Korean Job Discussion Forums

[johnlee625]

So i lived in the states for 12 yrs (completed education 1rst- high school senior) and now i'm in a Korean university (planning to stay here 4 yrs) and getting my undergrad here.

I was wondering if there's teaching opportunities after graduation if you're F4 Korean American. Any programs to prepare for teaching? I'm planning to teach here for a long time- not just stayin' here for couple years.

Thanks!

[jvalmer]

Do you mean as a regular Korean teacher? If so, maybe, but your Korean probably has to be fluent. Fluent as in, if students talk to you they will think you actually grew up somewhere in Korea, not America.

To get into the public school, you'll have to write some extremely competitive teachers test and place in the top 10-ish% of wherever district you want a job in. And probably would have majored in <subject>-Education. Not sure how other majors get to be teachers. But a lot of full-time teachers spent years teaching in hagwons, and retaking that test.

But there is also the private school option. But you'll probably need a 'connection' to get a full-time job in a private school. When I say private school, they are basically public schools, but have a lot more freedom on hiring.

[fromafar]

you have to have graduated from a university from the 7 nations ,Canada | U.S.A | U.K. | Ireland | Australia | New Zealand | South Africa

Getting an undergrad degree from a Korean uni wont cut it if you want to be considered as a "foreign" teacher. You might get a job as an English teacher but be on the Korean pay scale.

[johnlee625]

I actually want to become a foreign teacher in Korea after graduating from a Korean university. I lived in the states from first grade all the way to high school senior. I also got acceptance letters from many American universities like UC Riverside.

I was wondering if I would be able to teach in a public school system as a foreign English teacher here in Korea. I have dedication of teaching students, but the main reason I want to teach in Korea is that I'm not sure what other options I have except that. It's not like I can work at Samsung or anything with an F4 since I need to compete against Koreans who lived there ever since they were born. In addition, I don't like the harsh Korean culture of working for bosses and that's why I'm looking for fields related to education.

Anyhow, do you think I could become an English teacher in Korea (foreign teacher?) Are there any other options for me? Honestly, I think teaching in public school would be an awesome experience, but I'm scared that I would not be able to find any after college graduation as a punishment for getting into a Korean university.

[Hokie21]

No I don't believe you can get a foreign teacher job in Korea with a Korean degree. If you were interested in teaching in Korea after university you'd have been better off attending a college in the US.

[MPech]

Absolutely not. Your university credentials from a university here in Korea will not get you any points with the school system. Even teachers from the U.S. who have their cert. from teachers college or similar a Bachelor of Ed. have difficulty even working as coordinators in private schools(not hagwon) if they are Korean but left at an early age.

You can work in a hagwon and might be a coordinator, but you shot yourself in the foot with going to university here in Korea. Had you stayed in the U.S. and did university there you would have had a much better chance. You could start your own hagwon on an F4 or do something else.

[jvalmer]

If you attend a Korean university, look into how to get involved with EPIK. A lot of those Korean EPIK coordinators spent a lot of time in the US, but do have Korean degrees.

[TheUrbanMyth]