|
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 |
bg030
Joined: 15 Jun 2013
|
 Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2013 7:58 am Post subject: Is 35 too old to start ESL in Korea |
 |
|
| I've just begun the process of gathering my documents to apply to teach in Korea. I'm worried about my chances due to my age. Will I still be able to find work as a 35 year old newbie? |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
robbie_davies
Joined: 16 Jun 2013
|
| Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2013 8:01 am Post subject: Re: Is 35 too old to start ESL in Korea |
|
|
| bg030 wrote: |
| I've just begun the process of gathering my documents to apply to teach in Korea. I'm worried about my chances due to my age. Will I still be able to find work as a 35 year old newbie? |
I think a lot would depend on how you look, your qualifications, ESL experience, are you a North American native speaker and probably a few other factors.
A few years ago, you could have just walked in and got something decent straight off the bat, now, it is a different ballgame. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
creeper1
Joined: 30 Jan 2007
|
| Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2013 8:27 am Post subject: Joke |
|
|
Reading these posts on this excessively negative forum, one would get the idea that getting a job in Korea was difficult.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Korea remains a place of MASSIVE demand for EFL teachers. Demand still way outstrips supply.
Instead of posting on theory, go ahead and take a stab. You will be surprised (in a good way) by the interest you get. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
robbie_davies
Joined: 16 Jun 2013
|
| Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2013 8:32 am Post subject: Re: Joke |
|
|
| creeper1 wrote: |
Reading these posts on this excessively negative forum, one would get the idea that getting a job in Korea was difficult.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Korea remains a place of MASSIVE demand for EFL teachers. Demand still way outstrips supply.
Instead of posting on theory, go ahead and take a stab. You will be surprised (in a good way) by the interest you get. |
I think he should come and join us in China - I love it there, don't you?  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
YTMND
Joined: 16 Jan 2012
Location: You're the man now dog!!
|
| Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2013 9:02 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| I think he should come and join us in China - I love it there, don't you? |
Yea, China is wonderful. You get paid half salary, and they chain lock your building with a 11pm curfew if you live on campus.
If you choose not to, they give you 1500 RMB housing allowance where you have to rent 2000-5000 RMB apartments.
Such a wondrous alternative.  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
robbie_davies
Joined: 16 Jun 2013
|
| Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2013 9:05 am Post subject: |
|
|
| YTMND wrote: |
| Quote: |
| I think he should come and join us in China - I love it there, don't you? |
Yea, China is wonderful. You get paid half salary, and they chain lock your building with a 11pm curfew if you live on campus.
If you choose not to, they give you 1500 RMB housing allowance where you have to rent 2000-5000 RMB apartments.
Such a wondrous alternative. |
If you don't have the qualifications then I suppose you have to live the life of a peon but get the MA in the relative subject and then you can have something a bit different from your version of China.
http://www.ncuk.ac.uk/jobvacancieslist/teaching-and-lecturing-opportunities-china-eap
Korea is hardly the land of milk and honey, 2.0 million won a month and a free flat - welcome to the good times!  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
YTMND
Joined: 16 Jan 2012
Location: You're the man now dog!!
|
| Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2013 9:29 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| If you don't have the qualifications then I suppose you have to live the life of a peon but get the MA in the relative subject and then you can have something a bit different from your version of China. |
Point 1:
Most people coming here don't have the MA.
Point 2:
Even if you get the almighty MA, Chinese will still be "chinese" in their negotiating.
I have met people twice my age having to move out of the country. They had MA's, children in their teens (who grew up going to international schools outside of Beijing).
The immediate 1 year contract in math, science, or history might get you by. However, it is not stable.
I noticed you didn't mention any TOEFL or TESOL training in your "peon" diatribe. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
robbie_davies
Joined: 16 Jun 2013
|
| Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2013 9:40 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
[quote="YTMND"]
Point 1:
Most people coming here don't have the MA. |
What kind of money can you earn in Korea with one?
| Quote: |
Point 2:
Even if you get the almighty MA, Chinese will still be "chinese" in their negotiating. |
You know the opportunities with the 'almighty' MA are far more in China than it is anywhere in Asia? There is some good money to be made with Kaplan, British Council IELTS testing, British and American university international campuses based in China - the money and the opportunities are improving by the year, fact! In Korea - the money and opportunities are decreasing - fact!
| Quote: |
| I have met people twice my age having to move out of the country. They had MA's, children in their teens (who grew up going to international schools outside of Beijing). |
Did they have the MA in an appropriate subject? Having an MBA or an MA in medieval studies or whatever, isn't going to cut it, I agree.
| Quote: |
| The immediate 1 year contract in math, science, or history might get you by. However, it is not stable. |
I have just shown you a job teaching EAP with Kaplan which is 4.0 million won a month. EAP is big business in China and you can make a good living with it. How many jobs in Korea are offering 4.0 million won a month?
| Quote: |
| I noticed you didn't mention any TOEFL or TESOL training in your "peon" diatribe. |
Have a at your 2.0 million won paypacket thinking you are living the 'high life' in Korea.  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Scorpion
Joined: 15 Apr 2012
|
| Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2013 3:58 pm Post subject: Re: Is 35 too old to start ESL in Korea |
|
|
| bg030 wrote: |
| I've just begun the process of gathering my documents to apply to teach in Korea. I'm worried about my chances due to my age. Will I still be able to find work as a 35 year old newbie? |
Yes! Many people have done it before you. I would, however, state that you wish to work in the countryside or small town. I personally prefer it to cities, but usually you can get into a city easily by bus or train. Most younger people want to be near the nightlife of Seoul, so saying 'small town' will give you an advantage. Once a recruiter suggests a town do a search on this forum and see what people say about it.
But no, 35 in not too old. I know guys here teaching who are in their 50's. One thing though; for public schools you will need a TESOL certifate. That, however, can be done online in a few months. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Nolos
Joined: 23 Oct 2011
|
| Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2013 4:35 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| you may get a job, but your ego must take a huge hit working here and teaching ABC's to 7-years olds at that age. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
happiness
Joined: 04 Sep 2010
|
| Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2013 5:04 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Nolos wrote: |
| you may get a job, but your ego must take a huge hit working here and teaching ABC's to 7-years olds at that age. |
41 now, sometimes thats true but its only a fleeting feeling. Id say hit the ground running, meet people immediately and start letting people know your there. If you have a skill, play an insturment, speak any foriegn langauge, use meetups dot com, and connect. Definitely have a good appearance, buy some new clothes, thatll help things alot here. I agree there is still a big market, and your age is not as relavant as people think, esp if you have some good qualifications.I met all kinds of people everywhere here. Dont let people say the best teacher/ex pat is A B C, some really cool stories here, Try it! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
globusmonkey
Joined: 19 Aug 2011
Location: Seoul
|
| Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2013 5:48 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| I think the biggest issue for "older" people is what you want to do in the future. I made the move over here at 35, but I also have higher quals that allowed me to get a much better job after my rookie year, and later I can pursue top jobs if I want to. The entry level hagwon positions here can be difficult, even at a good school, due to the schedule and business demands, so I would recommend having a plan or a goal to work towards. From what I've seen, ELT is an easy field to get into, but can be hard to get out of. Pursue professional growth and the somewhat limited career opportunities open up to make this a reasonable job (if you are willing to change locations with market demands and all the other stuff that comes with this racket). The benefits of living this life are not for everyone, so long-term thinking will help. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Who's Your Daddy?
Joined: 30 May 2010
Location: Victoria, Canada.
|
| Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2013 5:50 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| happiness wrote: |
| Nolos wrote: |
| you may get a job, but your ego must take a huge hit working here and teaching ABC's to 7-years olds at that age. |
41 now, sometimes thats true but its only a fleeting feeling. Id say hit the ground running, meet people immediately and start letting people know your there. If you have a skill, play an insturment, speak any foriegn langauge, use meetups dot com, and connect. Definitely have a good appearance, buy some new clothes, thatll help things alot here. I agree there is still a big market, and your age is not as relavant as people think, esp if you have some good qualifications.I met all kinds of people everywhere here. Dont let people say the best teacher/ex pat is A B C, some really cool stories here, Try it! |
That feeling is constant to me. I "teach" at public school, and feel that most of my job is waiting, like 70% is waiting 30% is teaching. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
creeper1
Joined: 30 Jan 2007
|
| Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2013 7:22 pm Post subject: check |
|
|
| Nolos wrote: |
| you may get a job, but your ego must take a huge hit working here and teaching ABC's to 7-years olds at that age. |
Then you check your bank balance and it is something like 36 million won and that feeling disappears |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
tob55
Joined: 29 Apr 2007
|
| Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2013 7:23 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I began teaching in Korea when I was well into my 40s after working in public education in the United States as a licensed, and State certified educator for more than 20 years. It did take some adjustment to move from a regularly functioning classroom to the disorder and mismanagement of the hagwon system working with pre-schoolers and early elementary students. However, after almost one year of that I moved to a public school for 5 years, then onto University where I have been for almost 5 years now.
ALL of my experience was for a purpose I suppose, and I try not to think about whether it was good, bad or indifferent. It was what it was, and I am thankful to be in this country where I at least have a job, and the opportunities for other jobs are still available. I am quite sure that if still back in the USA I would be jobless and living on some kind of Government assistance program. Here, while it is not paradise, I have a stable job, and feel pretty good about having a position which allows me to spend a good portion of my time with my family. That is my take on things from someone who came to Korea later in life, and WAS NOT a "freak" as some have suggested. |
|
| 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
