Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bradshaw]

After many years of teaching ESL in Asia, I've finally decided that it's time to buckle down and become a 'certified' teacher in my home country of Canada. I am from the province of Alberta, and most universities offer two-year programs. Between the time, and the fact I will not finish my next contract until February 2011, I have started to look into taking the Graduate Diploma of Education in Australia. Has anyone here done the same? I'm especially interested if you have, and returned to Canada to teach. Was the degree you obtained abroad accepted in your province?

I had a Canadian friend who went through www.teach.ca, and luckily, all of her qualifications she obtained in Australia directly transfered to her home province of Ontario. I haven't found any programs simliar to this in the case of Alberta/BC residents.

I've contacted the Ministry of Education and found that I would have to take some extra Math courses, etc to become certified in Alberta or BC. I'm mainly wondering if this certification from Australia would give me a competitive edge, or really lessen my chances of securing a good job. I'd appreciate hearing from anyone who has done what I'm thinking of doing.

[youtuber]

I have an Ed degree from the Uof Alberta. I have taught in Korea and Canada.

The following is based on my experiences and from observing a large number of classrooms. Of course, others may have different perceptions.

In short - teaching in Korea is heaven. Teaching in Canada is hell. It is a huge mistake to think that your success and enjoyment of teaching in Korea will equate to success and enjoyment in Canada. They are two entirely different worlds.

The big differences are :

1. classroom management - Korea is easy. Canada is crazy.
2. parents - hardly ever see them in Korea. In Canada they can be quite aggressive and overbearing - to the point that they can pressure the principal to fire you.

If you want to enjoy your life as a teacher, stay in Asia. By all means get an Ed degree, but use it in Asia. Stay away from Europe, Canada, and the US. Teachers are not valued there.

And there is a large oversupply of teachers in Alberta. The UofA graduates over 1000 teachers per year. So you will have to start out teaching in the rural areas and work your way into the city if you so desire. Or you can sub for a few years in the city to try and get an "in". However the ultimate goal of teaching 30 rich spoiled tweens does not appeal to me at all. In that respect, the rural areas are much more appealing. But you have to live in a fishbowl where everyone is watching you.

If you want to teach in Canada, I would suggest talking to as many Canadian teachers as you can and volunteering in Canadian classrooms as much as you can to get a sense of what you are in for. There is a lot of conflict to deal with (ie constant arguing and aggressive behavior from students, parents, fellow teachers, principal/vice principal, superintendant) - something that I hate and didn't know I would have to deal with.

By the way, if you want to know if you will be certified to teach in Alberta, contact the Alberta Teachers Association. Also contact school boards that you want to work at. Do not listen to what Australian schools have to say about the portability of your qualifications - it is best to go right to the source.

Where you got your qualifications is irrelevant. If you are qualified, then it doesn't matter if you got them in Australia. Teaching experience is paramount. You will be more highly regarded over a newbie since you have taught in Asia. However, Canadian teaching experience is more highly regarded than Asian teaching experience. Make sure to get written reports of classroom observations that have been performed on you in Korea. The more of these you have, the better.

PM me if you have any further questions - glad to help.

[BobbyOrr]

You should try Ontario. They still do 8 month Ed degrees and the pre-reqs are less than Alberta or BC.

I think applications are due right now though for next September.

[bradshaw]

Thank you both for your input. I knew that it takes less time to complete your Ed degree in Ontario, but whether I do it in ON or Oz, I will still have to fulfill the same 'out-of-province' requirements. I've a lot to think about!

[Mr. Pink]

youtuber hit the nail on the head. EXACTLY.

If I had not invested so much in going back to Canada I would have quit during my first practicum because I knew I would have hated teaching in a Canadian public school. Seriously, Asia has spoiled me. I can't see myself going back there to teach full time. The kids were freaking nuts and the sad thing is, you can't do much to enforce discipline. I had one associate teacher who was a complete Nazi. She had the kids living in fear...that isn't the type of teacher I am or I ever want to be.

What really sucks is I liked living in Canada, just working there...blah. Maybe in 10 years or so I'll go back and try to get a job at a private school...until then it is the international school circuit for me.

I would recommend Ontario. That is where I did mine and it was only 8 months. I was out of Canada before I was even registered with the Ontario College of Teachers!!!

[bradshaw]

Thanks Mr. Pink. Do you mind me asking ~ were you from ON? Which uni did you attend?

[youtuber]

[bassexpander]

I can't say the USA would be any better.

Sure gives one pause to wonder what countries will be in control of the world in 30 years.

[Mr. Pink]

[Xuanzang]

[youtuber]

LOL mr pink. I can totally relate.

Girls in my grade 9 class used to wear visible THONGS. What do you say to that? And of course, boobs everywhere. The principal is too scared to say anything and so am I.

And at one school I was at, the female students were "cat-calling" a male teacher. Like construction workers do when a hot woman walks by. Not nearly as loud, but I could hear it (it was directed at another student teacher).

One of my students left me a note like this: Mr Youtuber . I am your biggest fan. We should hook up sometime. My cell number is _________. WTF?? She was in grade 10.

You need to be so careful nowadays or you will step on a landmine and your career as a teacher is finished.

[Mr. Pink]

I had forgotten about the thongs...and it funny you mention grade 9, as I found them to be the worse offenders. I don't know if it is being new at high school and they think they have to over do it or what. After being in Korea for 10 years, I was surprised at how much cleavage a grade 9 could put out there for their classmates. In Korea that just isn't an issue, ever. Also the grades 9 seemed to have the biggest mouth on them when it came to talking back and disrespect.

I am in my 30s, so I didn't have to worry about being harassed sexually by any of the students. A couple of the girls that were in my cohort though had guy students hitting on them non-stop. That type of disrespect is par for the course though.

Also, the climate of fear that teachers live in is another issue that I couldn't handle. Teachers have to cover their butts on every little thing or it could cost them their job. Considering how hard it is to even land a full-time teaching gig, the job isn't as secure as people think. For some reason over here in Asia I feel like if I did happen to say something I shouldn't, it wouldn't get picked apart by the PC police. Or, if I am alone in a room with a female student I don't have to worry about there being a "problem". As a current homeroom teacher, 50% of the time a girl student will be the first one in class and I might be alone in the class with that student for up to 5 minutes. No one is worrying about "what might happen" like they would in Canada. Instead I just do my prep and the student does their homework. Sort of how it SHOULD be back in Canada. In Canada I would have to cover my butt, which would mean having the door open and standing in the doorway until another student entered the room. That would also mean 5 minutes of prep time that I wouldn't be able to do.