Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bixlerscott]

Some of you might have an education degree already, but most do not. ESL is not the only job that a bachelor degree in something else got you. Many people in banks, Wall street, and other business offices majored in biology, anthropology, psych, and many other things like art history, but got a great career opportunity in something else yadda yadda that had nothing to do with their field of study. This has been going on for many years in business careers and even teaching as districts were short on teachers up until about this year.

Now it's reported there is a glut of teachers not able to get jobs. It used to be easy for anyone with 2 years of college to sub and many districts would take on to sponsor non-education majors for state licensing, but now it's tough for a bachelors holder to sub or get a full time teaching job in America. You can sign on as I did 3 weeks ago, but no calls ever come in the mornings. The glut of people trying or waiting to be regular full time teachers are subbing if they can. I did noticed the recruiters for Korea such as Canadian Connection are asking excessive questions in the interview yet are not interested in the answers nor care about candidates. Tough job market. I should had just kept the job I had even if that meant not being able to visit home for the holidays. I quit at the end of my contract to spend one last Christmas with mom and do a RTW trip. Tired of not having a chance to go home once every 6 months just to tie loose ends, but also tired of worrying about the economic future of my career and life goals not coming about in a way that makes sense.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33892103/ns/business-careers/

[PatrickGHBusan]

Currently the job market for Teachers in Canada is tough.

Waiting-supply lists are becoming the norm. You can expect many certified teachers to look at other options as they are unable to find full time teaching positions in Canada. In that respect International Schools are the first place they would look. Once that limited market is flooded, logically, Public Schools will be the place to apply.

This is world wide.

On a Korean scale, the International School Market is even smaller and hence will fill up faster. Public School programs will see an increase in applicants with teachign certification and that will bumb lesser qualified applicants (ie. those with a BA in an unrelated field and no certification). The same logic can apply to those with BAs in Education as they too would bump a BA applicant from an unrelated field.

How large this impact could be is hard to tell. Having worked in Korea for over 10 years before returning to Canada I have had numerous friends refer new certified teachers to me with questions about teaching abroad.

Checking with a few friends I have in recruitment they too have seen an increase in applicants with higher qualifications. Its not so much that Korea has improved its offer...its more that the teaching job market is pretty dry in Canada.

Just what I have noticed.

[hagwonnewbie]

My brother has a teaching certificate back in the states. His major was English Literature. He has a job at a new Charter School in an Urban area of a major midwestern city. It's his 4th teaching job in his fourth year out of school and I think he's quitting at the 5 month mark 'cause it's such a bad situation.

He's considering going back to school to study nursing because he thinks it's a profession that is in-demand.

[some waygug-in]

So why are there so many ads on the international job board for schools in America then?

I used to see the odd job now and then for somewhere in the States, but never so many as now.

[xingyiman]

[bassexpander]

[halfmanhalfbiscuit]

B.Ed or equivalent holders would be better off going to Hong Kong.

Whatever B.Ed holders come here usually do so due to family/ marriage or want a job that's quick to organise.

[bassexpander]

I've seen a great many posts by licensed professionals who just can't deal with the way the Korean educational system works. They don't tend to stay long.

[Captain Obvious]

I don't think it will make a lick of difference. What can a certified math, science, or social studies know or do in ESL that someone without that certificate can't? Maybe be more comfortable in the classroom dealing with a large group of kids. That's about it.

As for people certified in ESL ... do you think they'd really wanna come here? To teach a backward curriculum they've got no control over? To be treated like a child if they're younger? To be told how to teach by people who know nothing about the field? I doubt it.

[Moldy Rutabaga]

In the short run of the next year or two, while the economy is terrible, it will probably be more competitive for jobs here and people with teaching degrees may have an advantage.

In the long run, Korea will get exactly what it pays for. People with BEds or TEFL degrees will go to universities or other countries which have better wages and conditions.

So far as North America, every decade of my life there was either an apocalyptic shortage or glut of teachers. University faculties have always seemed pretty slow at matching their intakes to school board needs. A lot of teachers are going to be SOL for a while until the needle swings again.

[sarahsiobhan]

I have a B.Ed, a History degree and an English degree, and I chose to come here because I need two years of ESL experience to qualify for the job that I REALLY want.

Also, last year I taught in Essex, UK, and the kids there were so horrible I needed a total change. Mission accomplished; stress-free job, good pay, and flat all thrown in. Cannot complain.

[xingyiman]

[nathanrutledge]

[Gnawbert]

[Mr. Pink]