Korean Job Discussion Forums

[htrain]

Hey guys, I've been fishing around all these old posts and found some interesting stuff, but I'd like to get some ideas from folks on what the best moves are these days.

I enlisted in the military when I was 17 (under Clinton not Bush) and went to language school for two years. I got my AA in Chinese, then finished a BA while I was enlisted. I started my MS in International Business in '04 and will finally finish it next month.

I went to China hoping to get into business with my language skills and degree and realized that teaching is what I really want to do. I thoroughly enjoy it and want to make a career of it.

Given my education, what would you do if you had $30,000 to use for college? I really get nauseated at the thought of going back to America (I've been in Asia for going on 7 years.)

I don't really want to start an MA after spending 3 very rough years on an MS already, but will if I have to. Maybe I should consider the ESL postgrad cert from Shenandoah? www.su.edu

Would you just start from scratch and do the MA? Would you bite the bullet and spend some miserable time back in the states doing a teacher certification so you could maybe teach at international schools one day?

What do you feel would offer the best reward potential? My masters GPA is 3.6 so I believe I am eligible for most all programs. I have two years of experience and no family. I'm 25.

Thanks a ton in advance, you guys are always very helpful... even the sarcastic a$$clowns, I love you guys too.

[Milwaukiedave]

I gave you some advice in the other thread, did you take it yet?

Just kidding....

[wylies99]

My advice? Sick of working on the assend of this business? Get an MBA and get into the business end of this business and make some real money.

[Fresh Prince]

I enjoy teaching too, and have thought about the same questions. The Won-Dollar exchange rate changes pretty fast which can be a problem for some, so if your planning on going back to the States to earn your certification, there's no telling what the exchange rate will be like when you return.

[dogshed]

Why not get a PhD?

[Milwaukiedave]

Sorry...I'll try not to hijack the thread, but I wanted to chime in again.

I have my master and am thinking about working on PhD while I'm here. If anyone else has good info on some programs, please let me know.

[MarionG]

What age do you like teaching? If it's youngsters, then getting into an international school might be the way to go, and if that requires certification, so be it.

If you like teaching older "kids," and want to try a university, forget the certification and go for a doctorate.

Some schools, whether for a doctorate or a masters, will let you do part of it while you are not physically there...so look for one where you can stay in Asia for at least one of the three years required.

[TECO]

do a PhD.

getting a second master's degree is a waste of time and money unless you're absolutely passionate about the subject matter.

30k U.S. would be enough to pay for a doctoral degree in Australia or New Zealand and cover some of your living expenses and flights back and forth from Korea.

[htrain]

Great advice, sorry I took so long to respond.

Well I talked to the program director for Curriculum and Instruction back at my university. She said she would be very happy to recommend me for the PhD program and said I could do a lot of distance coursework over here. She said I would definitely have to go back for some "seat time" but that is to be expected.

I thought two things ... I could use the cash to get a PhD, but it's gonna take a really, really long time. I could use it to get a cert to teach and have something to fall back on if I want to go the international route.

I like teaching all age groups to be honest. I've taught them all and each has something good about it, even kindergarten.

I think PhD candidate would also be a good resume bullet, even if I had not graduated yet. I think universities in Korea would also like the fact that I'm doing research at their school.

Would a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction with emphasis in Foreign Language instruction solidify my working in this field forever? Would it be worth the intense effort required? It honestly seems like it's not much of a difference as far as pay goes.

Thanks again to everyone, your help is appreciated.

[htrain]

One thing is for sure though, PhDs require 72 hours of post-graduate work... which makes a PhD in the field seem very, very far away. I'm not sure I feel passionate enough about management or business... even in an intercultural facet to write a PhD calibre thesis. Decisions decisions...

[adventureman]

A PhD is NOT worth it, unless you:

1) Would like to return your home country at some point to get a job as a tenured, full-time professor/researcher
2) Have at least 4-5 years to spare (longer if your MA is an unrelated field, or you don't have the necessary prerequisite coursework, or you are going part-time)
3) Have tens of thousands of dollars saved up (this applies mostly to U.S. universities, no idea about UK/Australia)
4) Are really really passionate about the subject matter, which in this case would be applied linguistics
5) Get a hard-on from the thought of spending most of your free time sitting next to a computer writing academic papers

DEFINITELY not practical for what most foreigners are hired to do in Korea, even at the university level. That is, teach English conversation (its all advanced theory at the doctoral level). Also not worth it from financial prespective, either. Maybe the presitge factor would be worth a few notches, but most universities in Korea (which have a less than stellar reputation world-wide to begin with) still won't grant tenure to foreign instructors, irregardless. And wouldn't it be difficult to become involved in curriculum design/educational policy reform in Korea unless you could speak the laguage at an advanced level?

Trust me, I'm in grad school working on the MA at of those "prestigious" universities myslef. Been there, done that, talked to the right people, a waste of time for 90% of teaching jobs for foreigners in Korea, case closed

[htrain]