Site Search:
 
Speak Korean Now!
Teach English Abroad and Get Paid to see the World!
Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

Does every PS job now require a TEFL cert?!?
Goto page 1, 2  Next
 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Job-related Discussion Forum
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
happiness



Joined: 04 Sep 2010

PostPosted: Thu Sep 20, 2012 2:27 am    Post subject: Does every PS job now require a TEFL cert?!? Reply with quote

I was talking to a recruiter today and he told me this, and said it was a little known new reg, but then he tried to sell me a "discounted" tefl course. I know it sounds shady, but is it true? I refused it anyway.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Dodge7



Joined: 21 Oct 2011

PostPosted: Thu Sep 20, 2012 2:42 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

hope so, it's about time these lazy "teachers" get some kind of qualification.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
andrewchon



Joined: 16 Nov 2008
Location: Back in Oz. Living in ISIS Aust.

PostPosted: Thu Sep 20, 2012 6:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

GEPIK requires TESOL with 100 hour in-class, but as for hiring by school, I don't know.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Porksta



Joined: 05 May 2011

PostPosted: Fri Sep 21, 2012 5:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

You need a certification or one year of experience. A degree in English or a Master's may suffice but I am not sure.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Ranman



Joined: 18 Aug 2012

PostPosted: Mon Sep 24, 2012 11:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

In most places, you need a 100 hour TEFL course if you don't have a BA in English or Education. They can be all online, unless you're teaching in Busan. If you're teaching in Busan, you'll need at least 50 of the 100 hours in a classroom.

Though from what I've understand, they've eliminated the lowest pay option of 1.8 for people without the TEFL. Everything starts at 2.0 now, if I understand it correctly.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
teachergame



Joined: 11 Sep 2012

PostPosted: Thu Sep 27, 2012 11:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

A Masters won't help unless you have one in Education or ESL. I've a grad degree, and several years' experience teaching at Korean public schools but I still had to do the TESOL course. A waste of time and money basically, but it's another one of those ridiculous hoops that they want foreigners to jump through. I think the only way to get around it is if you have an education degree or a teaching certificate. Confused
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Swampfox10mm



Joined: 24 Mar 2011

PostPosted: Sun Sep 30, 2012 3:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

FYI: It has been recruiting season for local (and very expensive) TEFL courses that need not be named.

You'll be able to figure them out by the excessive number of "my friend's boss is high-up in EPIK/SMOE/Et. al, and got a letter that new regulations coming down the pipe will require all teachers to have _ _ _ _ _ TEFL certificates with XX hours of classroom teaching as part of the course...." posts.

We've seen the same posts at certain times for at least 5 years now. Keep that in mind before you drop 2 million on a TEFL course you may not need.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Guajiro



Joined: 04 Dec 2008

PostPosted: Sun Sep 30, 2012 4:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ranman wrote:
In most places, you need a 100 hour TEFL course if you don't have a BA in English or Education. They can be all online, unless you're teaching in Busan. If you're teaching in Busan, you'll need at least 50 of the 100 hours in a classroom.

Though from what I've understand, they've eliminated the lowest pay option of 1.8 for people without the TEFL. Everything starts at 2.0 now, if I understand it correctly.


All recruiters I've spoken to about public school jobs have been saying all year that basically level 3 on the pay scale has been eliminated (what you said) and now all teachers need a degree in English or Education or Linguistics OR 1 year of previous full-time classroom teaching experience OR a 100-hour TESOL/TESL/TEFL certificate.

Looks like it's getting even more strict next year. This is a direct quote from the EPIK website news section:

"Greetings Prospective Applicants,

In recent terms, the application process has gradually become more competitive. At this point, it is almost impossible for level 3 applicants to secure a position with the EPIK program. As such, the most common way for level 3 applicants to increase their qualifications would be to enroll in a TEFL or TESOL course.

Currently, we accept a minimum 100 hour TEFL or TESOL certificate as a qualification criteria for level 2 or higher pay grade, regardless of how the course was taken. However, starting from the Fall 2013 term, when we recommend candidates to the POE/MOEs we will give a priority to the applicants possessing a minimum 100 hour TEFL or TESOL with at least a 20 hour offline, in-class component, as opposed to those who only completed a strictly online course. We strongly advise you to take the TEFL or TESOL programs including at least a 20 hour offline, in-class component. This decision was made to meet requests from the POE/MOEs and schools who wish to have the most qualified Guest English Teachers possible.

Thank you for your cooperation."
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
xihtug



Joined: 14 Sep 2012

PostPosted: Sun Sep 30, 2012 4:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Dumb question but you never know - Do you think that a Masters in Social Studies Education counts as an Education degree? I also have a teacher's licence for the Social Studies.

I'm currently enrolled in an online TEFL course but I'm definitely not going to be done by the time the interviews begin.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
goreality



Joined: 09 Jul 2009

PostPosted: Sun Sep 30, 2012 8:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
Do you think that a Masters in Social Studies Education counts as an Education degree? I also have a teacher's licence for the Social Studies.


Just given that education is in the name it should count. The teacher's licence is also great.
But is it an MA or an MEd?
If it's the latter I would say 'Master in Education specializing in Social Science.'
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
xihtug



Joined: 14 Sep 2012

PostPosted: Mon Oct 01, 2012 9:21 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

goreality wrote:
Quote:
Do you think that a Masters in Social Studies Education counts as an Education degree? I also have a teacher's licence for the Social Studies.


Just given that education is in the name it should count. The teacher's licence is also great.
But is it an MA or an MEd?
If it's the latter I would say 'Master in Education specializing in Social Science.'


It's an MA. I figured if it has Education in the name I'm fine, but I wasn't sure how picky they were being.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
mcloo7



Joined: 20 Aug 2012

PostPosted: Fri Oct 05, 2012 2:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

So if you have a BA in English you're covered?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Kaypea



Joined: 09 Oct 2008

PostPosted: Fri Oct 05, 2012 4:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have a BA in English, 2 years' experience teaching in Korea (though I'm in Canada now), and am halfway through an MA in TEFL from University of Birmingham... but no 100 hour TESOL course Sad


I'm applying to EPIK through Footprints, and I'll let you know what they say about me!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
No_hite_pls



Joined: 05 Mar 2007
Location: Don't hate me because I'm right

PostPosted: Sat Oct 06, 2012 2:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

All these qualifications for an assistant teacher job, man have times changed.

BTW, I never worked with a Korean English contract teacher (not an assistant teacher like you will be) that had any thing above a bachelor degree and most of their degrees were not even in English or Education.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Weigookin74



Joined: 26 Oct 2009

PostPosted: Sat Oct 06, 2012 8:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Guajiro wrote:
Ranman wrote:
In most places, you need a 100 hour TEFL course if you don't have a BA in English or Education. They can be all online, unless you're teaching in Busan. If you're teaching in Busan, you'll need at least 50 of the 100 hours in a classroom.

Though from what I've understand, they've eliminated the lowest pay option of 1.8 for people without the TEFL. Everything starts at 2.0 now, if I understand it correctly.


All recruiters I've spoken to about public school jobs have been saying all year that basically level 3 on the pay scale has been eliminated (what you said) and now all teachers need a degree in English or Education or Linguistics OR 1 year of previous full-time classroom teaching experience OR a 100-hour TESOL/TESL/TEFL certificate.

Looks like it's getting even more strict next year. This is a direct quote from the EPIK website news section:

"Greetings Prospective Applicants,

In recent terms, the application process has gradually become more competitive. At this point, it is almost impossible for level 3 applicants to secure a position with the EPIK program. As such, the most common way for level 3 applicants to increase their qualifications would be to enroll in a TEFL or TESOL course.

Currently, we accept a minimum 100 hour TEFL or TESOL certificate as a qualification criteria for level 2 or higher pay grade, regardless of how the course was taken. However, starting from the Fall 2013 term, when we recommend candidates to the POE/MOEs we will give a priority to the applicants possessing a minimum 100 hour TEFL or TESOL with at least a 20 hour offline, in-class component, as opposed to those who only completed a strictly online course. We strongly advise you to take the TEFL or TESOL programs including at least a 20 hour offline, in-class component. This decision was made to meet requests from the POE/MOEs and schools who wish to have the most qualified Guest English Teachers possible.

Thank you for your cooperation."


Sure will be nice when this recession ends. Won't those fellows be in for a surprise? Where would you do a class TESOL if you already are in Korea? I'm suppose to go home and take one? Online is the only possibility if you are already in Korea. Duh!! (No, I don't live in Seoul.)
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Job-related Discussion Forum All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Goto page 1, 2  Next
Page 1 of 2

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling.
Contact Dave's ESL Cafe
Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved.

Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group

TEFL International Supports Dave's ESL Cafe
TEFL Courses, TESOL Course, English Teaching Jobs - TEFL International