Korean Job Discussion Forums

iggyb · Joined: 29 Oct 2003

Apparently login info for the Korea forums doesn't open up posting rights in other areas. I want to find out about the Middle East but can't post over there. Tried but it said they were not accepting new members until mid-August. That is too late for me...

But I know some of the expats in Korea have done time there. So...

I taught in Korea for about 8 years - half of it in the late 1990s and half just recently. I'm going to head overseas again, and I want to work somewhere besides Asia, and money is a factor. That means the Middle East.

For those who have worked there, what are the pitfalls? Any nation that advertises jobs that is better avoided? What are the recruiters like? For each nation, what would you guess the number of bad schools/institutes are?

The 1990s IMF period in Korea was a rough one. Many hakwons going bankrupt. Too many schools routinely cheating expats. Because there were too many bad hakwons, the recruiters were bad too. My advice to newbies at the time was to look at other nations first. Veterans of the industry could navigate it, but the chance of landing in a bad situation were too high for a newbie.

It was completely different by the time I returned in 2009. Still had some bad hakwons, but not as bad as during the IMF, and the public school jobs had stabilized the industry for the most part.

My background: 41 year old American - MA in Teaching English (secondary schools) - BA in English with TESOL coursework - certified in the US to teach English (6-12) and ESL (K-12) - 9 years teaching experience - almost all in ESL and most in Korea - Have taught ESL in an American high school and taught Freshman Composition in college as a grad student.

My preference in the Middle East will be teaching adults or college.

Any insights would be appreciated...

YTMND · Joined: 16 Jan 2012 Location: You're the man now dog!!

http://www.google.com.hk/#hl=en&newwindow=1&safe=strict&site=&source=hp&q=teach+english+in+middle+east&oq=teach+english+in+middle+east

AsiaESLbound · Joined: 07 Jan 2010 Location: Truck Stop Missouri

You can go there now because you have the appropriate qualifications recruiters and schools demand. I couldn't get a job in the Middle East without an MA and a TESOL qual. The MA is very important in being selected and the pay tends to be a handsome $35,000 to $50,000 a year tax free with full benefits, but it's a lot of student loan debt and a few more years of advanced studies to reach this point that isn't guaranteed to be there in a few short years from now so I'd go make that money now if I could. The KSA takes the most qualified career ESL teachers and pays very well compared to the world though may be very stressful and not much fun in my opinion. I was wanting to go for a year or two just to save up money before moving on, but it's not a backpackers paradise with only an undergraduate degree.

Ballerina2012 · Joined: 17 Jan 2012

Subscribe to TIEOnline.. There are a lot of Middle Eastern jobs on there, but it costs money to join.

JustinC · Joined: 10 Mar 2012 Location: We Are The World!

Hi Iggy,

I have a Ba and a CELTA. I taught for 2 years in Saudi and 1 in Kuwait. You need a thick skin to get by in Saudi, Kuwait is easier to live in but the salary is not as high.

I have friends who taught in Oman and liked it there, but preferred Kuwait. I have friends/ex-colleagues who've been in Kuwait for years, some of them have been there decades. Another friend was in Libya until recent events forced him out. He'd like to go back. I met a guy who was teaching in Bahrain - it's certainly not for me (ME pressures plus booze/prostitutes available are not the best of combinations).

The Emirates are supposed to be a good place to live, although it's difficult to get much work out of a lot of the students in that region.

If you read the posts in the forums on Dave's (you can do that without logging in) you'll see lots of experienced teachers on there giving advice.

iggyb · Joined: 29 Oct 2003

Thanks.

What are the recruiters like compared to Korea?

The only good recruiter I worked with in Korea was one that placed exclusively with SMOE. The other two or three recruiters I went with for hakwons had some issues but could get you a job.

I'd like to work in Central or South America, but they don't offer enough money at this point.

I don't need nightclubs and an entertainment scene - which seems to be a hold up for some in the Middle East. I am just looking for a TESOL position outside of East Asia that pays...

JustinC · Joined: 10 Mar 2012 Location: We Are The World!

Recruiters can vary, obviously, but I found them a good introduction to the whims of the host country Rolling Eyes

isitts · Joined: 25 Dec 2008 Location: Korea

iggyb · Joined: 29 Oct 2003

Thanks. Two days ago I applied for a new account, but I notice the next day if you tried to register you get a message saying that new accounts will not be accepted again until mid-August --- which sucks for me.

I've contacted 5 or job ads, and the recruiters and/or direct hire people are wanting to set up phone and skype interviews. Things are moving rapidly ---- and I can't get on Dave's to ask questions....

I've been reading back posts and googling. It seems Saudi Arabia might not be the place to go for me. I'm very flexible. I made it through 4 years in Korea during the I'MF period. But, I'd rather not jump right into a place that people are saying is difficult to get along in.

I read a couple of good reviews of teachaway recruiters and have a phone interview with them tomorrow for a public school position in the United Arab Emirates.

I wish I could post about those jobs to get some feed back from people working in them.

A difference from similar jobs in Korea seems to be the UAE schools have multiple foriegn teachers.

In Korea, I'd probably like it a little better being the only foreigner on staff, but going to a new region, and one so culturally different than back home, my guess is it would be better to have some vets on staff to give advice...

JustinC · Joined: 10 Mar 2012 Location: We Are The World!

You could try googling "Dave's [school name]" if you haven't already.

Where ever you go in the ME you generally have a lot of free time and the outside-of-work activities are less than you're used to.

Personal hobbies (where you don't need any infrastructure provided) are great for taking up spare time; reading, hashing, cooking, watching movies, photography (although it could be restricted) etc.

For cooking the ingredients may be less than you're used to. Your new colleagues will appreciate anything you take that they can't get! They'll also appreciate a new face and any good distractions from life in 'the Big Sandbox.'

Good luck!

iggyb · Joined: 29 Oct 2003

I wish I could get current info. Other forums I've seen don't have much participation.

Right now, I'm being interviewed for public school positions in the UAE. Most of what I'm reading give good notes on the UAE, but a few posts seem to say many big changes are going on within the public schools and there is high turnover. But those posts were a couple of years ago.

Anyway, I'll ask to contact a couple of teachers currently working when I get closer to making a decision.

It would be nice to be able to post over there, though...

iggyb · Joined: 29 Oct 2003

It's maddening not being able to register or post over at the Middle East forums....especially after having been a member and poster in the Korea for a long time.

I even put in registration about a day before they started the announcement it will be about a month before they register new people...

I've got recruiters wanting to set appointments, but I can't ask questions on the forums and have to rely on posts a year old or more...

I guess it's enough --- but since I know so little about the ESL industries in those nations, I'd sure like to be able to post.....