Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ESLGUY2011]

I recently landed a position teaching at a university outside of Seoul. My contract will commence in April 2011. I am currently working on my MA in TESOL and will complete it February 2012. I already have 18 months experience teaching adult learners in Korea and a TEFL certificate.

I would like to apply to university positions in Seoul next year, and wanted to know what would be my best way to go about it? Would it present problems to the universities in Seoul that I will finish my MA in February (it may take a few weeks for me to receive my degree) and I have a contract until April 2012? I know that a majority of the positions in Seoul would like professors to start their contracts in March. Also, do universities hire in the Fall Semester as well?

Lastly, do you have any other advice for landing a university position in Seoul?

Thanks

[sigmundsmith]

I'm going to be an a*hole here. You have been teaching in Korea for 18 months and you joined this site 3 days ago? Come on my friend. If you have 18 months experience here in Korea I am sure that you would have spoken to at least one person in that time about the options available to you.

If you have just come across this website and you have been working on Dokdo for the past 18 months with no outside contact or internet connection, I do apologize.

Simple thing. Go to the interview with the Paper Work (i.e. the certificate/parchment). If you can't produce then and there you will offer to produce it before the commencement date of the contract, or the signing date of the contract.

But the whole thing is mute as you current contract doesnt finish until April so you will have to wait until the Fall intake anyway. Yes, university recruit for this time as well. Unless you are looking at breaking your contract before April so you can get that convented job in Seoul.

Sorry, I have had a couple and I find it strange that someone who has been here for the time that you state is asking such questions. But I am more than happy to provide suggestions.

[ESLGUY2011]

[sigmundsmith]

They are not obligated to give you a letter of release. It is out of the goodness of their heart.

If you can sell yourself to the new institution as to why you need to be in Seoul as for the reason to breaking your current contract. Otherwise, the institutions that you are applying for will question you as to why you want to finish your current contract early.

Seriously, even though you didn't join you have most likely used this site and seen information posted about university position over the last 18 months. Makes me wonder.

Not many university position start in April. Most, if not all in March/September. So that is the time frame you are looking for.

So, if your current contract goes through until April but you want to break the contract one months previous to the expiration that could be an option if they agree to give you a letter of release. Or you could just get an extension until September of next year.

Or go to Thailand for 5 months after your current contract is finished in April and apply for the fabulous university positions in Seoul for the Fall intake.

Please, if you want to know more about university positions and applications do a google search using esl and korea university and you will be surprised at the hits you get. I think most of the answers are there for you.

Seriously? 18 months?

[zappadelta]

You can't just 'land' a university job in Seoul, you have to go out and get it. I don't know why, but the words 'land' and 'gig' really bother me.

[PatrickGHBusan]

[Carbon]

Surprised nobody has been pedantic enough to call him out on his pseudonym yet.



OP: A nearly completed MA is marginally less valuable than a completed one....marginally, if at all. Get out there early, get a good portfolio together, try to make contact with current teachers and learn about the programs you will teach if hired. Doing an on-topic demo class is invaluable.

[ESLGUY2011]