|
Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
SATprep
Joined: 25 May 2012
|
 Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2012 11:58 pm Post subject: teaching SAT,ACT, AP prep in Korea |
 |
|
Hello all!
I've just had my registration authorised and I wanted to introduce myself.
I am a 30 year old American currently living in Vietnam. I have been teaching Math and Science to high school students here in Vietnam for a couple years. During this experience, I was asked to teach a year-long SAT class to 10th graders covering all three sections of the test.
I decided to retake the SAT test at the ripe old age of 30 (mainly to motivate my SAT students), and I managed to get a relatively high score. I have since decided that I want to make a long-term career out of teaching the SAT, ACT, GMAT, AP, ect.
I have also decided NOT to make Vietnam my long-term home, so I am also looking to change countries. A Korean summer camp seemed like the perfect opportunity to begin my new career, but alas, I won't be able to get the right documents in time to apply.
I am now considering my options and would like some honest advice from you all. They are:
1) Going back to the USA to obtain documents, and then applying for Korean winter camps.
2) Flying over to Korea on a tourist visa "blind" (not knowing anyone/without the FBI background check in hand) and spend a few weeks doing informational interviews in order to learn the best ways to get started in this career.
3) Going to a different country that doesn't require as many documents (ie Thailand, China) and applying directly to SAT training centers (such as PR).
Any advice, suggestions or criticism is much welcomed and I look forward to your responses.
SATprep : ) |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
amoonbot
Joined: 29 Jul 2009
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 8:19 am Post subject: |
|
|
Well, first off, do you qualify for an F-4 Visa (Overseas Korean Visa)?
Most SAT academies in Korea hire F visas because (1) They don't qualify to sponsor an E-2 Visa, (2) They prefer bilingual applicants, (3) They don't want to go through hassle of an E-2 Visa, or (4) All of the above.
That being said, there are few academies that do sponsor E-2 Visas for SAT prep, but most I've seen want an F series holder. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
madoka
Joined: 27 Mar 2008
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 10:48 am Post subject: Re: teaching SAT,ACT, AP prep in Korea |
|
|
| SATprep wrote: |
I have since decided that I want to make a long-term career out of teaching the SAT, ACT, GMAT, AP, ect.
3) Going to a different country that doesn't require as many documents (ie Thailand, China) and applying directly to SAT training centers (such as PR). |
If you're going to make a career out of teaching those tests, why not go to the biggest market: the U.S.?
Pros:
- it's your home country
- no need for documents
- tutoring is not illegal
- huge market
- much higher salary potential
Cons:
- market is mature; greater competition
- not as fun/exotic as a foreign country
- cost of living higher
- students may be more demanding because you can't hide bad teaching behind language/ culture differences |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
FMPJ
Joined: 03 Jun 2008
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 7:05 pm Post subject: Re: teaching SAT,ACT, AP prep in Korea |
|
|
| madoka wrote: |
| SATprep wrote: |
I have since decided that I want to make a long-term career out of teaching the SAT, ACT, GMAT, AP, ect.
3) Going to a different country that doesn't require as many documents (ie Thailand, China) and applying directly to SAT training centers (such as PR). |
If you're going to make a career out of teaching those tests, why not go to the biggest market: the U.S.?
- much higher salary potential
|
This is at the very least debatable, and to the best of my knowledge (10 years in the SAT-prep industry in Korea, 10 years off and on in the US) untrue--at least on the Reading/Writing side!
To the OP: there is almost no serious opportunity here for a non-Korean to teach math/science test prep. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 7:06 pm Post subject: Re: teaching SAT,ACT, AP prep in Korea |
|
|
| SATprep wrote: |
1) Going back to the USA to obtain documents, and then applying for Korean winter camps.
2) Flying over to Korea on a tourist visa "blind" (not knowing anyone/without the FBI background check in hand) and spend a few weeks doing informational interviews in order to learn the best ways to get started in this career.
3) Going to a different country that doesn't require as many documents (ie Thailand, China) and applying directly to SAT training centers (such as PR).
|
1) Not a bad idea if you want to head to Korea. It takes TIME to get your documentation in order for a Korean work visa application (2-3 months) and it is MUCH easier to do from home than abroad.
2) Stupid unless you have money to throw around like it was water.
3) Also not a bad idea if you are not dead set on making Korea your new home. You won't start at the top of the pile (salaries in the $1000 range) but can move up easily if you are good at what you do. (I'm in Thailand and earning about 1.0m THB/year (8 months + 16 weeks off with pay) at the moment.
. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
madoka
Joined: 27 Mar 2008
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 7:42 pm Post subject: Re: teaching SAT,ACT, AP prep in Korea |
|
|
| FMPJ wrote: |
| This is at the very least debatable, and to the best of my knowledge (10 years in the SAT-prep industry in Korea, 10 years off and on in the US) untrue--at least on the Reading/Writing side! |
I dunno. It depends on how you market and develop yourself. Over the years I've built up a reputation, client base, and demonstrable results. As a result, I make a high salary. I think it would be a lot more difficult to achieve similar results in Korea, though I have to admit that I've never tried. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
SATprep
Joined: 25 May 2012
|
| Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2012 10:47 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Ttompatz,
I am not dead set on Korea, as I have never even been there 
My original plan was to spend 8 weeks in Korea in a camp, and use that time to see if I liked Korea and wanted to make it a permanent home. I now realize that approach is quite futile, as I don't live in the USA, nor do I want to hang out in the USA for months waiting on documents. I am quite open to the idea of living in Thailand. I understand that Thailand only requires an appostled degree and sealed transcripts (which I have).
Coincidentally, a good friend of mine just invited me to Thailand next week to tour with his son. So I will be in Bangkok this Monday.
Are you in Bangkok right now? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
|
| Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2012 11:11 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| SATprep wrote: |
Ttompatz,
I am not dead set on Korea, as I have never even been there
My original plan was to spend 8 weeks in Korea in a camp, and use that time to see if I liked Korea and wanted to make it a permanent home. I now realize that approach is quite futile, as I don't live in the USA, nor do I want to hang out in the USA for months waiting on documents. I am quite open to the idea of living in Thailand. I understand that Thailand only requires an appostled degree and sealed transcripts (which I have).
Coincidentally, a good friend of mine just invited me to Thailand next week to tour with his son. So I will be in Bangkok this Monday.
Are you in Bangkok right now? |
90km northwest of the big smoke enjoying the clean air and summer rain.
Thailand does not require an apostille on documents (they are not a signatory to the apostille treaty).
Original degree, original transcripts, maybe a CBC depending on the immigration agent (it is on the list but not often checked). A state level check will suffice if asked.
SAT prep isn't as big here since the education system has more ties more to the UK than the US but you should find enough to keep you busy. There is always work doing TOEIC/TOEFL/IELTS prep. (times square, ASOKE station, 4th floor).
. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
FMPJ
Joined: 03 Jun 2008
|
| Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 4:51 am Post subject: Re: teaching SAT,ACT, AP prep in Korea |
|
|
| madoka wrote: |
| I dunno. It depends on how you market and develop yourself. Over the years I've built up a reputation, client base, and demonstrable results. As a result, I make a high salary. I think it would be a lot more difficult to achieve similar results in Korea, though I have to admit that I've never tried. |
It's definitely doable here as well. Any further comparison would have to involve specifics, and this isn't the place for that. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
SATprep
Joined: 25 May 2012
|
| Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 8:56 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Ttompatz,
Thanks for the TOEIC/TOEFL/IELTS tip! I�ve decided to stay in Thailand for a full 30 days to give me plenty of time to explore the job market in various areas and to make a final decision about living there long-term.
If you don�t mind me asking, can you help me determine an optimal way to seek out a good SAT prep job in Thailand? Thailand is a big country, and the SAT prep market seems a bit too specialized to find job leads by just talking to people on the street/talking to friends. I do have a list of 7 schools in Bangkok that I will start cold-calling when I arrive, but I�m not yet sure if I would want to live in the capital city.
Did you find your job on the Internet or by knocking on doors? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
FMPJ
Joined: 03 Jun 2008
|
| Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 10:19 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| There's a branch of Elite in Bangkok. That's about all I know. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
|
| Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 2:59 am Post subject: |
|
|
| SATprep wrote: |
Ttompatz,
Thanks for the TOEIC/TOEFL/IELTS tip! I�ve decided to stay in Thailand for a full 30 days to give me plenty of time to explore the job market in various areas and to make a final decision about living there long-term.
If you don�t mind me asking, can you help me determine an optimal way to seek out a good SAT prep job in Thailand? Thailand is a big country, and the SAT prep market seems a bit too specialized to find job leads by just talking to people on the street/talking to friends. I do have a list of 7 schools in Bangkok that I will start cold-calling when I arrive, but I�m not yet sure if I would want to live in the capital city.
Did you find your job on the Internet or by knocking on doors? |
>8 million people in BKK.
< 1/2 million in the next largest city.
If you want to teach SAT prep you will be working in the big smoke.
The ONLY way to find a decent job in Thailand, unless you know someone here is, "Boots on the ground".
You probably won't find a hot job in your first 30 days. You will find ESL jobs that pay the bills and give you time and the ability to network. If you are any good at all in the classroom you will quickly have more work than you know what to do with.
My current jobs in Thailand and in Korea (yes, I work in both countries) were both offered on-line. My consulting positions in Korea were gained by being referred by a professor that I used to work with and a district superintendent. The position in Thailand was offered while I was watching coconuts grow while sitting on a hill in the Philippines; not through recruiters but by way of personal reference. It really is all about who knows you.
. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
SATprep
Joined: 25 May 2012
|
| Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 8:33 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Where I am at is also a very "who knows you" type of job market as well, so if I decide to move over to Thailand, I will work my way up as I did here in Vietnam.
Thank you again for your assistance, Ttompatz. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
