Korean Job Discussion Forums

BigWhiteMan · Joined: 19 Feb 2010 Location: Connecticut, USA

Howdy folks.

As I plan out my head-first dive into the Korean ESL market, I'd like to get some kind of idea of where I stand.

I have BA in History from a decently ranked university in the States. I am certified to teach Social Studies (in Connecticut) and I have a Master's in Education from a private university.

Aside from student teaching, I have spent 2 years substitute teaching and doing work with students with special needs on and off.

My Master's included a year's internship with 5th graders, even though I'm certified as secondary.

Compared to the general applicant pool, how am I looking? There is a stigma that ESL "noobs" are fresh out of their undergrad years and desperate for work.

I don't fit into that category. I'm years out of a grad degree and desperate for work. Laughing

I do not have any kind of TEFL cert.

Do my qualifications allow me some "wiggle room" in negotiating a contract? If I can't get a little pay boost, can I at least assume I'm attractive enough to be picky about where I work?

I don't have some strange impression that I'm God's gift to ESL. I just want to know where I stand.

Thanks!

- BWM

andrewchon · Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 9:42 pm Post subject:

Out of all that, things that will put you above the minimum candidate is your Masters in Education.

Others:
if you say internship, Koreans won't recognize it as as real experience.
university ranking don't mean much here unless it's ivy league.
Not having TESOL/TEFL will hurt you.

However, even a minimum candidate can teach in Seoul.

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

You shouldn't have any problems getting a job...though qualifications are just that...we still don't know if you can actually teach.

Troglodyte · Joined: 06 Dec 2009

In general, you can't negotiate much in the contract. A school makes an offer and that's the offer. Qualifications won't get you much other than maybe an extra 100,000Won/month. The job offers in Korea are relatively standard. 2.2 - 2.5 million won/month, airfare, accommodation, 30 hours per month. (If you don't need accommodation, or airfare, you could negotiate with THAT.)

What your qualifications WILL get you is a job offer from a better employer. Maybe a university position, for example. With more qualifications, if you use a recruiter, they might be more inclined to present your application to a better school, but not necessarily. YOU can definitely apply for some jobs that you couldn't without your MA.

Whatever the job offer that schools are making is pretty much their final offer.

louiloui · Joined: 14 Oct 2008

Your Masters of Education will get you more money and put you in a whole different category than most of the "noobs" coming over here to teach. You should make more money for both your Masters and your teaching certificate, but you may get the whole "Oh, your certificate is not in English" routine from some recruiters or schools who want to skim a little off of your salary. I'd say with those qualifications you can be a little more picky than most. Hold out for the job you really want, and don't let recruiters or schools shave your salary with lame excuses.

frankly speaking · Joined: 23 Oct 2005

I still recommend that you spend a little time on your own doing some research and reading about the subject you are to teach. Think about how you would explain simple questions about English to someone who doesn't speak the language. Do a search here and you will find a lot of good reference books, not just grammar but about second language acquisition. You might know a lot about teaching from your masters but you don't know how to teach English per se, so it is a gamble for a school to take you at a high salary.

You should be looking for jobs around the 2.5 million Won range. You might not get too many because of the lack of experience.

I personally have never understood why school want someone with an English degree, we are not teaching Literature. I took a lot of lit classes, had a minor in English. Many students with English degrees studied a lot of poetry, creative writing and criticism, no one I ever met knew anything about EFL.

If you can assure your boss that you know about EFL, then you can stand your ground.

BigWhiteMan · Joined: 19 Feb 2010 Location: Connecticut, USA

I appreciate the input.

I am certainly looking into ESL teaching technique and style as it relates to language acquisition. I won't pretend that my Master's makes me the Superman of ESL. Wink

I will most likely be going through a recruiter. I hope that they can act in my best interest.

- BWM

edwardcatflap · Joined: 22 Mar 2009

frankly speaking · Joined: 23 Oct 2005

True but any writing intensive humanities degree gives you that. Philosophy, History, Anthropology, etc. All of those degrees are writing intensive and most that have done fairly well are quite articulate.

I wouldn't judge someone's intellectual or academic ability by what is written on an open forum.

Big White Man, I know this is Dave's ESL, but when you are in Korea you are teaching EFL. I know for some it is just semantics, but there are different approaches, methodologies and class room strategies that are different for each. For me, I really get annoyed when people say ESL in Korea.

edwardcatflap · Joined: 22 Mar 2009

jugbandjames · Joined: 15 Feb 2010

BigWhiteMan · Joined: 19 Feb 2010 Location: Connecticut, USA

@ Jug,

Thank you for that insight. Due to the overwhelming horror stories about private institutions, I believe my safest and most lucrative route would be a public gig.

@Frank,

I know the difference between ESL and EFL, but I consistently type the wrong thing. Throughout my Master's courses and within the domestic education market here, I've been surrounded by ESL references and not EFL. ESL now slips off my tongue, and fingertips, too easily. I will try to switch over. Surprised

- BWM

jiberish · Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Location: The Carribean Bay Wrestler

Do you have a degree? Check
Do you have a passport? Check
Do you have a pulse? Check

Congratulations you are qualified to teach English in Korea.

But if I would were you. I would push your qualifications and ask for more pay. If they ask why on the phone interview. Just sell yourself as a premium product that deserves higher pay.

At my first job. I knew a guy who had a masters in Education working for more hours with more students for less pay than me.

If you have some solid teaching experiance. You could try getting a job at an international school. Like the one in Sinchon. I knew a guy who worked there and he got 4.4 mil mil a month + a 2 bedroom apartment.