Korean Job Discussion Forums

Derrek · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

How worthwhile is it? Is pay higher (guessing only a few hundred thousand per month, right)?

Have you found it opens doors for you in Korea or elsewhere?

I am currently talking with some top central USA schools about taking some courses online with them next year (maybe 6 credits) then returning home to finish with them full-time (33 credits total).

My undergrad is in Journalism/Mass Communications, and I am not certified. I don't plan to become certified to teach in the USA -- at least not at first.

Constructive comments appreciated. Thanks.

hellofaniceguy · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: On your computer screen!

For a few years now, I have seen many applicants' resumes being faxed to the university I am at applying for the various positions. 99% of the few hundred or so I have seen have been MA's in TESL, etc., MA's in education...and yet...the powers to be who select the chosen few have NEVER selected anyone with a MA's TESL except for the first time a few months ago. Good? Bad? Who knows the way koreans think.

Rather_Dashing · Joined: 07 Sep 2004

Outside of Asia, a master's degree in TESL is REQUIRED unless you want to slave away at $15 USD/hour

Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Germany, Netherlands, etc... to get the good jobs there, you need the master's degree.

ohfamous · Joined: 10 Jul 2004 Location: Off the beaten path

Actually, the industry average in Korea is close to $15 USD/hr. Considering a standard 2mil/120hr hagwon contract, you get:

2,000,000 won / 120 hrs = 16,666.67 won/hr.

At the current exchange rate, that's about $16.04 USD/hr. And that's only because of the good rates these days. Back in August when it was 1080 won to the dollar, you were making $15.43/hr.

I guess most of us in Korea are slaves. Wink

TECO · Joined: 20 Jan 2003

It definitely helps, Derrek.

Your TEFL'ing career will take off after doing an M.A. in Applied Linguistics are TESOL.

I did mine in Australia and met professors from Chinese, Korea, Japanese and Taiwanese universities who are still good contacts if I decide to go to any of these countries to look for university teaching positions.

The two Chinese professors that were in my class have both told me that they would help me get a position in their schools if I was interested.

So, aside from what you'll learn in an M.A. program, there are contacts that you'll make which could further your career.

You can't make these contacts if you do your M.A. through distance, either.

Rather_Dashing · Joined: 07 Sep 2004

gochubandit · Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 11:21 am Post subject:

hey, outta curiosity, how's the whole MA TESOL process anyways?

is it like the CELTA thing, where u go to some place for 6 weeks and get certification? or is it like an actual masters, taking about 2 years and a serious amount of cash?

and for those of u who got one, how much and how long did it take?

Derrek · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

R. S. Refugee · Joined: 29 Sep 2004 Location: Shangra La, ROK

They have a TESL Certificate program and a Master's in TESOL at Seattle University.

Derrek · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

Thanks for other suggestions -- I'm searching for a program that I can finish near my home, so I can live in the parents' basement for a year -- saving rent and relocation fees.

shevek · Joined: 29 Jul 2003

guangho · Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2005 5:19 am Post subject: M.A. Tesol vs. M.A. App Ling

I wonder which one to shoot for....seems to me that the App Ling program is a bit broader and so the opportunities that come by are also broader than an M.A. in TESOL....am I right on this?