Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Jay Jackson]

I was born and raised in Nebraska speaking English.

I have a Mathematics Endorsement with my teacher's license from the State of New Mexico. (Also, I am confident that I passed the NM test for a TESOL Endorsement that I took recently.) I received a MA degree in Teacher Education in 2007 from UNM. I have been teaching math for several years in New Mexico - from prealgebra to algebra 2 courses.

I could probably get an endorsement in Language Arts easily enough. (I assume that a Langage Arts endorsement would make me more desirable as an instructor.)

I would appreciate anyones input on my ability to obtain employment as an English Instructor in Korea in a university degree program, possibly. Or is an English (or related) degree required now? (My BA degree is in General Studies. My BA is worthless, expect that it got me a job teaching in Korea.) By the way, I taught Conversational English in a small hagwon in 1999. I believe that I still have all the requirments to obtain a position teaching in Korea expect for the age limitation, maybe. (I am nearly 60.)

I am very interested in obtaining a teaching position in March, 2010.

[ytuque]

You could most likely make more money teaching math than English.

[Mr. Pink]

[Jay Jackson]

SAT math prep jobs? Please tell me more. I have never heard of this option. Are the jobs in the Korea? Who do I contact? Is there a website?

[PRagic]

You'll probably find few takers at the public school and universtiy levels. The only university employees I've met over the years who work past the mandatory retirement age of 62 have Ph.D.s, and they're kept on on emeritus status as a formality; the university just doesn't want to lose foreign Ph.D.s. Some are hired late in their careers, but, again, they have the Ph.D. in hand and that's what the universtiy is looking for. The long and short of it is that they'd be hiring someone without university experience and non-related degrees who could only give them a few years. Sounds harsh, but that's the way the bulk of the universities look at it.

Having said this, you're targeting jobs in ESL and you do have an MA and certification. You're certainly qualified as far as degree level goes. Send in applications to smaller, rural universities and see what happens.

Public schools might be willing to give you a go as you have certification and experience teaching at the secondary level. Give a few recruiters a shout and see where it gets you. Never hurts to try.

Good luck to you. Let us know how things pan out. -P.R.