Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jacksonly]

Hey all,

I'm a recent grad and also an unemployed certified English teacher. I guess that's not entirely true; I'm working part-time as an ACT teacher and have signed up to substitute teach in a few districts. People have told me that substitute teaching is the BEST way to get my foot in the door, and if I'm lucky, I may even land a maternity gig or something. So I know that staying here in America is the best way to possibly secure myself a job next fall. The thing is--I'm not happy. And I think this is because I want to be a classroom teacher. I can't imagine myself just working part-time and being on-call 24/7 for schools to call me to cover as a sub.

About a month ago, I actively began to pursue opportunities working in Korea. After exchanging a few emails and phone calls with recruiters, I have been recommended to a hagwon that I think is closest to what I want to do here (most of the students at this hagwon are proficient in English, the benefits are great, and it's not shady).

Here's the problem. I know that if I were to teach in Korea, I am risking my chances of possibly securing a job in the States for next fall. Subbing, as God-awful as it is, will help me make some good connections and can serve as a real resume booster. Also, teaching in Korea will mean that I'll be back next October (given the standard one-year contract), which puts me in a very awkward place for job searching since the school year will have already started. I guess all of this makes going to Korea sound like a really bad plan, but the reason why I'm still highly considering it is because it'll allow me to do what I want to do right now. Plus, I do really love Korea and have always wanted to teach abroad--I also feel that if I don't pursue this opportunity now, I'll never be able to. In the end, I feel that going to Korea will make me happy NOW, and staying in America will make me happy LATER.

Have you guys been in similar situations before? Did you consider--before leaving for Korea--that being abroad for a year (or more) may jeopardize you finding good work when you go back home? Any advice is truly, truly appreciated.

[tator]

Unless you have good reason to believe that you will be offered the kind of job you want in the fall, I would say do the Korea thing. I am assuming you are young, so taking a year off now will not really hurt you in the long run, and your experience here will definitely look good on a resume.

[Squire]

It's very possible if you look for a short term contract at the end of your first year here you could be back in good time for the start of the next academic year

[oldtactics]

This is the main reason that most of us leave Korea, I think. Eventually, we have to start thinking about networking and career planning if we intend to work in our home countries. That said, I don't regret coming to Korea at all, even if it meant putting my potential career on hold for a year (or three). You'll enjoy it, it'll broaden your horizons, and teaching jobs will be there when you get back. I say do it.

[itistime]

"Plus, I do really love Korea and have always wanted to teach abroad"

Have you been to Korea?
I just wonder if 1 yr (and the possible forfeiting of
a fall job in the U.S.) here would do you any good.
Happy now, sure. Maybe.

It won't just be a job you'll do.
You'll adapt to a new 'lifestyle'.

A short term position might be your
best option like suggested.

[jacksonly]

[Pinehurst]

In my opinion, substitute teaching does not get you a full time teaching job. It may get you a longterm substitute teaching position. As long as people are willing to work the longterm sub positions for less pay and no benefits, they don't lead to full time teaching positions. Most US districts just do not have the money to hire now. I know a few education graduates who can not get a public school position after a few years of trying. I say go to Korea or look for another field that would value your degree.

[jazblanc77]

Choose a path and walk it.

[mmstyle]

OP, I think your happiness teaching in Korea would depend a LOT on what kind of gig you got. Frankly, I have met a number of certified teachers who teach here (in private elementary and elsewhere, I am not talking about hagwon teaching, although they had done that too) and none of them were happy here. Why? Because it wasn't teaching as they knew it. They felt that their skills were not used, that their suggestions were ignored, or that, despite being certified teachers, they were not treated as true teachers. I am not saying you wont' find fulfilling work, or that there are not teachers here who are quite happy, but I think that being a teacher here in Korea is very different from being a teacher "back home." Just an FYI. Hopefully some certified teachers will weigh in on your thread and tell you what does or does not work for them.

[jacksonly]

[Son Deureo!]

If your ultimate goal is to teach public school in the US, teaching English in Korea will do little to help you achieve that. You'd make more money here than you would by subbing, and likely more than you'd even get as a 1st year tenure-track teacher (figuring in taxes, union dues, paying for your own housing, etc.), but it would also take you out of the loop while you're gone and leave you in a very awkward position for applying for jobs next year. The only bright side I can see is that it would be better than spending a year in an unrelated field, and some school districts would credit you for the time you spent teaching in Korea on their salary scale.

If there's a particular district there you want to work in, your best bet is to sub, work part time, or do whatever you have to do to establish a foothold in that district/region.

If you're willing to relocate, there are plenty of districts that are hiring and actively recruiting out of state teachers. West Virginia, Maryland, and Clark County, NV as examples.

Have you considered the international school route? You don't have the 2 years experience necessary to get into most of the job fairs, but you still may be able to find a way to swing it.

[theseafoodloverinyou]

If timing is your primary concern, suggest you stay in the US subbing for another academic year. Hopefully, a permanent teaching position will materialize during that time. If not, start searching for a year contract position in Korea in May, June next year. You will then be able to return to the US a year later at a less awkward time for finding employment as a teacher, state-side.

[jrwhite82]

[alistaircandlin]

[alistaircandlin]

P.S.

I wouldn't bother with hagwon jobs if you come to Korea with experience in the states, although it might be a good way to get some experience if you don't have much already.

I think your friends who came as qualified teachers to work in elementary schools and got frustrated with being told to play games might have suffered from a lack of experience. I think that if they had had some more experience teaching in the U.S. they would have been confident enough to say: look I'm a qualified teacher, and I'm going to teach in my own way - if you want somebody to clown around, get someone else.

The other thing to consider is that with more experience in the states you would probably want to go for an International school job over here, which have much better pay and benefits. There are only a few British schools, so opportunities for me in Korea are limited - and I'm happy where I am at present - but for you there would be more opportunities. Another issue is whether or not you would work at a Christian school. I wouldn't, but if you are Christian, there are quite a few faith schools here too.