|
Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
princess
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: soul of Asia
|
 Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2007 1:44 am Post subject: |
 |
|
| Son Deureo! wrote: |
Ella, I'm sure I'm not the only one around here to be wondering exactly what kinds of job offers you've been getting, and what kind of job you're holding out for. Maybe we can help give you an idea of how realistic you're being.
As CLG pointed out, most people do not get their best job in Korea on their first try, even if they are in country while they're looking. However, it is prime hiring season right now for public schools. If you can't find a hogwon with reasonable conditions, you probably couldn't go too far wrong by working for a public school your first year here. With a year's experience, a bigger nest-egg, and the connections you've made after a year, you're bound to do even better in your second year. |
Well, all of this depends...A year of experience doesn't count for too much in Korea or anywhere else. I had a Canadian friend here in 2001, who after 5 years experience with the same school, was still only making 1.5  In 2000, I made like 1,544,000, and in 2001 I went up to 1.9. Right at the end of my 2001 contract I got a raise and went up to 2.1. On my third contract with a different school, I actually got only 1.8. Now, I get 1.9. This is my 5th contract. Again, different school. These are all after tax/deduction figures. So, go figure. You will not become a millionnaire overnight. Experience means jack in many cases, unless you also know the right people, etc. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Son Deureo!
Joined: 30 Apr 2003
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2007 5:20 am Post subject: |
|
|
| princess wrote: |
| Experience means jack in many cases, unless you also know the right people, etc. |
I agree, I think the networking often counts more than the actual experience. Every job I've had in Korea since my first I've found out about by word of mouth, and gotten with the help of a recommendation. It takes time in-country to pull that off.
That doesn't mean someone in Ella's shoes can't get something worthwhile in her first year, and being in Korea and ready to work does put her in a better position than many. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
mnhnhyouh
Joined: 21 Nov 2006
Location: The Middle Kingdom
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2007 5:39 am Post subject: |
|
|
[quote="princess"]
| Son Deureo! wrote: |
| You will not become a millionnaire overnight. |
Well, not overnight, but in Korea you will become one with your first pay 
h |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Hyeon Een
Joined: 24 Jun 2005
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2007 7:32 am Post subject: |
|
|
| princess wrote: |
| Son Deureo! wrote: |
Ella, I'm sure I'm not the only one around here to be wondering exactly what kinds of job offers you've been getting, and what kind of job you're holding out for. Maybe we can help give you an idea of how realistic you're being.
As CLG pointed out, most people do not get their best job in Korea on their first try, even if they are in country while they're looking. However, it is prime hiring season right now for public schools. If you can't find a hogwon with reasonable conditions, you probably couldn't go too far wrong by working for a public school your first year here. With a year's experience, a bigger nest-egg, and the connections you've made after a year, you're bound to do even better in your second year. |
Well, all of this depends...A year of experience doesn't count for too much in Korea or anywhere else. I had a Canadian friend here in 2001, who after 5 years experience with the same school, was still only making 1.5 In 2000, I made like 1,544,000, and in 2001 I went up to 1.9. Right at the end of my 2001 contract I got a raise and went up to 2.1. On my third contract with a different school, I actually got only 1.8. Now, I get 1.9. This is my 5th contract. Again, different school. These are all after tax/deduction figures. So, go figure. You will not become a millionnaire overnight. Experience means jack in many cases, unless you also know the right people, etc. |
Hmm you haven't had much luck moving up the ladder eh.. you should use more recruiters =)) (I know you hate them..)
My first job, through a recruiter, was 1.9m, 10 days vacation (37 classes). My second job, through a contact, was 2.2m 4 weeks vacation (20 classes). My third job, through a recruiter, was 2.1m 10 weeks vacation (20 classes). My fourth job will be 2.5-3m (15 classes plus overtimes of about 5 hrs) and 5 months vacation.
Network more! Or.. use recruiters! My third job was gotten through a recruiter and I've been pretty damn happy with it. My new job is through a friend of a friend. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
crazylemongirl
Joined: 23 Mar 2003
Location: almost there...
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2007 7:47 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Son Deureo! wrote: |
| princess wrote: |
| Experience means jack in many cases, unless you also know the right people, etc. |
I agree, I think the networking often counts more than the actual experience. Every job I've had in Korea since my first I've found out about by word of mouth, and gotten with the help of a recommendation. It takes time in-country to pull that off.. |
That's not just an EFL thing, but a job thing in general. Just about everyone has to do their time do the grunt work in order to build up contacts to move on to bigger and better things. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
JongnoGuru
Joined: 25 May 2004
Location: peeing on your doorstep
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2007 7:35 pm Post subject: Re: Where would you teach to make money (excluding Korea)? |
|
|
What happened to the cushy, high-paying English-teaching jobs in Qatar or one of the other oil sheikdoms? Virtual lockdown in some countries, not a whole lot to do but teach, read your arse off and count your money. I knew two people who did that. They were both guys, however. They both taught at military or pubic sector institutions, all-male student body. I don't know if those countries generally hire female English teachers. Do they?
| ella wrote: |
| If you were female, 30s, American, and had a B.A., no cert, 3 years' ESL experience, university teaching experience, and tech writing experience, where would you teach (excluding Korea) if you wanted to be completely mercenary and just make money for a few years? |
This is a bit surprising. There's nothing inherently wrong with being "completely mercenary" and "all for the money", I've adopted that very approach myself to a job or two. I had to. (Whether that's a particularly laudable mindset for a teacher... well, I'll leave that to those qualified to debate it.) But what's surprising is that it's coming from you, Ella. The corollary of "completely mercenary" isn't "great lifestlyle, great housing, great hours, great environment, great working conditions", etc. Normally, it's the polar opposite. The "mercenary" doesn't care or even ask about things like the food, the air quality, heavy metals in the water, roaches in the kitchen, or people smoking in restaurants. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Rteacher
Joined: 23 May 2005
Location: Western MA, USA
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2007 9:38 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I don't think you can get a teaching job in Qatar or anywhere in the UAE (United Arab Emirates) with just a B.A. (unless possibly you have a degree in English and are a certified teacher ...)
And, I think that (compared to Korea...) there are not nearly as many EFL teaching jobs available in Japan, and the application/screening process is more drawn out. (Probably a good gig if you have what they're looking for, though...)
I'd recommend getting at least a TEFL certificate at some point for better jobs, pay (and training...) |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
lastat06513
Joined: 18 Mar 2003
Location: Sensus amo Caesar , etiamnunc victus amo uni plebian
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2007 9:55 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Oman has an oddly large number of female teachers and so does the UAE.
Don't worry, foreign women are not required to wear Burqas as they do in KSA
And some only have a HS diploma (met one who was sightseeing in Kuwait once) |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
princess
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: soul of Asia
|
| Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2007 12:34 am Post subject: Re: Where would you teach to make money (excluding Korea)? |
|
|
| JongnoGuru wrote: |
What happened to the cushy, high-paying English-teaching jobs in Qatar or one of the other oil sheikdoms? Virtual lockdown in some countries, not a whole lot to do but teach, read your arse off and count your money. I knew two people who did that. They were both guys, however. They both taught at military or pubic sector institutions, all-male student body. I don't know if those countries generally hire female English teachers. Do they?
| ella wrote: |
| If you were female, 30s, American, and had a B.A., no cert, 3 years' ESL experience, university teaching experience, and tech writing experience, where would you teach (excluding Korea) if you wanted to be completely mercenary and just make money for a few years? |
This is a bit surprising. There's nothing inherently wrong with being "completely mercenary" and "all for the money", I've adopted that very approach myself to a job or two. I had to. (Whether that's a particularly laudable mindset for a teacher... well, I'll leave that to those qualified to debate it.) But what's surprising is that it's coming from you, Ella. The corollary of "completely mercenary" isn't "great lifestlyle, great housing, great hours, great environment, great working conditions", etc. Normally, it's the polar opposite. The "mercenary" doesn't care or even ask about things like the food, the air quality, heavy metals in the water, roaches in the kitchen, or people smoking in restaurants. |
Being completely mercenary would also mean no bathtub and no oven and no carpet.  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ella
Joined: 17 Apr 2006
|
| Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2007 4:21 am Post subject: |
|
|
When I lived in rural India I bathed with one bucket of hot water and one bucket of cold water and a candle for light. They cooked over an open fire. And carpeting is fairly gross, anyway.
One person's mercenary misery is another's happy GOOD (Get Out Of Debt) job, JongnoGuru. There are people who wouldn't live where I'm from and it's paradise.  I'm interested in hearing what people have to say about other options. (Don't know many INTPs, I take it?)
I've worn a burqa, by choice. It's freakin' hot in those things. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
princess
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: soul of Asia
|
| Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2007 6:02 am Post subject: |
|
|
| ella wrote: |
When I lived in rural India I bathed with one bucket of hot water and one bucket of cold water and a candle for light. They cooked over an open fire. And carpeting is fairly gross, anyway.
One person's mercenary misery is another's happy GOOD (Get Out Of Debt) job, JongnoGuru. There are people who wouldn't live where I'm from and it's paradise. I'm interested in hearing what people have to say about other options. (Don't know many INTPs, I take it?)
I've worn a burqa, by choice. It's freakin' hot in those things. |
Yikes! How could you stand bathing like that in India? If someone says "rural" I will run! I was born and raised in a small rural craphole, but I am a city girl. Always have been. All through high school I couldn't wait to leave that hole but I had a real shower at least. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Svetlana
Joined: 22 Jan 2007
|
| Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2007 11:56 am Post subject: Re: Where would you teach to make money (excluding Korea)? |
|
|
| Quote: |
| If you were female, 30s, American, and had a B.A., no cert, 3 years ESL experience, university teaching experience, and tech writing experience, where would you teach (excluding Korea) if you wanted to be completely mercenary and just make money for a few years? I also speak Spanish and Hindi, if that helps. |
Saudi Arabia or any other country in the Gulf region. They need female teachers because only women can teach girls in that part of the world. You likely have olive skin and dark hair as you speak Hindi? So, you will not draw much attention to yourself and blend in easily. A friend of mine made £25 OOO in one year working in Riyadh for a rich family and its employees. It is not as scary there as you may believe from American media. In fact it is quite safe, especially for women. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
