Korean Job Discussion Forums

[upthecreek]

Hi there,
I am applying to and talking to a few Korean universities about English language teaching as well as MA TESOL teaching positions. I am trying to figure out what kind of salary range I should be looking for. I have an MA in TESOL, some university grad/undergrad teaching experience and about 5 years ESL/EFL teaching experience + CELTA certification. What should I expect in terms of salary?

This is my first time posting to this forum, but I have already learned a lot here and am grateful to everyone who has shared info/insight and knowledge. Thanks in advance for any thoughts you have!

[frankly speaking]

I am not sure what you want. Are you applying to teach EFL? or are you trying to teach in an international MATESOL program. If it is EFL most Universities pay low around 2-2.2. I don't think that you have the qualifications to teach in an MATESOL program. There are a lot of people with PhD's so I am sure that they would get dibs.

But it never hurts to apply. Unless you have connections, you will get low balled like everyone else. There are a few good positions out there, but in my experience people don't share that information.

Most people with good qualifications like you either work in the Middle East or Hong Kong. You might do some research and try and get a job with the British council. They sometimes hire North Americans, the have centers all over the world and they pay very well.

Good luck.

[upthecreek]

Thanks so much for your response! I really appreciate your time and thoughtfulness.
I was originally looking for EFL positions, but did have connections, and now have the possibility of an MA TESOL position. I have been asked what my salary expectations are and am trying to get a gauge on the range for such a position... It would, of course, only be a starting point for discussion, but I'd like to be as informed as I can.... I have been scouring other similar positions available, but still don't feel like I know what numbers to throw out...
Thanks, also, for your other suggestions. I'll look into the British Council. I just recently spent some time in Korea, though, loved it and can't wait to get back there!

[frankly speaking]

If you have a good lead and they seem to like you, I would ask for around 3 million. I don't think that is unreasonable for someone with your qualifications. It also depends on your teaching schedule and other hidden duties. If they try and low ball you at 2 million or so, just say that you were expecting a minimum of 3 million because of all that you can offer them. Make it clear that you will not just be some lecturer, that you have the ability to develop textbooks for them and any other skills that you have.

If you are not a very good academic writing editor, get some practice in. You will need it. A good editor should be able to edit up to publishable quality at about 100 pages a day. You will need to be that fast just to get most of their writing up to barely understandable.

Good luck.

[KoreanAmbition]

Frankly speaking,

I disagree with some of what you said.

First of all, I think to teach in Hong Kong you need to be a certified teacher. The OP has an MA TESOL; that won't get him much in Hong Kong from everything I've read.

OP, I think you can easily get more than 2-2.2 million... but that will also depend on how many hours you want to work. Are you in Korea? It doesn't seem to sound like you are...I think that will be your biggest nemesis when it comes to getting a university job you actually deserve.

I'm not familiar with MA TESOL teaching programs (I don't know if they're better than regular university gigs), so I don't want to comment.

[Chaucer]

From my scouring of the job boards, the best salary/conditions advertised (available sans connections, that is) are Korea university in Jochiwon and, with your MA TESOL, if it's a good one, HUFS in Seoul. A friend of mine pulls in 7 million a month teaching 24 hours a week in the MA TESOL program there. Decent overtime rate, as well, I've heard.

[KoreanAmbition]

Chaucer,

Do you mean the 24 hours is all base (the 7.0 million) and isn't considered as overtime?

[frankly speaking]

If you have worked or even been to HK, then you would know more. I am not stating opinions. You can disagree if you want, but you would be wrong to.

No school would ever not hire someone with a teaching license in an unrelated field over an MATESOL.

There are many schools in HK besides the public school jobs that want certified teachers.

Besides, all the OP needs to do is send his paperwork into the department of education in just about any state in the US and can get a teaching license for ESL, with his credentials.

If you have worked in Korea at local universities, you would know that they pay very low for their EFL teachers. The class schedule is usually minimal about 12-15 hours a week, then you will have to do editing and some other office stuff. I usually had to work with other professors on tests, and texts. The pay is usually not more than 2.4 at most Universities.

The rare positions that were mentioned making 7 million are not the typical situation. Even for qualified teachers that are on the f4 visa don't always get these kind of gigs.

I think that when someone is looking for advice, it is better to give them the mid range not pipe dream salaries. What new teacher in Korea without connections makes above 3 million? Not one that I have ever heard of.

I know quite a few PhD's here teaching course subjects and they earn quite well but usually not more than 5 million a month.

[Chaucer]

It's a double shift, basically. 3.5 for 12 hours. Not in the hagwon, or "unigwon" but in the graduate school. Many different jobs available at HUFS; many pay well.

[KoreanAmbition]

Frankly Speaking,

The good Hong Kong jobs I read about (and know people trying to get) all require someone to be a certified teacher. Those jobs are for people to teach subjects in English to my understanding, and they offer very good pay.

You're referring to just being a certified ESL teacher... which isn't exactly what I'm referring to.

And you're right, I have only worked in Seoul, not local cities. But you mention universities in local cities that pay 2-2.2 million. Yes those jobs exist, and I'm sure we all agree they're not very good. If I go on Dave's now I can pull several jobs that pay a lot more than your example.

Since Friday Dec. 18th, the following 10 were posted:

-Woosong 2.3
-Dongguk 2.5
-Yong In 2.85
-Korea University 3.4
-Chung Ang (English Ed) 3.25
-Chung Ang (Lit) 3.25
-Kwandong 2.4
-Daegu Hanny 2.4
-HUFS (Yongin) 2.5
-HUFS (Cyber) 2.6

I think you'll agree those schools are not in Seoul, and a lot of those salaries are significantly higher than you mentioned.

[KoreanAmbition]

[upthecreek]

Wow, thanks everyone for your responses and insights. I didn't really have much of an idea of what to look for, but feel like I'm slowly getting a better grasp of what's out there and what is common.

So, is this true that University positions do not usually provide housing? Do they commonly offer any kind of living subsidy?

Also, anything else I should watch out for in terms of the teaching hours and work expectations? I know that a good, long summer vacation is one of the perks, but what kind of summer duties should I be sure to ask about?

Chaucer- what kind of duties in addition to teaching does your friend at HUFS in the TESOL program have?

[bassexpander]

Many university positions do provide housing, but it's usually not very pretty. Now awful, just small and not pretty. Our school is sort of a crapshoot, which tends to unnerve those who end up with the smaller accommodations.

[upthecreek]

bassexpander- Thanks! Though nice accommodations are great, I'm not too worried (lived in a tiny, tiny, not-pretty apt in Japan for years). Does your university (or others you've heard of) offer a housing subsidy as an alternative if desired? If so, would it cover the cost of a place with worse/equal/ better quality?

[KoreanAmbition]

When talking about FREE housing:

-almost all unigwon jobs will provide free housing, no matter where they are located.

-in Seoul, almost no university jobs (for teaching English) will provide actual free housing.

-outside Seoul, free housing is more likely.


When talking about SUBSIDIZED HOUSING:

-In my opinion subsidized housing is the least common option. Usually you get it free or they give you housing allowance.


When discussing HOUSING ALLOWANCE:

-There's no difference between no housing and a housing allowance... in those cases you just look at the total.

University A - salary = 2.5 million (no housing allowance)
University B - salary = 2.1 million (not incld. housing allowance of 400,000/mth)

No difference in the pay of the jobs... the result is the same. JUST BE CAREFUL to read if the job ad says the salary already includes the housing allowance or not.



I went back and got further information about the jobs I posted above (and found another I'd missed) -


Woosong 2.3 - unigwon - housing provided (partially furnished)
-Dongguk 2.5 - no housing
-Yong In 2.85 - accommodations provided
-Korea University 3.4 - subsidized housing provided (cheap)
-Chung Ang (English Ed) 3.25 - housing allowance - 300,000/mth
-Chung Ang (Lit) 3.25 - housing allowance - 300,000/mth
-Kwandong 2.4 - housing allowance - 300,000mth
-Daegu Hanny 2.4 - housing allowance - 400,000/mth
-HUFS (Yongin) 2.5 - free dorm room on-campus OR 400,000/mth allowance
-HUFS (Cyber) 2.6 - includes housing
-Chonnam 2.35 - fully furnished accommodations provided

In Seoul, those housing allowances won't pay for a box on the street. Well maybe in the Itaewon area you can find something, but in most other places you can't. Around my university, which is not an expensive area, a small officetel (studio) is going for 700,000 - 800,000 after putting down some key money.

300,000won will get you a goshiwon, which is big enough for a bed and you...and well, not much else. And that's not really an exaggeration. Pay extra if you want a window... and if you're lucky you can fit in a small desk to sit at.... that's if you're lucky.

Housing is small and really expensive in Seoul... but if you're single and don't have a lot of stuff then it's not that bad.