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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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| If I take my first job without certificiation, the chances that I may actually land one of the following jobs... |
| Oh, you can score a job. But the provided housing/airfare reimbursement/pay isn't nearly as good as if you gain certification (online) |
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0% |
[ 0 ] |
| It's about the same in the Asian countries. You can score a decent job by looking hard. too many schools will not scrutinize you for it, and will offer you relatively the same pay/housing quality/benefits, etc. |
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45% |
[ 5 ] |
| Are you kidding? The pay is noticably better, you're offered what is essentially quality housing, even more paid time off, better work schedules, etc. You'd be dumb to consider trying to go over there without it |
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0% |
[ 0 ] |
| Definitely get certified before going. You're treated in a completely different class, and it makes your teaching job a lot easier. Plus, once you're done, it looks great being both previously ceritified and having the experience. |
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9% |
[ 1 ] |
| Just go without, and do certification while you teach. Once you're done, pay goes up. NBD. |
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45% |
[ 5 ] |
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| Total Votes : 11 |
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rdevorse
Joined: 18 Feb 2011
Location: Orlando, FL
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 Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 1:10 am Post subject: I get by with a little help from my friends |
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What an amazing resource, I'm so happy to have been introduced to this website. Thanks to all of the seasoned pro's, and newcomers, who share their experience. It's helped me a lot so far.
I wanted to post my life-story, at 23, I've done research and have decided that Korea is my goal for my first TEFL assignment.
It began by interviewing on skype for a position in China, and I was offered the job immediately the next day. Skeptical, I looked into it more, researched why anyone would possibly hire me straight out of college without certification, and started making calls.
Now I've discovered where the real opportunity is, what is considered by many as a great place to begin my experience, and could use your opinions.
I'm a recent Marketing graduate from the University of Central Florida, and will go to graduate school for an International MBA. Currently, I'm taking some additional coursework to boost my application, almost finished with a second undergraduate degree and a minor in International Business. Dude. So much school. I'm burning here. Before I commit to more school though, I want to gain international experience, teach children, become an expat at age 23, and travel to the remote destination of Seoul, Korea.
I've done the HW: I want the big city experience. I'm an athletic health freak triathlete who doesn't smoke, rarely drinks, but wants to see the world. I'm clean, organized, passionate for different cultures, COMPLETE TECH GEEK, and S.K. just has my name written all over it.
So here are a series of questions I would appreciate opinions on:
1. I have no TEFL certification. I have my B.A. and am President of the Global Business Brigades at out University (www.gbbucf.org), which provides micro-economic consulting to developing countries and holds workshops in Central America to educate families. Total, I have about 3 months of teaching experience with that combined with previous Costa Rica summer trips to educate the youth there (about 5 years ago). I've been reading job listings.. Would my potential compensation differ drastically by obtaining a 120-140 hour Online Cert? (Its all I can earn right now with my schedule) If so..
2. Please recommend a large, internationally recognized cert. I know of i-to-i, and International TEFL Academy, but there are some large price differences between these two, and they seem to carry the same international accreditation. I'm skeptical that dishing out 1,350 for a 120/140 hr. course is going to get me worthwhile extra compensation. is a $500 120-140 hr. cert from i-to-i dismissed? I'm not normally such a cheapskate, and I work hard in school. But I'm a college grad on a shoestring budget, so put yourself in my shoes. If it's worth it, I'll dish out the extra $$, but would love to know why.
3. For going into S.K., is there a specific cert. that most would like to see? I am aware 100 hrs. is the minimum really, but will the 120 or 140 online make that much of a difference? Is it worth considering taking my first job there without certification? Would a 20 hour weekend classroom experience make a difference?
4. Do you think recruiters would like to know about my background? (International Business focus, athletic and healthy, devoted to eventually seeking an IMBA, etc.)
5. I've read a lot about Seoul, best places to live, etc. I realize that I can only do so much to get into a 'decent' area, but are there any bad locations inside of the city? Anything I should be looking out for? I like cultural differences, and am aware I will be giving up some things, but to me, that's worth it, and is part of the experience.
6. Depending on my certification/visa/background check timeline, is there an ideal time between May and September I should try to get into S.K. for? Maybe a specific month teachers are in super high demand?
7. Are there opportunities for me to not only learn some serious Korean/Second Language abroad, but to potentially work my way into businesses 5-10 hours a week and gain additional business experience while abroad? Would employers frown upon this? Is this violating my specific terms of an E2 visa?
8. Average time-line for Background Check/E2 Visa/Special Diploma Copy?
You lot are the best.
Rusty |
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RMNC
Joined: 21 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 4:23 am Post subject: Re: I get by with a little help from my friends |
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| rdevorse wrote: |
I've done the HW: I want the big city experience. I'm an athletic health freak triathlete who doesn't smoke, rarely drinks, but wants to see the world. I'm clean, organized, passionate for different cultures, COMPLETE TECH GEEK, and S.K. just has my name written all over it.
You need to know before you come here: Korea loves to drink, and people will look down on you if you don't enjoy it equally as much as they do. Drinking is very common and very social. Smoking is pervasive, and the laws on it are lax. Many foreigners start smoking in Korea. Korea is dirty, there are almost no public trash cans, so the streets are littered with trash, run down buildings, the aforementioned smoke, pollution and dust from China that makes it hard to breathe. Korea is very homogeneous, so if you're looking for ONE culture without any diversity at all, then Korea is the right place to go. The tech is good, but not as good as Japan, and isn't really all that life-changing. Anything you can get in Korea, you can get in the west. If you're passionate about being a segregated, merely tolerated outsider, then Korea can be great.
So here are a series of questions I would appreciate opinions on:
1. I have no TEFL certification. I have my B.A. and am President of the Global Business Brigades at out University (www.gbbucf.org), which provides micro-economic consulting to developing countries and holds workshops in Central America to educate families. Total, I have about 3 months of teaching experience with that combined with previous Costa Rica summer trips to educate the youth there (about 5 years ago). I've been reading job listings.. Would my potential compensation differ drastically by obtaining a 120-140 hour Online Cert? (Its all I can earn right now with my schedule) If so..
If you want to teach public school without prior teaching experience in Korea or America, you'll need at least a 100 hour certification. All that other stuff doesn't matter to employers and will clog a resume if it doesn't pertain to teaching of some kind. You might get a tiny bump in pay, but I wouldn't hold my breath on that one. It's becoming rarer.
2. Please recommend a large, internationally recognized cert. I know of i-to-i, and International TEFL Academy, but there are some large price differences between these two, and they seem to carry the same international accreditation. I'm skeptical that dishing out 1,350 for a 120/140 hr. course is going to get me worthwhile extra compensation. is a $500 120-140 hr. cert from i-to-i dismissed? I'm not normally such a cheapskate, and I work hard in school. But I'm a college grad on a shoestring budget, so put yourself in my shoes. If it's worth it, I'll dish out the extra $$, but would love to know why.
If you want to teach public school, then just get the cheapest possible online 100 hour certification possible. No one cares where it is from or how esteemed the program is. No one will pay you any more for TEFL.com certs than the best, most prestigious TESOL academy on earth.
3. For going into S.K., is there a specific cert. that most would like to see? I am aware 100 hrs. is the minimum really, but will the 120 or 140 online make that much of a difference? Is it worth considering taking my first job there without certification? Would a 20 hour weekend classroom experience make a difference?
No, and no one will care, as it's likely that you will use 0% of what you 'learn' from the course
4. Do you think recruiters would like to know about my background? (International Business focus, athletic and healthy, devoted to eventually seeking an IMBA, etc.)
No, as long as decent looking, white and not fat, they'll take anyone. Most likely they will tell you to remove those things or they won't understand what you're even talking about.
5. I've read a lot about Seoul, best places to live, etc. I realize that I can only do so much to get into a 'decent' area, but are there any bad locations inside of the city? Anything I should be looking out for? I like cultural differences, and am aware I will be giving up some things, but to me, that's worth it, and is part of the experience.
No, Korea is the same everywhere you go, the only thing that changes outside of the big cities is the amount of English the Koreans speak and the availability of more uncommon things like food and fairs and whatnot. Every city outside of Seoul is basically a mini version of Seoul, like someone airlifted a random section of the city into the boonies, and what you get is as random as it can be. Korea is unbelievably safe everywhere you go, safer than any American town by far, excluding the crazy drivers.
6. Depending on my certification/visa/background check timeline, is there an ideal time between May and September I should try to get into S.K. for? Maybe a specific month teachers are in super high demand?
Public schools hire in Spring and Fall, hagwons hire year-round.
7. Are there opportunities for me to not only learn some serious Korean/Second Language abroad, but to potentially work my way into businesses 5-10 hours a week and gain additional business experience while abroad? Would employers frown upon this? Is this violating my specific terms of an E2 visa?
It's possible. Yes, it's illegal and violates the visa, and employers frown on it. Yes, you can learn Korean by not having any foreigner friends or entertainment sources. The easiest way to learn Korean is by living in Korea, (duh) and by necessity of needing something to do with your free time. You can easily get sucked into a lame foreigner crowd and not learn any Korean because collectively you'll have a bunch of people you communicate easily with and can find your way through most situations together. The real learning of Korean is by being segregated, and feebly attempting to employ words you pick up, slowly gaining proficiency. It's the same as anywhere.
8. Average time-line for Background Check/E2 Visa/Special Diploma Copy?
1-3 months
You lot are the best.
Rusty |
My answers are in bold. I know it might come off like I'm just being a *beep*, but I'm actually just being a realist for you.
And let me offer you a piece of advice that someone once told me a long time ago when I was all excited at the idea of working in Korea:
Take off the rose-colored glasses.
I know you think Korea might be great for you, and who knows? Maybe it will be. But set yourself up in the right mindset: Korea will suck for you. If it doesn't, then it's a success. Expect everything to go wrong, that it won't be the place you thought it would be, that the people are rude and hostile to foreigners, the job is a pain and doesn't pay you enough to deal with it, that the lifestyle is a downgrade from what you're used to, that essentially you're walking into one giant lifetime inconvenience. People who come over with high hopes (clean, polite, healthy, high-tech, fun and easy) are almost out of the country within months. I've seen it happen at least a dozen times.
Expect to be bent over and reamed. If it doesn't happen, then be happy. |
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rdevorse
Joined: 18 Feb 2011
Location: Orlando, FL
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| Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 9:10 am Post subject: Wow, great. Thank you. |
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Great, thanks for the reply.
I wrote this up pretty quick last night. It was late and I was trying to get a lot done quick. I had come in from a night out (drinking! wow I'm such a hypcrite, albeit it was at a classy wineroom in downtown Orlando, but hey, I could get used to that in Korea).
You're completely blunt and it's great. I want to know what I could get myself into because most people have painted this image of Sunrises and Sunsets, and I dont want to be lied to, babied, etc. I'm just not informed and am asking more questions. I decsribed myself as clean, but dirty cities, etc. I've seen this before in Central America, I'm not like Monk or a walking germaophobe..I should've been more clear, I just keep my personal living space clean. I understand this is part of the transition. For 12 months.
I'll read the forums for more informations on the different types of schools in Korea, Hagwons vs. Public, etc. I do value opinions though, if you wanted to share anything that someone might not have said already, thanks (I understand this place is bascally one big cycle for most. You see the same questions, same discussions, etc.)
As far as learning Korean by limiting your communication with other English speaking foreigners, that's perfect. It would be a "waste", like me going on my holiday to Islands of Adventure of Universal studios instead of traveling out of Orlando during spring break. I am going abroad to teach, and that is in my mind, but I really do want to become immersed in a culture, and if I'm not easily accepted, that's not the first time. I want to be an outsider, moderately tolerated. I want to put myself in a difficult, new situation, and have to learn to deal with things on my own, on the other side of the planet. This is an opportunity to have my eyes opened.
I'm going to do some more research on contracts, employment horror stories, and other factors to consider while in Korea. The poll results have been helpful, thank you. You've just saved me money and hassle of looking for some holy grail of certification. I would still consider the ease of mind knowing they have job placement services for my first time in Korea, unless you think finding my first job from ESL Cafe isn't unthinkable.. what would you recommend?
I don't even want to set myself up for "dissapointment", your honesty is appreciated.
Thanks for the poll responses |
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dyc
Joined: 16 Dec 2010
Location: Vancouver
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| Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 1:34 pm Post subject: Re: I get by with a little help from my friends |
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| RMNC wrote: |
If you want to teach public school, then just get the cheapest possible online 100 hour certification possible. No one cares where it is from or how esteemed the program is. No one will pay you any more for TEFL.com certs than the best, most prestigious TESOL academy on earth.
No, and no one will care, as it's likely that you will use 0% of what you 'learn' from the course
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So you're in the camp that TESOL certs are more or less worthless? Interesting...
However, if the OP wants to travel to other parts of Asia and teach, he'd most likely need a 100+ hr in-class TESOL, right? I know he didn't mention that in his post, but I'd think that it would be better to just get the more expensive in-class cert if there's a chance at all that the OP may want to teach in another Asian country. |
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rdevorse
Joined: 18 Feb 2011
Location: Orlando, FL
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| Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 1:52 pm Post subject: Re: I get by with a little help from my friends |
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[quote="dyc"]
| RMNC wrote: |
Interesting...
However, if the OP wants to travel to other parts of Asia and teach, he'd most likely need a 100+ hr in-class TESOL, right? I know he didn't mention that in his post, but I'd think that it would be better to just get the more expensive in-class cert if there's a chance at all that the OP may want to teach in another Asian country. |
I do! I'll lay it out: I'm doing this to gain international experience and living abraod outside of the US. I know it will help build my background for In'tl Business.
But there is a very likely chance that when I am done teaching in Korea that I will want to go to either Japan, China, or a European country to teach for maybe an additional year, maybe two. I don't see myself in this for a career move though. That much is clear.
Would having a year of teaching experience compensate for having no/mediocre certification? It seems a bit wonky that any certification would do.. Why is that? Why aren't they more stringent on the requirements/accredidations? Why do they push that stuff so hard over here? For marketing? |
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