Korean Job Discussion Forums

[brassmnky48]

Hey hey, I'm new to the board, and have a couple newb questions...if anyone could help me out it would be greatly appreciated.

I am currently an English major en route to graduate by about this time next year with a concentration in writing and literacy. I will not have a TESOL certification upon graduation. I've been thinking hard about taking the plunge and jetting off to Korea to teach English, but I really want to live in a big city as opposed to a small village. My preliminary plans (although admittedly ignorant plans) are to find a job in Korea and teach for a year, and at some point get my online TESOL certification. After my year is up, and I am armed with some sort of certification and a year's experience in teaching, I'd like to travel elsewhere, possibly somewhere in Europe, to teach more. I guess my questions are as follows...

1. How difficult is it to find a decent job in Seoul (or other cities) with only an English degree? When teaching in larger cities, is it still possible to get your rent paid for?

2. I understand that, obviously, a TESOL certification gained in a live classroom environment is more valuable than an online certification. How much of a difference would this make, however, coupled with a year's experience teaching English in Korea?

Thanks ahead of time for any responses, hopefully somebody can shed some light.

[Otherside]

For working in Korea, a TESOL cert isn't really required and only nets a moderate bump in salary. What you learn is very useful, but this usefulness diminishes the longer you've been teaching. This goes doubly for cheap'n nasty online certs.

If you are wanting to teach in Europe, then I'd recommend getting the CELTA. It is far more respected over there (and in the middle east) and most of the jobs ask for it by name. If you are planning on staying in SE Asia, any old TEFL will do.