Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Namesake]

Greetings everyone,

I've been looking into applying for SMOE and have begun to go through Korea Connections as a recruiter. I haven't really heard anything bad about them so I assumed they would be okay (though if anyone knows any better feel free to tell me!)

They told me I would need a TESOL certificate before I would be accepted there. Based on what I've been reading at this site though, that doesn't seem to be true? I'm thinking about taking an online course anyways, but is it really required for the March 2010 semester? At the very least, would it allow me to be pushed up into the next pay bracket?

I'd appreciate any other advice people could give. Or if I have to do the TESOL, does anybody know a good place to do them (preferably online)?

Thanks!

[andrewchon]

'fugee-yama avalanche overwhelmed SMOE last time up. They have upped the bar for the first round of interviews. If you don't sexy-up yourself with quals, you'll have to wait for second round. Or worse, not even interviewed.
For TESOL cert, get one that says 100 hours on the certificate and includes practice teaching in class.

[pjmancktelow]

i came in the recent intake though i was already working out here when i applied. i didnt have a tesol/tefl at the start but took and got one before i signed the contract. my advie is get one online on the cheap. for example the 100 hours ITTT one. it was a decent course and wasnt very expensive yet they accept it and bump you up a pay level. which if you are a relative newbie on the bottom 2 payscales will give you 200.000 extra a month (100k if your not a newb and have some expierence/other qualificiations). if in the worst case scenarion that you change your mind, dont come etc. its only a small amount of money spent. if you really want to do one of the better and more expensive courses then you can at a later date knowing its what you want to do. for me SMOE is a good position compared to the crappy hogwans i used to work for.

[Bibbitybop]

Haven't heard anything bad about SMOE? It is slipping downward each semester. Read a few more pages and you'll find things to be weary of.

[Murakano]

[pjmancktelow]

im not 100% but i think the pay scale is like this
h - 1.8
g - 2.0
f - 2.2
e -2.3
d - 2.4

i would of been a level g with 1 years teaching. i then got a tefl and got moved to level f

likewise my friend did the same with 2 years expreience and was bumped from f to e. so for him only a 100k increase, for me, a 200k increase. either way, worth the cash.

[steveinincheon]

Be wary of SMOE! This past September they canceled 100 contracts 24 hours before the teachers were to fly out, and left the teachers responsible for airfare. You can get paid better elsewhere in Korea without the risks of applying to SMOE.

[morrisonhotel]

I'm signed up with them at the moment. I don't have any form of TEFL certificate. Maybe Koreaconnections has changed their policy to cut down on the masses of people applying through them?

[John Connor]

Neither of them know much about immigration and so on despite their experience. KC made a huge mistake and are trying to not pay for my air ticket here despite the fact it was clearly their mistake.

SMONO are unbelievably rigid when applying rules, once that is, they can't pass you to someone else and are forced to interpret their own rules

If something goes FUBAR watch them duck, weave and try to blame you.

Having said that, you'll likely be fine. LOL

[Namesake]

Ah, I meant that I haven't heard anything bad about Korea Connections (at least till this post). I know all about that HUGE mishap that SMOE caused a month or two ago... hopefully they've learned from that by the time I enroll. In fact, I wonder how they made the cuts last time around? Was it basically russian roulette or was there more finesse to it?

Sounds like they've beefed up their requirements a bit since then, cause my recruiter made it sound like it was absolutely mandatory to go there.

I'll probably take this one: http://www.teflonline.net/courses/
Cheap $190 course should do me just fine.

Any other suggestions anybody?

I wonder what the application process this time around will be.

[pjmancktelow]

when i applied the last time. i had to write essentially 2 essays and a lesson plan. 1 essay as a cover letter and the other why i wanted to go to SMOE so have those in mind. the lesson plan was no diffiuclt. but remember it when you take the tefl/tesol as you could re use the one you need to make for the test.

[missjulia]

hmm..im applying to SMOE (despite all the negatives...) through Korvia consulting, and i didn't need a TESOL..nor did my recruiter mention anything about that.. the interview with korvia went well, and i am scheduled to have an interview with smoe next week. ill let u know how it goes!

[MattAwesome]

ask yourself: is it better to be a qualified guy from across the world, or just some guy across the world?