Korean Job Discussion Forums

[LTeach]

I know this question has probably been asked to death but I am wondering if it is worth it to get a certificate if I happen to be a first-time teacher with no long-term plans to teach in Korea? I have heard that a certificate for an entry-level job won't really make much difference with how much you are paid though it might be a make-or-break factor in you getting hired. I have also heard the standard line that 'most positions require certification these days.'

Just so you'd know, I'm not planning to teach in public schools as I'm pretty sure I've missed the deadline anyway. If I don't get a certificate, will I be stuck with the crappy jobs, like a position with a hagwon that might get shut down for example? I have a BA in English and I am a Native English speaker of Southeast Asian descent.

[ttompatz]

A TEFL cert won't hurt you but for a hagwan job it isn't needed either.
It is NOT an immigration/visa requirement.

As to your ethnicity... nah.. you are not "asian-something"... you are just "something" (provided that "something" is one of the approved 7 nationalities and you hold a degree from one of those same 7).

.

[viciousdinosaur]

Will it make a difference if you get into a good Hagwon or bad one?
No. It won't. In fact, it's usually the worst places that ask for the most requirements. (ie. a director with an inflated ego, who thinks his hagwon is somehow better than others, is also likely to treat his employees like disposable tissue)

It wouldn't matter if you had a PhD.

Case in point. My school once hired a guy with an MA and a TESOL diploma. This was a hagwon. He's way over-qualified. And guess what. He got fired. Why? Too fat.

Welcome to Korea.

[Redcap]

L Teach:

You stated that you're a "first time teacher." Taking a TEFL/TESOL course could help mitigate a lot of the confusion and stress that newcomers experience when stepping into the classroom for the first time.

A decent TEFL course will offer you an introduction into teaching methodologies, lesson planning, classroom management, and also provide you an opportunity to practice what you've learned via a teaching practicum. Will a TEFL cert magically transform you into an overnight teaching sensation ? Nope, far from it. But it will provide you with a solid platform from which you can develop your teaching skills. It will also open up more employment doors for you, should you change your mind about teaching long term, in the public school system, or in other countries.

Keep in mind that arming yourself with a TEFL certification will offer you little in the way of protection from ending up in a bad hagwan. The best person to oversee your employment interests is YOU. Therefore, it's incumbent on you to do as much due diligence as possible when weighing over job offers. This means taking a proactive approach and searching the internet for feedback on the hagwan, or asking a prospective employer to provide you with contact information for current and previous employees so that you can obtain firsthand information about working conditions. It's generally a good idea to contact current employees during afterwork hours, so as to prevent a scenario whereby the school owner/manager is monitoring the telephone conversation or email communication.

Best of luck.

[passport220]

[young_clinton]

I think public schools pay higher salaries to teachers with a TEFL certificate also.

[viciousdinosaur]