Korean Job Discussion Forums

[tatertot]

Is it possible to become a regular Korean high school teacher as a foreigner? What steps would one take to do this? I assume you would have to graduate from SNUE or equivalent then pass the teachers' exam. If you already have a 4 year degree from a US school, is it possible to transfer some credits and start at SNUE as a junior? I am asking about this because I feel like I could have a greater impact as a regular Korean teacher, than as a hagwon teacher. And no, my Korean isn't good (it's horrible), but I figure that by the time I meet all the requirements to teach, 2-4+ years will have elapsed. By that time, I hope to be at least passably fluent in Korean.

[Chris_Dixon]

to be honest dude, your dreaming

[jvalmer]

[Goku]

Why would you want to do that?

We already do less work and get paid more.

I can't possibly see that as good in anyway...

*scratches head

[Ramen]

First step is to become one of them. Go get a Korean citizenship.

[TheUrbanMyth]

[ashland]

[Hyeon Een]

[Konglishman]

[tatertot]

I thought this might turn into a "why do you want to do that?" kind of thread, but it really hasn't. I was just wondering what the steps would be/if this was even possible.

I guess there are two reasons why I would want to do this: first, to make a difference (I really think this is possible). I would like to help kids that other people have given up on. Secondly, I enjoy a challenge. I can't speak Korean, but I am learning. Taking the required courses and passing the teachers exam would be a real challenge.

I wouldn't really want to work in a private school because those children are generally already privileged. I want to help the kids that nobody else cares about.

I have zero interest in getting Korean citizenship. If that is something I had to do, then I would drop this right now. And no, I'm not thinking about doing this for use anywhere else. I know that getting a teaching degree in Korea will only be useful in Korea. I probably won't stay here forever, either, but was just sending out feelers about different options.

[tatertot]

Oh, and I remember the story about the guy who got a degree in Korea then couldn't teach in Korea because he didn't have a degree from a western school. I was wondering if it would be different for me because I already have a degree from a western school.

[Smee]

I talked to that guy via Facebook and he said he ended up getting a job at a Korean school even after graduating from a Korean university. It was just that nobody expected a westerner to ever do that, so he was denied a job at first. Eventually worked out.

Becoming a regular teacher would probably take 10 years of prep just to get the language down and to pass all the courses, and another 10 years for nobody to laugh you out of the room when you try to take the test.

[storysinger81]

I asked my co-teacher/department head about this because I was bored one day. I suggest you give up now.

For one, you do have to be a citizen (or at least a permanent resident--we didn't bother to look up specifics). It's a government job.

For another, you need a degree in Education (or English Education or whatever subject you want) from a Korean University. As much for networking with 선배 as anything else.

Then, the English teacher test (and I assume other section tests) has a part on pedagogy that's entirely in Korean. So, for one, you have to be able to pass a very difficult, advanced-level subject-particular test in a foreign language that you just said you haven't started studying yet.

You have to conduct an interview test with higher-ups on the school board (will they even give a foreign looking person a fair shake? Who knows? They won't even hire white folks with the requisite Korean proficiency for "gyopo" positions.)

Then, if you do get the job, you have to do all the annoying stuff we don't have to do right now, like kiss your boss's ass, serve as a homeroom teacher, talk to the parents, be the foreign teacher wrangler, stay until the VP decides to go home and arrive before he does in the morning, do four million administrative things that don't matter, work Saturdays, etc.

And, in the end, your students will still treat you like the foreign teacher if you look non-Korean.

So... if you really want to make a difference, why don't you just roll up your sleeves and work to matter more at your school and make better connections with the students? Sponsor kids for some English contest or start some program at your school, like an English talking club. Learn the language so you can counsel the kids like the HR teachers do. Or encourage them to write journals and read them.

In short, you will not be accepted into this society fully--I don't know how far off immigrant integration is in this country--if you are not Korean, BUT you can make a difference in the kids' lives if you try to work within the limitations (and freedoms) of your position as a foreigner. Work to get beyond the superficial "WOW! English!" factor to get them to see you as a person (it helps a lot if you see the kids as human to start with).

Put your energy into what matters. Becoming a Korean government drone doesn't. Real educators always think: What do my students need? How can I help them?

[storysinger81]

Oh yeah... And try volunteering at a youth shelter or orphanage or home for the physically/mentally disabled if you want to help people no one cares much about in Korea.

Or ask EPIK/GEPIK to switch you to a technical high school (there are a few with foreign teachers and generally no one wants those posts) or work in the countryside where they don't have many opportunities to intereact with foreigners. Again, if you do this and want to make meaningful connections with those kids, learn the language. Though be prepared to catch some flack for conversing with them in Korean.

[jvalmer]