Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Koreadays]

[Yaya]

Something I've realized about Korea is that not everyone who attends hakwon goes to learn English. Some do it because they're bored, want to meet new people, learn new things, or want to tell people they're going to a hakwon. As long as you are half interesting, there will be a market for foreign teachers.

I have a friend who owns a small hakwon out in the sticks, and he says quite a few of his long-time students aren't really into learning English so much as having something to do. My Korean aunt took English at a culture center class for women and graduated from the highest level yet couldn't speak English to save her life.

What I'm hoping happens is that you can teach other subjects or skills in English in Korea one day.

[smee18]

Koreadays, yeah, you're probably right. It won't disappear any time soon, but will definitely shrink, and no doubt morph into something 'new' in the process, which could be good - a more efficient, professional industry - or bad - corporatised global edutainment (I'm looking at you Disney English).

On the supply and demand issue, the collapsing global economies of the West have definitely flooded the ESL market, though I kinda think that the obscene cost of education in America (and elsewhere, though America is exemplary) might shrink the noob-pool. If the educaiton debt bubble bursts, credit for eager young students will disappear, bye bye degree, bye bye Korea, hello wallmart.

And just so all the Americans out there can know how badly they are being screwed, my M.A. Education in TESOL cost me under $4000AUD, as an Australian citizen studying at an Australian University.

p.s. I don't hate Americans. In fact, I'm married to one, and love her more than anything in this world.

p.s.s. yes, having done a Masters in TESOL means I plan on being in ESL for some time to come.

p.s.s.s we looked into my wife doing the same course I did, but it would cost her $15 000 AUD as an international student. We also looked into some American universities, most were around $20 000 USD.

[tran.huongthu]

[Charlie Bourque]

[pegasus64128]

[PatrickGHBusan]

Or D) The industry is evolving and moving into another developmental phase where specific needs are being identified (better qualified foreign teachers) as local educators pick up the slack in English Ed (slowly but surely).