Korean Job Discussion Forums

anyjobsoutthere · Joined: 23 Apr 2009

I taught in Japan in the late 70's and also on two other continents for quite a few years: secondary, university and institutes. Have also taught English literature on secondary and university levels. Do I have any hope of getting a job in Korea? I prefer university to high school. Have applied to several Korean universities w/o luck.

caniff · Joined: 03 Feb 2004 Location: All over the map

Best option? Stay home.

Just kidding. I know several people over 50 teaching in Korea (although they are either at public schools or hagwons). I don't know of any personally who teach at unis, though.

Someone will show up here with more info, I'm sure.

Olivencia · Joined: 08 Mar 2009

I remember some guy named Owen at Gunsan Uni. is a tad over 50.
About not getting positive responses from the universities here many (almost all) seem to want to hire if you are "already in Korea". If already here working perhaps they think you will be less likely to pull a runner and I think they don't want to pay for your flight over here.

sAviOr[gm] · Joined: 10 Aug 2009

Apply without your age included or withhold that information as long as possible. You have more experience than most

Keepongoing · Joined: 13 Feb 2003 Location: Korea

I did my MA TESOL at 47 and graduated at 49 and came to Korea. In the time here, I have worked in a hogwan teaching salarymen for one year and have taught at Universities for 6 years. I am just starting my next contract.

In the university I am at now, I was the youngest foreigner on staff in the major department. Mind you there was only 3 of us.

For me, I had a specific plan and have followed it. I taught in a hogwan to get some experience (40-47 classroom hours a week. Then I posted my resume on Dave's and was interviewed and hired at a uniwan where I worked for 4.5 years/ Now I lecture in the English Department of a good university where I have been for 2 years. I have complete classroom autonomy, great pay, holidays etc and No meetings.

In my case, I feel the MA TESOL compensated for my age. In your case, you have some great experience and the serious establishments will appreciate that. You do not want to work at a place that favors youth and appearance over experience.

When I am too old for Korea, my next stop will be China. Now I am 56

Mr. Pink · Joined: 21 Oct 2003 Location: China

smoggy · Joined: 31 Jul 2009

I have lots of experience too. I have taught in China and also have taught privately Eng. to Chinese & Japanese students for 20 years. I have a masters, 24 units in order to get my teaching credential and all I need is the test & student teaching. With a BM & MM in music, teaching is not a good cert. to have as Music is the first to get cut in schools. I might take a few more Eng. classes. I also have TEFL.

My experience in K. is not as good as I would have hoped. My Hogwan won't hire any more of us oldies, even though we have lots of experience. The other one has a MS and lots of experience. They told me that I had to wear makeup, and he dyed his hair. Kids want 20 somethings. Try a uni.

frankly speaking · Joined: 23 Oct 2005

There is an age gap in oral communication for those that are 50+ and the students you are teaching.

I really don't want my students to sound like my grandparents. Grammar rules change and so does language and I am not just talking idioms and things.

I think that there are many things that older teachers have that are beneficial but for most schools they want someone to teach oral communication and verbal skills. The majority of those that are 60 just don't talk the same as someone in their 20's or 30's.

For serious teachers that are qualified there are other options than hagwons that only focus on pronunciation and oral communication.

Cerberus · Joined: 29 Oct 2009

frankly speaking · Joined: 23 Oct 2005

I cannot believe that anyone would deny an age gap between 50 and 20 year olds. I am pushing 40 and I notice an incredible difference in the ways that I communicate and that of people in their mid 20's.

Language evolves, not just idioms, but all aspects of the language. There are just ways that people speak that are older that are different than what is mainstay of modern language. This is not just my opinion there are many books on the subject. I really don't want to have to go to my bookshelf to quote stuff, but it shouldn't be nonsensical to someone with a neutral aspect.

Someone who is 50 certainly did not listen to rap music when they were 20. Maybe some in their 40's but I would still wager that the majority of 40 year olds were brought up on Rock or Country, or bands like the Cure.

I also don't see the logic in your post advocating drugs and pre-marital sex. I don't see how that relates to linguistics.

If you cannot recognize that there are different ways that people of different generations communicate, you have no business being a language educator. You really need to listen to how people use language. Word choice, grammar structure, syntax, formal and informal wording.

Who has said what's up cuz in the last 10 years? You kind of made my point. You don't even realize how sayings die out.

Cerberus · Joined: 29 Oct 2009

Cerberus · Joined: 29 Oct 2009

Keepongoing · Joined: 13 Feb 2003 Location: Korea

creeper1 · Joined: 30 Jan 2007

This thread is beyond sad. Insecure people on this site tend to belt out the odd line about "my American English is better than your British English" etc

However this is the first time that people have begun expressing opinions about how their their "young" English is better than someone else's "old" English.

Is the ability to speak English the only intellectual ability that people on here can brag about?

frankly speaking · Joined: 23 Oct 2005

My point is that language evolves. For those that have taught abroad for 10+ years and haven't lived in an English speaking country, don't you think that you communicate slightly different.

Again, you keep mentioning idioms and colloquialism, I am not talking about that. Language is a living thing and evolves and people who are not in that environment don't evolve with it.

For example my father in his sixties, his generation would call most men Sir. However most younger people don't call someone sir unless they are older. I am in my thirties and I don't call someone who is 20+ sir.

Grammar has certainly changed a few different times since I was in school. The use of conjunctions to begin a sentence, the use of a comma with and for connecting groups and conjunctions. These rules have changed. I could list hundreds of other changes.

I am not saying that people don't understand each other, but the use of language is different between the generations.

Can anyone really say that they talk exactly the same way as their parents. Use the same points of reference, syntax, grammar. I know I don't.

I knew one 50+ guy that taught his students about how women wear "frocks" I don't think that I have heard anyone in my generation refer to a women's shirt or blouse as a frock.

You keep saying 40. I clearly said people over 50.

I am certain by the way that many of you are writing, you have never studied linguistics.

I never once said that over 50 makes you a bad teacher. I said that there are many other areas of EFL besides communicative language that experienced older people are probably better at. There are definitely things that older more experienced people are good at and there are many good oral communication teachers that are 50+, but they have made an effort to evolve with the language.