Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Kiwikeltic]

So I know universities normally require a masters degree to teach English in Korea. I'm just wondering what my chances are of getting a job at a decent University with a Master of Science? (Mathematical Statistics)

Obviously they'd prefer someone with a background in foreign language teaching or English literature, but are they willing to accept other areas of study like hagwons do?

Thanks.

[World Traveler]

Do you have 2+ years of prior university experience? That is more important than anything else. If you do, then yes, you can get in (regardless of the subject area of your masters degree). Also, the F visa is strongly preferred. And females are strongly preferred. If you have all three, you're gold.

[PRagic]

Knock out your PhD, get a couple of publications under your belt, and come on over as a tenure track assistant professor. Heck, with a PhD in your field, you should be able to find work just about anywhere!

[World Traveler]

With a PhD no teaching experience is necessary to get the English conversation teaching jobs. (I wonder if that will change; standards seem to be continually being raised...even as adjusted for inflation wages continue to go down...) As for tenure track, how easy will it be to get those in the future (as far into the future as it take to acquire the doctorate)? I would imagine significantly more difficult.

[PRagic]

With a PhD in Math/Stats, there will probably be increasing demand for foreign professors here. There are the obvious positions in math and/or stats, but every department in the social sciences, for example, generally has at least one stats prof in house to boot. Business schools are always looking for quantitative scholars. Do the Ph.D. in finance (shouldn't be too great of a leap from math and stats), for example, and the world is your oyster.

With that PhD, you could teach anywhere while keeping open other options. My buddy from the US with a math Ph.D. taught for a couple of years then moved to Wall Street. Heck, if you have even just the Master's, you might be able to make a go of it in investing if you just passed the requisite trader's exams.

My gut reaction is to not pursue ESL teaching. I went into a quantitative field and got hired straight out of my Ph.D. program.

[Charriere]

Hi PRagic,

Where is the best place to look for international tenure-track positions?
Chronicle I know of, what are some other good ones?

Like the original poster, I too have an MSc (mine is in Econ) and have often thought about doing a PhD.
I turned 31 last month and it feels like it might be make-your-mind-up time with regards to going back to school full time for 3-4 years.

[PRagic]

No reason to look until you pretty much have paper in hand and at least a couple of publications. Most do a post-doc prior to securing a TT position.

Every discipline has its own association, and these usually maintain employment opportunity sites.