| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
jeremydc808
Joined: 16 Apr 2012
|
 Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 11:19 pm Post subject: Planning on going to Korea so I decided to introduce myself |
 |
|
Whats up members. I have been lurking this forum for a few weeks now and I enjoyed the discussions. People here seem very helpful which is awesome!. I just wanted to introduce myself as I should be replying to threads in the future.
My name is Jeremy and I am graduating from the University of Hawaii in the summer with a double major in Public and Justice Administration as well as a Certificate in Disaster. In November I applied to law schools and got accepted into a few good schools. I thought about my life and could not see myself going to school for another 3 years. I always told myself that by the time I was 30, I would have visited all 7 continents. Of course to my family's disapproval, I deferred the decision to accept. Teaching has always been a passion of mine. After googling overseas teaching positions, I stumbled upon this site. I have been in contact with Alistair from KH and he is helping me through the process with the documents.
Last edited by jeremydc808 on Fri Apr 20, 2012 11:23 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
edwardcatflap
Joined: 22 Mar 2009
|
| Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 11:22 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| a Certificate in Disaster |
That's a cool qualification to have  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
jeremydc808
Joined: 16 Apr 2012
|
| Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 11:24 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Haha, thanks bro. I figured it would be useful where ever I ended up. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
wylies99
Joined: 13 May 2006
Location: I'm one cool cat!
|
| Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 6:39 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Where are you going to teach? My advice- stick with public schools and close to Seoul. You'll understand why when you get here. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Dodge7
Joined: 21 Oct 2011
|
| Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 9:24 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| your degree is totally irrelevant to teaching. What a mockery this "profession" has become. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
jfromtheway
Joined: 20 Nov 2010
|
| Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 2:01 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Hello. I'm in the same position, except I'm already here and it's not the idea of attending three more years of school that worries me, but actually having to be a lawyer at the end of it! As wylies said, stick with public schools. And I'd consider the Chinese university route before Korea if I had the funds and was just looking to spend a year or two in Asia. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Trip
Joined: 28 Dec 2008
|
| Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 2:29 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Dodge7 wrote: |
| your degree is totally irrelevant to teaching. What a mockery this "profession" has become. |
He certainly qualifies for the E-2 visa. OP, come on over to Korea. Don't listen to negative asshats on here. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
sirius black
Joined: 04 Jun 2010
|
| Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 2:33 am Post subject: |
|
|
| wylies99 wrote: |
| Where are you going to teach? My advice- stick with public schools and close to Seoul. You'll understand why when you get here. |
My advice is disregard the above advice. Focus on what YOU want. It may or may not be in or close to Seoul. Also, there are great hogwan jobs out there as well. Not all PS jobs are great. Plenty of horror stories there (crazy co teachers/vce principals, etc.). All things being equal, PS jobs are 'better' but its not a given.
Do your research. Your job, or rather getting the right job is the most important thing. Get as much info as you can about it and never take a job without speaking to a former/current teacher.
If you prefer an urban environment there are options besides Seoul (Busan, Deagu, Daejeon). If you want a quieter life, and outdoor life, etc., even more options.
For a couple hundred bucks you may want to supplement your resume with a TEFL or TOESL. It could get you a better salary and open you up to better jobs. Not a requirement but it can help and never hurts. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
The Sultan of Seoul
Joined: 17 Apr 2012
Location: right... behind.. YOU
|
| Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 3:24 am Post subject: |
|
|
Not all hakwans are bad.
Last one I worked at, I taught 22 hrs a week on average (even though contract was for 30) got paid 2.3mil, had a decent enough pad, free meals every day and pretty easy classes. Vacation was only 10 days, but hey ho, that was made up for by not having to be in until 2pm every day, whereas my previous ps job, I had to be in at 8.30am but got more days off. Captain Caveman prefer me get up 2pm than 8.30 morning. Me no like morning get up. 
That said I had a lot of previous experience so knew my way round all the tricks and potential cons. I have been ripped off by a hakwan once and it does happen. Public school is much safer. Generally if you like the hakwan owner at the interview and they seem genuine, they are usually okay. If they seem hard to communicate with, pseudo-friendly or just make alarm bells ring for some reason... well... NUMBER ONE RULE is always check with a previous teacher before taking any hakwan job. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ontheway
Joined: 24 Aug 2005
Location: Somewhere under the rainbow...
|
| Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 9:36 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Dodge7 wrote: |
| your degree is totally irrelevant to teaching. What a mockery this "profession" has become. |
That's good. Maybe he'll actually have some ability then.
Of the 6 all time worst teachers that I've ever seen in Korea, all had either an Education Degree, a TEFL cert or both.
Of the 6 all time best teachers that I've seen in Korea, none had a TEFL or CELTA, but one did have an Education Degree and 10 years of experience.
OP. Good luck in Korea. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
jeremydc808
Joined: 16 Apr 2012
|
| Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 2:35 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Thanks for the support everyone.
A few quick questions regarding things some of you mentioned.
1. How would I be able to contact a former teacher of certain ps or hagwok?
2. Getting a TESOL/ TEFL certificate is on my to do list before I even apply. Any online programs that you have experience with. Good/Bad?
3. Is there anything that I should do before applying? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
sirius black
Joined: 04 Jun 2010
|
| Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 9:39 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| jeremydc808 wrote: |
Thanks for the support everyone.
A few quick questions regarding things some of you mentioned.
1. How would I be able to contact a former teacher of certain ps or hagwok?
2. Getting a TESOL/ TEFL certificate is on my to do list before I even apply. Any online programs that you have experience with. Good/Bad?
3. Is there anything that I should do before applying? |
1. The school you're interested should provide a foriegn teacher for you to speak to. I would try and speak to them via skype or whatever instead of email.
2. Generally speaking, a 120 hour progaram with classroom instruction and not online is best. There are a few companies that offer both online and classroom but their certificates look the same (ITTT for example).
3. Get your docs (criminal background check, apostilled diploma, passport obviously, etc.) Save us much money as you can for things you may need before your first paycheck. You get paid once a month so it may be a few weeks till you get paid a full paycheck and your first may only be a partial. You have some initial start up costs like your medical exam. Food obviously and any other items you may need once in country.
Finally, I'd start doing some research on what type of life you want here. Look at certain cities and areas and do a search on here and other forums about these areas. Depending on what you want some areas may be more suited for you than others (such as clubs, outdoor activities, fellow foreigner saturation, etc.). |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
GoldMember
Joined: 24 Oct 2006
|
| Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2012 5:29 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Every year hundreds if not thousands of people come to Korea to work. Of those people there are always a tiny handfull, that have to announce their arrival or intention to arrive. I wonder why? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
jeremydc808
Joined: 16 Apr 2012
|
| Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2012 5:42 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I'm not too sure what you are getting at Goldmember.
Despite the few negative posts that I have come across in this thread, I appreciate the help from the rest of you. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
rabidcake
Joined: 10 Aug 2009
|
| Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2012 7:08 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| GoldMember wrote: |
| Every year hundreds if not thousands of people come to Korea to work. Of those people there are always a tiny handfull, that have to announce their arrival or intention to arrive. I wonder why? |
Every day hundreds if not thousands of people get online and read the discussions on this form. Of those people there are always a tiny handful, that have to write very disrespectful things to people on this site. I wonder why? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
