Korean Job Discussion Forums

Voyeur · Joined: 19 Jun 2003

I posted this in the International forum, but traffic is pretty slow there. And it is relevant, at least for me, to Korea as that would be one of the countries I'd be considering working in again.

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In my continuing quest to understand the current topography of the overseas teaching environment, I have some questions about being a certified teacher in international schools.

1. If you don't get 2 years experience at home, and do find a job at an international school, will that lack of experience continue to haunt you? Can you work your way out of it with (eventually) experience at quality international schools?

2. I'm a Canadian, but might get certified in the UK (with Canadian certification as well), but I doubt I'll get 2 years experience in Canada-- though I might get it in the UK or another of the major English speaking countries. Will it matter which country I get the experience in?

3. How important is the age range you specialized in at teachers college? I like teaching Primary, and would likely specialize in that at Teachers college. Will that mean I will only be able to teach those age ranges overseas?

4. Is International School work typically as demanding as work at home, i.e. 10+ hours a day, 5+ days a week when you are not on holiday? Obviously, there is no free lunch, but are there less demanding (and less well paying) positions?

5. If I have a 3-year BA in Canada, and then take a 1 year B. Ed. (so no honours BA), how would that affect me, both overseas and in the unlikely event I returned to Canada or another major English-speaking country?

6. How important is it to get a Masters eventually?

7. If you remain overseas, do you have to do any kind of coursework in the countries you are certified in to retain your status over the years?

I know I have asked a lot of questions, but I'd appreciate any comments, answers, or advice on even a few of them. Thanks again.

jonpurdy · Joined: 08 Jan 2009 Location: Ulsan

I've got my B. Ed. from a Canadian uni and am in the process of selecting an international school to work for. Here are some insights:

Voyeur · Joined: 19 Jun 2003

Thanks for the advice. Frankly, I doubt I will ever teach back in Canada. The likelihood of getting a job is minimal. If I pursue this course, I will get certified in both Ontario and the UK through a special Canadian program. But this is the common route for Canadians who don't have the grades to get into the highly competitive programs within Canada--and hiring committees know it. Getting a job in say Ontario with a certification done in some backwoods Uni in Wales or Australia is unlikely at best. But I accept that.

philthor · Joined: 22 Apr 2012 Location: America

Voyeur · Joined: 19 Jun 2003

Appreciate the tips--though I'm a long way from going international. I still have to get licensed. I'm choosing my path. I was all set to go down the ESL track with a MA TESOL/DELTA plan when I realized I had not given the certification route a real look--reason being that I had looked at it 3 years ago, but within the context of trying to be a teacher in Canada. I got pretty discouraged (rightly, I still believe) by that scenario, but I never thought of international schools (I was trying to formulate a 'back to Canada' plan at the time).

To be honest, I've asked about the comparative advantages of the ESL track vs. the International School track (for 'lifers') but no one has ever really been able to give me the pros/cons of each. Full security in the ESL track actually seems to require MORE schooling (BA,MA, PhD, CELTA, DELTA, research, publishing, conferences, etc.), shorter contracts, and you get paid less. The only thing I can come up with is that you have less workload, and there is a desire to teach uni. level students.