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seansmith
Joined: 31 Aug 2010
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 Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2013 8:20 pm Post subject: |
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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. |
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seansmith
Joined: 31 Aug 2010
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| Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2013 8:26 pm Post subject: |
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| ... you'll spend less money than in Shanghai. |
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markness
Joined: 02 Jan 2013
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| Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2013 10:42 pm Post subject: |
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| 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. |
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markness
Joined: 02 Jan 2013
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| Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2013 10:48 pm Post subject: |
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| seansmith wrote: |
| ... you'll spend less money than in Shanghai. |
Good to know too  Thanks again, man. |
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seansmith
Joined: 31 Aug 2010
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| Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2013 11:16 pm Post subject: |
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| 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. |
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markness
Joined: 02 Jan 2013
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| Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2013 5:50 pm Post subject: |
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| 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 |
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Weigookin74
Joined: 26 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 12:30 am Post subject: |
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| 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. |
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markness
Joined: 02 Jan 2013
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| Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 6:26 am Post subject: |
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| 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 |
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 6:41 am Post subject: |
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