Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ernest310]

Hi all,

I've been thinking for a while now about teaching in Korea. It's been on my mind for years, actually, but now I'm in a position to actually seriously consider going there next summer 2008.

I am primarily interested in teaching at a university (not at a university-related institute.)

I read many of the threads regarding Korean universities and the various issues germane to them.

Brief bio: I'm 31 and teach part-time at a university in the US while I finish my Ph.D. (I'm ABD.) I have over 4-years' experience teaching English grammar and language to college students, but I don't have any credentials like TESOL, though of course I have an MA. I can supply many excellent reference from colleagues.

I've been to Korea before, etc., etc., I do have some friends there, etc., etc. As regards living there, I know what I'm getting myself into.

Teaching at a uni just seems like the coolest thing. But the threads here do discuss the difficulties in securing a position--especially if you don't actually live in Korea. That's one of the difficulties--traveling to Korea just to visit the universities in-person would prove very difficult for me to do.

What would be the best course of action in my situation? There's an outside chance that my friends have connections, but I don't want to burden them till I feel better about going forward in my attempt to find a teaching position. To what degree am I helped/hindered by my experience and credentials?

Thanks for any help!

[PRagic]

You'll get hired from where you are. No problem. The Ph.D. will get you a job. If your degree is in an English related dicipline, then you may even qualify for a tenure track position.

Look around on individual university websites, and NOT on Dave's. The university positions posted on Dave's are predominantly looking for ESL teachers with an MA. Some state that they are recruiting Ph.D.s, but there is not enough of a difference in salary and benefits to merit taking the job. Universities, especially the larger ones, post open positions for visiting and tenure track foreign professors in a variety of diciplines.

Some things to think about:

You should be making a minimum of 4 million a month
You shouldn't have to teach more than 3 classes a semester
You should have fully paid summer and winter breaks
You might get housing, but don't let that detract from your minimum expected pay. Take the money and get your own place if necessary. A salary history is more important than a crap apartment any day.
You might have to publish. No biggie.

Cheers, and good luck to you.

[ttompatz]

[PRagic]

I have an F5, am non-Korean, and am in a full-time, tenure track position (2 class sched/publsihing responsibilities). Must be breaking the law!

[Corky]

Either that or you're at a private university?

[bassexpander]

Oh gawd, someone gave the resident braggart who is better than everyone else in Korea a chance to stroke himself YET AGAIN! Oh, I think I'm going to vomit. If I remember correctly, it was a backwater-type of place anyway.

OP, maybe you saw this ad. This place is NOT backwater. Not sure if it's enough money for you:

http://www.eslcafe.com/jobs/korea/index.cgi?read=26854

[makemischief]

i think ttompatz is right with 99% of his responses, but i gotta disagree on this one.

david s.
robert d.
andrew f.

all tenured foreigners. some married to koreans yes- but none of them koreans themselves.

cheers.

[hogwonguy1979]

[chriswylson]

Ah, Pragic and his big ego (aka, inferiority complex) indeed never misses a chance at online massturbation under the guise of helping others.

Just look at his reply to RR's thread about Korean university grads' wages:

"The big question for foreign university profs here will be whether or not foreigners will ever be granted true tenure status. According to immigration laws, we can't be. However, now with the F5 coming into full swing, I wonder what will happen. Have to get back to you in a couple of years on that one."

Absolutely no connection to the topic! The poor little man was once again talking to himself. When will he become a real man?

[makemischief]

[Unposter]

Who is David S.?

[makemischief]

a long long term resident/teacher in Korea. send me a PM if you want his name. i tend not to like to stick full names in forums (not that he is a big secret or anything).

[ernest310]

Thanks for the info! I appreciate it.

I'm actually not looking for a tenure-track position, just a part-time one. I'll check out the various university websites and see what I can find.

[PRagic]

Just trying to answer the question. Seems the ones with the inferiority complexes are the ones taking offense at my answering questions based on my own experience. Should I apologize for having degrees? For making money? This is a thread about university employment, for Christ sakes, and you get on my case for talking about....my university experience and job?

My posts are responses. If the topic is employment, I might include information about my job. If the topic is income, I might include information about my income. Why is it that people who post about their hakwon jobs and income aren't flamed. Interesting. Are all of my posts directly 'on-topic'? Hey, I try. But are posts flaming me related to this topic at all? Physician, heal thyself.

And, yes, I am at a private university. What I meant by that statement was that I wonder if we'll be granted full tenure. I'm on a tenure track, but that's a long cry away from being granted actual tenure.

Too bad you look at my posts as being ego motivated. To the contrary, I am very much in favour of people making the most of themselves, and of working to improve themselves, be it professionally or economically. It's not about me at all. If you knew me, you'd know this.

[tzechuk]

Just to say that you can be an E1 and a tenure track prof at the same time.

I know many people who are.