Korean Job Discussion Forums

[leeshera]

Hello,

Seeking some advice. I would like to teach for a year in Korea. My main goal is to make money (like a majority of people). My brother recommends I teach at a University, based on my credentials. I have a BA, Master of Science in Education, a teaching certificate from Canada and over 7 years of formal classroom teaching in public schools. Unfortunately, I do not feel confident in going to the Middle East.

I would really appreciate any suggestions as to what type of schools to apply to, what areas are better, etc. Any comment is greatly appreciated! Thank-you so much.

L.

[Ocalmy]

If you're looking for a break from the rigor of formal classroom teaching then any hagwon (EFL cram school) will do. It is often possible to make more money working for a competitive hagwon than working for a University. Especially hagwon's that specialize in test prep.

The real advantage to working at a Uni is the limited teaching hours and generous vacation time. The pay, however, is marginal and getting worse. If your primary goal is to save money it might not be the best option. If you'd like to travel a lot and experience Korean culture then maybe it's a good choice.

Also, if you're mainly interested in making money and don't mind working as hard/harder than you work in Canada then you should consider international schools. The link below includes a decent list of international schools in Korea.

http://www.hikorea.go.kr/pt/InfoDetailR_en.pt?categoryId=25&parentId=735&catSeq=&showMenuId=731


Good luck!

[leeshera]

Thanks a lot. Do they offer all the other benefits eg. housing, flight, severance, health/medical? Just searching around now. Thanks

[Ballerina2012]

http://www.profsabroad.com/?s=&radius=50&location=&latitude=&longitude=&full_address=&north_east_lng=&south_west_lng=&north_east_lat=&south_west_lat=

[wes1989]

[misher]

I get that you want to travel and save money but shouldn't you have a tenured PS teaching job by now? I know of two people that just got contracts (after 3 years of supply teaching) in greater Toronto and they don't even have masters degrees.

Canadian teachers are paid way more than you will make in Korea even after deductions. Once you're at the end of the pay scale you're making 90k a year depending on the province.

If you really REALLY want to teach in asia, as said before, look at content teaching in accredited international schools (Korea has a lot of fake ones so be careful) At least there you should work with real professionals and get treated like one. Please...Don't waste your time with EFL (hagwon or university, same thing as in they are both dead end). There is a high chance you will work with bonehead individuals that lack professionalism and incompetent admin.

[ttompatz]

[fustiancorduroy]

[World Traveler]

That is good information, fustiancorduroy, but would you say it is applicable to those who did not graduate from a university ranked as one best in the world? You said you graduated from an American ivy league school (majoring in English no less). Most of us did not. Is it possible for a person who did not graduate from any extremely high ranked school to get into this business that you are in now? (If so, I'd like to get in.) I see ads all the time for the test prep hagwons in Seoul, but they say, "must have graduated from one of the top universities in the world." I didn't.

[edwardcatflap]

[World Traveler]

I remember he said he published several textbooks. He sounds like a smart and ambitious guy.

[edwardcatflap]

[misher]

[fustiancorduroy]

To clarify about test-prep schools:

- People with degrees from "famous" schools are preferred, but you don't need a degree from Yale to teach test-prep. In fact, some of the best, most successful teachers I know graduated from state universities.

- Gyopos are preferred, as well, but if you are of non-Korean descent and a stellar teacher, you can still get hired.

- Typically, most jobs having starting pay around 3.5 to 4.0 million, but if you are charismatic and have a lot of experience, you can start at a higher pay. And generally, most places will give generous pay raises after 6 months or a year, from 4.0 to 5.0 to 6.0 million, for example.

It's all possible, you just need to try!

[PatrickGHBusan]

Back to the OP...

I would try international schools as you have the qualifications and experience and can get better pay and benefits. Such jobs do require a lot of hard work as they are closest to what a full time teaching job is back in a US or Canadian Public School.