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Trying to get a college/uni job while doing an MA...
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myenglishisno



Joined: 08 Mar 2011
Location: Geumchon

PostPosted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 3:39 am    Post subject: Trying to get a college/uni job while doing an MA... Reply with quote

Hey guys.

I know this is possible as we've all met people who have done it. I'm starting my distance MA in January and would like to stay in Korea, however teaching 30 hours a week at my current hagwon isn't something I could maintain while sinking 20+ hours into a distance MA, especially taking into account the amount of stress that comes from a hagwon job.

So I'm looking at college/university positions. Since my MA is going to be TESOL related (Applied Linguistics with a TESOL component), I also want to be able to take what I've learned and apply it to my class/students.

Does anyone have any advice for securing a college position? I'm really not that picky. The main object is to reduce my teaching hours so I can work on my MA and work in an environment where there is some overlap between my job and my studies. Many English teaching environments would provide this overlap however, given that public schools in Gyeonggi-do aren't hiring anymore I think that college/uni jobs will be the only jobs with a sizable amount of free time.

As far as the college itself is concerned, not having an MA puts me at a disadvantage and I accept that. My only requirement is that the college is within train-range of Seoul. Aside from that, I have no preferences as I'd just be lucky to get the position.

Any help is appreciated!
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Modernist



Joined: 23 Mar 2011
Location: The 90s

PostPosted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 4:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Always thought that for any Uni position 'within a train ride of Seoul' you would really need to HAVE an MA or MS or M-something already...isn't there kind of a glut of those qualified people looking at Uni slots everywhere now?

Don't think there's an easier way EXCEPT the infamous 'know someone who knows someone' deal where they whisper in the right ear...
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myenglishisno



Joined: 08 Mar 2011
Location: Geumchon

PostPosted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 6:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

To be honest, a college is the goal but I'd settle for an after school programme or just anything with a reasonable amount of hours. Right now the hagwon has me set at 30 hours per week and it's far too much, to be honest.

A college/uni is my first choice but I will settle for something that is just far less hours. Normally I would just go with a public school but those have vanished.
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zappadelta



Joined: 31 Aug 2004

PostPosted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 1:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I would go for a regular public school job if I were you. In most of those jobs, you teach from 9am to 12 then have free time after lunch to do what you want (except go home). Thats where I worked when I started my masters.
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kimchijigijig



Joined: 27 Jun 2011

PostPosted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 1:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

try the country universities, you will have a chance getting a position there with a BA. If you only want to work in Seoul (major city) don't like your chances even with contacts. I have contacts at many different universities in Seoul while I was doing my MA and had nearly finished it but even with those contacts I couldn't get in.

Give you an example of applicants for university positions: 200 applicants for one just recently many MA holders and PHD holders

After school gig should be your first option not university, and then public school
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World Traveler



Joined: 29 May 2009

PostPosted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 2:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

kimchijigijig wrote:
Give you an example of applicants for university positions: 200 applicants for one just recently many MA holders and PHD holders


If there are PhDs applying, wouldn't the university (almost always) want to hire them over MAs? I'm guessing a PhD would do more to improve their international ranking/reputation, correct?

My GOD! Uni gigs are not only going downhill pay and conditions wise, but the competition is becoming INSANE!

Every year it becomes worse and worse for the job seeker trying to get his or her (especially his! Shocked ) foot in the door. >_<
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Unposter



Joined: 04 Jun 2006

PostPosted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 4:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I would say competition for university positions have increased dramatically but I don't think it is all the state of the economy in the West. A lot of the applicants I've seen are people who have come to Korea worked for a couple years, liked it, and then decided to start an MA TESOL or Applied Linguisitics from one of the ubiquitous on-line programs because they wanted a university position just like the OP.

I wouldn't be surprised if there were thousands, maybe even ten thousand of these people out there now.

My advice to the OP would be to apply to a number of positions in Kyunngi-do or even out to Chuncheon (?) or some other place near the end of the subway line.

I think unless you are very energetic teacher or have some other quality a university is looking for, it is nearly impossible to get a uni position in the Seoul area without an MA, extensive university level experience and/ or strong connections.

I would try the countryside.

Good luck!
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Carbon



Joined: 28 Jan 2011

PostPosted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 5:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

World Traveler wrote:

Every year it becomes worse and worse for the job seeker trying to get his or her (especially his! Shocked ) foot in the door. >_<



There are many tiers of universities in Korea, which works to your advantage in the current discussion. There are many such jobs in which one could cut their proverbial teeth and many jobs that yes, have the bar set higher. IMO, this is as any other skill/profession: personal investment is rewarded. Should a ten-year, MA/CELTA/DELTA holder be in competition with a second year teacher with a BA? Of course not.

As for your comment regarding conditions at unis, I think this has been slipped under the door in other threads as well, but it is not true. Many universities are working on improvement, in order to attract the better teachers with better creds who will, as you said, "do more to improve their international ranking/reputation'.

"Trying to get your foot in the door" is meaningless; what that level of effort means to you and I may well be night and day. For those earnestly trying to get better positions, it will certainly happen. While these claims of insane competition have truth, it isn't quite the meatfest portrayed here. There are many positions for the right people.

Say what you will of Korean education, but being employed at a top 5 university does have a certain wow factor among Koreans.

Wink
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cdninkorea



Joined: 27 Jan 2006
Location: Seoul

PostPosted: Tue Sep 13, 2011 6:21 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Try one of the so-called "unigwons" (private language institutes at a university). There are a lot of them: Korea, Seoul Nat'., Sookmyung, HUFS, Seoul Women's, Yeonsei, etc. Most, if not all, advertise on this site's job board. Keep an eye out or contact them directly (a Google search and cold calling might yield some results).
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litebear



Joined: 12 Sep 2009
Location: Holland

PostPosted: Tue Sep 13, 2011 11:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Unposter wrote:
I would say competition for university positions have increased dramatically but I don't think it is all the state of the economy in the West. A lot of the applicants I've seen are people who have come to Korea worked for a couple years, liked it, and then decided to start an MA TESOL or Applied Linguisitics from one of the ubiquitous on-line programs because they wanted a university position just like the OP.

I wouldn't be surprised if there were thousands, maybe even ten thousand of these people out there now.

My advice to the OP would be to apply to a number of positions in Kyunngi-do or even out to Chuncheon (?) or some other place near the end of the subway line.

I think unless you are very energetic teacher or have some other quality a university is looking for, it is nearly impossible to get a uni position in the Seoul area without an MA, extensive university level experience and/ or strong connections.

I would try the countryside.

Good luck!


I thought there was only around 40,000 E2 Visa holders? Surely even with the Fvisas combined in you couldn't be looking at more than 50,000 teachers tops. Do 1 in 5 of them have a Masters degree, surely not?
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whiteshoes



Joined: 14 Apr 2009

PostPosted: Tue Sep 13, 2011 6:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I did a public school for the first half of my MA, then when I had a chance to interview I did pretty well because of the knowledge I'd gained in my MA program. I'm typing this from my office at a uni in Seoul. Know your stuff, and you will get a job.

*edited for clarity*


Last edited by whiteshoes on Tue Sep 13, 2011 6:47 pm; edited 1 time in total
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kimchijigijig



Joined: 27 Jun 2011

PostPosted: Tue Sep 13, 2011 6:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

whiteshoes wrote:
I did a public school for the first half of mine, then when I had a change to interview I did pretty well because of the knowledge I'd gained in my MA program. I'm typing this from my office at a uni in Seoul. Know your stuff, and you will get a job.


I think you are missing the point. Just to get a look in at most universities in Seoul (or most major cities) without an MA is near impossible. The OP wants to work on an MA (I don't think they have started one yet) at the same time as working for a university (their first choice). Others have rightly suggested that they either try for a university position in country areas or if they are adamant of remaining in Seoul (or wherever they live) then an after school program maybe more suitable for them as the amount of hours that they would be required to be at work is minimal compared to public school positions.

But I don't know why the OP doesn't work (or if they are already in one) in a Hagwon as most don't start until 2pm or later. So, my understanding is that you would have ample time in the morning to study etc.


Last edited by kimchijigijig on Tue Sep 13, 2011 6:40 pm; edited 1 time in total
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DaHu



Joined: 09 Feb 2011

PostPosted: Tue Sep 13, 2011 6:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

If I KNEW people who had done this (as the OP has), I would ask them.
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whiteshoes



Joined: 14 Apr 2009

PostPosted: Tue Sep 13, 2011 6:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

kimchijigijig wrote:
whiteshoes wrote:
I did a public school for the first half of mine, then when I had a change to interview I did pretty well because of the knowledge I'd gained in my MA program. I'm typing this from my office at a uni in Seoul. Know your stuff, and you will get a job.


I think you are missing the point. Just to get a look in at most universities in Seoul (or most major cities) without an MA is near impossible. The OP wants to work on an MA (I don't think they have started one yet) at the same time as working for a university (their first choice). Others have rightly suggested that they either try for a university position in country areas or if they are adamant of remaining in Seoul (or wherever they live) then an after school program maybe more suitable for them as the amount of hours that they would be required to be at work is minimal compared to public school positions.

But I don't know why the OP doesn't work (or if they are already in one) in a Hagwon as most don't start until 2pm or later. So, my understanding is that you would have ample time in the morning to study etc.


Sorry I wasn't very clear in my first post. My point is that when I started my MA I worked at a public school. Then, after a year in my MA program I was able to interview at a uni in Seoul, and I got the job. I think the main reason I got the job was because of the knowledge I gained in my MA program.

The OP stands a much better chance to get a uni gig anywhere, after studying even for a semester or two.

As a person who has worked in a hagwon, public school and a uni, I strongly suggest to the OP to go to a public school. Sure, try for a uni, but go with a public school if you can.
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Unposter



Joined: 04 Jun 2006

PostPosted: Tue Sep 13, 2011 7:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Last year, we had people with MAs and Ph.D.s in hand, who had been working at public schools, lookign for a uni position. Did they really have those degrees? Well, at least, they claimed they did.

We had a couple of hundred applications. 99% either had an MA in hand or were in the process of working on one.

I would say there is at least a thousand people working on an MA and I wouldn't be surprised if there were 10,000. Would you be surprised if 1/5 of all people teaching in Korea were at least working on an MA?
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