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moonapali
Joined: 17 Aug 2009
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 Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 5:52 pm Post subject: Looking for work at Korean universities |
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Hello All,
I would like to work at a Korean university. I have an F5 visa and worked 7.5 years at a couple of different hogwans on Jeju.
I enjoy teaching and would like to make more of a career of it. Hogwan teaching has been fine, but I want to step-up the challenge and also have some more free-time to pursue an MA (distance course).
I have a contract pending for Saudi Arabia at a university (Sept. 2010), but would rather stay here in Korea.
Can anyone recommend a university? What is the best method of approaching a university? Are recruiters a viable option, or are all of them just minions of the Devil  ?
Thanks in advance. I welcome any constructive advice. |
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The_Source
Joined: 09 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 9:22 pm Post subject: Re: Looking for work at Korean universities |
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Sorry to break it to you, but a Korean university is a step down from a hagwon, not a step up. Expect to see a fraction of your current salary.
And you won't have much better luck in Saudi Arabia, either. You will be treated as the lowest of life forms. |
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sofaking
Joined: 30 May 2008
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| Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 11:50 pm Post subject: Re: Looking for work at Korean universities |
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| The_Source wrote: |
Sorry to break it to you, but a Korean university is a step down from a hagwon, not a step up. Expect to see a fraction of your current salary.
And you won't have much better luck in Saudi Arabia, either. You will be treated as the lowest of life forms. |
I love these generalizations....
OP.... Some uni jobs are like the situation mentioned. Some are not!!
I have been at a uni for the past 5 years. I earn about 50% more than your average hagwon job. I work 15 hours a week (no desk-warming here). I get 5.5 months of paid vacation a year.
I'll take my job over your hagwon position, Mr Source!
And there are quite a few jobs like that out there.
Although many unis don't REQUIRE a Masters, the pool of applicants is so qualified these days that it is difficult to secure a job with just a Bachelors degree... even with uni experience under your belt.
Networking is the best way to get into the uni scene. Many of these positions are filled because an applicant has been recommended by someone already on staff. |
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seonsengnimble
Joined: 02 Jun 2009
Location: taking a ride on the magic English bus
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| Posted: Fri Feb 26, 2010 4:18 am Post subject: Re: Looking for work at Korean universities |
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As wee Todd id said, there are some great ones out there, but the best way to get a job is through personal connections. I will be starting a pretty good one soon if everything works out with immigration, but the conditions are pretty nice. I have no uni experience, a bachelor's degree and E2 status.
I don't think recruiters are really an option for universities since the positions usually sell themselves. If you don't know anyone working at one, check the job boards here and at work'n'play and if you can find it, ddeubel put up a pretty good link for uni jobs. You can also try canvassing areas you want to work in.
Now might be a difficult time to find a uni job though because the school year starts in a few days. I would recommend checking in the summer or next november-december. |
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languistic
Joined: 25 Nov 2009
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| Posted: Fri Feb 26, 2010 5:07 am Post subject: Re: Looking for work at Korean universities |
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| The_Source wrote: |
| The_Source is an incredibly wonderful person whom everyone is absolutely and completely in love with. He is a gift to the world and speaks with great wisdom on all subjects. |
Tough to get a uni job now...most have just hired and gearing up for the year...try in September/October.
Last edited by languistic on Fri Feb 26, 2010 4:32 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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djsmnc
Joined: 20 Jan 2003
Location: Dave's ESL Cafe
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| Posted: Fri Feb 26, 2010 5:36 am Post subject: Re: Looking for work at Korean universities |
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| sofaking wrote: |
I earn about 50% more than your average hagwon job. I work 15 hours a week (no desk-warming here). I get 5.5 months of paid vacation a year.
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Yep, and I don't really know anyone working in a uni right now who says otherwise! |
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PatrickGHBusan
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: Busan (1997-2008) Canada 2008 -
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| Posted: Fri Feb 26, 2010 5:44 am Post subject: Re: Looking for work at Korean universities |
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| The_Source wrote: |
Sorry to break it to you, but a Korean university is a step down from a hagwon, not a step up. Expect to see a fraction of your current salary.
And you won't have much better luck in Saudi Arabia, either. You will be treated as the lowest of life forms. |
Wow really?
So to you 2.5 for 12 hoursper week is worse than 2.2 for 30 hours per week? |
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djsmnc
Joined: 20 Jan 2003
Location: Dave's ESL Cafe
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| Posted: Fri Feb 26, 2010 8:47 am Post subject: Re: Looking for work at Korean universities |
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| PatrickGHBusan wrote: |
| The_Source wrote: |
Sorry to break it to you, but a Korean university is a step down from a hagwon, not a step up. Expect to see a fraction of your current salary.
And you won't have much better luck in Saudi Arabia, either. You will be treated as the lowest of life forms. |
Wow really?
So to you 2.5 for 12 hoursper week is worse than 2.2 for 30 hours per week? |
Yeah, with the nearly ubiquitous "Instructor is expected to work every weekday excluding Korean holidays" |
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The_Source
Joined: 09 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Fri Feb 26, 2010 2:53 pm Post subject: Re: Looking for work at Korean universities |
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| PatrickGHBusan wrote: |
| The_Source wrote: |
Sorry to break it to you, but a Korean university is a step down from a hagwon, not a step up. Expect to see a fraction of your current salary.
And you won't have much better luck in Saudi Arabia, either. You will be treated as the lowest of life forms. |
:lol:
Wow really?
So to you 2.5 for 12 hoursper week is worse than 2.2 for 30 hours per week? |
Yes. Even if we were to base the analysis on the two salary figures you provided (which I also disagree with), the 12 hours per week means 12 TEACHING hours. It doesn't include prep time (which is substantially longer at a Korean university), grading (evaluating classes of 40+ students is brutal) and office hours (with students whining about why they should have received an A+ instead of the A that you gave them). Schools are also increasingly requiring summer and winter camps.
Many teachers get star-struck by the word "university" and they imagine Korean universities as cushy, prestigious jobs. The Korean universities know this, and they continue to worsen their working conditions because they know they have an endless supply teachers who want to work for them. I've worked at two Korean universities before, and why anyone would want to work with such horrible conditions for such a low salary is beyond me. |
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The_Source
Joined: 09 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Fri Feb 26, 2010 2:57 pm Post subject: Re: Looking for work at Korean universities |
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| languistic wrote: |
| The_Source wrote: |
| I have no hope of a uni job and need to berate them - although I know my words are not only erroneous, but just plain wrong - in order to feel better about my lot here. |
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Huh? Where did I say that???
This might be useful for you languistic:
Defamation: Any intentional false communication, either written or spoken, that harms a person's reputation; decreases the respect, regard, or confidence in which a person is held; or induces disparaging, hostile, or disagreeable opinions or feelings against a person.
http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/defamation
Foolish things you write (libel) are much easier to prove than foolish things you say (slander). |
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moonapali
Joined: 17 Aug 2009
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| Posted: Fri Feb 26, 2010 3:49 pm Post subject: |
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Point taken, The_Source.
From your first reply, it just seemed negative and discouraging, both about university level teaching and about my Saudi option, too. I should have asked for clarity, but your follow-up reply explains it. Sorry about your hard experience with the universities here in Korea. I know what you mean about the pay level as compared with hogwans... it does seem low for higher quality expectation.
People looking for uni jobs sometimes are naive about what they are getting into and I am sure that does devalue the position somewhat.
There are other reasons why I want to remain here in Korea and I have had a good run at teaching hogwan work. I would like to put a university position credential on my resume. I have also known people with uni jobs and have picked their brains about their situations. In truth, I have met more happy uni teachers than happy hogwan teachers.
I really want this thread to stay on topic, because I really do need the advice.
Thanks to those noting the hiring season. I finish my current contract at the end of April, which gives me some time to invest in looking for a Korean university to work for. Any tips?
What are some ways to develop a network? |
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PRagic
Joined: 24 Feb 2006
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| Posted: Fri Feb 26, 2010 4:08 pm Post subject: |
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1) Get multiple copies of your 'packet' together (copies of transcripts, diplomas, LORs, 'teaching philosophy'...)
2) Download the list of Korean universities
3) Contact them for a personal name and address check
4) Pepper any and all you're interested in with your 'packet'. Apply, apply, apply.
5) Keep in mind that most of the decent jobs require the MA in hand. Some don't, but they'll generally shorlist MA holders anyway.
Knowing people helps, but it won't seal the deal. By and large, degree status, certs (e.g. CELTA/DELTA), and experience win out at the end of the day. YES, there are exceptions, and there will probably be people chiming in to share them with us. Just stick to the basics. |
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Goon-Yang
Joined: 28 May 2009
Location: Duh
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| Posted: Fri Feb 26, 2010 4:17 pm Post subject: Re: Looking for work at Korean universities |
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| The_Source wrote: |
Sorry to break it to you, but a Korean university is a step down from a hagwon, not a step up. Expect to see a fraction of your current salary.
And you won't have much better luck in Saudi Arabia, either. You will be treated as the lowest of life forms. |
wow...are you serious? I'd like any hagwon monkey to compare their total salary to a uni teacher. You might make more per month on your basic job (I highly doubt it), but you're stuck there 30 hours a week. Most of us work half that, plus we get better OT. If yoooou are an F-visa like the OP or myself then it's so much easier to get 'other jobs'.
Nice face saving. |
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languistic
Joined: 25 Nov 2009
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| Posted: Fri Feb 26, 2010 4:42 pm Post subject: Re: Looking for work at Korean universities |
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Last edited by languistic on Tue Jan 18, 2011 2:51 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 18 Jul 2006
Location: Home sweet home
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| Posted: Fri Feb 26, 2010 8:19 pm Post subject: |
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I have two friends in Saudi now, one's a non-native speaker. She's getting 4K a month, free housing, flights, settling in allowance, paid vacations. He's getting 6K a month. Ther'es no way that compares to hagwon jobs.
While, amybe , the pay in a Korean uni is similar to a hagwon, you
1. work less at a uni, probably half
2. get longer, PAID vacations
3. get pretty good OT. |
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