Korean Job Discussion Forums

[withnail]

Does anyone currently work in SNU'S College English Programme?
Or perhaps there's someone out there who did so in the last few years?

I'd love to know what it's like to work there...Good points / Drawbacks?

[PRagic]

The SNU College English Program used to be THE place to work for professionals. I knew several people who worked there prior to the big 'house cleaning'. In a nut shell, people who worked in the English program used to get annual increases, bonuses, and the rest of the entitlements offered to long-term visiting (non-tenure track) profs. Then it all changed. They scaled down the salary to the current standards, and offered no increases regardless of the time in service.

ALL of my friends quit as they were looking at substantial salary cuts and zero long-term upside. These are people with major TESL qualifications (MAs, Celta, Delta and 10+ years of experience). The current system, from what they've told me, provides no incentives for highly qualified and experienced teachers. Everyone moved to a private university position where they would make at least, and in some cases more, than they made at SNU under the old regime scenario. One friend moved into the corporate sector. If I'm not mistaken, only one person from the 'old system' resigned and I don't think even he is there anymore.

You'd be better served if someone on the board could contribute information about the current employment conditions compared to other good university slots. The pay is no longer the best you can find, but it's not too bad. I guess the hours aren't bad and the vacation time is still on par with other universities.

In short, SNU, rather than maintaining its position as 'the' place to work for long-term ESL professionals, has relegated itself to being a training ground for those wishing to break into the uper echelons of university positions. Now you get qualified enough to work at SNU, get the experience, and then move on to greener pastures as quickly as possible.

[withnail]

Thank you very much Dr PRagic...that's a great history. As you say, it would be good to know the current state of play there. Sadly it seems that when the English teaching jobs at the big-name unis come up - they just don't compete with other smaller private unis.

It often seems like there is an inverse relationship between university reputation and how well they treat their teachers. I call it the 'Busan Complex' so-called because almost every university job in Busan offers awful entry-level pay and conditions because, "hey, we have a beach! You would be lucky to work here!"

FOr Busan, substitute SNU etc. That's why I'm doing a PhD now - to try to aim at one of those more specialised positions in Seoul teaching something rather than 'General English'

Seems like only when you decide to teach something that noone else or few can lay claim to having the required knowledge for, are you in with a chance of a decent salary package...

[cheolsu]

withnail, can I ask what you're doing a PhD in and how you're doing it? I'm presuming that it's not with a Korean school, or is it?

I just started an MA myself, but I'm thinking about doing a PhD down the road.

[withnail]

I'm doing this one: http://www.ling.lancs.ac.uk/study/phd/appling.htm

[cheolsu]

Would master's degree in education with a focus on TESOL be alright for admission to such a program? My coursework focuses primarily on language acquisition and instruction.

[withnail]

Sure would! But the key is your research proposal - that's ultimately what it takes to get accepted. Good luck:)

[PRagic]

Sounds like a plan. With a Ph.D. (and a couple of publications), you'll be qualified to apply for positions in a College of Education at any number of larger universities here. They have 'English Education' (different than Language and Literature) major programs here and do hire non-Korean Ph.D.s in both tenure and non-tenure track slots.

Good luck with it!