Korean Job Discussion Forums

BS.Dos. · Joined: 29 Mar 2007

Hi there, (first post - be gentle)

I'm giving serious consideration to teaching in Korea later this year. I'm a 37 yr old UK male with a BA (Hons) and (soon to be completed) Trinity TESOL cert, but with no previous teaching experience.

I've a 1001 other boxes to tick in respect of the above, but I've read in a TEFL Abroad book that Korean institutions generally prefer applicants from the US/Canada and thought that clarifying this first might save me wasting time in the long run.

Could anyone expand on how truthful and relevant ones Nationality is in respect of seeking Teaching work in Korea.

SuperHero · Joined: 10 Dec 2003 Location: Superhero Hideout

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

laogaiguk · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Location: somewhere in Korea

cbclark4 · Joined: 20 Aug 2006 Location: Masan

By and far the most credible witness on the forum, Mr. ttompatz is the ONE to listen too.

cbc

BS.Dos. · Joined: 29 Mar 2007

^ Thanks.
His post did seem to hit the nail on the head.

babtangee · Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 2:50 am Post subject: Re: Preferred Foreign Nationals

laogaiguk · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Location: somewhere in Korea

Muffin · Joined: 01 Mar 2006 Location: Turkey

Hi I am about your age and also British, I posted exactly the same question on here just over a year ago.

I got a job quite easily and offers of more. Some schools do have a certain policy but I think that is changing.

My school was bought by another school that used to only employ Canadian teachers (including black Canadians). They had already relented and hired a couple of South Africans. I was the first Brit they hired and they went on to hire two more. They were willing to keep the American from the original school but she left, normally though the director wouldn't touch Americans with a barge pole - he must have had a bad experience.

The original director (who sold the school) would not hire Canadians after being badly burned by two.

Therefore, it can just depend on the whim of whoever is hiring and I think being British you stand a good chance.

As people have said on your other thread, the Korean public will really love you for being British!

chris_J2 · Joined: 17 Apr 2006 Location: From Brisbane, Au.

Agree with other posters that it is currently a teachers market. My recruiter sent me a link with 25,000 vacancies in Korea, & only 8,000 applicants (2005). I'm Australian, & replaced a Canadian. There were some initial complaints about my accent, as the kids & teachers were both used to a North American accent, but:

1. My accent gradually changed after constant exposure to the USA CD's (I calculated about 1,400 hours over 11 months)
2. The kids got used to my accent

You'll be fine.

laogaiguk · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Location: somewhere in Korea

chris_J2 · Joined: 17 Apr 2006 Location: From Brisbane, Au.

Okay, 'use to'

http://www.answers.com/topic/used-to

English idiom
In time when you've got used to the idea, you'll be pleased you did it.

Idiom definition
Eventually when you've got used to the idea, you'll be pleased you did it.

Correct answer: (d) Eventually

No mention of 'used to'!

laogaiguk · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Location: somewhere in Korea

hairy sue · Joined: 18 May 2006 Location: weewee heaven

People from the USA are in highest demand.
America built this country's economy, currently defends it from the totalitarian basket case to the north and offers it an excellent subsitute to the backward, closed minded hermit-styled culture that existed before.
For every Korean that protests in Jongno, 10 Koreans are realising this to be true and westernizing, or should I say Americanizing.
Some Koreans might say they dislike the US, but when it comes down to it in my opinion the average American teaching here garnishes a larger degree of respect from the locals than their commonwealth counterparts.

tzechuk · Joined: 20 Dec 2004

PM me and I may be able to fix you up with something.