Korean Job Discussion Forums

leewchris · Joined: 08 Jan 2016

Being an F4 gyopo i heard the case is different than E2s.
Anyhow i wish to become an English teacher at hagwon or public school in Korea long term.

Problem is i got a B.A in Korea. So i am thinkin about getting a 2nd B.A. degree in the states or a Masters degree in the states.

First of all is this a good idea and second of all which option do u recommend. A masters or a 2nd bachelors?

I know masters is higher but b.a. in korea might block me from applying at all... so these are my concerns.

Overture1928 · Joined: 12 Jan 2014

leewchris · Joined: 08 Jan 2016

first of all, if I get B.A. in U.S., wouldn't I be able to join the EPIK Program, despite being an F4? And the EPIK is run by the government, so I heard that it's pretty fair in terms of pay and everything.

And if I go the masters degree route, I was thinking that I would get higher pay.

Aine1979 · Joined: 20 Jan 2013 Location: Incheon

NET's in public schools in Korea are slowly but surely being phased out. By rhe time you complete a BA and MA from a non Korean university, there may well be no jobs left in that sector, and where there are, and schools have limited budgets, they'll look to hire from the bottom of the pay scale, not the top.

Have you ever taught before? Plenty of hagwons will hire an F4 visa with a Korean degree, albeit at a lower salary than an E2 visa with a non-Korean degree. Why not try to find a position with the qualifications you have, and then if you enjoy teaching, get yourself the relevant qualifications to enable you to apply for IS jobs.

Taking on the finanical commitment, plus the time involved, to do a further degree plus a MA, when you don't know if you'll enjoy or be good at teaching, seems like an unnecessary risk.

JohnML · Joined: 05 Jul 2015

What others have said, the difference in pay between an F4 visa and E2 working public/hagwon jobs is negligible. It's definitely not worth going back to the US to do a long BA again/spending a lot of cash to do so.

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

I NEVER suggest getting a second Bachelor's degree. Go for the MA/MS.

As another poster intuned, the public school jobs are being phased out. IF you have a big name MA WITH the right major, there is still a place for F4 visa holders to make serious coin over here, but only if you 1) teach test prep and/or 2) open your own study room or, if you have the coin, institute.

Demographics are definitely not on your side either way over the long haul, though, so be warned.