|
Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
seansmith
Joined: 31 Aug 2010
|
 Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2013 8:20 pm Post subject: |
 |
|
Markness:
I'm Canadian and I've never heard of a "3 year BA." I thought all were 4 years of full-time study. Is this 3 year BA as legitimate as the 4 year? Korean immigration might give you some hassle over a 3 year BA.
I've never met anyone in Shanghai who's paid a Chinese landlord one year rent in advance. It's typical to pay a one-month rent's worth of damage deposit and 2 months rent in advance. If you break the contract, then you lose one month's rent. I'd say the Shanghai rent system beats the Korean one where you can easily have to pay 20 million Won key money up front.
I would advise you to go to Seoul. In Shanghai you'll work your ass off at 2 or 3 jobs, always work crappy hours, and make around 15,000 rmb per month. (You won't be allowed to teach the bright Chinese students either). You can live the Shanghai Dream on that income and travel around China, but you won't save much. As a nooby in Korea, you could get one stable full-time contract, and if you work at big chains like ELS and Pagoda eventually get decent weekday hours with weekends off. Drinking is cheaper in Seoul and you'll spend less money in Shanghai; compared to Shanghai, there's less to do and spend money on. (Still, Seoul is a chaotic, fun place for awhile). While in Korea, get some more qualifications like a CELTA or a distance MEd TESOL Degree. Then, 3 years later and with money in the bank, make the move to Shanghai. At that point you'll have a much better chance at those 20,000 - 30,000 rmb per month jobs. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
seansmith
Joined: 31 Aug 2010
|
| Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2013 8:26 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| ... you'll spend less money than in Shanghai. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
markness
Joined: 02 Jan 2013
|
| Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2013 10:42 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| seansmith wrote: |
Markness:
I'm Canadian and I've never heard of a "3 year BA." I thought all were 4 years of full-time study. Is this 3 year BA as legitimate as the 4 year? Korean immigration might give you some hassle over a 3 year BA.
I've never met anyone in Shanghai who's paid a Chinese landlord one year rent in advance. It's typical to pay a one-month rent's worth of damage deposit and 2 months rent in advance. If you break the contract, then you lose one month's rent. I'd say the Shanghai rent system beats the Korean one where you can easily have to pay 20 million Won key money up front.
I would advise you to go to Seoul. In Shanghai you'll work your ass off at 2 or 3 jobs, always work crappy hours, and make around 15,000 rmb per month. (You won't be allowed to teach the bright Chinese students either). You can live the Shanghai Dream on that income and travel around China, but you won't save much. As a nooby in Korea, you could get one stable full-time contract, and if you work at big chains like ELS and Pagoda eventually get decent weekday hours with weekends off. Drinking is cheaper in Seoul and you'll spend less money in Shanghai; compared to Shanghai, there's less to do and spend money on. (Still, Seoul is a chaotic, fun place for awhile). While in Korea, get some more qualifications like a CELTA or a distance MEd TESOL Degree. Then, 3 years later and with money in the bank, make the move to Shanghai. At that point you'll have a much better chance at those 20,000 - 30,000 rmb per month jobs. |
Hello good sir, and thank you for your response. The 3-year Bachelors are new, they only have them at a few universities in Canada and they aren't common like the general 4-year degrees or 4-year Honors degrees.
I did a search and found from a questionably reputable website:
http://www.teacheslkorea.com/getting_to_korea/how_to_qualify.html
"To qualify to obtain an E2 visa in Korea, you must have:
Passport from a native English speak country. The Korean government recognizes: United States, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand
At least a 3 or 4 year degree, in any major, from an accredited university in a native English speaking country.
Clean criminal record check from your country.
One of the most common questions we receive is do I need TESOL type course to qualify. The answer is no, you just need a university degree.
These rules for an E2 visa are not that of Teach ESL Korea, but that of the Korean government. We understand there are many others who are highly motivated to teach in Korea, who might not fill all of these requirements, and if this is the case you will not be allowed to teach English in Korea."
But from the sounds of it, you are making it sound like masters degrees are what is important. Haha, that's what I was looking for. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
markness
Joined: 02 Jan 2013
|
| Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2013 10:48 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| seansmith wrote: |
| ... you'll spend less money than in Shanghai. |
Good to know too  Thanks again, man. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
seansmith
Joined: 31 Aug 2010
|
| Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2013 11:16 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Markness: Yes, those are the E2 rules for Korea. With a degree you're eligible for hire, although it's a lot harder to get a job in Seoul than it was 6 or 7 years ago. You don't necessarily need a Master's - just something to improve the CV. The Master's can get you uni jobs, while a CELTA is the quickest valid way to gain some teaching credentials and skills. Becoming a certified K-12 teacher is another route, especially for post-Korea. There are a lot of expat teachers that don't have any of these qualifications, but they've been in Seoul a long time and have built up a web of connections to keep them steadily employed. This group makes good coin: anywhere from 3 - 6 million Won per month depending on motivation level. It takes a few years to get to that point though. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
markness
Joined: 02 Jan 2013
|
| Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2013 5:50 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| seansmith wrote: |
| Markness: Yes, those are the E2 rules for Korea. With a degree you're eligible for hire, although it's a lot harder to get a job in Seoul than it was 6 or 7 years ago. You don't necessarily need a Master's - just something to improve the CV. The Master's can get you uni jobs, while a CELTA is the quickest valid way to gain some teaching credentials and skills. Becoming a certified K-12 teacher is another route, especially for post-Korea. There are a lot of expat teachers that don't have any of these qualifications, but they've been in Seoul a long time and have built up a web of connections to keep them steadily employed. This group makes good coin: anywhere from 3 - 6 million Won per month depending on motivation level. It takes a few years to get to that point though. |
Hey dude, thanks again for the heads up. I've got a B.A. in English and a 120 hour TESOL from China, is the CELTA worth it that much? I am pretty certain i'll have to update my credentials again to like a Bachelors of Education eventually, and that's what worries me about Korea, i'm scared someone will get my claws in me and if I have to go back to the old country to upgrade the education, then this won't be possible.. :O |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Weigookin74
Joined: 26 Oct 2009
|
| Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 12:30 am Post subject: |
|
|
| markness wrote: |
| seansmith wrote: |
| Markness: Yes, those are the E2 rules for Korea. With a degree you're eligible for hire, although it's a lot harder to get a job in Seoul than it was 6 or 7 years ago. You don't necessarily need a Master's - just something to improve the CV. The Master's can get you uni jobs, while a CELTA is the quickest valid way to gain some teaching credentials and skills. Becoming a certified K-12 teacher is another route, especially for post-Korea. There are a lot of expat teachers that don't have any of these qualifications, but they've been in Seoul a long time and have built up a web of connections to keep them steadily employed. This group makes good coin: anywhere from 3 - 6 million Won per month depending on motivation level. It takes a few years to get to that point though. |
Hey dude, thanks again for the heads up. I've got a B.A. in English and a 120 hour TESOL from China, is the CELTA worth it that much? I am pretty certain i'll have to update my credentials again to like a Bachelors of Education eventually, and that's what worries me about Korea, i'm scared someone will get my claws in me and if I have to go back to the old country to upgrade the education, then this won't be possible.. :O |
Yeah marrying a local keeps many here who would have moved on. It's still ok, though nothing like it use to be here. However, what will it be like in 5 to 10 years here? Struggling and really hustling to make any money? I don't see the US unemployment rate going back down below 5% any time soon. Though there are pockets of low unemployment in the US and Canada in the western parts.
Staying single might be best so you can quickly jump ship if need be. But sometimes, you fall in love and have no say over the matter. I know a few married folks who make 5 million a month but really have to hustle and are always working to make it. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
markness
Joined: 02 Jan 2013
|
| Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 6:26 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Weigookin74 wrote: |
| markness wrote: |
| seansmith wrote: |
| Markness: Yes, those are the E2 rules for Korea. With a degree you're eligible for hire, although it's a lot harder to get a job in Seoul than it was 6 or 7 years ago. You don't necessarily need a Master's - just something to improve the CV. The Master's can get you uni jobs, while a CELTA is the quickest valid way to gain some teaching credentials and skills. Becoming a certified K-12 teacher is another route, especially for post-Korea. There are a lot of expat teachers that don't have any of these qualifications, but they've been in Seoul a long time and have built up a web of connections to keep them steadily employed. This group makes good coin: anywhere from 3 - 6 million Won per month depending on motivation level. It takes a few years to get to that point though. |
Hey dude, thanks again for the heads up. I've got a B.A. in English and a 120 hour TESOL from China, is the CELTA worth it that much? I am pretty certain i'll have to update my credentials again to like a Bachelors of Education eventually, and that's what worries me about Korea, i'm scared someone will get my claws in me and if I have to go back to the old country to upgrade the education, then this won't be possible.. :O |
Yeah marrying a local keeps many here who would have moved on. It's still ok, though nothing like it use to be here. However, what will it be like in 5 to 10 years here? Struggling and really hustling to make any money? I don't see the US unemployment rate going back down below 5% any time soon. Though there are pockets of low unemployment in the US and Canada in the western parts.
Staying single might be best so you can quickly jump ship if need be. But sometimes, you fall in love and have no say over the matter. I know a few married folks who make 5 million a month but really have to hustle and are always working to make it. |
Yeah, thanks for the heads-up man. I definitely was in a situation in China where I could have settled down for the long-term, but I took the gamble and upped my credentials back at home, and yeah. I don't know if I can do something like that to a lady again. Thanks for the info though |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
|
| Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 6:41 am Post subject: |
|
|
| markness wrote: |
| seansmith wrote: |
Markness:
I'm Canadian and I've never heard of a "3 year BA." I thought all were 4 years of full-time study. Is this 3 year BA as legitimate as the 4 year? Korean immigration might give you some hassle over a 3 year BA.
I've never met anyone in Shanghai who's paid a Chinese landlord one year rent in advance. It's typical to pay a one-month rent's worth of damage deposit and 2 months rent in advance. If you break the contract, then you lose one month's rent. I'd say the Shanghai rent system beats the Korean one where you can easily have to pay 20 million Won key money up front.
I would advise you to go to Seoul. In Shanghai you'll work your ass off at 2 or 3 jobs, always work crappy hours, and make around 15,000 rmb per month. (You won't be allowed to teach the bright Chinese students either). You can live the Shanghai Dream on that income and travel around China, but you won't save much. As a nooby in Korea, you could get one stable full-time contract, and if you work at big chains like ELS and Pagoda eventually get decent weekday hours with weekends off. Drinking is cheaper in Seoul and you'll spend less money in Shanghai; compared to Shanghai, there's less to do and spend money on. (Still, Seoul is a chaotic, fun place for awhile). While in Korea, get some more qualifications like a CELTA or a distance MEd TESOL Degree. Then, 3 years later and with money in the bank, make the move to Shanghai. At that point you'll have a much better chance at those 20,000 - 30,000 rmb per month jobs. |
Hello good sir, and thank you for your response. The 3-year Bachelors are new, they only have them at a few universities in Canada and they aren't common like the general 4-year degrees or 4-year Honors degrees.
|
If by "a few universities in Canada" you mean "a few universities outside of Quebec". Three year degrees are the norm for those who graduate from CEGEP schools. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
seansmith
Joined: 31 Aug 2010
|
| Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 6:44 am Post subject: |
|
|
With a degree and your 120 hour TESOL course you're legally fine to work in Korea for now. So sure teach in Korea for a few years. But outside of Korea that 120 hour TESOL course isn't worth much. Even in Korea, actual teacher training matters little. They don't respect teaching skills - they respect formal education like a BA in any subject or an MA in any subject. Any evidence that you have teaching skills or not doesn't matter in Korea, whereas in Europe it's the exact opposite.
My point is, while you're spending 2 or 3 years in a trial and error process that helps you evolve from a crap teacher to an adequate one, you need a plan to get an MA/MEd or Teacher Certification. If not, then enjoy teaching subject-verb agreement and countable/uncountable noun lessons for the next 30 years of your life with 10 days vacation per year and insane, incompetent bosses who view education as a business and a business only. As for the love thing, sure it can happen. It's all about what you're willing to compromise and sacrifice at certain points in your life. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
kimchipig
Joined: 07 Mar 2008
|
| Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 10:09 am Post subject: |
|
|
| seansmith wrote: |
Markness:
I'm Canadian and I've never heard of a "3 year BA." I thought all were 4 years of full-time study. Is this 3 year BA as legitimate as the 4 year? Korean immigration might give you some hassle over a 3 year BA.
I've never met anyone in Shanghai who's paid a Chinese landlord one year rent in advance. It's typical to pay a one-month rent's worth of damage deposit and 2 months rent in advance. If you break the contract, then you lose one month's rent. I'd say the Shanghai rent system beats the Korean one where you can easily have to pay 20 million Won key money up front.
I would advise you to go to Seoul. In Shanghai you'll work your ass off at 2 or 3 jobs, always work crappy hours, and make around 15,000 rmb per month. (You won't be allowed to teach the bright Chinese students either). You can live the Shanghai Dream on that income and travel around China, but you won't save much. As a nooby in Korea, you could get one stable full-time contract, and if you work at big chains like ELS and Pagoda eventually get decent weekday hours with weekends off. Drinking is cheaper in Seoul and you'll spend less money in Shanghai; compared to Shanghai, there's less to do and spend money on. (Still, Seoul is a chaotic, fun place for awhile). While in Korea, get some more qualifications like a CELTA or a distance MEd TESOL Degree. Then, 3 years later and with money in the bank, make the move to Shanghai. At that point you'll have a much better chance at those 20,000 - 30,000 rmb per month jobs. |
Although Vancouver is my base now, my second base is Shanghai. Most of my clients in Vancouver hail from Shanghai and my wife is from Nanjing. Like any place in the world, it's all about meeting people. Chinese have loads of money to tutor their kids and they are willing to spend it. The key is meeting these people. Go to events, whatever, and meet people looking to meet you.
The second key is professionalism. Beards and scruffiness don't sell in China. Period. They are actually looking for older, more mature people to teach their kids, so don't let age get you down. I am 48 and I have three other tutors working for me and I have a pre-paid waiting list for my time. That's how much Chinese appreciate quality in education.
Finally, the most important part is a getting a Chinese partner to market you. It could be a friend, a girlfriend, anybody. Chinese are keen to do business, they are diligent and on the case. That means you have to be, too. You can get fantastic tailored clothes in Shanghai for dirt, so get some.
Every summer I go to Shanghai to work. I rent a suite in a hotel for a very reasonable Y3000 a month. The maid/cook is another Y1000 and I teach six hours a day, Y500 per hour, six days a week. It's all about connecting to the right people, being knowledgeable, experienced and professional.
If you are young and starting out, you will not be at this level but you will make decent money if you are willing to work hard. Chinese really respect hard work and hard workers.
Having a Chinese wife is a tremendous advantage. Work hard and she'll treat you like a king and feed you the most delicious home cooking you can imagine! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
nukeday
Joined: 13 May 2010
|
| Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 4:22 pm Post subject: |
|
|
In what part of Shanghai are you finding a hotel suite for 3000 rmb a month? How far in the suburbs is that?
That's less than an apartment in Beijing, and therefore I have to imagine less than one in Shanghai.
Sorry, I'm always fascinated by the real estate "market" in China. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Weigookin74
Joined: 26 Oct 2009
|
| Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 7:58 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| markness wrote: |
| Weigookin74 wrote: |
| markness wrote: |
| seansmith wrote: |
| Markness: Yes, those are the E2 rules for Korea. With a degree you're eligible for hire, although it's a lot harder to get a job in Seoul than it was 6 or 7 years ago. You don't necessarily need a Master's - just something to improve the CV. The Master's can get you uni jobs, while a CELTA is the quickest valid way to gain some teaching credentials and skills. Becoming a certified K-12 teacher is another route, especially for post-Korea. There are a lot of expat teachers that don't have any of these qualifications, but they've been in Seoul a long time and have built up a web of connections to keep them steadily employed. This group makes good coin: anywhere from 3 - 6 million Won per month depending on motivation level. It takes a few years to get to that point though. |
Hey dude, thanks again for the heads up. I've got a B.A. in English and a 120 hour TESOL from China, is the CELTA worth it that much? I am pretty certain i'll have to update my credentials again to like a Bachelors of Education eventually, and that's what worries me about Korea, i'm scared someone will get my claws in me and if I have to go back to the old country to upgrade the education, then this won't be possible.. :O |
Yeah marrying a local keeps many here who would have moved on. It's still ok, though nothing like it use to be here. However, what will it be like in 5 to 10 years here? Struggling and really hustling to make any money? I don't see the US unemployment rate going back down below 5% any time soon. Though there are pockets of low unemployment in the US and Canada in the western parts.
Staying single might be best so you can quickly jump ship if need be. But sometimes, you fall in love and have no say over the matter. I know a few married folks who make 5 million a month but really have to hustle and are always working to make it. |
Yeah, thanks for the heads-up man. I definitely was in a situation in China where I could have settled down for the long-term, but I took the gamble and upped my credentials back at home, and yeah. I don't know if I can do something like that to a lady again. Thanks for the info though |
Yeah, similiar dilemmas. Still have loans bogging me down. So, sucking a lot of my won. Might say screw it in a couple of years and cash out all the bonuses and pensions to finish it. Taking forever with these bad exchange rates. Being debt free with a small financial cushion is something I need to get to before the bottom really falls out of this market or get my butt over to China. Come to distract me more away from dating and marriage. The girls here are pretty but being stuck in a dead end 5 years from now cause the market sucks and the kids are living really poor isn't much to look forward to. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
markness
Joined: 02 Jan 2013
|
| Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 9:43 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Wow, thanks a lot for the replies guys. OP, I am sorry for unintentionally hijacking your thread. So the rule of thumb seems to be if you're a noob, get some experience, then make the move to China. My Chinese friend tells me that Shanghai has a lot of rich students that are willing to pay a lot so that they can pass their English entrance exams for Western Universities, so I agree with what was said up top. Cool to know guys, and I hope you guys don't mind if I toss a PM your way, still kind of on the fence! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
kimchipig
Joined: 07 Mar 2008
|
| Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2013 7:26 am Post subject: |
|
|
| nukeday wrote: |
In what part of Shanghai are you finding a hotel suite for 3000 rmb a month? How far in the suburbs is that?
That's less than an apartment in Beijing, and therefore I have to imagine less than one in Shanghai.
Sorry, I'm always fascinated by the real estate "market" in China. |
Again, having a Chinese wife smooths things over immensely. All I have to do is concentrate on teaching. Everything else is taken care of for me.
The apartment is rented from a friend, who gives us a good discount. This is how things work in China. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
