Korean Job Discussion Forums

noguri · Joined: 28 Nov 2005 Location: korea

I want to find a good job in Korea but neither my undergrad nor my grad degree are at all related to ESL. I have full-time teaching experience at the university level but not in English or ESL.

I was thinking that taking a CELTA course would help my job search and boost my marketability.

My wife looked at the price of the CELTA course and suggested that my time and money would be better spent taking an intensive Korean language course. That would enable me to better network and communicate with potential employers.

Any advice out there for this confused newbie?

laogaiguk · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Location: somewhere in Korea

denverdeath · Joined: 21 May 2005 Location: Boo-sahn

Having a master's in anything is in no way going to hurt you. Some universities may take you just because of that. Anyway, I think the CELTA would probably be better money spent as you'll probably learn some good things like classroom management and teaching strategies. Even though some of it will be stuff you aready know or common sense, you're bound to pick up a few useful things. The Korean language program would be benficial as well, but you're not here to teach Korean...pick up a book and teach yourself some and learn some more when you're here if you have the time and motivation. The CELTA cert will sweeten your resume all the more. Or, as the last poster said, do neither and come now and get the experience as quickly as possible so you can guarantee yourself a spot at one of those universities next year.

VanIslander · Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 11:30 am Post subject:

i agree with the previous posters and add...

If there's any chance you might want to teach ESL outside of Asia someday (or teach for more than 1-2 years) then take the CELTA. I did it after teaching for two years and it was so good I'd wished I'd done it before I started teaching! It's high quality bootcamp for teachers.

If you're pretty sure you're only ever going to teach English in Korea and plan to learn the language anyway then take the language course to help the process along, because, believe me, it's too easy to live in Korea without speaking the local language. I've been here for over three years and my Korean has gotten worse despite hanging out with Koreans, and even travelling a lot. Why? Well, people are accommodating, others wish to practice their English, and most situations seem manageable without it. So the sooner you get a workable level of language use, the less likely you are to take the easy way out and avoid doing what you plan: speak the language.

Good luck whatever.

mithridates · Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 11:42 am Post subject:

Depends on how mentally stimulated you feel recently. If you have enough hobbies of your own that challenge you in new ways and increase neural connections then you might want to stick with the CELTA. If you've finished school, aren't sure what you're going to do academically for the next few years and feel that you might stagnate mentally without sufficient direction then I would recommend the Korean, if it's intensive.

laogaiguk · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Location: somewhere in Korea

noguri · Joined: 28 Nov 2005 Location: korea

Thanks to y'all for the feedback. Yeah, I have badly wanted the CELTA boot camp so I can learn the language teaching methods. But short on cash, I can just study books about ESL teaching and heck, the Davers post all kinds of suggestions and techniques, too.

It's good to know that employers definitely DON'T prefer foreign teachers who speak Korean, so for now I can continue my snail's pace of self-study and try to hit the books harder when I get to Korea.

thanks again denverdeath, laogaiguk, mith and van islander

some waygug-in · Joined: 25 Jan 2003

I agree with most of what's been said above.........except for one thing.

"You will learn more in your first 4 months here than in any class"

Laughing

That depends.

I learned almost no Korean in my first 4 months here.... and I was trying to learn, but I just didn't have the time/ energy to devote to studying.

Working a full time teaching job requires a lot of time and energy, you won't have much left for studying. (at least that was true for me)

If you are really interested in staying here long term, then take the language course, if you are interested in teaching EFL long term, then take the CELTA.

You can study Korean on-line for free, by the way. I'm not saying you will master the language, but you can get the basics.

http://korean.sogang.ac.kr

I hope this helps.