Korean Job Discussion Forums

[dyc]

Hey all. I've just got a few general questions regarding the long-term benefits of teaching English abroad.

So I was wondering how teaching abroad would contribute to someone's "career building" experience. What I mean is, if I wanted to be a teacher (ESL or otherwise) back home, would some years teaching abroad count for anything at all?

If so, do you think an EPIK/GEPIK public school job would be that much better than a hagwon job in this regard (i.e. counted as "real" teaching experience)?


Also, how transferable is experience abroad from country to country? What I mean is, if I taught in Korea for a year or two and then wanted to go to Taiwan or Japan, would my experience count for much?


Thanks!

[Riker]

Yes, international experience is always a plus. Language skills are an even better asset. If you choose to learn Korean it would be a major plus to any job interest in Asia at least.

[silkhighway]

[loose_ends]

Speaking from experience:

I taught in Korea for 5 years (2003-2008). When I returned from Canada this experience helped me get into a good B.Ed. program. 5 years of classroom experience also put me ahead of my peers in the program. Nothing can build a good teacher's presence except experience. I did well in the program and especially well on my practicum. I landed a teaching job when I graduated and my 5 years experience definitely helped.

On the flipside, those who went in the B.Ed program in 2003 (when I could have) now make 10 000 bucks more than me and have cushy continuing contracts.

[silkhighway]

[methdxman]

[Skyblue]

It totally depends on what career you want back home ...

[jrwhite82]

I have to agree with the above posters.

While you are here, do your best to learn the language. One can argue that a language like Korean where only 50 or 60 million people is not worth studying. But that also gives you an advantage, because not many other people know it. So you can spin it to help market yourself (especially in Korean communities back home).

If your long term plan is to teach back in your home country, it is not a bad way to spend a year or two. From my experience, having to take out a loan to cover you while doing your student teaching experience sucks. I'm glad I came here first and saved some money to cover that expense.

If you don't want to do anything education related, it's probably best to find gainful employment somewhere else. If you want to just come here and experience the culture and party it up, that's fine too, but there are probably better choices out there to build your resume.

I'm not sure if teaching abroad will count towards bumping you up a paygrade or two. A public school job, international school or DOD school perhaps. But I highly doubt you'd get any credit for a hagwon.

I also think it is a great thing to talk about in an interview that will set you apart from other candidates. The more the US Secretary of Education talks about how great Korean schools are (correct or not), the better for us. It would be nice to tell a principal something interesting you learned in Korea that you could use in his school to help improve student performance. I'm still searching for a great answer to that question myself....

[Skyblue]

[thekingofcheap]

[ttompatz]

[olsanairbase]

[lonestarteacher]

If nothing else it would be experience and schools that I have spoken with and done some of their scouting for look for variety in experiences such as Peace Corp or teaching abroad in say South Korea or the metro of New York or Houston. Lots of different applications of one profession. There is nothing to say that one teaching experience is less valuable than the other, but some would like to make the argument.

[Son Deureo!]

[olsanairbase]