Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Baron Samedi]

Hi everyone, hope you guys are enjoying the soccer although I'm sure in Korea the fans were quite unhappy with the Red Devils. Anyway enough about that but I'm very new, raw and naive maybe not in that order. I have been reading and searching the Cafe for about a year considering making the jump to teach in Korea. One of the things that draws me to Korea is the money obviously as it's better than almost anywhere in Asia (I mean wouldn't we all want to be on the beach in Ko Samui?) and availability of work. I know these aren't the end all say alls. Anyway I have a few questions as most of my answers have been found in the threads started by others so maybe I just missed these.

TEFL vs no TEFL, from what I understand it's not required in Korea but I was thinking of getting one anyway. I would imagine there are benefits as to having them, would it allow me more pay initially or is this a pipe dream. Would it allow a better starting point or again am I dreaming?

I may have seen this answered but it seemed for a major offense, when I was 19 (I'm now 35) I plead no contest which is essentially guilty to criminal mischief (stupid vandalism). Honestly it may not show up o my FBI Report because believe it or not I was disqualified from a job because I "lied on my application" for basically saying that I did this but it did not not turn up on their background check . I of course will submit for the background check hoping it won't show up but hypothetically if it does am I SOL in Korea?

Cheers

[Blanca]

Hey man, welcome to the madhouse.

TEFL doesn't really matter unless you're entering public school, in which case it's essential unless you have prior teaching experience. Hagwons see it as a plus but it's by no means essential. To give you some idea of what I mean by a 'TEFL', I did some mickey-mouse online TEFL thing with a bit of in-classroom 'assessment' and they saw that as a proper certificate.

I'm afraid if your conviction does show up on your FBI check you've pretty much had it for working in Korea. There's thousands of other people with clean criminal checks all competing for jobs. You might have more luck in China, Vietnam or Thailand (and if you're not fussed about the money you'd be infinitely better off in the latter two, although in 'Nam you'd really need a CELTA).

Good luck with everything, hope it works out for you.

[ttompatz]

[Baron Samedi]

Thanks, kind of sucks something minor I did when I was a dumb kid could come back to haunt me years later. Oh well, live and learn I guess.

Oh yeah and I do have a degree. BA in Communication

[trueblue]

Do what you can, OP. If you arrive, welcome to Korea!

[ontheway]

[Baron Samedi]

I just got my background check after weeks and weeks and this stupid criminal mischief showed up. I would assume I'm toast and now have no chance of working in Korea?

Is there anyway around this? I can't believe they would hold something that I did 16 years ago when I was 19 against me but I guess I should just accept it and move on.

[ttompatz]

Just like foreigners applying to go to the States (where Korea modeled its requirements from) if there is any other than "no record found" then your only options are:

a) Get it expunged before you apply to Korea\
- if this is not an option or
- if you are unwilling to go to the trouble of doing it then
b) Pick another country.
- Taiwan and Vietnam are also off of your list for the same reason (assuming you are seeking legal work and not wanting to be an undocumented worker (like the central American problem currently in the USA).

There is no "get around it" option.

.

[Hokie21]

[Baron Samedi]

[bibichoo]

Busan has the most stringent TEFL requirements.

For the public school systems (except Busan, which is FAR more stringent), I've been told that a totally online 120-hr course is still acceptable. As for hagwons, depends on the hagwon.