Korean Job Discussion Forums

[lp3339]

I heard that you need to have a teaching certification to work at an International School. I have my TESOL cert. and really have no desire to go home and get my teaching cert. Does anybody know of an online program I can do? I heard rumors of one in the UK.

[darkjedidave]

To work at most international schools in Korea, you need a teaching and 4 year degree, along with at least 2 years teaching experience. I assume you meant a hogwon/ public school, the requirements are more lenient.

[Mr. Pink]

[dogshed]

Western Governors University has an online program. Unfortunately
you have to be in the US to take the assessments at testing centers
and of course the demonstration teaching must be done in the US.

It's self paced so if you can do the whole thing in two six month terms then it
's only around $6000. You have the option of getting a masters also.

[smurfetta]

I've done some research about where to get online certification and this is what I have found out.

1) University of Phoenix offers a B.Ed or M.Ed with certification. You do your courses online and then fly to Arizona to write your certification exam. You have to find an international school that you can do your practicum at. It is a very expensive program though. Also, it may not be accepted in your home country.

2) I read on a Thai forum (ajarn.com?) that it is possible to do your pgce while living there. I don't remember which universities offer this option. The catch is that you have to find an international school to do your practicum at and pay for your practicum supervisor to fly out and assess you. The problem with this option is that it is a professional graduate certificate of education rather than a post graduate certificate of education. So, you may not be able to teach back in the UK with it. (I'm not sure whether I got all
the details right as I am recalling all this from memory) The other problem
is that you will not be able to do your NQT year. (However, I have read of some people who were able to do their NQT year at an international school) That being said, if you plan on teaching only in international schools then NQT might not matter.
It may be possible to set up a similar situation in Korea at an international school here. It's worth looking into if you are keen to stay abroad.

[Palladium]

[jugbandjames]

Expecting to get a good job with a degree from the University of Phoenix is like expecting to get a job with the NSA based on the experience you gained from watching James Bond movies. They're accredited (barely), they'll charge you money, and you'll take classes, but you won't get an education. The amount of information and experience you'll get per class is a little more than you might get from doing some independent research on the internet during your lunch break. Don't get me wrong, schools like that have their uses. If you live in BFE Oklahoma and want to be a manager at the local Walmart instead of a cashier, then an MBA from University of Phoenix might help you accomplish that goal. I know people who have taught for them. Take my word, it's a waste of money (although a good way to make some easy money if you have an MA).

edit: To illustrate how useless their degrees are: I've heard that they don't even accept their own degrees when employing teachers (or at least it's not very common for them to).

[Zulethe]