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malexander
Joined: 03 Mar 2003
Location: New York City
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 Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2003 10:55 pm Post subject: Misc questions from incoming job-seeker |
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Thought I would post some questions to see if anybody had any advice...questions that also might be helpful to others in similar situations.
My situation...I'm leaning towards coming to S. Korea first before searching for a job. Am 30, have a masters degree in music composition and taught English to grade school children in Chinatown of Manhattan/NYC for a year in America Reads program (some were much more fluent in Chinese than English!). Would like to take time to study TEFL before beginning the entire process (4-5 week course, online, or just on my own as much as possible), but in some ways feel as though jumping into it might be just as well, considering this is something I would like to do only for the next few years or so. Which isn't to say I would not take the job seriously and make an effort to learn. Here's the questions below (sorry there are so many)...appreciate any responses from all you seasoned veterans. Take care. - Mitchell
1. Curious about the actual legality of searching for a job on a tourist visa. What should one expect them to ask at the airport/immigration?
2. Flight arrangements...if I plan on staying more than a year, what's the best flight plan to get there on a tourist visa without wasting a return trip. Do they check at the airport to see if you have an ongoing or return flight booked? Good idea possibly to book an ongoing flight to, say, Japan, and then cancel it upon arrival in Seoul? Coming from U.S. Not very sure about this one.
3. Bringing possessions...in this scenario, should I limit what I bring with me on the flight? Have more sent by post later on? Will I be questioned if I have a few more bags than the usual tourist?
4. TEFL training...anybody have knowledge of training programs (other than CELTA) in Seoul? Recommendations for online programs, or other forms of training? Any good books, websites, that would help a beginner in this field? Good bookstores for TEFL in Seoul? Pros/Cons of learning on the job?
5. Best time of the year to come? I realize I'm less qualified than most, but is it more realistic to search for university jobs in August or January than the months that follow? How much of a difference might it make in terms of openings or opportunities?
6. Bike riding...I am an avid bike rider, but it doesn't sound like this is a great idea in Seoul.  |
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crazylemongirl
Joined: 23 Mar 2003
Location: almost there...
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| Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2003 2:44 am Post subject: Re: Misc questions from incoming job-seeker |
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| malexander wrote: |
1. Curious about the actual legality of searching for a job on a tourist visa. What should one expect them to ask at the airport/immigration?
2. Flight arrangements...if I plan on staying more than a year, what's the best flight plan to get there on a tourist visa without wasting a return trip. Do they check at the airport to see if you have an ongoing or return flight booked? Good idea possibly to book an ongoing flight to, say, Japan, and then cancel it upon arrival in Seoul? Coming from U.S. Not very sure about this one.
3. Bringing possessions...in this scenario, should I limit what I bring with me on the flight? Have more sent by post later on? Will I be questioned if I have a few more bags than the usual tourist?
4. TEFL training...anybody have knowledge of training programs (other than CELTA) in Seoul? Recommendations for online programs, or other forms of training? Any good books, websites, that would help a beginner in this field? Good bookstores for TEFL in Seoul? Pros/Cons of learning on the job?
5. Best time of the year to come? I realize I'm less qualified than most, but is it more realistic to search for university jobs in August or January than the months that follow? How much of a difference might it make in terms of openings or opportunities?
6. Bike riding...I am an avid bike rider, but it doesn't sound like this is a great idea in Seoul. |
Ok this isn't going to be great advice as I'm a relative newbie BUT...
1) Offically your not supposed to work on a tourist visa, looking for employment should be cool, but I wouldn't put that on your paperwork coming in. Many teachers do and then go on a visa run to japan (as you have to leave the country in order to get your e2 visa). If your coming in on a toursit visa on a one way ticket, you may have trouble going through immigration, but I don't know.
2) I don't know what flights from the states are like but you may find that a one way ticket is more expensive than a return one. Plus it's good knowing that you've got an out if everything turns to custrad.
3) I came on a tourist visa with over 30kg of luggage (including vast quanities of stuff that is in short supply here, bras, deoderant, my prescription drugs etc). I didn't get stopped, the customs people here seem pretty slack, in the kind of milling around without a clue what their doing kind of way.
4) Training. I'm in two minds about it. Part of me says education is good, you can never not no enough. However there are a lot of rip offs on the TESOL front, and you may well find your school has 'their' way of teaching english which they won't deviate from which can be very frustating. If your serious about teaching, and by the looks of your post your considering teaching in a university so from what I've seen the other posters say enrolling in a MA may help get a foot in the door.
5) Not sure about timeframe
6) bike riding. If it's clean air your after don't come to seoul, however there are some parks not far from the city. However there are drawbacks to being in the sticks too, primarly the isolation.
Hope my advice helps, but please take it with a pinch of salt as there are far wiser people on this board than myself. Good luck with the job hunting.
CLG |
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Ghostinthemachine
Joined: 22 Jun 2003
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| Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2003 4:22 am Post subject: |
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Ok i want to second CLG as regards
[/quote]Ok this isn't going to be great advice as I'm a relative newbie BUT...
and
[quote]2) I don't know what flights from the states are like but you may find that a one way ticket is more expensive than a return one. Plus it's good knowing that you've got an out if everything turns to custard.
3) I came on a tourist visa with over 30kg of luggage... . I didn't get stopped, the customs people here seem pretty slack, in the kind of milling around without a clue what their doing kind of way.
The second day i was here I went into a hogwan in Jongno, Seoul (on spec) and got offered the job I'm now in...It's good as hogwan jobs go but that was beginners luck.
I don't think u can safely use a bike as a means of transport but there are places in Seoul u can cycle for exercise.
Good luck and feel free to pm me if u have anyother questions (tho' there are a lot more experienced people on the board who might be able to give better advice). |
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William Beckerson
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2003 4:51 am Post subject: Re: Misc questions from incoming job-seeker |
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| malexander wrote: |
1. Curious about the actual legality of searching for a job on a tourist visa. What should one expect them to ask at the airport/immigration? |
As far as I've experienced, you can get in on a tourist and a one way ticket, but I've heard they're starting to crack down on that. I told them my boss told me that it was okay and that I'll be going to Japan ASAP. I got in.
| Quote: |
| 2. Flight arrangements...if I plan on staying more than a year, what's the best flight plan to get there on a tourist visa without wasting a return trip. Do they check at the airport to see if you have an ongoing or return flight booked? Good idea possibly to book an ongoing flight to, say, Japan, and then cancel it upon arrival in Seoul? Coming from U.S. Not very sure about this one. |
I cant see why that wouldnt work short of you not being able to cancel the ticket and get some of your money back for it.
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| 3. Bringing possessions...in this scenario, should I limit what I bring with me on the flight? Have more sent by post later on? Will I be questioned if I have a few more bags than the usual tourist? |
Standard seems to be two bags no more than 25-30kg and two bits of carry-on. Depends on your airline.
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| 4. TEFL training...anybody have knowledge of training programs (other than CELTA) in Seoul? Recommendations for online programs, or other forms of training? Any good books, websites, that would help a beginner in this field? Good bookstores for TEFL in Seoul? Pros/Cons of learning on the job? |
Training in Korea? Hahahaha!
Yer on your own. Try not to screw up.
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| 5. Best time of the year to come? I realize I'm less qualified than most, but is it more realistic to search for university jobs in August or January than the months that follow? How much of a difference might it make in terms of openings or opportunities? |
Come in September because it's damned hot and humid now. As for universities, beats me.
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| 6. Bike riding...I am an avid bike rider, but it doesn't sound like this is a great idea in Seoul. |
As long as you stick to parks and avoid anywhere where the average Korean driver is, you may live long enough to get some sort of advanced lung disease from breathing in all of his crap air. |
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