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waitingforsunset
Joined: 26 Mar 2010
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 Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2010 10:25 am Post subject: First timer |
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Hi guys,
As someone who is looking to teach abroad in Korea for the first time, I have LOTS of questions. It's hard to know where to start.
First- is it worth teaching in Korea for a year or two to save up money to pay off debts and then to return home not wanting to go into teaching? My degree is in international studies, but I'm not sure how to market teaching skills in that field. Did anyone have difficulty reentering the American workforce, especially in this economy?
Second- I have an auto accident that is still on my record from when I just turned 18. I went into ARD which allows it to be expunged, but that takes four months. I'm able to get an official document from the court saying the expungement has been granted- will that suffice in terms of passing the background check?
Third- Is there any possible way to bring along someone without a college degree? Maybe not to teach English, but to work in some other capacity? My boyfriend doesn't have a degree and is going to be devastated if I go. But, it's been over two years since I've had a great adventure, and Korea is looking to be it! |
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bucheon bum
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2010 10:53 am Post subject: Re: First timer |
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| waitingforsunset wrote: |
First- is it worth teaching in Korea for a year or two to save up money to pay off debts and then to return home not wanting to go into teaching? My degree is in international studies, but I'm not sure how to market teaching skills in that field. Did anyone have difficulty reentering the American workforce, especially in this economy?
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Yes, I personally think it is worth teaching English in Korea to both pay off debt and save up money.
As far as selling yourself, are you just graduating from college? Have work experience? And what kind of work do you want to go into? It is hard to answer your question without having more info. That being said, if you are able to pay off your debts and save up money, at least you'll have a little financial security when moving onto the next stage in your life. |
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waitingforsunset
Joined: 26 Mar 2010
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| Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2010 10:58 am Post subject: work experience |
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| I worked at a nonprofit for six months doing AmeriCorps VISTA work. I couldn't survive on the stipend, so I went home and it took me six months to find a bank teller (recession) job. That ended after a year because of a glitch in the computer system saying that my drawer was a thousand dollars short (which it wasn't but there's no way to prove it). Now I'm on unemployment trying to find out a way to not continue this vicious cycle. I'm thinking about going back to school either for law or international trade. Going to Korea would make it more feasible since I can eliminate my credit card debt and hopefully a chunk of my undergrad loans. It just worries me that I'm halfway done 24 and feel like I'll be thirty by the time I'll obtain an entry level job worth anything. (sorry, /pity party now) |
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bucheon bum
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2010 11:28 am Post subject: |
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Forget law and aim for Intl. trade if you're strong in econ. Lawyers are a dime a dozen. If you're strong in macro econ, you'll have a decent shot at getting an ok job. Just my 2 cents on that one.
And yes, go for it in Korea. The job market isn't going to improve anytime soon here in the States. Teach ESL for a couple years, go to grad school, and you'll be getting a decent job before 30. 
Oh, and in regards to question #3, I'm sure some will suggest he come along and teach privates (illegally). |
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lithium
Joined: 18 Jun 2008
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| Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2010 11:46 am Post subject: Re: work experience |
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| waitingforsunset wrote: |
| I worked at a nonprofit for six months doing AmeriCorps VISTA work. I couldn't survive on the stipend, so I went home and it took me six months to find a bank teller (recession) job. That ended after a year because of a glitch in the computer system saying that my drawer was a thousand dollars short (which it wasn't but there's no way to prove it). Now I'm on unemployment trying to find out a way to not continue this vicious cycle. I'm thinking about going back to school either for law or international trade. Going to Korea would make it more feasible since I can eliminate my credit card debt and hopefully a chunk of my undergrad loans. It just worries me that I'm halfway done 24 and feel like I'll be thirty by the time I'll obtain an entry level job worth anything. (sorry, /pity party now) |
You have a rendezvous with destiny my dear. Go for it. |
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waitingforsunset
Joined: 26 Mar 2010
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| Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2010 11:52 am Post subject: thanks |
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| Thanks for all the advice. I do have my minor in Econ, so it's looking like Korea is in my future, followed by grad school. Now I just have the background check and boyfriend issue. Heh. Should I just wait until I have everything completely expunged before going further in the process? Four months is a long time... Should get a TEFL diploma in the meantime? |
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mises
Joined: 05 Nov 2007
Location: retired
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| Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2010 12:52 pm Post subject: Re: work experience |
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| waitingforsunset wrote: |
| Now I'm on unemployment trying to find out a way to not continue this vicious cycle. I'm thinking about going back to school either for law or international trade. |
Blowing years and tens of thousands on law or international trade degrees will invariably make your situation worse.
Get a skill. A trade. Law school is financial suicide. There are no "international trade" factories. At best, you'll do "research" at some NGO for 25k/yr. |
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bucheon bum
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2010 1:08 pm Post subject: Re: work experience |
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| mises wrote: |
| waitingforsunset wrote: |
| Now I'm on unemployment trying to find out a way to not continue this vicious cycle. I'm thinking about going back to school either for law or international trade. |
Blowing years and tens of thousands on law or international trade degrees will invariably make your situation worse.
Get a skill. A trade. Law school is financial suicide. There are no "international trade" factories. At best, you'll do "research" at some NGO for 25k/yr. |
Well I assumed she'd get an advanced degree in IR with a focus on econ. And yes, she could get a research job that would pay between 30-35K, but there is also a possability she could get a gov't job that currently start at 51K (or the former could lead to the latter).
And if the job market does improve (big if), there would be private sector opportunities too.
I'm basing this on my own personal experience, my classmates, and alums from my grad program. It is a highly quantative IR program though, and pretty affordable (by higher education standards). I wouldn't encourage someone to just get any type of IR degree. And definitely wouldn't encourage a person to do it if it puts you more than $35K in debt for a good program or $50K for one of the top 3-4 (SAIS, SIPA, Fletcher, maybe G-town). |
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mises
Joined: 05 Nov 2007
Location: retired
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| Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2010 1:18 pm Post subject: |
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Meanwhile plumbers get 50$ just to show up for an interview:
http://houston.craigslist.org/trd/1651198204.html
I know your degree played out well for you and you're on the GS system (seriously, good work) but you cannot plan your life as if you will be one of a few for whom something works out. It is necessary to assume median.
2 years (or even 1) with no income + debt (of any level) for a what could reasonably be a 30k/yr job is extremely irresponsible. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2010 3:17 pm Post subject: Re: thanks |
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| waitingforsunset wrote: |
| Thanks for all the advice. I do have my minor in Econ, so it's looking like Korea is in my future, followed by grad school. Now I just have the background check and boyfriend issue. Heh. Should I just wait until I have everything completely expunged before going further in the process? Four months is a long time... Should get a TEFL diploma in the meantime? |
A driving matter shouldn't be on a CRC.
Get yours and be sure, it will end the speculation. IF it is there, get it expunged so it won't be there.
Your boyfriend is another matter because there is no "working holiday" visa available for US citizens (US doesn't grant them so they are not eligible to get them). He also cannot get an F3 (dependent family - because you are not married).
He can:
1) enter Korea as a tourist on a 90 day stamp and then make a quick visa run every 90 days and get a new stamp.
2) get a C3 (actual tourist visa) for 90 days and then get a 90 day extension while he is here (so he only needs to make one visa run during your year).
3) stay home and try to maintain a long distance relationship (hardly ever works). |
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English Matt
Joined: 12 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 3:50 am Post subject: |
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| mises wrote: |
Meanwhile plumbers get 50$ just to show up for an interview:
http://houston.craigslist.org/trd/1651198204.html
I know your degree played out well for you and you're on the GS system (seriously, good work) but you cannot plan your life as if you will be one of a few for whom something works out. It is necessary to assume median.
2 years (or even 1) with no income + debt (of any level) for a what could reasonably be a 30k/yr job is extremely irresponsible. |
Does everything have to be about money? Just because you can make good money being a blue collar worker doesn't mean that just about anybody will be happy doing that job. I'd prefer to have a lower earnings potential and enjoy what I do for a living, rather than be stuck with my head underneath someone else's sink for the rest of my life.
Education should not be as expensive as it is in the US. As it is, there are cheaper places to obtain a Masters than US schools. For instance, German Universities charge around $1000 - 1500 for a Masters degree, and in addition who said you will have no income during your degree, there are scholarships and you can get a part-time job whilst you are studying. Heck I know people who studied for their Masters degree and graduated with bank accounts that had a higher balance that when they started their course.
OP. In 2 years you are looking at saving more than $20,000 if you are careful. If you are currently unemployed then you have little to lose by coming here for a while. However, is $20,000 (minus the repayments you have to make on your debts over the 2 year period) realistically enough money to enable you to go on and do what it is you really want to do afterwards? I would suggest looking at lots of potential futures, plan out a routemap as to how to get to these futures and then cost them out. Which ones can you afford to do after saving $20k?.......if you think the future you want is going to cost more than this then you might want to think about staying here a while longer. |
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English Matt
Joined: 12 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 3:54 am Post subject: Re: thanks |
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| ttompatz wrote: |
| waitingforsunset wrote: |
| Thanks for all the advice. I do have my minor in Econ, so it's looking like Korea is in my future, followed by grad school. Now I just have the background check and boyfriend issue. Heh. Should I just wait until I have everything completely expunged before going further in the process? Four months is a long time... Should get a TEFL diploma in the meantime? |
A driving matter shouldn't be on a CRC.
Get yours and be sure, it will end the speculation. IF it is there, get it expunged so it won't be there.
Your boyfriend is another matter because there is no "working holiday" visa available for US citizens (US doesn't grant them so they are not eligible to get them). He also cannot get an F3 (dependent family - because you are not married).
He can:
1) enter Korea as a tourist on a 90 day stamp and then make a quick visa run every 90 days and get a new stamp.
2) get a C3 (actual tourist visa) for 90 days and then get a 90 day extension while he is here (so he only needs to make one visa run during your year).
3) stay home and try to maintain a long distance relationship (hardly ever works). |
Sure there is,
http://www.mofat.go.kr/westwhp/html/eng/workingholiday/visa_information.jsp
Only issue is that your BF has to be a recent grad OP......does he fit the bill?
| Korean Government Website wrote: |
U.S. participants should be bona fide post-secondary students or recent graduates (within 1 year
after graduation), and provide evidence of status from his/her post-secondary institution for
internships. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 4:02 am Post subject: Re: thanks |
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| English Matt wrote: |
Sure there is,
http://www.mofat.go.kr/westwhp/html/eng/workingholiday/visa_information.jsp
Only issue is that your BF has to be a recent grad OP......does he fit the bill?
| Korean Government Website wrote: |
U.S. participants should be bona fide post-secondary students or recent graduates (within 1 year
after graduation), and provide evidence of status from his/her post-secondary institution for
internships. |
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| waitingforsunset wrote: |
Third- Is there any possible way to bring along someone without a college degree? Maybe not to teach English, but to work in some other capacity? My boyfriend doesn't have a degree and is going to be devastated if I go. But, it's been over two years since I've had a great adventure, and Korea is looking to be it! |
Working holiday is NOT an option for him.
. |
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English Matt
Joined: 12 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 4:56 am Post subject: Re: thanks |
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| ttompatz wrote: |
| English Matt wrote: |
Sure there is,
http://www.mofat.go.kr/westwhp/html/eng/workingholiday/visa_information.jsp
Only issue is that your BF has to be a recent grad OP......does he fit the bill?
| Korean Government Website wrote: |
U.S. participants should be bona fide post-secondary students or recent graduates (within 1 year
after graduation), and provide evidence of status from his/her post-secondary institution for
internships. |
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| waitingforsunset wrote: |
Third- Is there any possible way to bring along someone without a college degree? Maybe not to teach English, but to work in some other capacity? My boyfriend doesn't have a degree and is going to be devastated if I go. But, it's been over two years since I've had a great adventure, and Korea is looking to be it! |
Working holiday is NOT an option for him.
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She said he doesn't have a degree, but she didn't say that he wasn't currently a student. He probably isn't and probably doesn't fit the bill.....you stated that no such visa exists, but there does, so I was just throwing it out there. |
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mises
Joined: 05 Nov 2007
Location: retired
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| Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 6:08 am Post subject: |
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| English Matt wrote: |
Does everything have to be about money? Just because you can make good money being a blue collar worker doesn't mean that just about anybody will be happy doing that job. I'd prefer to have a lower earnings potential and enjoy what I do for a living, rather than be stuck with my head underneath someone else's sink for the rest of my life. |
^ Reminded me of my favorite passage from Schumpeter (Capitalism, Socialism, and Democracy. 1942):
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| The man who has gone through a college or university easily becomes psychically unemployable in manual occupations without necessarily acquiring employability in, say, professional work. |
Schumpter elaborates further:
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| University education, then, has the unanticipated effect of leaving many of its graduates unfit for work in the capitalist world, or fit only for work they consider beneath them, or at wages below their worth in their own eyes. |
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