Korean Job Discussion Forums

[rayne]

I'm not graduating until mid-2012, but I really want to get a head start on preparing what I need to go to Korea for teaching.

I'm most worried about three things:

Location
I went to Yongin, Gyeonggi-do for two months as an exchange student and I met some great Korean friends there and had a wonderful experience.
Ideally, I'd like to work in a school near that area.
If I go through GEPIK or something like that and request that area, how likely am I to get placed there? What if I give them the reason that I have friends there? My boyfriend is Korean, so can I tell them that he's my fiance and he lives around there? There's no way for them to check, right?
Otherwise, would I have better luck asking my Korean friends to find me the websites/contact information of nearby schools and applying directly?

Recommendation Letters
I'm worried about getting a letter from my professors because my BA actually isn't about teaching English, so I don't think I'll be able to convince them to write me a letter about how awesome I am at teaching English or whatever. Would getting letters from some advisors from my university be sufficient? I have a few in mind who may be willing to write me those kinds of recommendation letters. But then again I'm worried about the "length of relationship" part. Or do they not really care about the content and just want to see that there are people who are willing to write letters for me?

Grade Level
I know it depends on the person, but what is a good grade level to teach? I kind of want to teach high school students because they are probably more studious since they are preparing for university, but I am worried they would not respect me because I'm a 155cm tall Asian girl
But for elementary and middle school students, I'm worried I cannot control their energy level. An I bet some of them are still taller than me.
I'd actually really like to teach university, but I'm planning on not getting a MA.

One of my Korean friends and I were chatting online and he said I should really get a TESOL because I would be able to get a job easily. Should I get one here in Canada, or when I'm settled in Korea? Or is any online TESOL certifications just as good?

[winterfall]

Response to your grade level issue.

If you go the high school route. You'll most likely teach the 1st and 2nd grade. I don't know of anyone that teaches 3rd grade. Roughly 700 students a week (Depending on how big your school is). And the motivation of the students really depends on the school. There's 3 kind's of high schools. Academic, Technical (Vocational), and Special Purpose (Foreign Language School) For example at Foreign Language high schools, the students are overachievers and they're motivated to do anything. They're not really gifted, they're just really motivated, at the end of the day that's what matters most. But those jobs are really hard to get.

At normal academic high schools, the only thing they care about is the university test. And unlike the FLS kids, they won't do it just because its not on the test. That's the atypical Korean mentality. And as of now, the Conversational English classes you'll be teaching aren't on the test, so there's no incentive. You'll deal with a lot of motivation issues. But they're be more or less operating at their grade level. The range in student abilities is from nonexistent to very advanced (lived abroad)

If you land a technical high school. They don't have the same range in levels that Academic high schools get. Everyone is low. The students are significantly below their grade level. Most elementary school students have higher English levels than tech kids. You'll deal with a lot of discipline and motivation problems. The kids have generally had hard lives. School is not the most important thing for them.

Technical schools schools are hands down the toughest, and most foreign teachers don't last long. Either they leave after the end of the year or they don't even finish the contract. Tech schools are also low on the government priority list so you won't have as much support / budget compared to normal academic schools. Success here depends on your personality and how well you can deal with the impossible.

[rayne]

[sallymonster]

[rayne]

[sallymonster]

[winterfall]

[rayne]

[lifeinkorea]

"GEPIK vs Applying Directly to Schools"

Actually, GEPIK is the direct way. The other way is to go through recruiters. You can work with as many as you want, and I found this is best in your case as it was with mine where we have specific locations and conditions. If you go directly with GEPIK, they place you anywhere and Gyeonggido is a big area. In my case I wanted Pyeongtaek and I was in Seoul. The school I was with at the time had a high school offer for me in Yongin, but it was too far from Pyeongtaek which is where my girlfriend was living.

"I'm not graduating until mid-2012"

Then wait 1.5 years before you worry about it. Seriously, Korean schools and recruiters are NOT going to reserve you a teaching position that far in advance.

"I actually have a lot of reference letters from past.... (blah blah blah)"

They don't care about that. The best I ever got was one reference outside Korea accepted, and I consider that lucky. They will start you at a base salary regardless which senator you helped at election time. Wait your turn, graduate, and then apply. When a position is available, seize it then.

Think of it like a hamburger. Make the order when you are hungry and ready.

"For hagwons, are the classes separated by age or English level? Most of my Korean friends go to Hagwons, would I have the opportunity to teach university students? "

Both, depends on the hagwon, and you will again need to wait till you actually graduate so a hagwon will be interested in hiring you. In my experience, there are very few university students going to hagwons.

Think about Yongin area, is there a university nearby which would have enough students going to a hagwon to make it worth hiring you? Probably not, considering all Koreans want to go to Seoul to study. They rent out goshiwons, which are cheap dorm like rooms in order to study.

I think your best route is to look for high schools, then look for a hagwon job which will give you a mix of classes. Unless you like young kids, avoid K-E job offers. Look for E-M offers at least. Sometimes, they will also have adult classes which might include university students from time to time. The bulk will be from 2nd grade or higher. I found those to be the best.

Also consider afterschool programs. They look terrible at first, but actually aren't that bad. You don't have a hagwon owner or principal breathing down your back. It works like a hagwon, but you get paid through the public school. So, it is great for independent folk. Just be aware, you won't have any help with these jobs when it comes to controlling classes or resources.

Get your degree, get some lessons ready, and then apply when the time is right. Good luck.

[rayne]

[rayne]

[winterfall]

[rayne]