Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Patrick Murtha]

I have been in Korea teaching at an excellent adult hagwon for several months. Awesome experience so far. I'm not crazy about the split shifts, but no one is. I am in a smaller city which I like a lot. I prefer a regional city to Seoul.

My plan all along has been to go after a university job -- specifically, a visiting professorship -- once I am here. I am a mature individual with years of teaching experience as a high school teacher and college adjunct in the U.S. My B.A. is from a top five university, and I have two master's degrees (English Literature and Education) from a top twenty university.

The timing of the end of my hagwon contract will be such that I could start teaching at a university's 2011 summer English camp, and assume full academic duties in the fall semester. I would be delighted to teach a combination of conversation, composition, literature/culture, and adult language institute courses, as a friend of mine here has. Again, I find a regional setting preferable to Seoul.

I am aware of one recruiter who has an e-book available on Korean university jobs; I am sure I will invest in that for information's sake. But I would appreciate insights from anyone who has experience with obtaining a visiting professorship (rather than a university language instructorship; I want to be in the highest bracket that my credentials entitle me to pursue).

Are recruiters much help in obtaining visiting professorships, or should I do all the work myself? Will listings for next year start to appear here and at other ESL boards in the fall, or are the university's own websites the best places to check for jobs?

What salary range can I expect (2.4 million won and northward, I hope)? Are the on-campus apartments offered to visiting professors about the same quality as the apartments that hagwon instructors get, or are they sometimes nicer? Is the "16 weeks paid vacation" figure I have heard usually about right?

What can I expect during the interview process? I waited to pursue uni jobs until I was on the ground in Korea because (a) I understand that in-person interviews are usually required, and (b) I want to see the campus and the city before I commit to a position.

Thanks in advance for serious replies!

[ttompatz]

Honestly, START NETWORKING.
It is about who you know and who knows you.

Anything decent in the way of a professorship will come from networking or if you are REALLY lucky you may find something on one of the job boards about November or Dec for the following March (beginning of the academic year). It is MUCH MORE DIFFICULT to find positions beginning in Sept. (2nd term).

You are not likely to find an "assistant" professorship and nothing with tenure (even if the uni offers it you cannot acquire it without an F2/4/5/visa - immigration rules) but the chances are good for finding something as a "visiting professor" (E1) position.

Housing is often NOT provided with a university position or when it is it is often not much better than a "dorm room".

Holidays CAN be good - pay often is NOT (as an over-all package).

The jingle at the end of the month is usually not much better than a well paid hagwon worker but the hours you have to put in are significantly less. 12 class hours per week (+ 4-5 office hours) instead of 30 class hours + desk time.

There are others on here who are actually part of their university's hiring committees (I left uni's to work in the public sector). Hopefully they will also chime in here.

Good luck.

.

[Patrick Murtha]

[PatrickGHBusan]

Tom is dead on.

As for professorship, with a MA (or two in your case) you will not get that type of position as it requires a Phd (unless i missed it you do not have this). You can get a decent English Instructors position or maybe an Assistant Professors position.

Best bet: apply in person in the late fall when it is hiring season for Universities.

Until then, network your ass off!

As for content teaching, what do you expect this to be? I am curious here.

I worked for a University for a few years and was on their hiring committee. If you want pointers on the hiring process and on how to maximise your chances, shoot me a pm and I will be glad to provide whatever advice I can!

[Patrick Murtha]

[PatrickGHBusan]

Thanks for the clarification.

That is what I thought you meant. There are indeed content teaching positions available to MA holders. These are guest lecturer positions or part of the work load of an English Instructor position.

Best of luck!

[morrisonhotel]

[Patrick Murtha]

[PRagic]

Actually, you'll be a visiting full-time instructor. A visiting professor has their Ph.D., but isn't on a tenure track. Splitting hairs, but no matter what they call you, you'll probably see the Korean for 'visiting full-time instructor' on the contract, and only be afforded the schedule and pay that go with that position.

Some of the smaller universities list foreign instructors as 'visiting professors' so that they can boost their foreign faculty/student ratios. However, the terms of employment are not the same as for a doctorate holder. I've worked as a visiting full-time instructor (with just the M.A.), and as a visiting assitant professor and tenure-track assitant (soon to be associate prof) with the Ph.D. WORLDS apart every step of the way.

University jobs in ESL are great, and it sounds like the OP is more than qualified. Good luck and let us know how things pan out.

[Patrick Murtha]

[PatrickGHBusan]

[Patrick Murtha]

[definitely maybe]

Given your qualifications, the fact that you're in Korea and have taught here, and your willingness to work provincially, you will have no problem landing a job with a little leg work. It also seems like you're perfectly content with what most of the positions entail, title or no, so I'd say you're good to go. I do not hold a PhD, but do teach a section or two of world culture and current events, which both tie in with my undergrad and grad degree. I am technically just an EFL instructor, but sometimes opportunities arise. Just like hagwons, there are good and bad uni gigs as well. Do your homework, and be prepared to put down a deposit on your own apartment.

You've had some very knowledgeable posters chime in on your thread already, so I'd say you're in good hands. In case you're wondering, I'm not one of them!

[PRagic]

There are loads of positions for foreign Ph.D.s in Korea, and across a very wide range of diciplines. In general, these positions offer pay, opportunity, and work conditions comparable to positions in N. America.

There is a lot of other work involved outside of lecturing, true. Whatever floats your boat!

[Patrick Murtha]