Korean Job Discussion Forums

[shandaheath]

I am wanting to teach in South Korea. I have taught third-fifth for the last six years for public schools in the U.S. I have a BS in elementary education. What are my options to get a teaching job in South Korea? For example, I heard a reference to international schools. I have research that topic with little success. Also, I need information on language camps that would sponsor me. I have looked into public verses private, but what other options do I have? Thank you.

[bbunce]

Best bet is to go through a recruiter unless you are in Korea. You might get lucky but international schools are highly competitive and you will need to contact them directly. You can try googling them and most have websites with contact information. I doubt they respond to emails so I'd call them.

As you probably know, timing is everything and Korea is cutting foreign teachers just like the US is cutting public school teachers. Your experience and certification as a public school teacher should open a few doors though. I am working at a hagwon and have a MS in elementary education and certified but lacked experience so my salary is at the lower range.

In any event, you found an excellent forum here that should provide you with some additional useful information. You will also receive posts that are not useful and inappropriate so be prepared. There seems to be all kinds here from the disgruntled to the overjoyed. Cheers..

[takwndogirl]

If you are interested in teaching in an actual international school, there are a variety of organizations that you can use.

SEARCH Associates (Cost $200) The cost includes a local recruiter and admittance to a job fair. I have a classmate who found extremely good employment using them.

International Schools Services (Cost $175) Similar to SEARCH

TIE Online (Cost $30) Provides you a forum where you list your resume and gives you access to international schools and their current listings. I've had a number of schools contact me through their services.

Also, if you are interested in teaching at an international school, check out international schools review. I think it costs $25 but it is a forum where schools and principals are evaluated. It can be extremely difficult to judge a school culture from a website and mission statement. Just as with Dave's there can be some overly negative statements; however, if you look past the poster's frustration, there are often some valid points. Luckily, I've found many of the posts to be quite balanced and the statements have influenced my priority schools.

The above organizations are NOT Korea specific. However, they do have around 15 international schools in Korea with current job listings. If you have good references, my opinion is that you would have a fine chance to get an international school position (but I'm a first time international school candidate so what do I know ). Many/most international schools use the IB curriculum (PYP for elementary MYP for middle school) and expect their teachers to be IB/MYP/PYP trained. There are courses offered in the US, they cost around $600-800 for a 2-3day class. IB is, in my understanding, using inquiry in cross-curricular ways. If you haven't taught ethnically/linguistically diverse students, see if your district offers any trainings for reducing the linguistic demands of lessons. I personally found Guided Language Acquisition Design (GLAD) to be more useful than Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP).

You have years of experience which in Korea is a blessing and a curse. Be aware that MANY teaching positions would be stifling due to the lack of flexibility allowed by the school. I have friends who have taught in schools where they were filmed by closed circuit cameras to ensure they were teaching the curriculum as prescribed. I have also read about extremely rigid co-teaching models in public schools. Thus, I'd caution you to make sure you have accurate information about your job position requirements (and confines) and workplace prior to signing a contract since your prior experience will affect your job satisfaction here in Korea.

Since you do not have a Masters, I don't think that you would be able to get a university position. You won't really know if you don't try; despite what you hear here on Dave's.

Due to my bf's desire to go back to S.K. I will be heading there whether I get a international school job or not. My plan if I don't acquire a position at an international school, is to fly there without a job and find a place that has the type of school culture where I'd like to work. I am guessing that you haven't worked in S.K. before, thus you cannot get your initial work visa outside your local Korean consulate. If you look at this Korean adventure as a 3 part venture. First, you get any job and an initial work visa. Second, stick with the job until your contract is up or you can't take it anymore. Third, find a job while in the country and do a visa run to Japan.

[Dalton]

Never pay for job searches. They are free. Google is your friend.

If you really want to work at an international school and you are certified with at least two years experience in your home country then the world is your oyster.

[ttompatz]

^^^ what he said.

http://www.tes.co.uk/jobs
http://www.ibo.org/

.

[PatrickGHBusan]

I agree you should not pay for a job search.

Since you are a certified teacher you have lots of options (Korea being one of them). Since you are askign about Korea you can apply directly with International Schools without going through a recruiter.

With a simple google search using "International schools in Korea" you will get a few hits of such schools. Visit their websites, find the empoyment option and follow the procedures. Note that these schools have specific hiring periods and once they are done, you typically have to wait one year.

Check this wiki out as well as it lists a few International Schools:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_international_schools

Scroll down to Korea.

You can always check other countries as well because with certification, the world is indeed your oyster.

You just need to do your research and find these places.