Korean Job Discussion Forums

[silkhighway]

[edwardcatflap]

[silkhighway]

[shifty]

I get strangely quiet when conversation turns to the merits of teaching qualifications.

We all have indelible memories of our school years and it is fairly easy to rate our our old teachers in retrospect. The certified teachers of my school years weren't up to much. Whatever teaching skills they had were certainly well hidden.

My old certified teachers were in a word, next to useless.

There again my own children had the opposite experience. In the eighties for whatever reason the world went quite preppy. Cig smoking, pot and general rebelliousness went out. Teachers saw themselves as professionals. It was a good era, if not particularly cool.

One reason for my caution in writing off the value of education training is the tendency for experienced workers who haven't been to university to be ever-ready to pooh pooh the worth of a degree in their own fields.

I haven't done it so how could I possibly know, is my watching brief.

But if I were back to the wall, and my real thoughts were demanded on pain of death, I'd probably blurt out, "I think it's a bunch of waffle."

[silkhighway]

Haha, nice post Shiffty. I agree that teachers should have a degree, and high school teachers should be experts in their field areas. I would expect that teachers today are a lot better than 30 years ago. At the high school level, especially in math, French and sciences. A 12month certification on top of a degree is also fine, including the student practicum. However, 2 year B.Ed.s after a 4-year degree and all these masters programs that teachers take to upgrade their payscale are definitely overkill. At least I think so.

[hagwonnewbie]

I went to a workshop for a chain crapwon and I couldn't believe how legit the teachers were. Everyone over 30 was certified and everyone under 30 was good looking.

Believe me, any well organized academy can find primo teachers if they want. I was selected from 10 other white North American interviewees and this job is the worst I've had in 4 years in Korea.

[ZIFA]

[hagwonnewbie]

Part of my losing equation results from living in Seoul. I've taught mostly outside of Seoul. Taking a job in Gyeonggi-do would probably be the best bet for most people.

If you must be close to Itaewon / downtown and don't mind working 9 stressful hours a day for newbie pay, Seoul is for you.

[wooden nickels]

Possibly one reason certified teachers come to Korea is because they realize the potential to earn a salary above 2.1~2.3 million won per month. They are rare but there are some good paying salaries here in Korea, if one puts in their due time and are dedicated to teaching as a career. The key point is being dedicated and willing to work one's way up the ladder. Since many certified teachers actually are pursuing teaching as a career, many will have a professional approach and a long term objective.

I'm not saying certified teachers are better than non-certified teachers. Just, their goals are possibly career oriented thus having a different mindset than someone jumping into teaching/Korea for a year and jumping back out.

I don't see any problems in someone referring to himself or herself as a certified teacher. Some persons may refer to themselves as Doctor Jones. Instead of, I work at the hospital. Or, I'm a center on the basketball team. Rather than, I play basketball. Or, I'm an engineer for Rolex. Instead of, I design watches. Big deal!

I do believe Korea has career potential for those who are diligent and willing to put in the effort and overcome the obstacles. A certified teacher coming here, it is logical to me.

[silkhighway]

[shifty]

[wooden nickels]

[shifty]