Korean Job Discussion Forums

[pest2]

I have a friend who is trying to move to Korea. She has replied to many ads for english teachers -- both on this wesite as well as by other means. She has a degree and even a couple of years of experience teaching english. Yet, whereas recruiters and schools called me back immediately to offer me a job without even talking to me first after they had my photo, most don't even reply to her emails. One recruiter even told her not to bother trying to work in Korea because she does not look caucasian. Does anyone have any advice? Is it easier to get a job in Korea if you go there first, maybe? I know when I was there, I worked with another Canadian woman whose parents were Vietnamese....

[blunder1983]

Well I'm in EPIK and before I came here my school had a korean/kiwi. She looked Korean and spoke it fluently.

So perhaps the government schemes are a way forward. She'd need to get her arse in gear for sept tho. Incidentally I'm loving EPIK and most people I speak to love it too so don't listen to the naysayers.

Chris

[Picture Perfect]

[Yu_Bum_suk]

I know someone who's Cantonese-American who got a hogwan job and was treated like everyone else. I also heard of a Cantonese-Canadian who got a hogwan job getting paid a lot less than the white teachers and treated like shit.

[spidey112233]

[superbeng]

Hi. I'm new to the boards. I'm Singaporean Chinese, thinking of teaching English in Korea and have been applying/answering ads. It's kind of disparaging too, since I am also not white, not american and only have a BA in English.

granted, it's only been a week or two but I'm wondering if it's impossible for asians to teach English in Korea...

[babtangee]

[superbeng]

babtangee - thanks for the info. i guess anything helps so that i don't feel completely hopeless. why isnt your friend staying on? how long has it been? how old are his students, etc etc...

[blunder1983]

EPIK is working in the state schools. Big classes, no AC but total creativity and i find it MASSES of fun

just search for it on daves for more info and google for the official site. if they've done a TEFL course they'll get 1.9mill, 1.7 after tax. I send home th 700,000w and spend the mill.

pm me if u wanna know more. But be aware working for schools is becoming an increasingly more popular choice over unreliable hagwons

[Kwai_Chang_Kain]

I'm a Pakistani-Filipino-Canadian currently teaching English in Korea getting paid the same as all the other native teachers. It took me about 4-5 months of searching before I finally found a job through a recruiter. Yes it will take more effort on your part and you MUST be VERY patient but it is possible so dont give up. PM me if you want to know which recruiter I used.

[ajuma]

It seems as if we have 2 different things going here. The OP asked for info about a Korean-Aussie. The Australian girl would probably find it easier to first get a job through GEPIK/EPIK or by first coming here and looking around.


superbeng has a totally different problem. The Korean government (as far as I know) will ONLY grant teaching visas to people from English-speaking countries...and I think being from Singapore would rule him/her out.

[superbeng]

arghhhhhh! is there not a single singaporean teaching english in korea?

kwai chung - I'll PM you anyway to ask which recruiter you use...

[ajuma]

superbeng If they are, it's illegally! Guess it depends on what you want. As far as I know, it IS illegal for anyone from a "non-English-speaking" country to get a job here.

Anyone with OTHER info?

[pest2]

[changmee]

My husband is Korean-American and had no problems finding work in Korea. He doesn't speak Korean, but certainly looks Korean. Most schools just wanted to speak to him to make sure that he had an American accent, besides that there have been no issues with it.