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What are Uni jobs actually like?
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alistaircandlin



Joined: 24 Sep 2004
Location: Seoul

PostPosted: Sun Feb 21, 2010 1:50 pm    Post subject: What are Uni jobs actually like? Reply with quote

Hi,

Sorry if I'm repeating an old question here, but I'm just wondering about your experiences of working in a Korean Uni?

My wife and I are looking at the possibility of moving back to Korea and I want to start thinking about options other than hagwons and public schools. I think, in terms of qualifications and experience, I've got a reasonable chance of landing a Uni job.

I'd really appreciate feedback from anyone who has Uni experience - cos I really have no idea: class sizes, attitude of students, relationship with colleagues etc. etc.

Thanks in advance for any replies.

Alistair Very Happy
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bigtexas



Joined: 30 Nov 2009

PostPosted: Sun Feb 21, 2010 6:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I work at a uni, and have been for three years.

Post your experience and education and I will give ya my opinion. Remember that uni jobs are coveted, and the competition is rough. Hopefully your wife has connections....
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Captain Obvious



Joined: 23 Oct 2009

PostPosted: Sun Feb 21, 2010 7:02 pm    Post subject: Re: What are Uni jobs actually like? Reply with quote

alistaircandlin wrote:
Hi,

Sorry if I'm repeating an old question here, but I'm just wondering about your experiences of working in a Korean Uni?

My wife and I are looking at the possibility of moving back to Korea and I want to start thinking about options other than hagwons and public schools. I think, in terms of qualifications and experience, I've got a reasonable chance of landing a Uni job.

I'd really appreciate feedback from anyone who has Uni experience - cos I really have no idea: class sizes, attitude of students, relationship with colleagues etc. etc.

Thanks in advance for any replies.

Alistair Very Happy


It all depends on what your coworkers and supervisors are like and what classes you get. It can be lovely or much worse than public school.
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Goon-Yang



Joined: 28 May 2009
Location: Duh

PostPosted: Sun Feb 21, 2010 10:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

If you teach just basic English (required classes) it can be as boring as hell. If the uni gives you some decent classes then you can have a little fun. It all depends what you can pull out of your butt and how well you plan/prepare your classes.

With that said at least you know where you stand with your students. When you walk into your "English for engineers" you know none of them are going to care/study/show up so you teach (or don't teach) accordingly.
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hockeyguy109



Joined: 22 Dec 2008
Location: Daegu

PostPosted: Sun Feb 21, 2010 11:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Would a 25 year old American male with a CELTA and 1 year Public School (Elementary) experience have a good chance of landing a Uni job?
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Sadebugo1



Joined: 11 May 2003

PostPosted: Mon Feb 22, 2010 5:27 am    Post subject: Re: What are Uni jobs actually like? Reply with quote

alistaircandlin wrote:
Hi,

Sorry if I'm repeating an old question here, but I'm just wondering about your experiences of working in a Korean Uni?

My wife and I are looking at the possibility of moving back to Korea and I want to start thinking about options other than hagwons and public schools. I think, in terms of qualifications and experience, I've got a reasonable chance of landing a Uni job.

I'd really appreciate feedback from anyone who has Uni experience - cos I really have no idea: class sizes, attitude of students, relationship with colleagues etc. etc.

Thanks in advance for any replies.

Alistair Very Happy


I had a good job as uni positions go. I worked 4 days/week and had five months of paid vacation. I also taught a variety of classes from pronunciation to American Culture classes. You do have to be careful though as some unis will put you on more of a hagwon schedule with very little vacation. Also, you could end up working in the uni's language institute which is the equivalent of working in a hagwon and sometimes worse. Ultimately, these positions are all over the map in terms of employment conditions.

Sadebugo
http://travldawrld.blogspot.com/
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Thiuda



Joined: 14 Mar 2006
Location: Religion ist f�r Sklaven geschaffen, f�r Wesen ohne Geist.

PostPosted: Mon Feb 22, 2010 6:35 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

hockeyguy109 wrote:
Would a 25 year old American male with a CELTA and 1 year Public School (Elementary) experience have a good chance of landing a Uni job?


Yes, it's possible, though I think it's more likely that you'll find a job outside the major metropolitan areas, i.e. in the boonies. Also, it's not so much your qualifications that will prevent you from getting a uni job, but your age. Unis prefer teachers in the over 30 age bracket, though don't let that discourage you, I know quite a few 28/29 year old uni teachers. I started teaching at a uni at 26, so I'm sure it's possible. Just make sure to prep for the interview and wear a suit.
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sigmundsmith



Joined: 22 Nov 2007

PostPosted: Mon Feb 22, 2010 1:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It depends on what and who you are teaching.

I believe many teachers are involved in the compulsory language class for undergraduates at their respective universities.

As it's a compulsory subject many students lack motivation and are not interested in being there. So it is challenging to get them to speak.

Someone also stated about engineering students. When you have a class of engineers this can be one of the most challenging classes as a teacher to get them to participate.

What I find to develop their motivation is to make it fun and design activities that makes them interact without putting too much pressure on them. And by activities I don't mean games.

Get them into groups where there is less intimidation and more of a supportive environment.

Class sizes for my classes are supposed to be no more than 25 students. You will still have some less than motivated students that will text on the phone during the class and some talk. It is up to you how you handle this. For me, at the beginning of the semester I lay down the ground rules: come to class, listen, participate, do assigned homework and study. I explain that I will help them pass (if thats all the want) and I will help them get a grade they want.

Also, I explain what they should do if they want to get an 'F'. Not listen, texting during class, not doing assigned work.

It is important to understand though that in general Korean education (across all levels in most subjects) involves the teacher talking and the student listening. Interaction is quite minimal. And here lies the greatest challenge. Getting students to come out of their shell and realize that mistakes are OK. Making a mistake in class or on a test is viewed very negatively here. So there is a great fear of embarrassing oneself.

In regards to working with colleagues or administration I am quite autonomous. That is at the beginning of semester you are given your classes and the text book that is assigned and as long as I complete the text book I am pretty much left up to my own decision of how I teach and what I specifically teach. You will find some colleagues are helpful to discuss problems or get ideas from and others who are off in their own little world.

In general university classes can be fun and interactive for a teacher. Hope that gives you some idea.
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alistaircandlin



Joined: 24 Sep 2004
Location: Seoul

PostPosted: Mon Feb 22, 2010 3:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks so much for your replies everyone - they are all really useful.

I guess laying down the law in your first lesson is something we all need to do wherever we teach.

I was recently talking to a University tutor who is teaching some undergrad level creative writing courses here in the UK about what it's like teaching at that level. She said it was a bit of a drag teaching the regular students, as half of them turned up virtually comatose after partying all night and hardly any of them had read the texts. As a secondary school English teacher I've sometimes got quite a idealistic picture of teaching at a Uni; I think that the reality can sometimes be a bit trying. This tutor did enjoy teaching mature students though.

I take your points about teaching disinterested engineering students - that must be pretty grim. One of the worst classes I've ever taught was a bunch of morose Korean fifteen year-olds. I imagine teaching 25 Engineering students is that same level of misery and despair to the power of ten. Wink One time I actually knelt down in front of the class and begged them to just say something.

Sometimes I think that's the thing - teaching students who are actually interested. Although in my ideal world I imagine discussing Literature with sophisticated types, actually the most fun I've had so far as a teacher has probably been teaching complete beginners in Korea who were just utterly enthusiastic and buzzing. Having said that, teaching 'I like pizza but I don't like chips,' and such stuff, did get somewhat tedious after six months or so.

I think that whoever commented above, that it depends what you put into it, is dead right. The trick is though, having some kind of work-life balance. Sometimes it feels like it's all or nothing as a teacher in the UK.

The issue of teaching in Korea being predominantly teacher talking / students listening, taking notes, and regurgitating, is one that my wife and I have talked about at times. She's Korean, and now, studying English in the UK, finds the Korean education system somewhat lacking. She feels more that a little bitter that she's spent her whole school career engaged in low-level learning skills, and that in the UK she's being encouraged to think critically and independently rather than just learning facts by rote. One thing is though, when I try to encourage my secondary school students to work in groups or pairs, half the time they go completely off task. Weirdly they seem happy to copy down whatever the hell I write on the board for a whole hour, but thinking for themselves taxes them so much they just go crazy. It's very frustrating. I actually tell my classes: ' listening to me for half and hour is bad teaching - you won't learn anything until you start thinking for yourself.' I guess what I'm trying to suggest here is that is not just Korea that has this problem: a lot of British students are evidently conditioned into the same expectations of learning.

Well - that's my rant over with for tonight. I'm not even in Korea - dunno what I'm doing sneaking around on Dave's Smile We do miss it though - especially the food.

Thanks again for your replies - and best of luck with those Engineers!

Alistair
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Draz



Joined: 27 Jun 2007
Location: Land of Morning Clam

PostPosted: Mon Feb 22, 2010 4:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

alistaircandlin wrote:

I take your points about teaching disinterested engineering students - that must be pretty grim. One of the worst classes I've ever taught was a bunch of morose Korean fifteen year-olds. I imagine teaching 25 Engineering students is that same level of misery and despair to the power of ten. Wink


Everyone's bashing the engineering students! I taught a mandatory English class to three groups of engineers last year. They were nice students overall. Most of them tried hard.
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the_beaver



Joined: 15 Jan 2003

PostPosted: Mon Feb 22, 2010 4:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Draz wrote:
alistaircandlin wrote:

I take your points about teaching disinterested engineering students - that must be pretty grim. One of the worst classes I've ever taught was a bunch of morose Korean fifteen year-olds. I imagine teaching 25 Engineering students is that same level of misery and despair to the power of ten. Wink


Everyone's bashing the engineering students! I taught a mandatory English class to three groups of engineers last year. They were nice students overall. Most of them tried hard.


Yeah. Engineering students are pretty good. Music students on the other hand...
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cdninkorea



Joined: 27 Jan 2006
Location: Seoul

PostPosted: Mon Feb 22, 2010 5:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm sure many of the language institutes (aka unigwons) are terrible, but some of them are not; I work at one and it's good: I'm pleased with the housing (nice!), vacation, pay, and the work environment, i.e. relations with co-workers in the teacher's room. Student motivation falls off toward the end of the semester, but that's often even more common in departmental (credit) classes too.
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dorian_gray



Joined: 04 Nov 2009

PostPosted: Mon Feb 22, 2010 6:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thiuda wrote:
hockeyguy109 wrote:
Would a 25 year old American male with a CELTA and 1 year Public School (Elementary) experience have a good chance of landing a Uni job?


Yes, it's possible, though I think it's more likely that you'll find a job outside the major metropolitan areas, i.e. in the boonies. Also, it's not so much your qualifications that will prevent you from getting a uni job, but your age. Unis prefer teachers in the over 30 age bracket, though don't let that discourage you, I know quite a few 28/29 year old uni teachers. I started teaching at a uni at 26, so I'm sure it's possible. Just make sure to prep for the interview and wear a suit.


I have to disagree with Thiuda about your question hockeyguy109. It's not just your age it's your experience. 1 year at PS is simply not enough experience. If you had an MA TESOL, I would give you better odds, but with just a BA you will be fighting a losing battle against a stack of c.v.s that have more impressive credentials/experience.

It might be possible to go out to the boonies and get in somewhere. However, the conditions/pay might not be great.

If you know someone at a university, you might get in on a good recommendation.
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cdninkorea



Joined: 27 Jan 2006
Location: Seoul

PostPosted: Mon Feb 22, 2010 6:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

dorian_gray wrote:
If you know someone at a university, you might get in on a good recommendation.

Translation: if you can't get by on your own merits, find a route which doesn't require them!
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toonchoon



Joined: 06 Feb 2009
Location: Gangnam

PostPosted: Tue Feb 23, 2010 4:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

teaching in the boonies doesn't have to pay low. as i understand, the uni jobs in the boonies will give you 5 months off, where as the ones in seoul will make you teach mandatory summer classes and give you 2 months off. of course. this is just what i heard though.

as for me, my new uni job in the "boonies" aka just outside seoul will pay me really well for 9 classes a week and 5 months off. on top of that, i get my own office, and the rest of the teachers get their own offices too.

my advice is to apply to each and every uni position that seems half-way decent. the more apps, the more interviews, the more job offers and more choices.
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