Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ekim]

Hey, my Taiwanese friend wants to come and work in Korea for a while, and although she speaks English fluently (second language), I guess she'd have to settle with a Visa for teaching Chinese. I guess she could teach English as well, though under-the-table, but my main question is about teaching Chinese.

Does anyone know about the Chinese teaching scene, what they get paid, what qualifications they need, winter/summer camp possibilities, etc? Any help and suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thanks a lot.

[ekim]

Uh.... I don't know why, but there was a really good response I thought on here, and now it's gone. It wasn't anything negative, so I just wonder where it went?

[tzechuk]

She'll still need a university degree to teach Chinese before they will give her a visa.

The pay is way lower than teaching English and you are not treated as well (as is the case with my friend).

Personally, I wouldn't bother.

(I am Chinese, albeit with a British Nationality and married to a Korean natioanl, in case you wonder).

[mithridates]

Yeah, Chinese isn't taught in quite the same way as English as Koreans will just take a plane for an hour and a bit to go straight there to practice it in person. I think Chinese will quietly surpass English in that way as people will continue to just send people to China when they need it in the workforce, and then one day lo and behold, more people will know Chinese than English (or at least know it well). That's the impression I got in Qingdao anyway when I was there and saw Koreans just everywhere, and I guess there were almost none about a decade ago but not anymore.

[Hotpants]

sorry, I put a reply here, then deleted it by mistake when editing.

My answer was pretty much as the other respondees have stated: There are already a lot of qualified Korean teachers of Chinese. Chinese is not studied big time here; most Koreans will only opt to study it intensively if they choose Chinese as their university major, although the trend is gradually changing. I've noticed a few more high school students attending Chinese classes after school than before. I don't know of many people having a private Chinese tutor, either, despite the requirement to study a set number of Chinese characters starting from elementary school - most kids and parents don't take that part of the curriculum very seriously. Salary is about half of an average English teacher and most work is block work paid by the hour. I suspect a Taiwanese national might find it hard to get work here, although I don't know of any Taiwanese here personally to back that up. Could try domestic helper and live in with a Korean family and teach their kids English and Chinese.

[ekim]

I also considered her getting a student Visa for something, and then teaching on the side. I mean, her English is as good as ours, so I have no doubts about her getting the illegal part-times, though maybe for slightly less money.

I expected it to be tough for a Taiwanese to compete with the Chinese in the area of Chinese classes, since their country is equal with Korea in terms of development, meaning she's not gonna accept 3rd World treatment. I have no doubt about her being able to get the teaching work, just not the Visa. Any other suggestions for this?

Thanks a lot

[ekim]

Just to clarify, now I'm talking about getting into Korea on some kind of student Visa or something and teaching English, not Chinese. That or getting in on a work Visa to teach Chinese and then teaching English.

[ontheway]

Chinese teachers come in on a teaching visa just like English teachers. There are many hogwans around here with Chinese native speakers. Many people have private Chinese teachers at home. They are in great demand where I live. Their rate for privates was about 20,000 per hour a year ago.