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Weetabix TEFL Certified
Joined: 25 Jun 2011
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 Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 8:48 am Post subject: Please Help Out a Novice |
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My story may be somewhat familiar to the hardened EFL stalwarts of this forum, but any advice is greatly appreciated none the less.
Here's a snapshot of my current status: I am graduate, 23, who majored in English. I hold both a BA and MA in this subject. I am originally from the UK but currently reside in Ireland.
I had planned on securing employment in my homeland, but, as the tits of the UK economy become increasingly sunburnt from their seemingly perpetual upright position, I am contemplating giving EFL teaching a bash in Korea.
Unfortunately, I am not in the possession of a CELTA or equivalent, and I have precisely NO teaching experience. What I do have is a positive attitude and an ability to adapt rapidly to any given situation.
My fundamental question is this: what kind of position --if any-- can I expect given my complete lack of experience? Will I be shunted into some hellish school with a pack of hateful little rotters who have no inclination to learn while subsisting on a pittance of a salary? Indeed, what kind of remuneration could I expect for an entry level teaching position?
I am not a shyster. If I am going down this road I want to do a good job! I was therefore thinking of perhaps obtaining a Trinity TESOL cert. The only snag is this will set me back 1000 nicker -- not an amount an impecunious graduate can muster unless it's really essential.
I have downloaded a PDF file of the EFL teacher's bible: The Practice of English Language Teaching, but will this be enough?
I reckon I'll leave it here for the moment so as not to put off anyone from replying.
I genuinely appreciate any responses -- even the ESL pros who will naturally detest every fibre of my being! 
Remember: we all have to start somewhere! |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 9:06 am Post subject: Re: Please Help Out a Novice |
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| Weetabix TEFL Certified wrote: |
My story may be somewhat familiar to the hardened EFL stalwarts of this forum, but any advice is greatly appreciated none the less.
Here's a snapshot of my current status: I am graduate, 23, who majored in English. I hold both a BA and MA in this subject. I am originally from the UK but currently reside in Ireland.
I had planned on securing employment in my homeland, but, as the tits of the UK economy become increasingly sunburnt from their seemingly perpetual upright position, I am contemplating giving EFL teaching a bash in Korea.
Unfortunately, I am not in the possession of a CELTA or equivalent, and I have precisely NO teaching experience. What I do have is a positive attitude and an ability to adapt rapidly to any given situation.
My fundamental question is this: what kind of position --if any-- can I expect given my complete lack of experience? Will I be shunted into some hellish school with a pack of hateful little rotters who have no inclination to learn while subsisting on a pittance of a salary? Indeed, what kind of remuneration could I expect for an entry level teaching position?
I am not a shyster. If I am going down this road I want to do a good job! I was therefore thinking of perhaps obtaining a Trinity TESOL cert. The only snag is this will set me back 1000 nicker -- not an amount an impecunious graduate can muster unless it's really essential.
I have downloaded a PDF file of the EFL teacher's bible: The Practice of English Language Teaching, but will this be enough?
I reckon I'll leave it here for the moment so as not to put off anyone from replying.
I genuinely appreciate any responses -- even the ESL pros who will naturally detest every fibre of my being!
Remember: we all have to start somewhere! |
You've been listening to the blokes subsisting on their pittance while slaving away in Spain and Italy. NOT the same working in East Asia.
Even in a hagwan (bottom of the barrel for newbies) you can make a decent living, live comfortably and still send 500 quid home every month.
With an MA and no experience (TEFL cert not required) you should be able to find a job teaching teens in the afternoon/evenings (3-10pm (30 classes of 50 minutes per week with minimal prep) ) for about 2.3 million won plus housing and airfare.
AFTER you have been here for a while (and can add some classroom experience to your resume) you can look to move up to a university position (interviews in Dec and job starts in March). 1/2 the hours and the same or better pay than you will get at a hagwan.
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litebear
Joined: 12 Sep 2009
Location: Holland
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| Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 11:45 am Post subject: |
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| You're golden mate with a BA and MA in English. Like Tompatz said, fire over here ASAP to either a public school or a decent afternoon hagwon and look to move up to a university after a year. Forget the rest of the other certs. |
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edwardcatflap
Joined: 22 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 4:08 pm Post subject: |
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What litebear says is probably true, unfortunately for the Korean TEFL industry. Entry jobs require nothing more than a BA and universities often accept an MA in anything. For some reason qualifications in English Literature are thought to be better for teaching EFL, though they have nothing to do with the subject.
There are lots of people teaching EFL at universities here who have never had any training in how to teach whatsoever and have been working in these places for years and years without ever being observed. But anyway sure, take advantage of the Korean attitude if you just want to save money for a couple of years but I'd recommend at least getting that Trinity cert if you want to do the thing properly |
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Weetabix TEFL Certified
Joined: 25 Jun 2011
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| Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2011 10:25 am Post subject: |
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Ok, I'm horribly confused about the criminal background check procedure!
I am a UK citizen but have not lived there for 20 odd years. Despite this I just read on another site that I'm required to obtain the background check from my country of citizenship!?
Please tell me this is a cruel joke!
Surely logic would suggest I need the check from the country I actually live in!!! |
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ontheway
Joined: 24 Aug 2005
Location: Somewhere under the rainbow...
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| Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2011 11:10 am Post subject: |
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| Weetabix TEFL Certified wrote: |
Ok, I'm horribly confused about the criminal background check procedure!
I am a UK citizen but have not lived there for 20 odd years. Despite this I just read on another site that I'm required to obtain the background check from my country of citizenship!?
Please tell me this is a cruel joke!
Surely logic would suggest I need the check from the country I actually live in!!! |
Weetabix TEFL Certified
Joined: 25 Jun 2011
Weetabix TEFL Certified
Joined: 25 Jun 2011 wrote: |
| Surely logic would suggest ... |
Indeed. Welcome to Korea. |
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Weetabix TEFL Certified
Joined: 25 Jun 2011
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| Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2011 11:26 am Post subject: |
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| ontheway wrote: |
| Weetabix TEFL Certified wrote: |
Ok, I'm horribly confused about the criminal background check procedure!
I am a UK citizen but have not lived there for 20 odd years. Despite this I just read on another site that I'm required to obtain the background check from my country of citizenship!?
Please tell me this is a cruel joke!
Surely logic would suggest I need the check from the country I actually live in!!! |
Weetabix TEFL Certified
Joined: 25 Jun 2011
Weetabix TEFL Certified
Joined: 25 Jun 2011 wrote: |
| Surely logic would suggest ... |
Indeed. Welcome to Korea. |
So I really do need this check from UK, despite not having lived there for any meaningful period of time, in the past 20 years!? Wow!
That means I could be a serial rapist with a tendency to rob banks for all they know! 
If this is the kind of crap I have to deal with I may well just opt for China or Thailand instead!  |
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Weetabix TEFL Certified
Joined: 25 Jun 2011
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| Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2011 6:42 am Post subject: |
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If anyone in the know could confirm which country I need this check from I would be sincerely grateful! I am a UK citizen from birth but have resided in Ireland for over 2 decades.
Many thanks! |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2011 12:41 pm Post subject: |
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| Weetabix TEFL Certified wrote: |
1) So I really do need this check from UK, despite not having lived there for any meaningful period of time, in the past 20 years!? Wow!
2) That means I could be a serial rapist with a tendency to rob banks for all they know!
3) If this is the kind of crap I have to deal with I may well just opt for China or Thailand instead! |
Numbers were mine for clarity.
1) Yes. Your background check needs to be from the same country as your passport.
2) yes, as long as you don't do it in your home country.
3) And what makes you think they are any different
I can tell you from first hand experience that they may have differences but they are still the same.
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maladict23
Joined: 17 May 2011
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| Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2011 12:55 pm Post subject: |
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| Weetabix TEFL Certified wrote: |
So I really do need this check from UK, despite not having lived there for any meaningful period of time, in the past 20 years!? Wow!
That means I could be a serial rapist with a tendency to rob banks for all they know!
If this is the kind of crap I have to deal with I may well just opt for China or Thailand instead! |
In all honesty you should wind your neck in. Be thankful you can get a job here because Ireland is going nowhere. |
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Weetabix TEFL Certified
Joined: 25 Jun 2011
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| Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2011 6:12 am Post subject: |
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I emailed Korean immigration in Ireland and they say I need the check from Ireland!?
This is getting ridiculous at this stage!
I guess I should just get the Irish one now based on this information, right? |
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Daithi
Joined: 19 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2011 11:13 am Post subject: |
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I'd go with the Irish one if I was you.Mainly cos that's what the K.Immi said and it will be them that will be interviewing you and granting you the visa, and also cos it just seems like the most logical idea. However from what i understand logic rarely plays a part in the Korean thought process.
If it's easy for you to get an English one as well it's no harm having it as a back up but I doubt they'll want anything other than the Irish one. |
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English Matt
Joined: 12 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2011 1:34 pm Post subject: |
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| Weetabix TEFL Certified wrote: |
I emailed Korean immigration in Ireland and they say I need the check from Ireland!?
This is getting ridiculous at this stage!
I guess I should just get the Irish one now based on this information, right? |
If the paperwork phases you then you shouldn't even bother leaving Ireland. It may be a bit of a pain, but it's so incredibly easy to get a job, that you should be thankful that the paperwork is the difficult bit and not the job hunt / interview.
From my own experience, applying for a work permit for Canada was more complicated, and even here in Germany (another EU state) it's a mountain of paperwork to get things like an apartment sorted out (something that will be taken care of for you in Korea) and once you find a job there is another ton of paperwork almost equivalent to the process in Korea.
You can apply for a subject access request (essentially a criminal record check) via mail from the police force of the area that you last lived in in the UK. Or you can spend a little more money and apply for the check (again via mail) from Disclosure Scotland (doesn't matter if you have never lived in Scotland).
http://www.met.police.uk/information/request_forms.htm
http://www.met.police.uk/information/forms/3019.pdf
http://www.disclosurescotland.co.uk/
http://www.disclosurescotland.co.uk/request/ |
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2011 2:25 pm Post subject: |
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| We should be happy that Korea only requires background checks from our home countries, rather than requiring them from any place we've lived over the last five years or some such nonsense. |
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Weetabix TEFL Certified
Joined: 25 Jun 2011
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| Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 11:19 am Post subject: |
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| English Matt wrote: |
| Weetabix TEFL Certified wrote: |
I emailed Korean immigration in Ireland and they say I need the check from Ireland!?
This is getting ridiculous at this stage!
I guess I should just get the Irish one now based on this information, right? |
If the paperwork phases you then you shouldn't even bother leaving Ireland. It may be a bit of a pain, but it's so incredibly easy to get a job, that you should be thankful that the paperwork is the difficult bit and not the job hunt / interview.
From my own experience, applying for a work permit for Canada was more complicated, and even here in Germany (another EU state) it's a mountain of paperwork to get things like an apartment sorted out (something that will be taken care of for you in Korea) and once you find a job there is another ton of paperwork almost equivalent to the process in Korea.
You can apply for a subject access request (essentially a criminal record check) via mail from the police force of the area that you last lived in in the UK. Or you can spend a little more money and apply for the check (again via mail) from Disclosure Scotland (doesn't matter if you have never lived in Scotland).
http://www.met.police.uk/information/request_forms.htm
http://www.met.police.uk/information/forms/3019.pdf
http://www.disclosurescotland.co.uk/
http://www.disclosurescotland.co.uk/request/ |
With respect, Matt, my situation is a little more complicated in that I have not resided in the UK for any meaningful length of time since I was a one year old baba.
This obviously creates a number of complications.
Disclosure Scotland only accept online applications if you've resided in the UK in the previous 12 months. The postal application process is hideously time consuming and costly to boot.
Then there is the issue of the notarisation and apostille: both of these have to be done in the UK -- far from easy if you have no contacts in close proximity to Milton Keynes.
So I don't think I'm being overly melodramatic when I display my displeasure at having to possibly trudge through this swamp of bureaucracy.
It's easy for those in uncomplicated situations to berate those who find themselves in more inauspicious circumstances.
Anyway, I'm going to get the Irish check and hope for the best. |
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