Korean Job Discussion Forums

iggyb · Joined: 29 Oct 2003

I think they do favor F-6s. My guess is that the schools have fewer hoops to jump through with the government to hire them.

If I decide to go back to Korea, I could go the F-6 route, but I'd need to hire a Korean immigration lawyer to help out, because my wife will remain in the US at her job while I'm gone. At least that is what a lawyer within the immigration department told me.

Or, I could go with the E-2 again...

I went to Korea on my own last time, and several hakwons were interested as soon as I arrived, because they heard I was married to a Korean, but they cooled quickly when I said I didn't have the spousal visa.

I believe I heard that the new F-6 wouldn't have to be renewed each year. I'd like to get one so I could go to Korea whenever - like during school breaks in the US (once I get a teaching job there). It would be good for my wife to visit her family and for me to make a little extra money...

...but right now, I need to get my documents in order.

If I had imagined I would have such trouble finding a teaching position in my state, I'd have been collecting them already....

Poo...

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

young_clinton · Joined: 09 Sep 2009

You can easily get a job in the Middle East with those credentials. Just find a recruiter that is not a twit.

PatrickGHBusan · Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2012 4:54 am Post subject:

Hotpants · Joined: 27 Jan 2006

Yeah, I wouldn't give up on the basis of what just one recruiter said. Around 5 years ago, I was in a similar position to you, looking at the Middle East. I was also told I didn't have enough credentials compared to other candidates. I know that a lot of the really good posts go to PhD'ers. A couple of my friends landed such jobs as soon as they had completed their PhDs, but who only had about half the number of years of classroom experience as I had. However, as you'll see from the job boards, there is such a high demand for all level of teachers in the Middle East these days, that just about anyone should be able to break in if they're persistent enough.

What about looking at international schools elsewhere, though? As a certified teacher, you should have a pretty good pick of options just about anywhere in the world. For certified teachers, there are some pretty good current options in places like Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, and Brunei. As Brunei is largely a Muslim country, it can't be too different from the Middle East! Wink

iggyb · Joined: 29 Oct 2003

I'm waiting to get my criminal background check back before getting into a 2nd round of applications.

I got a couple of interviews (no offers) the first round, which was a good test. I'll see what happens next time.

I also applied to a couple of schools in Central and South America that paid enough to make financial sense - no interviews.

I'm still trying to get something outside of Asia.

The international schools seem to usually say they prefer you to be familiar with a specific curriculum - none of which I'm familiar with - at least by name...

Hank the Iconoclast · Joined: 08 Oct 2007 Location: Busan

PatrickGHBusan · Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2012 4:11 am Post subject:

young_clinton · Joined: 09 Sep 2009

I had fewer credentials and was offered a teaching position in Saudi Arabia. Clearly the OP could go for even a more favorable Middle eastern country. You might want to contact schools in the emirates on your own. If nothing else Taiwan public schools will definitely hire you. They require Licensure in your home country. The working conditions and pay in Taiwan are similar to Korea.

iggyb · Joined: 29 Oct 2003

I've always valued experience over classroom learning, but I don't discount either one.

I've always said an expat who wants to learn how to teach can do so even in the hakwon system. Much like students learning, it depends on the teacher's willingness to try new things and evaluate how it is going and strive to be more effective. Meaning: You can go through the hakwon system and not gain much insight - or - you can learn.

I think I learned much teaching low level English my first years teaching full time.

But, I do recognize that I'm weaker in some areas than teachers back in the US. I'm weaker than average in terms of formal evaluation, because I didn't have to give grades in most of the places I worked in Korea.

Anyway, I sent my criminal background check a week ago Monday. In another week or two, I'll start sending out a batch of more applications.

We'll see what happens...

Canadian Club · Joined: 12 Aug 2006

What about applying to the international schools anyway and seeing what happens? Are there any IB workshops in your area that you could take? If you're qualified and certified to teach, do it!