Korean Job Discussion Forums

[EmilyM]

Hey there,

My parents are interested in coming to Korea to teach English for a year. My father a retired dentist and my mother a certified teacher. They are from Canada and are both in their mid-50's. I am looking for any advice on where they should begin their job search to find a couple of decent positions, preferably not in a hogwan.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Emily

[Mr. Pink]

I'd say best of luck. I personally have not seen someone that old working over here as an English teacher.

If your mom is a certified teacher, why not try the international schools or DoD schools?

As for your dad, honestly who would hire a retired dentist without experience teaching English? I know I wouldn't.

[Hater Depot]

I've known three people that age teaching in Korea. One was a nice woman. One was fired for hitting on his adult female students. One was a full-blown alcoholic.

[BigBlackEquus]

Don't be discouraged. Tell them to try the public schools, or private high schools. When are they planning to come over? I know that some of the private high schools around Bundang had some older people working for them. Seongnam High School had a guy who was in at least nearing 45 to 50.

I think it is cool that they are trying. I would totally avoid hagwon situations entirely, unless it is just part time. I think it would drive them totally bonkers, and they would feel overworked. Maybe you already have done this, but please remind both of them (especially your mom) that Koreans often favor sudden action over planning/organization. That has been the most difficult aspect of working here, for me. My school has been a great place to work, but they don't notify us of anything until they decide to suddenly do it. This includes switching vacation times after we book tickets.

They are doing this for a holiday sort of experience, right? One of them can get a full time job with an E2, and the other can stay here on it, then get part time jobs. I think this is illegal (I have no experience as to whether or not a married person can register a PT job with immigration while their spouse is on an E-2), but I know more than a few who do it. If they get caught, they can claim ignorance, take the 500,000 won fine that will come of it, and either leave or just stay and be more careful. At their age, I am guessing that they have quite a nestegg, and aren't worried about money so much?

I might also suggest Bundang as an area to live and work. They aren't going to be as crazy about the nightlife, and Bundang is much cleaner. It's about 45 minutes to Kangnam by subway, which isn't bad.

Again, when are they coming over? I often hear of opportunities, and might be able to hook at least one of them up. I can only try. The best jobs usually want people here first. They should most definately come over and live in a cheaper hotel for a few weeks (40,000 won per night or so).

[Old fat expat]

Emily:

BigBlack has given you some good advice.

I think a retired dentist has lots of experience figuring out unintelligable grunts and giving them meaning.

There is certainly a range of mature people working here, and their reasons for doing so are just as diverse. If it's an edventure they want, this is the place.

[Grotto]

I would like to suggest that they look into medical uni's. Having dentistry English taught by an actual dentist would be highly beneficial. Not only would he understand the jargon he would be eligble for a professor position...after all he has his Phd...right!

[TJ]

[margaret]

I'm 54 and this is my second job teaching in Korea. I taught in a kindergarten and now in a hogwan, but with their qualifications I think they could do better. I've read in other threads that universities aren't as concerned about age as hogwans and hire older people.
Margaret

[the_beaver]

When do they want to come?

[EmilyM]

Hi Everyone,

Thanks so much for the comments/advice etc. It really helps. I wasn't really sure what to think or where to begin.

To the beaver, I think they are planning or wanting to come in the spring, maybe around April. They are still in the decision making stage of it, as it requires leaving lots of things, such as the house, to be looked after while they are gone.

As some ppl have suggested, I think I will help them look into the University scene.

Thanks again,
Emily

[Mr. Pink]

[TJ]

[Rteacher]

It's true that many positions open up at the end of February, but I would try to line up jobs now. I'd also recommend using a recruiter experienced in placing teachers in public schools. (I used Easy English Consulting, but Work n'Play is also well established in that area...)

For your father, if a suitable university postition can't be gotten, I'd suggest a public technical or vocational high school. They usually prefer people under 50, but I somehow got hired at age 55 - with the help of my recruiter. I know that Gyeonggi province wants native English teachers to teach more specialized technical vocabulary according to students vocational interests...

[Tiger Beer]

Definetely in the universities..

I'm in my 30s.. and on the lower end of the spectrum at my university. Quite a few there who are my age, and quite a few more who are older. (Very, very few are in their 20s). I'd almost say that if you took the average of all the teachers at my university, you'd get something like 37-38 to be the average age combined.

A retired dentist would be well-educated, and capable of getting a good university job in the universities.. he might even be able to get a job in the dentistry department teaching instead.

[UncleAlex]

Margaret, how would Jack Sims and the WTO feel about using squat
toilets in a Korean public washroom? Are we an unhappy lot here?