Korean Job Discussion Forums

[toadhjo]

One of my friends is currently looking for an ESL gig in Korea. I've been trying to guide her a bit (although my knowledge isn't exactly plentiful.)

Anyway, she just got started looking, but I'm wondering about something. She's not really a native speaker. She moved to the US from Ecuador some time ago (I think while she was in high school).

Despite not being a native speaker, she did just become a US citizen (and has a US passport), and she also graduated from a US university with a BA in English. (The same sort of English degree a native speaker would get.) And I'd say her English is very good, even by native speaker standards.

Would it be possible for her to find a job in Korea? I think she's qualified for an E-2 visa, so as long as they don't scrutinize her background to much, it seems like she should be able to get a hakwon gig at least...correct me if I'm wrong...

[frankly speaking]

Yes, she can get a job. No she should not tell anyone that she wasn't born in
America. She might have difficulty finding a job because she is hispanic looking. Unfortunately, a lot of discrimination exists. If she keeps trying she will find something. She will have more difficulty in private academies (hagwons) than in Public schools. I had a co-worker a few years back well almost 10 years really, but she told some of her students that she spoke french before English growing up in Canada. more than 50% of the class quit that day. She was released from her contract.

In short, don't tell anyone that you are not native. There is no way to tell from the passport.

[Dude Ranch]

Yes. The only requirement is that the person have a passport from one of the big seven countries (US, UK, Canada, Ireland, OZ, NZ and South Africa) and have attended an english speaking university in one of those countries. The person does not have to be a native english speaker


I met a guy from Somalia who lived in Canada for four years for University, got the Canadian passport, and then came to Korea. He has a pretty thick accent, wears a doo rag, and dresses like a gangsta and he teaches children.

Don't worry too much about discrimination. I know people on this board like to complain about it, but I know plenty of black, asian, arab and hispanic teachers here.

If anything she could always exaggerate when she moved to the US and say she moved there when she was a child. They probobly wouldn't know

[Big Mac]

Doesn't your passport show your place of birth on the information page? I know my Canadian passport says my place of birth. Do they do that for the United States too?