| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
demitri
Joined: 06 May 2008
|
 Posted: Sat May 14, 2011 12:51 am Post subject: Uni positions MA vs No MA |
 |
|
Just a quick question for those in the know. How come some university positions you find on job boards require MA's and others don't? Is there a difference between the respective positions? I don't mean in terms of salary or benefits offered, just the actual job.
I read threads where people referred to hagwon positions disguised as uni jobs (unigwons I think they said). What's that about and how can you differentiate between a proper uni gig and a 'unigwon' position.
Me in brief: Time in Greece is coming to end. Want to move on. Thinking to return to London for a year and get my MA before moving on to somewhere I can save a bit more (prob. Korea again). However, not sure of the worth of the MA seeing as many uni jobs don't require it and the incentive for having it is like 0.1m/won extra.  |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Castaway
Joined: 10 May 2011
|
| Posted: Sat May 14, 2011 1:11 am Post subject: Re: Uni positions MA vs No MA |
|
|
| demitri wrote: |
| What's that about and how can you differentiate between a proper uni gig and a 'unigwon' position. |
Unigwon = 20+ hours teaching, maybe shorter holidays, possibly lower level classes. Maybe required camps (for no extra pay, just part of your teaching duties), etc.
Better jobs = 8-15 hours teaching, 8-15 weeks holidays.
The housing might also be different. That is a big issue. Some unis will stick you in a dorm that is literally a single tiny room, no toilet, no shower.
Others will give you a 3-bedroom faculty apartment with kitchen, laundry room, balcony, etc.
With no MA, you just have fewer options -- maybe lower-tier unis, more country style. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
demitri
Joined: 06 May 2008
|
| Posted: Sat May 14, 2011 1:25 am Post subject: |
|
|
Thanks Castaway.
Even with an MA wouldn't you probably have to start off at one of these unigwon jobs? Especially if applying from outside of the country. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
CtotheB
Joined: 03 Sep 2010
|
| Posted: Sat May 14, 2011 3:13 am Post subject: |
|
|
| From what I can find, yes, bet even those unigwon jobs are better than any PS or hagwon job, so it's not like you're really sacrificing much. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
HapKi
Joined: 10 Dec 2004
Location: TALL BUILDING-SEOUL
|
| Posted: Sat May 14, 2011 8:05 am Post subject: |
|
|
To tell the difference betweeen a 'proper' university departmental job and a 'uniwon' attached language institute, you should first check the name of the place you're aiming at working. Things like 'center', or 'institute' after the name of the university are pretty obvious.
Also, I'd recommend going to the campus and checking it out, and try and talk to other teachers there. You'll get a feel right quick if it's a Dept. job or not.
As for your question about MA or BA qualifications. Aim high, and aim wide. English dept. jobs can still be gotten with just a BA, but you need luck; for example with friendly recommendations from those you know. I suggest NOT following the ads on Daves' ESL and elsewhere, and focus toward those schools looking, but not doing mass ads. All schools need teachers from time to time, but not all of them advertise. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
PatrickGHBusan
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: Busan (1997-2008) Canada 2008 -
|
| Posted: Sun May 15, 2011 3:26 am Post subject: Re: Uni positions MA vs No MA |
|
|
| demitri wrote: |
Just a quick question for those in the know. How come some university positions you find on job boards require MA's and others don't? Is there a difference between the respective positions? I don't mean in terms of salary or benefits offered, just the actual job.
I read threads where people referred to hagwon positions disguised as uni jobs (unigwons I think they said). What's that about and how can you differentiate between a proper uni gig and a 'unigwon' position.
Me in brief: Time in Greece is coming to end. Want to move on. Thinking to return to London for a year and get my MA before moving on to somewhere I can save a bit more (prob. Korea again). However, not sure of the worth of the MA seeing as many uni jobs don't require it and the incentive for having it is like 0.1m/won extra. |
A MA is worth it if you focus on the proper positions at the University level. In such a case it is worth a heck of a lot more than 0.1M Won.
Note that a University position is about a heck of a lot more than your basic pay. You need to consider the complete package of hours, PD opportunities, what this experience can do for you down the road and so on...
If the Won is your main concern, then there are better options out there like test preparation for example. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Castaway
Joined: 10 May 2011
|
| Posted: Sun May 15, 2011 4:16 am Post subject: Re: Uni positions MA vs No MA |
|
|
| PatrickGHBusan wrote: |
| If the Won is your main concern, then there are better options out there like test preparation for example. |
If one is not from the States, and so has never seen an SAT or GMAT or what have you, are these test prep jobs still an option? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
PatrickGHBusan
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: Busan (1997-2008) Canada 2008 -
|
| Posted: Sun May 15, 2011 8:40 am Post subject: Re: Uni positions MA vs No MA |
|
|
| Castaway wrote: |
| PatrickGHBusan wrote: |
| If the Won is your main concern, then there are better options out there like test preparation for example. |
If one is not from the States, and so has never seen an SAT or GMAT or what have you, are these test prep jobs still an option? |
Yes they are for those that have qualifications (TESOL Certification, experience, other EFL specific training or education) and then contacts.
These jobs will pay more but also demand more hours. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Carbon
Joined: 28 Jan 2011
|
| Posted: Sun May 15, 2011 1:54 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| The pay is just one aspect of a university position. Professionalism, stability, research incentives, good students, good collegial atmosphere, long vacations, reduced teaching hours, performance incentives....there are many potential benefits to universities. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Swampfox10mm
Joined: 24 Mar 2011
|
| Posted: Sun May 15, 2011 3:55 pm Post subject: |
|
|
My unigwon job is better than many English dept. jobs at better schools in Seoul. It really depends on the school.
These days, I have actually seen people in English dept. jobs cut in favor of foreign Ph.D's being hired. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
beans & rice
Joined: 12 May 2011
|
| Posted: Mon May 16, 2011 11:59 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| I am without an MA and am currently looking at university jobs as well. From what I'm reading it sounds like my best bet at finding a position is at "lower-tier" universities in their "Language Centers" or "Language Institutes" that aren't advertised anywhere. I'm just curious, if there is no advertisement and no obvious place on their university site that is listing any open positions, who do you think is probably the best person to contact with a cover letter and resume about any open positions for the fall? The department head? possibly just ask kindly at the beginning of the email that if they aren't the best person to ask about this to forward it along to someone who is? I'm just curious if anyone at a university job has advice on who would be best to contact for something like this. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Carbon
Joined: 28 Jan 2011
|
| Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 12:15 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Swampfox10mm wrote: |
My unigwon job is better than many English dept. jobs at better schools in Seoul. It really depends on the school.
These days, I have actually seen people in English dept. jobs cut in favor of foreign Ph.D's being hired. |
Here we go.  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
McNasty
Joined: 04 Jul 2003
|
| Posted: Wed May 18, 2011 5:25 am Post subject: |
|
|
Unigwon = non-credit classes
Which could mean that your students might be less motivated since they(their parents) pay for the class like a regular hogwon.
University = credit classes
Students should be more motivated since their grade and credits are on the line, but not all students will care.
Unigwons can have similar wages or even higher than university positions, so it really depends on personal preference. As for vacation, universities usually have more, but I have heard of a few unigwons that had the same. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Swampfox10mm
Joined: 24 Mar 2011
|
| Posted: Wed May 18, 2011 2:57 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Carbon wrote: |
| Swampfox10mm wrote: |
My unigwon job is better than many English dept. jobs at better schools in Seoul. It really depends on the school.
These days, I have actually seen people in English dept. jobs cut in favor of foreign Ph.D's being hired. |
Here we go. |
Here we go with what? It really does depend on the school. You can't paint with a broad brush on this one anymore.
Schools have indeed been thinning the amount of foreigners in English department positions, while expanding "unigwon" language center jobs. It used to be that there were far more BA's working in the English Departments at various universities. Not so common anymore. Becoming rare, actually.
The number of MA's in English departments is also decreasing. At our school, we've lost nearly all of our foreign BA/MA staff in the English department, while the unigwon has quadrupled in size. No more BA's work in the English Dept. at our school. The rest include one MA and Ph.D's.
Sad but true, the days where a BA could brag about being a staff member of an English Dept. are disappearing.
Just telling it like it is.
And BTW, "unigwon" does not mean non-credit classes. Nearly every class we teach is for credit, and they're not entirely Freshman courses, either. I teach 16 hours this semester, and have 20 weeks of vacation (although we are expected to choose some Winter/Summer school hours. Pay is 30,000 to 35,000 per hour block for that, so nearly everyone scrambles for hours).
We also get nice offices with sinks, although new people must share with one other foreigner. Some of us who have been around for a long time have our own private offices, although that could change at any time. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
PatrickGHBusan
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: Busan (1997-2008) Canada 2008 -
|
| Posted: Wed May 18, 2011 3:32 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Good post swamp.
Its good for people to realise what a unigwon can be and how things are changing at the University employment level. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
