|
Korean Job Discussion Forums "The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
minos
Joined: 01 Dec 2010 Location: kOREA
|
Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2011 3:46 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| The main hiring seasons are in spring and fall. They rarely hire outside of that time unless someone is bailing or they have unexpected demand....during school vacation. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
ZIFA
Joined: 23 Feb 2011 Location: Dici che il fiume..Trova la via al mare
|
Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2011 5:13 am Post subject: |
|
|
| SonomaJoe wrote: |
| I have no experience in teaching and have worked slowly towards the goal of getting to Korea for years now. |
I feel for you sonomaJoe but things would have been 100X easier if you could just have jumped aboard even 2.5 years ago.
At that point, it still took almost zero money to get here. You could have gotten your diploma certified for 20 bucks and had a job sorted within a wekk. And they would have flown you here within days..and given you an advance and free accomodation on day 1. If you didn't have even that tiny amount of cash, you could have borrowed it.
I wish you luck, but its a lot more complicated now. You're talking months to get all your paperwork in order and judging by the scarcity of jobs on the ground your apostille may expire before you even get hired.
Have you thought about China? |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
PatrickGHBusan
Joined: 24 Jun 2008 Location: Busan (1997-2008) Canada 2008 -
|
Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2011 12:33 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| ZIFA wrote: |
| AlastairKirby wrote: |
| Didn't use my network. Thought I could do it all myself. |
I also chose not to "use" my friends. Thats not a bad thing in my book.
Yes, maybe the world does rotate based on an exercise in mutual backscratching but some people set standards for themselves. I don't owe anyone a thing, neither am I beholden to anyone else.
..who really wants to pull strings and cash-in your friendships anyway? It makes me cringe. It reminds me of the english old boy network that sustains their snobby class system, a monstrous echelon of stupidity.
| PatrickGHBusan wrote: |
| you should really engage in basic networking |
You appear to be one of those people who has a self-promoting agenda behind every smile and every handshake.
You're probably even smug enough to think the victims you use as stepping stones are oblivious to your fakery.
Why didn't you become a politician? |
Oh wow, quite creative ZIFA! Victims used as stepping stones! You should write cheesy drama.
Just so you know, networking simply means getting to know your co-workers and other professionals in your field, trading ideas, working on common projects and so on.
What that does is establish a network for you. In that network you gain access to information, help, resource sharing, advice and so on. You also become aware of potential JOBS out there. Nothing sinister about it and in fact its considered a pretty normal human interaction in most work fields.
Also so you know, networking is no one way street. Doing it that way does not work well, nor does it last very long. Networking is a TWO-WAY street where you share with others as well.
Simple examples for you:
1- I hear of a good job opening up, I remember this teacher I worked with or met before and he fits what they need....a call here and a call there becomes a referal for a job for that person.
2- I had a project to complete at the University in the mid 2000s. It was more demanding than initially anticipated so I reached out and got a few people I know involved and made it a group project. Guess what happened? All made out well as the result was far better than had I completed it alone. All team members got to work together, bounce ideas off of each other, learn and meet yet more people in their field. Win-Win
Say a Teacher attends a conference (ex:KOTESOL) and meets fellow teachers there along with some people working in education on the management side of things. They discuss things during the conference and exchange contact information. Thats also networking, nother bad about it and not about taking advantage of anyone.
That happened countless times when I was in Korea and oddly enough it works exactly the same way here in Canada. So sorry ZIFA but no buried bodies, shattered careers or lives in some macabre wake of the destroyed here....just normal professional work relationships that all too often benefit everyone involved.
All of this does require that a person takes charge of their life and goes out here as they say. It is not about handshakes and kissing babies, it is about getting to know people in your field and building a support and information exchange network for yourself. This is doubly important in a market like Korea where initially as a foreigner we know no one.
Finally this is not about some code of not owing anything to anyone or being your own man or so on. It has nothing to do with that. Its just pooling resources and knowledge, getting to know others in your field and improving as you go along. Its not about climbing on the back of others (thats a different issue and I agree its reprehensible). |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
jeremysums
Joined: 08 Apr 2011
|
Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2011 9:29 am Post subject: |
|
|
Spain or Mexico would be a good destination after Korea.
| ZIFA wrote: |
| SonomaJoe wrote: |
| I have no experience in teaching and have worked slowly towards the goal of getting to Korea for years now. |
I feel for you sonomaJoe but things would have been 100X easier if you could just have jumped aboard even 2.5 years ago.
At that point, it still took almost zero money to get here. You could have gotten your diploma certified for 20 bucks and had a job sorted within a wekk. And they would have flown you here within days..and given you an advance and free accomodation on day 1. If you didn't have even that tiny amount of cash, you could have borrowed it.
I wish you luck, but its a lot more complicated now. You're talking months to get all your paperwork in order and judging by the scarcity of jobs on the ground your apostille may expire before you even get hired.
Have you thought about China? |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Julius

Joined: 27 Jul 2006
|
Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2011 5:06 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Kennyftw wrote: |
| You have a 4 year degree, good--that's all they care about. |
I just noticed that Indonesia requires a TESOL to get a visa.
Its absurd that most countries value esl qualifications but Korea doesn't. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
PatrickGHBusan
Joined: 24 Jun 2008 Location: Busan (1997-2008) Canada 2008 -
|
Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2011 5:36 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Julius wrote: |
| Kennyftw wrote: |
| You have a 4 year degree, good--that's all they care about. |
I just noticed that Indonesia requires a TESOL to get a visa.
Its absurd that most countries value esl qualifications but Korea doesn't. |
Correction.
Entry-level teaching jobs do not overly care about esl-tefl qualifications. The better jobs do. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
AsiaESLbound
Joined: 07 Jan 2010 Location: Truck Stop Missouri
|
Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2011 11:59 am Post subject: |
|
|
| PatrickGHBusan wrote: |
| Julius wrote: |
| Kennyftw wrote: |
| You have a 4 year degree, good--that's all they care about. |
I just noticed that Indonesia requires a TESOL to get a visa.
Its absurd that most countries value esl qualifications but Korea doesn't. |
Correction.
Entry-level teaching jobs do not overly care about esl-tefl qualifications. The better jobs do. |
Right, nearly all countries require a $1600 one month course to teach ESL, but pay only $500 to $1000 a month with no airfare and few other benefits. What's the deal with pay being so low on a global scale for such highly educated and qualified professionals to fly in and commit at least a year? Shouldn't remuneration be $3,000 on up to $10,000 a month with flights and hotels provided? 1+1 isn't equaling 2 the more I read into the finance and economics of the career situation. Little is actually paying in ESL and in most other fields. It's tough just to earn $30,000 a year doing any sort of work after you've graduated college. Why didn't anyone tell me I should just get a 2 year skilled trade education since they can easily make $30k or more a year? Instead, I was advised more than once to go to college to get a job in an office managing the production and selling of widgets that never materialized due to outsourcing and economic de-development of the US. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
PatrickGHBusan
Joined: 24 Jun 2008 Location: Busan (1997-2008) Canada 2008 -
|
Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2011 12:18 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| AsiaESLbound wrote: |
| PatrickGHBusan wrote: |
| Julius wrote: |
| Kennyftw wrote: |
| You have a 4 year degree, good--that's all they care about. |
I just noticed that Indonesia requires a TESOL to get a visa.
Its absurd that most countries value esl qualifications but Korea doesn't. |
Correction.
Entry-level teaching jobs do not overly care about esl-tefl qualifications. The better jobs do. |
Right, nearly all countries require a $1600 one month course to teach ESL, but pay only $500 to $1000 a month with no airfare and few other benefits. What's the deal with pay being so low on a global scale for such highly educated and qualified professionals to fly in and commit at least a year? Shouldn't remuneration be $3,000 on up to $10,000 a month with flights and hotels provided? 1+1 isn't equaling 2 the more I read into the finance and economics of the career situation. Little is actually paying in ESL and in most other fields. It's tough just to earn $30,000 a year doing any sort of work after you've graduated college. Why didn't anyone tell me I should just get a 2 year skilled trade education since they can easily make $30k or more a year? Instead, I was advised more than once to go to college to get a job in an office managing the production and selling of widgets that never materialized due to outsourcing and economic de-development of the US. |
Whoa...a 1600$ one month course + a BA in anything DOES not make one a highly qualified professional nor does it make one highly educated.
All it does (the added certificate) is add skills and knowledge to an applicants file. Still for entry level teaching jobs, this is not a big requirement. For the better jobs out there it can be an assert if and only if it is supplemented with actual relevant experience.
Also of note, gone are the days of finishing your degree and then sitting on it for your entire career. The job market now requires life-long continuous learning and improvement.
As for your comment on skilled trades, well its never too late, go for it, there are indeed lots of jobs in many fields. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Menino80

Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Location: Hodor?
|
Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2011 4:55 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| PatrickGHBusan wrote: |
| Julius wrote: |
| Kennyftw wrote: |
| You have a 4 year degree, good--that's all they care about. |
I just noticed that Indonesia requires a TESOL to get a visa.
Its absurd that most countries value esl qualifications but Korea doesn't. |
Correction.
Entry-level teaching jobs do not overly care about esl-tefl qualifications. The better jobs do. |
Read carefully. Apples to apples please. He's talking about govt policy. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Draz

Joined: 27 Jun 2007 Location: Land of Morning Clam
|
Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2011 5:20 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| ZIFA wrote: |
| SonomaJoe wrote: |
| I have no experience in teaching and have worked slowly towards the goal of getting to Korea for years now. |
I feel for you sonomaJoe but things would have been 100X easier if you could just have jumped aboard even 2.5 years ago. |
I'm not denying that it's more complicated now, but people said this to me when I came to Korea too... four years ago. Oooooh it's soooo much harder now, you missed the boat, etc. I wouldn't spend too much time thinking about this. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Weigookin74
Joined: 26 Oct 2009
|
Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2011 10:02 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| I think you can do an online one too. Just a TESOL certificate. They really don't care where you got it. Maybe in the Middle East. Even then, those guys want a CELTA over there usually. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired
|
Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2011 10:24 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| AsiaESLbound wrote: |
[
Right, nearly all countries require a $1600 one month course to teach ESL, but pay only $500 to $1000 a month with no airfare and few other benefits. What's the deal with pay being so low on a global scale for such highly educated and qualified professionals to fly in and commit at least a year? Shouldn't remuneration be $3,000 on up to $10,000 a month with flights and hotels provided? |
That's a good one $10,000 a month with flights and hotels provided?
What for? To speak your native language?
Even teachers back home don't earn that much. That's $120,000 a year plus hotels and flights. That's a salary on par with pilots...and all people do in many cases is go "repeat after me..."
And as already said a B.A and a one month course do not make someone a "professional" much less "highly educated and qualified." |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Menino80

Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Location: Hodor?
|
Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 2:17 am Post subject: |
|
|
| TheUrbanMyth wrote: |
| AsiaESLbound wrote: |
[
Right, nearly all countries require a $1600 one month course to teach ESL, but pay only $500 to $1000 a month with no airfare and few other benefits. What's the deal with pay being so low on a global scale for such highly educated and qualified professionals to fly in and commit at least a year? Shouldn't remuneration be $3,000 on up to $10,000 a month with flights and hotels provided? |
That's a good one $10,000 a month with flights and hotels provided?
What for? To speak your native language?
Even teachers back home don't earn that much. That's $120,000 a year plus hotels and flights. That's a salary on par with pilots...and all people do in many cases is go "repeat after me..."
And as already said a B.A and a one month course do not make someone a "professional" much less "highly educated and qualified." |
Do you really think he was suggesting a "repeat after me" teacher deserves 10k a month?Or more likely, you're cherry picking random figures and applying it to avoid addressing the content. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Highwayman
Joined: 22 May 2011
|
Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 2:20 am Post subject: |
|
|
That said, there is a university in Busan now seeking someone with a doctorate in economics to teach that subject, with maybe some English classes thrown in, all for under 3 million a month.
And plenty of others seeking MA TESOL folks to work for 2.1 million. Even with the nice holidays, it's not much of a living. Careers in TESOL in Korea aren't great these days. Good jobs are hard to come by judging by the ads posted here. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired
|
Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 4:07 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Menino80 wrote: |
| TheUrbanMyth wrote: |
| AsiaESLbound wrote: |
[
Right, nearly all countries require a $1600 one month course to teach ESL, but pay only $500 to $1000 a month with no airfare and few other benefits. What's the deal with pay being so low on a global scale for such highly educated and qualified professionals to fly in and commit at least a year? Shouldn't remuneration be $3,000 on up to $10,000 a month with flights and hotels provided? |
That's a good one $10,000 a month with flights and hotels provided?
What for? To speak your native language?
Even teachers back home don't earn that much. That's $120,000 a year plus hotels and flights. That's a salary on par with pilots...and all people do in many cases is go "repeat after me..."
And as already said a B.A and a one month course do not make someone a "professional" much less "highly educated and qualified." |
Do you really think he was suggesting a "repeat after me" teacher deserves 10k a month?Or more likely, you're cherry picking random figures and applying it to avoid addressing the content. |
Nonsense. I picked the figures HE provided. And I addressed the content. As I said a B.A and a one month course do not make someone a highly educated and qualifed professional Certainly not someone deserving 10, 000 a month with hotels and flights thrown in. Heck there are CEO's who don't get that
If you agree with him how about providing a reasoned discourse why? |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|