Korean Job Discussion Forums

kpccrysler · Joined: 13 Jan 2009

Hey guys,

I'm currently a Political Science major, Communications minor, and I'm interested in teaching in SK. What should I be doing right now to prepare myself for the job? Paperwork? Application? Meet with a Recruiter? Take some specific classes that will make me more competitive? How easy is it to get a job, is there a healthy demand for teachers?

Thanks for all the valuable information

KC

the ireland · Joined: 11 May 2008 Location: korea

arizona · Joined: 05 Dec 2008

If you want longevity in ESL world with better hours and money, try to be a certified teacher with MA degree. Since you are not an education major, you need to go to your state's education department website and find out what you can do to be certified.Yes, you can teach English in any where in the world but competition comes easier to you if you are all of these.

ReeseDog · Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Location: Classified

I read on this forum where being a certified teacher with an education degree and perhaps an MA is advantageous, but other threads here say that you might make an extra 100K won or so and that it isn't worth it.

What say ye?

nomad-ish · Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 4:04 pm Post subject:

criminal background checks can't be older than 3 or 6 months (forget which), so check before you order that.

you might want to look into a cheap TESOL certificate, it will probably give you a pay increase in a public school or help your chances negotiating with a private school

Jessie41 · Joined: 14 Dec 2007

sobriquet · Joined: 16 Feb 2007 Location: Nakatomi Plaza

Decide how much your soul is worth.

Invest in some inflatable butt plugs to make the rodgering you will potentially get from an employer here less painful.

runthegauntlet · Joined: 02 Dec 2007 Location: the southlands.

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

Hakwon teachers in HK don't live a very glamorous life. If fact, you'll bank more here. The OP is American, so to get into the NET program, he/she would need the BEd+MEd+Certification+experience in the US. Forget H.K. for the time being.

OP, if you're just looking at teaching in Korean short term, then concentrate on getting your 'packet' together there so that you can get here as quickly as possible after graduating. A quicky on-line certificate won't help you out much, especially with no experience.

Work on expediting your diploma. Get sealed transcripts with the BA confered and listed on them. Time your FBI background check so that it won't be more than 3 months old when you submit your visa documentation. Have a current passport with at least a couple of years left on it. Have a current CV or resume.

Know where you want to be location-wise: Seoul or outskirts, Pusan, a smaller city, countryside? Personally, I like Seoul. Don't buy any b.s. from recruiters about places 'really close to Seoul'. If it's not IN SEOUL, then it's not Seoul, and it can be a whole different experience. Know who you want to teach - adults, kids, or kiddies. AVOID SPLIT SHIFTS! Will you work only for public schools or will you also work or an institute (hakwon)?

Pepper ALL the recruiters and sift through the responses. See what turns up. Maybe post your resume on a job board (even Dave's). DON'T EVER be pressured to make a fast move. There are jobs enough to go around, and recruiters want you on a plane fast so that they can get paid. Aim for bigger schools rather than mom and pop operations in the sticks. Always insist on talking to current and prior teachers. In short, do your homework.

And above all, remember that a ton of people have been doing this type of work in Korea since before you were born. It's not that hard to pull off as long as you stay organized, do your homework, get a job close to your ideal (but be reasonable), and keep an open mind to the cultural differences. It's not a cakewalk, but it's an experience to be sure.

Good luck. Let us know how things pan out.

Ukon · Joined: 29 Jan 2008

Here's a tip no one has mentioned....meet some Koreans back home....get to know some adults and mentioned your interested in going to Korea....ESPECIALLY any professors who are korean....if they know a good gig, they can connect you...I have a professor do that for me...I declined, but it was an awesome choice.

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

And here's a good tread to check out:

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=142989

I'm the first to admit that I'm not the authority on public school or hakwon jobs. It's been a long time since I've had to deal with the visa hassles and the like. The posters on this thread know what they're talking about and are current.

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

Take a class on applied linguistics and do a bit of research on SLA theory.

nomad-ish · Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 9:10 pm Post subject:

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

I said a 'quickie' on-line certificate! Besides, we don't know if the OP will only be shooting for PS jobs. Better vacation to be sure, but don't know about location choices. That's why I suggested checking out that other link.

And short term, say a year, a hakwon job will still pay around 2.2 or more even without the on-line certification, which, by the way, eveyone I know who has one freely admits are worthless.

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

And, man, but are those exchange rate calculations out dated or what?!