Korean Job Discussion Forums

[geosdsd]

Hello all,

I am graduating soon and with no prospects of landing a job in California so I'm looking towards the West (or East, it's subjective really) to pay off my student debts. Before entering the teaching market in S. Korea, I really want to get certified-- preferably TESOL. I've been looking into some programs and websites. The ones offered by universities are wayyy too expensive and the one my school is offering is a whole year program.

I'm looking for a (preferably) TESOL program that is at least 100 hours and is no more than 1,500 US dollars. The location of my training does not matter, as long as it meets my budget.

Has anyone completed their certification through:

1. TESOL Training International
http://www.tesoltraining.net/about

2. Oxford Seminars
http://www.oxfordseminars.com/index.php

3. TEFL Internaional
http://www.tefllife.com/

If anyone has, I greatly appreciate any feedback regarding these programs. Even if you received your certification using the services of other programs, I will greatly appreciate your advice and/or recommendations.

[OculisOrbis]

For korea, most employers dont care and wont pay more for a TESOL/TEFL.

At a public school, you get an extra 100 000 Won per month for having one. Over the course of a year, that's 1.2 mil Won total (about $1000). Why pay $1500 for a course that only gets you an extra $1000 in salary?

You might say it's for the training so you can do a better job, but most employers dont expect that much. These are considered entry level jobs and they arent that hard. After a couple weeks you pick it up. If youre having problems, read up online, talk to other teachers or read a book.

If you plan on taking a PS job, just do the ITTT cert. It's less than $200 and it's 120 hours.

http://www.teflonline.net/

[Ukon]

Some of the higher standard teaching places in Korea asked about it and specifically if it was Online or classroom based.

Mind you, those jobs require having experience in the first place....

[jzrossef]

For short-term stay in Korea, it�s a luxury you probably can�t take advantage of. Your degree should be enough to find most of entry-based jobs.

As you pointed out in your original post that your prospect of employment in California looks grim, you might consider your teaching as your full career. (Not necessarily in Korea per se) If it is, then TESOL would be a good investment at least in Far East.

So the choice is really up to you. If you are not sure where this is going, just fly to Korea with a degree. You should know what you want to do by then. If you're serious about teaching career, you can't go wrong in Asia with the certificate.

[goreality]

KEISIE, just google it. It's 200,000 won and it's recognized in Korea. 100 hours and online

[jzrossef]

[geosdsd]

Thanks for the insight, Oculis. It does seem that it's not very beneficial, although jzrossef does bring up a good point. I don't plan on staying in Korea to teach English for more than three years, however I do plan on continuing my education in either a Masters or PhD in Applied Linguistics or Sociolinguistics (I'll be getting my BA in Linguistics at the end of Spring 2011). So I think getting that in-classroom training for the TESOL will help me out in the long run. Thanks guys.

Question still stands, however; which TESOL/TEFL program have you-- if you have-- taken and recommend?

*edited for typos.