Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bijjy]

My current contract at a hogwan is ending in a few months. I have a choice. Go back to Canada, where my greatly missed boyfriend and dog are, and where the standard of living is higher, or sign a contract to teach at a local college for another year.

The college has three different departments: teaching adults, kids, and kindergarten. I would most likely get the job teaching kindergarten, but I would apply for all three.

Staying in Korea would of course mean another long year for me away from those I love and the conveniences of home, fresh air, ocean and forests. But I am willing to do it if it will enhance my employability back home in the ESL field.

My question is, does teaching Kindergarten at a Korean college look good to ESL school recruiters in Commonwealth countries? Does staying 2 years in Korea look much better than 1 year, and is it worth the trouble?

THANKS!!

Yours,

Klueless in Korea

[laogaiguk]

It would look nicer, but either ESL schools in the Commonwealth are crap and don't bother to check or really good and check it out really well so that it doesn't matter where you worked but what you did there. There are not too many in between ESL schools in Engish speaking countries.

Also, I have looked into this a lot, and talked with a few CELTA instructors and managers, and Korean experience is not highly favoured. Sometimes, it's actually a tick against you. This is just from the a few people who discussed with a few people, but all these people had DELTAs and were general managers. I think it is probably not worth it.

[Hotpants]

'Taught at a college' would imply that I had been teaching adult students back home. That would be more substantial for ESL in Canada in the long run. Yet, you describe that this 'college' could just be a kindy job. If you want experience with young kids, you could probably find a childcare/playgroup job quite easily back in Canada without prolonging your agony here. Unfortunately, teaching kindy ESL is not rated highly by a lot of employers.

If you're after experience building, I would only try to get a job which was slightly more 'unique' or clearly had a set of particular challenges in it which would be credible to overseas employers. Otherwise, you'll just be teaching more of the same, and 2 years will have no more value than 1.

For teaching in your home countries, I think qualifications also weigh a lot more heavily.

If you're serious about ESL for the long haul, you could try to get a uni job - I saw some currently being advertised. That may weigh better, and you will have a chance to practice some 'real' ESL skills rather than be an oftentime entertainer.

[the eye]

dpends what local college you are considering.
if it's Daegu U, KyungIl U, Daegu Science college, Yeungjin Junior college, or Kyungsan U : well, you might want to pass.

and, why would you think teaching at a college would NOT look good on a resume?

[PRagic]

Take a pass. Seems like your already half way home anyway. If you stay, then your relationship, or what's left of it, is doomed. Your family can do for another year, so I guess it's just up to you. Good luck whatever you decide.

[bijjy]

The Eye: Yes, it's one of the colleges you mentioned. Do they all suck?

[Zark]

I'd say head for home. Teaching kindy at a college hogwan - is not "teaching college". Okay, I guess it might be "teaching at a college" - but anyone who asks any details would probably consider it deception when they found out it was teaching kindy.

Just my opinion - sorry . . .

[the eye]

[BigBlackEquus]

My vote is that you should head home, just based on what you said.

[Tiger Beer]

[Pak Yu Man]

Wow! Korea is getting tough on kids. They send 6 year old kids to college now.

This is not a college. This is a Hagwon with the word 'college' in it.