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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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charlottematt2
Joined: 22 Sep 2004
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 Posted: Sun Oct 10, 2004 7:12 pm Post subject: Here's the plan....... |
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take my two years teaching experience (1 year ESL) and my BS, along with a stateside teaching certificate, and head to Korea.
Ask for:
2.0
2-10 mon - fri
along with all the other standard contract "stuff"
Will I get it? Will I get cheated out of apartment, hourly pay, etc.?
At 34 years old, but look in my 20's, am I finished in terms of teaching in Korea?
How much better off will I be to wait 1.5 years here in the states, fork out the 10K to finish my MBA, then head over looking for a uni post? I am nearly out of debt, so I am looking to build some liquidity. The MBA will require more debt, but will the payoff be substantially better??
"Tanks!" |
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sistersarah
Joined: 03 Jan 2004
Location: hiding out
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| Posted: Sun Oct 10, 2004 7:30 pm Post subject: |
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| i don't think you'll have a problem coming now. i only have a BA and i got my current contract on one year of experience in korea....2.2, 3-8 M-F, nice apt. |
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hellofaniceguy
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Location: On your computer screen!
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| Posted: Sun Oct 10, 2004 8:24 pm Post subject: |
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No one cares if you're in your 30's and look in your 20's! Or in your 50's and look in your 20's! Same with a Master's. Can you entertain, be a clown, keep kids returning to the school, help increase enrollment all while trying to teach ESL?
While most universities require a MA...the pay is the same as with a BA in most cases. I know MANY, MANY MA holders teaching at hakwons being paid the same as their fellow teachers with a BA! Some places offer 100.000 Won more for those with a MA...still...100.000!
I question the intelligence of those with a MA agreeing to work for 100.000 Won more than someone with a BA! And they went to college?!?!
If you are desperate for work..(in dire need of an immediate job)..lot's of teaching positions in korea. If not...use your MA (future MA) for better use. Japan, Taiwan are a few.
Hakwons only require a BA and that's because that is what immigration requires.
Can you 2.0? I, as well as many others make well over 2.0 plus housing. But...you need to network, make connections, pay your dues in korea before landing a better paying position. I see many ESL jobs offering 2.4, 2.5 plus housing. Your best bet and I mean BEST bet is to come over to korea and interview in PERSON at as many places as you can. Would you take a job back home just by applying via the mail and internet? Of course not. So why do it in korea? You'll get a better position by going in person. Especially universities. But...most university positions are had by connections. Not all, but the majority. You know someone who knows someone who knows someone. |
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JennyJJ
Joined: 01 Mar 2003
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| Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2004 2:34 am Post subject: |
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| If you think you might want to spend serious time in this occupation - get the masters. Your opportunities and vacation time will increase exponentially. Your income - only a little better. But often those better jobs bring better opportunity for well paying work on the side. |
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Mashimaro
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Location: location, location
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| Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2004 3:05 am Post subject: |
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do the MBA, korea isn't going anywhere... unless jong il gets an itchy nuke releasing finger and... sorry I'm being melodramatic.
an MBA will look a million times better on your resume than a stint in front of korean ankle biters. If you still want to come after your MBA then go for it. |
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J.B. Clamence
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2004 5:37 am Post subject: |
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| hellofaniceguy wrote: |
| If you are desperate for work..(in dire need of an immediate job)..lot's of teaching positions in korea. If not...use your MA (future MA) for better use. Japan, Taiwan are a few. |
I disagree. An M.A. will take you farther in Korea than it will in Japan, unless you've got a stack of publications to go along with it. |
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Zyzyfer
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Location: who, what, where, when, why, how?
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| Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2004 5:55 am Post subject: Re: Here's the plan....... |
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| charlottematt2 wrote: |
take my two years teaching experience (1 year ESL) and my BS, along with a stateside teaching certificate, and head to Korea.
Ask for:
2.0
2-10 mon - fri
along with all the other standard contract "stuff"
Will I get it? |
You can get a job asking for that. That's why it's standard.
| Quote: |
| Will I get cheated out of apartment, hourly pay, etc.? |
That depends on the school. When you're looking for a job, you might want to check blacklists and whatnot. I don't, but my last two contracts have been at schools that I physically went to, and the screwovers have been miniscule compared to some of the horror stories I've heard.
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| At 34 years old, but look in my 20's, am I finished in terms of teaching in Korea? |
Two of the schools I was interested in (one of them being the one I'm working with) out of like 4 that I looked at with any seriousness actually preferred older teachers, as they wanted someone who was responsible, rather than the typical fresh-out-of-uni guy who's just looking for a working holiday.
| Quote: |
How much better off will I be to wait 1.5 years here in the states, fork out the 10K to finish my MBA, then head over looking for a uni post? I am nearly out of debt, so I am looking to build some liquidity. The MBA will require more debt, but will the payoff be substantially better??
"Tanks!" |
That depends entirely on what you plan to do with yourself over here. You may not like Kore at all, and studying for a Master's geared towards your planned experience in Korea may turn out to be a ridiculous step if this happens. Sure, there are other countries, but you'd be gearing yourself for an extended stay teaching ESL in Asia when you could just stay home and get solid experience that you know will count back home.
Also, is putting down 10K going to break your budget? If you want a better chance to find a solid job over here, it helps to physically be here when you're looking. Looking from your internet chair back home is a real coin toss, while hoofing it around in Seoul or elsewhere will allow you to examine the school and meet the director and avoid those disaster story surprises, to a degree. If 10K is all you've got saved, you'll probably end up at a hakwon anyways... |
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