Korean Job Discussion Forums

[haopengyou]

I am a licensed teacher from the U.S. - licensed to teach business education. I have a TEFL certificate from UCLA, 9 years of teaching high school and adult ed in the U.S. and 14 years of misc experience teaching in China. Most of my experience teaching in China was in oral English. I am a little bored with China now and would like to live and teach elsewhere for a while.

Can someone point me to a pay scale for the public teachers? Where would I fall on it? Am I likely to do better with something other than a public school? I am most interested in a stable situation, hopefully one that I would enjoy to teach in for at least 3 years. I would hope to get 2.2 M per year - or at least 2M for the first year with the the chance for an incremental raise for the second year.

Do I need to pay attention to how I present myself to the recruiter? Where should I apply? There seems to be a few programs to find foreign teachers for public schools. Also what is considered an "accredited institution?" I have taught English in private schools in China, private as in K-12 and not language centers, and also in universities. Would that count?

[MiXX]

dude, if your a licensed teacher why are you working in the minor league (teaching oral esl at institutes and public schools) when you can be working at private international schools?

this isnt the forum for you. ill pm to send you in the right direction.

[alistaircandlin]

MiXX - PMEd you.

[Weigookin74]

You're a licenced teacher and you want to come here and ask for only 2 million? It's people like you keeping wages depressed. Smarten up! You know you can ask for more. Was it an April fools joke? Go to an international school, teach in Hong Kong, or go to the Middle East and make some coin. What are you doing wasting time here on this board. Seriously...

[sluggo832004]

[sluggo832004]

Hey. Apply through EPIK.

I am licensed, and I started off at 2.4.

[MiXX]

even theatre art teachers can find jobs in international schools. just need to hit all the job fairs and be flexible where u go.

[warmachinenkorea]

How many people saying "go make some real money at an international school" are licensed teachers? The international schools have to have a job open for you to apply. Not all international schools are worth working for and maybe this guy wants to try something different.

[mayorhaggar]

If you just want to see the EPIK pay scale, go to epik.go.kr, click on the EPIK logo (on the left) then at the top of the page hover over job description and click on "salary & benefits." Their website is set up so every page is registered as epik.go.kr, so I can't give you a direct link to the pay scale page.

You'd probably start at level 1 (the next-to-highest) and get 2.4m won.

[No_hite_pls]

[MiXX]

dont want to come off harsh but a certified licensed teacher working in a hagwon or korean public school as a esl teacher / clown / babysitter is a joke.

there are tons of international teaching job fairs around the world, not to mention organizations that help you get a job as well.

[haopengyou]

Thank you. I appreciate the opinions offered. No, I am not a math teacher or would be gainfully employed somewhere by now. I am a computer/business ed teacher and find opportunities in international schools a little bit lacking - I have looked over the past couple of years, and will keep on looking. Jobs in China paying more than $2K per month usually are for teaching primary school or kindergarten. They also tend to be unstable - I have one of them and make more than US$3K per month.

I have taught in China as an ESL teacher for too long - a big career mistake. Survey says that a masters degree would open more doors for me and get me back into serious academia so I am looking for a job that is likely to give me 3 years of stability earning at least $2,400 per month. Most of the jobs in Korea offer some kind of free accommodations so the lower salary has more earnings power. Stability has a slightly higher priority for me in this next job because I want to be able to concentrate on teaching and studying, and not have to be concerned with interviewing, moving, etc.

[Otherside]

OP,

You'd fall somewhere between 2.2 and 2.4m on the differing PS payscales.

If you're looking at Public schools and teaching middle or high school, Korea probably isn't the way to go. Over the past 2 years, most of the middle and high school jobs have been cut in Seoul and Gyeonggi with mainly elementary school jobs left.

If you're looking for 3 years worth of stability, you're in the wrong industry, the most stability a public school can guarantee you, is the duration of your 1 year contract. Who knows what the situation will be like next year, let alone in 3 years at a macro level, and in the case of your school, there have been many cases where competent teachers have not been renewed for a large array of different reasons. (Some legit, many others not).

[TIEPIE]

I disagree with MIXX, teaching ESL as a certified teacher is not a joke. There are many poor international schools, albeit good ones as well. It comes down to what you will enjoy most. Minimal lesson planning, lots of free periods, and the comfort/ lifestyle Korea offers can be very enjoyable. However MIXX, if you have prior years of actual teaching it is worth joining search associates or tie online, etc, to see your options. It is a bit late in the hiring season, but there are still schools (maybe not the cream of the crop). A side from that, looks to be about 2.4 million a month. I was also suggested to apply to PNET in Hong Kong (for you SNET) and to look at taiwan as despite being ESL, they require a teachers licence.

[rollo]

You really need to be looking at the Hong Kong Net jobs. Nice pay, also a good place to live. Also as has been mentioned International schools. Taiwan also has some good jobs for liscensed teachers.