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DaveM123
Joined: 17 Apr 2006
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 Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 4:08 pm Post subject: Few questions from someone considering teaching in Korea |
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| Hey everyone. What is the average age of ESL teachers. I am 31 and just came back from travelling all over Asia for a month and now I am back at my dead end office job. The idea of doing this any longer is eating away at me and teaching in Korea sounds interesting. Question is, do you think I am too old to get this ball rolling now? |
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laogaiguk
Joined: 06 Dec 2005
Location: somewhere in Korea
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| Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 4:14 pm Post subject: Re: Few questions from someone considering teaching in Korea |
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| DaveM123 wrote: |
| Hey everyone. What is the average age of ESL teachers. I am 31 and just came back from travelling all over Asia for a month and now I am back at my dead end office job. The idea of doing this any longer is eating away at me and teaching in Korea sounds interesting. Question is, do you think I am too old to get this ball rolling now? |
No, you will be fine. You might also want to think about Japan. Higher startup costs, but in the end, not that much of a salary and cost of living difference between the two. There are more people there who settle down or stay for awhile, as the visa is yours to control, not employers. |
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SPINOZA
Joined: 10 Jun 2005
Location: $eoul
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| Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 5:09 pm Post subject: |
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| Question is, do you think I am too old to get this ball rolling now? |
Definitely
not |
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Grotto
Joined: 21 Mar 2004
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| Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 5:58 pm Post subject: |
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| There are people teaching ESL in Korea from 22 to 62. |
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fusionbarnone
Joined: 31 May 2004
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| Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 6:04 pm Post subject: |
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| Yeah! I've met teachers in their fifties and sixties. I thought that was awesome. You'll do fine. |
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BigBlackEquus
Joined: 05 Jul 2005
Location: Lotte controls Asia with bad chocolate!
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| Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 6:29 pm Post subject: |
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| You are EXACTLY where I was when I was 31, although I was just tired of my profession. You won't be too old. I've been here ever since 32. Some of the better schools (high schools and eventually, unis if you are the right person) will think more highly of you for being a bit older. These schools are sometimes (not always) nervous to hire a young teacher for fear of shinanigans with students! |
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DaveM123
Joined: 17 Apr 2006
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| Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 8:06 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for the response. So what course do you recommend I take?
There seems to be a whole lot to choose from. Is there a course I can take online? That would be pretty convenient. It seems alot of people have a Bachelors, which I do not. I graduated from community college with a few English classes in my program. |
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seoulsista
Joined: 31 Aug 2005
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| Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 8:15 am Post subject: |
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Now that will probably be an issue. I am not familiar with the community college system but if I understand you correctly you didn't fully graduate -is that right? If you have no BA or BS then you most likely will not find a legal job.
No efl or course of any kind can really change that situation. However, almost any degree from any school will do. So your best option is to complete your degree and then come here and pay it off with the rest of us.  |
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jay-shi
Joined: 09 May 2004
Location: On tour
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| Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 8:16 am Post subject: |
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| DaveM123 wrote: |
Thanks for the response. So what course do you recommend I take?
There seems to be a whole lot to choose from. Is there a course I can take online? That would be pretty convenient. It seems alot of people have a Bachelors, which I do not. I graduated from community college with a few English classes in my program. |
DaveM123
Sorry to break this to you, but the minimum educational requirement to legally teach in Korea is a bachelor's degree. |
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DaveM123
Joined: 17 Apr 2006
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| Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 12:18 pm Post subject: |
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| I did fully graduate, but that was for "advertising" which is the field I am in now. |
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zappadelta
Joined: 31 Aug 2004
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| Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 2:05 pm Post subject: |
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| DaveM123 wrote: |
| I did fully graduate, but that was for "advertising" which is the field I am in now. |
If you have a BA or BS you're fine, any old field will do. If you don't, you can't work here legally, like another poster just said. |
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ilovebdt
Joined: 03 Jun 2005
Location: Nr Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 3:47 pm Post subject: |
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| DaveM123 wrote: |
| I did fully graduate, but that was for "advertising" which is the field I am in now. |
Well, if you have a full degree then you will be fine.
As an advertising major you must be creative which will help when you are preparing lessons.
I would try for a public school job. |
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Zark
Joined: 12 May 2003
Location: Phuket, Thailand: Look into my eyes . . .
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| Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 4:33 pm Post subject: |
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Be sure you understand fully what is required: a four year degree from the USA or a three year degree from the UK or similar systems.
My understanding of "community college" is that you have an Associates degree (two year) which will not qualify you for jobs in Korea.
My apologies if I am wrong as I don't know where you are from, nor what other countries might call a "community college". |
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Yu_Bum_suk
Joined: 25 Dec 2004
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| Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 4:44 pm Post subject: |
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| Grotto wrote: |
| There are people teaching ESL in Korea from 22 to 62. |
My friend worked in a hogwan that had an 18-year-old illegal immigrant from Canada teaching up to middle school kids. |
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Tiger Beer
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 12:57 am Post subject: Re: Few questions from someone considering teaching in Korea |
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| DaveM123 wrote: |
| Hey everyone. What is the average age of ESL teachers. I am 31 and just came back from travelling all over Asia for a month and now I am back at my dead end office job. The idea of doing this any longer is eating away at me and teaching in Korea sounds interesting. Question is, do you think I am too old to get this ball rolling now? |
If you want a really bad hogwan job thats looking for naive people to work into the ground.. then its recommended you're around 22-23 without much experience in life. also recommended you sign from your home country without any experiences about Korea and ESL so you're gullible to do whatever outrageous demands the legions of ESL veterans in this country would never do.
for the other 90% of the jobs in Korea.. and there are plenty of them in korea all over the place.. any age is fine.
i teach at a university and the average age of english teachers would be more around the 30-45 range.. with more much who are even older and a just small handful in their 20s. |
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