fraukoch
Joined: 25 Jul 2009
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| Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2009 8:43 pm Post subject: Re: Teaching with no degree? |
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| thedubester wrote: |
Hello all,
I am very much interested in teaching ESL in Seoul starting early next year. However, I do not have a Bachelor's degree. I will be registering for a TESL course in early September and I have been told by many friends that that is sufficient. |
You sound like you have all the brains necessary, then. |
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Carla
Joined: 21 Nov 2008
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| Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2009 9:44 pm Post subject: |
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| Oh, and they have a reward for reporting illegal teachers now, so anybody you meet could turn you in for cash..... Something to think about..... |
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Fishboy
Joined: 05 Aug 2009
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| Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 7:42 am Post subject: |
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Hello all, I've been reading various different discussions about the "can I teach without a degree",
I have been reading a lot of stuff on the forum and I keep seeing the same questions being raised about "degrees", I have a lot of friends from Ireland who are teaching in Korea at the moment, all of whom have degrees. I have technical qualifications and served an apprenticeship as an electrician I then went on to do many more add on technical courses (electronics and communications) I have no such degree but have ten years experience and other qualifications in my field, I have thought at kinder garden level as my mother has a pre-school and I have helped out a lot there, which means I could add that to my resume, when I left high school I was given an endeavour award for excellence in English. The bottom line I suppose is I want to gather as much info as I can from the wealth of experience and knowledge of the users on this forum. I'm heading over to Korea in November to join up with 2 life long friends as we are meeting up to celebrate our 30th birthdays together, I'm really looking forward to that, I want to experience Korean culture first of all, have a look at the city and talk with the people and get an insight into the whole deal before just arriving and doing the (bish,bosh,bash) approach !! , so people are things going to change so some other intelligent people with a desire to teach who don't have a degree (even if that degree is for some micky mouse course that has nothing to do with teaching !!) can, and their own qualifications will be recognised ??, seems a bit silly that someone who got a degree for painting a picture (fine art) !! can teach and someone in a very technical and high tech environment with an excellent command of the English language can't  , I think all qualifications should count and then it should be taken from an interview level, not having a go at anyone just highlighting the situation a lot of people are probably in.
Cheers, from the land of saints and scholars |
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dragon777
Joined: 06 Dec 2007
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| Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 8:07 am Post subject: |
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Yes, i can remember when i used to be in that position...many moons ago.
Oh what a life it was! Good luck matey...... |
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TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired
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| Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 8:49 am Post subject: |
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| Fishboy wrote: |
Hello all, I've been reading various different discussions about the "can I teach without a degree",
I have been reading a lot of stuff on the forum and I keep seeing the same questions being raised about "degrees", I have a lot of friends from Ireland who are teaching in Korea at the moment, all of whom have degrees. I have technical qualifications and served an apprenticeship as an electrician I then went on to do many more add on technical courses (electronics and communications) I have no such degree but have ten years experience and other qualifications in my field, I have thought at kinder garden level as my mother has a pre-school and I have helped out a lot there, which means I could add that to my resume, when I left high school I was given an endeavour award for excellence in English. The bottom line I suppose is I want to gather as much info as I can from the wealth of experience and knowledge of the users on this forum. I'm heading over to Korea in November to join up with 2 life long friends as we are meeting up to celebrate our 30th birthdays together, I'm really looking forward to that, I want to experience Korean culture first of all, have a look at the city and talk with the people and get an insight into the whole deal before just arriving and doing the (bish,bosh,bash) approach !! , so people are things going to change so some other intelligent people with a desire to teach who don't have a degree (even if that degree is for some micky mouse course that has nothing to do with teaching !!) can, and their own qualifications will be recognised ??, seems a bit silly that someone who got a degree for painting a picture (fine art) !! can teach and someone in a very technical and high tech environment with an excellent command of the English language can't , I think all qualifications should count and then it should be taken from an interview level, not having a go at anyone just highlighting the situation a lot of people are probably in.
Cheers, from the land of saints and scholars |
It may seem silly to you, but that is KOREAN law. To teach English here you have to be from an English-speaking country and you must have an university degree. Case closed. |
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andrewchon
Joined: 16 Nov 2008
Location: Back in Oz. Living in ISIS Aust.
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| Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 1:26 pm Post subject: |
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Fishboy:
'Desire to teach' and 'able to teach' are not the same. Just as 'know how to teach' and 'get the teaching done' are not the same. How about doing a CELTA/TESOL course in class (not online) and do some practice teaching with students that comes with it. You might find that 'desire' counts for squat when eejits are 'just don't care-ish'.
Kindly do not talk of fine arts degree in such dismissive manner.
Last edited by andrewchon on Thu Aug 06, 2009 4:19 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Fishboy
Joined: 05 Aug 2009
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| Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 2:23 pm Post subject: |
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| Your getting me wrong, I'm not having a pop at anyone. I should of perhaps been more clear, sorry. I'm just saying should other qualifications along with a Celta/Tesol course not be considered too ? , chill out people !! |
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Teelo
Joined: 09 Oct 2008
Location: Wellington, NZ
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| Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 2:29 pm Post subject: |
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| My spidey-sense tells me this is a troll thread. |
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Carla
Joined: 21 Nov 2008
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| Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 2:31 pm Post subject: |
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| Fishboy wrote: |
Hello all, I've been reading various different discussions about the "can I teach without a degree",
I have been reading a lot of stuff on the forum and I keep seeing the same questions being raised about "degrees", I have a lot of friends from Ireland who are teaching in Korea at the moment, all of whom have degrees. I have technical qualifications and served an apprenticeship as an electrician I then went on to do many more add on technical courses (electronics and communications) I have no such degree but have ten years experience and other qualifications in my field, I have thought at kinder garden level as my mother has a pre-school and I have helped out a lot there, which means I could add that to my resume, when I left high school I was given an endeavour award for excellence in English. The bottom line I suppose is I want to gather as much info as I can from the wealth of experience and knowledge of the users on this forum. I'm heading over to Korea in November to join up with 2 life long friends as we are meeting up to celebrate our 30th birthdays together, I'm really looking forward to that, I want to experience Korean culture first of all, have a look at the city and talk with the people and get an insight into the whole deal before just arriving and doing the (bish,bosh,bash) approach !! , so people are things going to change so some other intelligent people with a desire to teach who don't have a degree (even if that degree is for some micky mouse course that has nothing to do with teaching !!) can, and their own qualifications will be recognised ??, seems a bit silly that someone who got a degree for painting a picture (fine art) !! can teach and someone in a very technical and high tech environment with an excellent command of the English language can't , I think all qualifications should count and then it should be taken from an interview level, not having a go at anyone just highlighting the situation a lot of people are probably in.
Cheers, from the land of saints and scholars |
Hi fishboy, yes it sucks sometimes that you need that degree. I was quite capable before I finished my degree. But, yes, you have 10 years of electrical experience, but why would Korea care about that for teaching kids? And you have experience at your mom's pre-school? Yes, it's experience, but at the same time it's not. Basically, Korea has to have some kind of requirements. They realize that not everyone has an education degree, so they are accepting of other degrees. But they have minimum requirements for Korean teachers, why do you think they wouldn't have minimum requirements for foreigners?
Oh, and let me be the first to say, I MAKE MISTAKES, especially when I'm up late and typing. But, in the same sentence you talk about getting an award for your English skills, you say you "thought" kindergarden before.
A simple mistake, but a good reason why you shouldn't insult other people. We all make mistakes. I only point that out because you seem very dismissive about certain degrees. In today's world, most people don't care about your degree, unless you're talking about a trade degree, like engineering or nursing. You can get a BA in underwater basket weaving, and then go to work at a company or apply for a law degree. Your type of degree does not make much of a difference unless it's an actual education degree. If it's not education, there isn't much difference between fine arts or pre-med when it comes to teaching. |
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