Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mac99]

Dear All,

My name is Juan and I am new to this forum. I would like to ask your advice about a possible career move to South Korea. I had never considered this until quite recently when I visited the country with my Korean-American fianc�e (now wife) for several months. I really fell in love with the country and she is quite keen on it as well. Therefore, we have been thinking about moving there permanently to teach, since we are impressed by the good work-life balance and the great benefits it offers.

I am a Spanish national in my late 20s. Although I have spent plenty of time in the UK so my English would also be good enough to teach it. I have a BSc in Economics from a well-known UK university, three years of experience in the private sector (strategy consulting) and I am now in the process of getting a Research Master in Business �which would usually lead to a PhD in Business. If I go to Korea, I�d very much rather teach to adults either at the university level or to business people.

My question to all of you here is, considering your experience, what would you do? I gather that most of you are English teachers and I am open to teaching English too. Nonetheless, how is the market for Spanish teachers? Moreover, could I profit from my years in the private sector and current studies in business somehow? (maybe in Korean universities, if they have any openings?). I have seen in a couple of threads here that having a PhD does not really confer any advantage. Would getting a PhD in business give any additional boost to the salary or benefits I could get? Finally, I would be really grateful if anyone here could point out for me any additional job links that could be useful (especially those aligned with my experience).

Thanks a lot for your help � I really appreciate it.
All the best,
Juan

[Moldy Rutabaga]

Bienvenidos a esto forum. I teach in an English-only business program at a midsized Korean university. Although I don't teach business administration myself, a common complaint I hear from other faculty is that Korean universities seem to put all foreigners in one category. Thus Business professors may be paid no better than English ones, in a field that can be very lucrative in other countries.

If you are interested in teaching Business in English, PM me, although it is a field where having a PhD would be more helpful. Koreans will not care about your nationality (there is a Basque fellow here), but your grasp of spoken English will be a concern, and you may end up at a better hogwan or institute, in which case having a doctorate will not help you.

There is minimal work for Spanish teachers. There may be a few faculty positions for Spanish lecturers, but certainly not without credentials. At best you might find a few private lessons.

In short, if you wish to teach at a university you will need to perfect your spoken English to remove any hint of accent. Or, you can teach in a school which has Business English, but the pay and benefits will be less. Teaching in Spanish is unlikely. Adios por ahora.

[Murakano]

I've seen a few hagwons (Gangnam based) advertise for Spanish teachers but those listings seem to be quite few and far between.....and all the time only looking for part timers (wouldn't be a problem being on an F2)

I'd probably look into the Universities but I am not too clued up on that side of things.

if you're on Facebook the people of these groups might know more (ie: native Spanish speakers and students who study at Spanish hagwons etc who might have some info)
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=17946771360&ref=search&sid=1373444050.4174626252..1
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=78136076236&ref=search&sid=1373444050.3883130660..1
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=37594784984&ref=search&sid=1373444050.4174626252..1

[mac99]

Dear Moldy and Murakano,

Nice to meet you and thank you for your speedy replies. It is good to know that I will probably use more my business than my Spanish. I will check the facebook groups nonetheless and see what comes up.

With regards to my grasp of English. I understand the possible concerns employers may have, but I frankly do not think it will constrain my possible job choice. Since my wife is Korean-American and since I have spent such a long time out of Spain I'd say my current accent is pretty much non-descript (my wife argues that it could be classified as slightly Eastern-US, but who knows).

Moldy, thanks for your offer to talk this issue in bigger depth - I will PM you shortly.

Juan

[mac99]

Oops, it seems I need to have written at least 25 post to initiate a PM conversation with anyone.

Moldy, would you be kind enough to contact me by PM? (an empty PM will do, so that I can reply to it).

Thanks!

[Bog Roll]

Mi madre es Peruana - I taught basic Spanish to my middle school students in my last job for a class or two and a lot of the students who didn't really like English LOVED learning Spanish and had a real knack for it. There was this one boy who couldn't get to grips with English but he got to grips with the basic Spanish real quick and was outstripping even the best English students in the class.

I think a Spanish hagwon could take off BUT it would take some time - Koreans are obsessed with English - but the good news it is because of their obsession with the United States, so if you could market Spanish as a language that is necessary in the United States (especially to the places a lot of Koreans go - California) then I think you could make it work.

I would like to see a latin-man trend develop in Korea - I think a lot more Korean women would be up for race mixing with Spanish, Argentinian, Italian than the average pasty assed English teacher! Suerte amigo!

[Otherside]

Mac,
Big question. You're wife is Korean American, that means she doesn't have Korean citizenship, correct? And she would be coming to Korea on an F-4 visa. If this is the case, she won't be able to sponsor your visa (f-2) which would allow you to work, she would only be able to sponsor an f-1 (or f-3 forget the number) which would only allow you to live here, but not to work, and you'd need a job to sponsor your visa...and due to your citizenship, regardless of your English ability, you'd not be eligible for an English teaching visa.

If your wife has Korean citizenship, you'd be able to get an F2, which would allow you to work in Korea, and it would it just be a case of finding an employer who is willing to hire you, (and if your English is as good as you say, with an F-2 in hand, shouldn't be a problem).

[mac99]

Dear Otherside,

Thanks for your email. Frankly, I have not really paid that much attention to the visa. My wife was born in Korea and gave up her nationality when she emigrated to the US. Apparently (or so I have heard), if she returns she can get her nationality back, so apparently she won't need a visa. If she becomes again a Korean national, then I would be able to get my visa quite easily since its for family reallocation purposes (in addition to the fact that with a masters I would be categorized as highly qualified).

Nonetheless, as I mentioned, I have not really paid that much attention to this issue. Thanks for raising the red flag, though, I will double-check it.

[maingman]

http://korea.wikia.com/wiki/Recruiters

[youtuber]

[PRagic]

Disregard the above post where the Ph.D. in business is concerned. With a Ph.D. in Business (finance, marketing, strategy, or IOB), you'd more than likely have your pick of tenure track jobs at some of the more established business schools at Korean universities. You'd be teaching in your dicipline, not business English.

Having said this, it will be at least a bit competitive. You'll need at least one or two SSCI articles in publication (not just accepted) in addition to your degree and dissertation in hand.

Cheers, and good luck to you.

[youtuber]

[maingman]

PRagic totallyy disagree with you

[DWAEJIMORIGUKBAP]

Not much call for FT Spanish teachers.

I knew a Polish guy who had lived inIreland for five years who got hired full time at an English hakwan I worked at PT. His English was decent enough (not native level, but almost) and he had a slight accent, but the main thing was he was super outgoing and friendly and acted like Korean culture was the best thing in the world.... and he was tall and handsome....

Places willing to accept Non native teachers like this are sparse though, but it's not impossible....

[PRagic]

Don't know why there's all the controversy. I know a load of foreign profs at several universities teaching in their diciplines here in Korea, and I used to teach grad IOB and other classes as a tenure track prof. in a business school here.

Korea U., Yonsei U., Ewha, SNU, Konkuk, and Sogang, just off the top of my head, have all been recruiting foreign Ph.D.s for a few years now, and business positions are always included, if not highlighted, as a target dicipline for attracting foreing Ph.Ds.

Just sayin....