Korean Job Discussion Forums

[missmacaroni]

Hi! I'm moving to Korea to teach English at a public school in the next couple months. I heard because the contract only requires you to teach 22 hours a week that you end up with a lot of downtime. Because of this, I heard it was a great time to pursue a Master's online...
Any feedback or advice about taking this on while teaching in Korea? How much free time do you really have (or deskwarming time) each week while just sitting in front of a computer between teaching....
thanks!

[andrewchon]

One of my former co-t did that. He drove 2 hours to his course (MA Ethics, I think), twice each week (Tue, Thu). After the lesson, he had to go to drinky-do wit' his professori and get blinded. Then drove back home (another two hours). Next morning, he'd be shagged out, but still taught. You can do that when you're young.

[b-class rambler]

You might have enough time, or you might not.

Amounts of downtime in PS jobs vary enormously from one situation to another. Although the contract states a basic 22 class hours a week, some people have to teach more that (for extra pay, of course) and even if not, there are plenty of other things besides teaching lessons that you might be asked to do. Remember that your contract DOES refer to other duties as well as teaching.

So you really just need to wait and see how the land lies in your particular school after you've arrived. And even then, be aware that things can change very suddenly and unexpectedly. I know one person who initially seemed to have a pretty easy 17 class a week schedule in a rural school, with one day of no classes at all. A few weeks later though, she was told that she would actually be going to another school nearby on that day and teaching 5 classes there.

[flakfizer]

Korea is great place for pursing a master's degree; your boyfriend will carry it for you.

[dairyairy]

I got my masters while working in Korea. You just have to be committed. Just make sure whatever you're getting your degree in has job opportunity when your finished. I graduated three years ago and my degree isn't worth the paper it is printed on. Yet I still owe $40,000 in student loans...

[missmacaroni]

Good points! Yes, I've heard quite a mix of reports from different people at different schools. I have a hard time sitting around if there is a lot of free time, but I know a lot of the will be out of my control. And yes, student debt is scary...I was planning on getting a master's that would help me get a job upon returning to the states, but it would not be fun if it took away from enjoying Korea!

[MetaFitX]

Dairyairy what is your master's degree in?? I am interested in attaining an M.A. in Applied Linguistics.

[dairyairy]

It's in criminal justice. I can't get a job in my field. I've been back for over three years and have been unemployed or underemployed the whole time. I almost got it in TESOL but those jobs are scarce here too. My cousin has the degree and lives in Alabama and can't get a teaching job. Korea can change you. I'm not sure if this has been anyone else's experience in public school, but when I started there were students who would come in and sit in the back and just goof off and not participate. My coteacher told me not to "care to them." It really bothered me, she said they were bad kids. This was elementary school, how can you just write off kids? We had extra books so I started handing them out with paper and pencils and forced them to participate the best I could. For some it worked, they really just needed someone to be an adult and tell them they had to participate in class. This translated into wanting to work with juvenile delinquents. I've done a ton of volunteer work, but with the economy the way it is, the government is cutting their budget and there just aren't any jobs. The few interviews I've had in my field I didn't get, they interviewed twenty people for these jobs and without experience in the field I don't make the cut. Be very careful. Right now I have a job in management at a local resort that pays about 14,000 a year. After expenses I have about $50 a month to live on. If you default on your student loans the government can't hire you. ANd every job I've gone for does a credit check. They don't care that the economy is bad, if you ruin your credit your screwed. I'm stuck living with my parents, I can't go out because I'm flat broke all the time. At work, I go to my car at lunch and tell them I like to read while I eat. The truth is, I can't afford lunch and I'm sick of the comments that I need to eat more and that I'm too skinny. Think really hard about taking on that debt, And research the field you want to go in thouroughly to see if your degree will translate into an actual job that pays a living wage. An education is supposed to make things better for you, get you a better job, but the reality of it is far different at this point in time.

[The Cosmic Hum]

[Weigookin74]

Go for a specific skill set. That's more important than a Masters. But if you do decide to do one, go for an MBA. Just make sure you move to an economy that actually has work when you're done.

[whiteshoes]

I thought I'd have tons of time if I did my MA while at a public school, and I was very wrong. Turned out my co-teacher was an overachiever and expected me to be the same. I was expecting hours upon hours of "desk sitting" and instead I worked my butt off. However, I think I became a much better teacher because of him.

[No_hite_pls]

[sonicmatt]

I wish I wouldve pursued a master's when I worked at public school. I would be done by now. You will have alot of free time, maybe a 2-3 hrs a day. It might be an hr here or there. At least you can read your materials or get organized a bit in that time. But when winter or summer desk warming comes you will have 8 hrs of nothing to do. Perfect time to work on that masters degree.

[Guajiro]

[missmacaroni]

Awesome! Thanks for the feedback!