Korean Job Discussion Forums

[kimchi_pizza]

Henry David Thoreau, Letter Two, To Harrison G.O. Blake March 27, 1848~~

"....I do believe that the outward and the inward life correspond: that if any
should succeed to live a higher life, others would not know of it; that
difference and distance are one. To set about living a true life is to go (on)
a journey to a distant country, gradually to find ourselves surrounded by
new scenes and men; as long as the old are around me, I know that I am
not in any true sense living a new or better life. The outward is only the
outside of that which is within...."

To find folly in others is to deflect the folly in one-self.

Cheers~ *wink*

[GENO123]

[misher]

I laugh at uni teachers that really aren't doing anything more than glorified ESL classes for 20 year old kids that haven't grown up yet. I know it's a joke because I did it. These types aren't really passionate about what they're doing rather they like to wave their uni-business kangsa card around and brag about their 6 month vacation like they're some top cock (not all are like this).

Those guys are the biggest fricking jokes I've ever met. Funny thing is, Koreans aren't fooled. They know you're a loser if you're teaching "English" at a university. 10-15 years ago it was different but not now. If you're lecturing academic content well then that is another story.

The people who go places and make an impact in this industry are the ones who concentrate on childhood education. They have the drive, the passion to help the kids etc. I got way more respect for them than Unigwon esl teaching dopes looking for that sweet "gig" that let's them do minimal work with little professional development just so they can screw off for 5 months of the year.

[ricochet]

[edwardcatflap]

You have a UNI TEFL job that pays 5 mil as basic? Sounds like a pretty good deal. Which one is it?

[JMO]

There are jobs like that out there, although I don't know if he has one.

I'm a uni teacher and I mostly do it for the money and the hols. The money isn't great but its comparable to almost any hagwon and there are yearly raises. The hours and hols allow me to study for what I want to do after.

If I was a passionate teacher, I'd say that working with early grades at an elementary school or at a kindergarten could be very rewarding.

I've met hagwon teachers who seem like great folks and some that don't. Same for any job. In fact, I also met a clown the other night, red nose and all. He was also a great guy.

[JMO]

[edwardcatflap]

[JMO]

[edwardcatflap]

He said he made 5 million 'for doing absolutely zilch' so presumably that was his basic salary.

[JMO]

[PRagic]

Interesting. The people I know who teach at university with related MAs, loads of experience, and all the certs (CELTA, DELTA, DELTA trainer) are the ones who never refer to themselves as professors. These are the people with long term, higher paying, secure positions, and they're professional. Anytime I've heard anyone ask them what they do, the response has been, 'I teach (English) at university.' They don't want their students calling them 'professor', either, and let them know right off.

To the contrary, the people I've known over the years who have insisted they be called 'professor', and who introduce themselves as being 'a professor' are usually those with non-related degrees who have either bounced between jobs, or been bounced out of jobs. Most are in general agreement that they're wankers.

Hell, I am a professor, and if people ask me what I do, I usually answer, 'I teach at university.' If they ask what, then going from there it is generally understood that I am indeed a tenure track professor.

Do I ever look down on anyone? Seriously? Why? It's a job, as is anyone else's job. I've said it before and I'll say it again: I give full props to my buddies who teach ESL at university. They're good at it, and they've expanded their skill sets over the years so that they can be where they are. ESL wasn't for me, so I did something else. No biggie.

[edwardcatflap]

[PRagic]

Certainly a justified comment. By way of an explanation, I am generally dismissive of the hakwons themselves, including their hiring criteria and use of less-than-ethical recruiters, rather than of the people who end up working for them.

A as some posters have noted, there are some good hakwons out there, and if you can find one, you can indeed do some good. The deck, as thread after thread attests, is stacked against you, though, making most hakwons jobs entry level and temporary.

[edwardcatflap]