Korean Job Discussion Forums

[zoeksk]

My plan is to get a Masters Degree in International Management to build on my Business Management degree. This will enable me to teach at a Uni out here and give me better job prospects when I go back to the UK.

But having spoken to someone working at a Uni, they mentioned that you dont need a Masters...

I figure at 23 I'm too young to teach at a Uni away and I only have one and a half years teaching experience (one year in England and am half way through my first contract) My degree will take a minimum of 2 years and by then I will have 4years teaching experience and so getting a Uni job should be easy right? Then I can stay out here for a few more years. Because while I love teaching Kinder I don't think I could do it for more than two years. I was planning to spend the last year of my Masters at a Unigwon teaching Adults for the experience even though it will be split shift.

Anyone have any advice? I have to pay 450gbp on friday to secure my place on this course so it might just be last minute nerves but all advice would be appreciated

[zoeksk]

:S there was supposed to be more options than that... such as "no, just get experience teaching adults"

[ttompatz]

Is a master's worth it?

IMHO = yes.

Just to be an EFL teacher at a Korean uni = no. (There are better paying options after you spend the money on an MA/M.Sc.)

.

[Weigookin74]

Depends on what you're taking. A masters when every one else and their dog has one isn't worth it. But if you're specializing in a specific field than it's ok. What are you going to take? TESOL for the uni pay here versus the cost and time of acquiring it isn't worth it. Just my two cents worth.

[zoeksk]

MSc in International Management,
The goal is to work in Korea for 5 years and then go back to the UK with enough saved up to get myself a decent flat and car, the masters degree would make it easier for a job upon return to the Uk too
I was planning on 3 years in Hagwons (first 2 in my current kinder and elementary Hagwon and 3rd in an adult hagwon or unigwon) and 2 years in a Uni

[chrisblank]

You're definitely going to benefit from a Masters. I've been teaching at the uni level for almost 10 years. (good grief, it just hit me, I was hired at my first uni in March 2003)

A lot of uni's don't need a masters, but more and more are going that way. It will help get any uni job, but moreover it will help you get a good uni job. I see ads for, and hear about, many EFL jobs at the uni level all the time now. Schools want people who can teach subjects in English. If you have a masters level degree in a subject you will be able to teach actual courses in Business. You may even be able to do a Phd in a program while teaching there.

You could do a couple of years at the kindi, then apply for the low level uni jobs. A lot of schools will hire young guys (I've seen a guy hired at University of Incheon at 22), especially if you have a couple years experience and a year of a masters under ur belt.

Go outside Seoul to Incheon, Anyang or further.

Of course a masters isn't easy. If you have the time and ability, go for it.

[Daniel1981]

Are we allowed to study for (and be awarded) a Masters on an E2 visa? I mean, at a Korean in-person university.

I have a computer science degree and would consider getting my masters in that, or perhaps an MBA as I have 5 years management experience. But I wasn't sure we could enroll, and be granted a Masters degree on an E2 visa.

If we can, that also gives me points I am missing for an F2. Hmmm.

[zoeksk]

Oh God I didn't even consider that my visa wouldn't let me study >_< I figured since I'm doing an online degree it didn't really matter

[chrisblank]

[isitts]

[edwardcatflap]

Remember as you're from the UK and might want to teach in the European union in the future, a TEFL cert won't get you anywhere for that, unless it's a CELTA or Trinity.

[schwa]

I think your poll omits another important option. Further education with smart professors can notch up your thinking for life. Isnt that the point?

Its not necessarily all about equating degrees with money.

[Daniel1981]

I'm interested in learning more about the online master's you guys are doing. Are they being done in Korea? Can you link me to somewhere?

I am not so much interested in an English education masters, but if that is what you are doing I'd like to take a look.

If you are taking non ESL-related masters online while in Korea, that is very interesting. Where/How?

[sigmundsmith]

[sigmundsmith]

Daniel cant send emails... answering ur question there are many masters degrees that you can do at any Korean university that requires all lectures to done 100% in English. Sejong University has the MBA program in conjunction with Syracuse University... they send some of their prof. of here to teach some programs.

Of course if you are looking to do something in teaching say TESOL or App Ling. university programs such as SNU, Sookmyung, and many more. Do some research into the quality of programs offerred of course. Go to the universities and speak with the professors personally about their program.

Depending on where you are working (Hagwon/Public School/University) will determine your schedule. Many of the programs for TESOL offer these programs at night as many of the students are Korean public school teachers or who are working full time in another profession and are looking for a change.

Hope that answers your question