Korean Job Discussion Forums

[cheers]

Hello All ,

I am a 29 year old Chinese Singaporean who is quiting the rat race in Singapore with the intention to leave Singapore to experience a different life, culture and people overseas.

Singapore is not rosy now and in the future . Many people are contemplating about leaving as it is a highly "communist-like" country with rising stress, high costs of living, low standards of life and a government that smacks of dictatorship, elitism and greed. (imagine Singapore ministers/Prime Minister authorised official million dollar salaries, way above all other Presidents in the whole world . And the common people are paying through their noses to feed them and their elite bureacracy and government linked companies through low income tax and high "hidden" taxes , there is no democracy in Singapore as only 30% can vote as the opposition is an oppressed lot, and this 30% are even swayed/induced by freebies just days before the election , election boundaries can be redrawn to the ruling party's advantage according to "data" they got from the tagged election slips ... many injustices in Singapore ) In short, Singapore is a travesty of democracy and a free country. Moderator: this is my first post. I hope I do not violate any forum rules. I thought that mentioning these will express one of the key reason why I am going overseas to be in the ESL line of work. And it will serve to present the popular views of many dwellers in Singapore. If this chapter is objectional, pls let me know and I shall edit it out of existence.

I plan to go to Korea, Japan or China (in order of preference) in Jan/Feb 2004 to teach English.

English teaching is the mode I have chosen to leave Singapore. Apart of the yet-to-be awarded TESOL/TEFL qualifications, I also hold a Bachelor's Degree in business and marketing from the University of Portsmouth UK (2nd Class Upper Honours) as well as a Post-Graduate Diploma in marketing from The Chartered Institute of Marketing (UK). Throughout my career, I took on self-improvement part-time lessons. I became adept in Information Technology and was awarded the Certified Internet Webmaster (CIW) certification too. I am adept in all MS office as well as Adobe applications for data management, presentation or newsletter design.

From Aug to Dec 2003, I would have completed a TESOL diploma in Singapore and gone over to Thailand to go through another certificate in TEFL. I have a lady friend who is taking this course with three other friends. They already feedback that it is a good course.

I have around 8 years in various regional marketing jobs. From my background, do you think my chances of getting a job as an English teacher is good? I asked this because I am not a native speaker or Caucasian although Singaporeans generally learn English as a first language and use it everyday. Is there a strong bias for employers to seek out only Caucasians as ESL teachers?

What do you see are the main pros and cons of teaching English in China, Japan or Korea? I am now applying to schools to be an English language teacher either for children, teens or adults.

I am also good in photography and can certainly contribute to any school or town's newsletter, photography club or newspaper.

Based on my background, I can add value to my English teaching services in any teaching organisation as I can also help in IT work and photography for the teaching organisation. Do you have any strong recommendations of schools who may put my unique skillset to good use? Any other practical advice or recommendations will be welcomed.

Thank you in advance for your advice.

P.S. Pardon my long post as I felt the need to present a profile of myself in order for fellow forumers to reply to my questions.

[Trinny]

Hi cheers,

To be honest with you, I haven't seen a Singaporean teaching English in Korea. I worked for a company that had its Asian headquarter in Singapore and thus the Korean employees there would have to ring or email their workmates in Singapore many times every day. I know you don't like to hear this, but the Korean staff there (most of them were educated in Korea) made a mockery of Singaporean English all the time and picked every single mistake their Singaporean colleagues made.

[cheers]

Thanks for your honesty.

But such mockery of different cultures and mistakes exists everywhere by any nationality to any other nationality. For example, the Aussies are mocked for their accent till death. I am sure many Koreans also mock the Americans for many things. So who's not being mocked at all?

When we subscribe to mocking, we got to take it with a pinch of salt, laugh along with it and put a full stop to it without generalising the entire people to be such.

My personal experience is of a very nasty Shanghainese who is employed in my current company. He is readily accepted into Singapore as a "foreign talent" when his work can easily be done by a local. And this is a sore point. Worst of all, he is very sly, speaks broken English, boastful and egoistic. For a fact, nobody likes him at all.

Am I going to generalise that all Shanghainese are like that? No. He is a rotten egg and bad example of the Shanghai people. And that's it. When I meet another Shanghainese or go to Shanghai, I will see them as good Shanghainese unless otherwise proven.

Therefore, do not generalise.

[waterbaby]

I'd check with Korean Immigration about your elibibility for an E2 visa. What kind of passport do you hold? Is it Singaporean? The reason I ask is because you may unfortunately be like the Filipinos who are not eligible for an E2 Visa under Korean Immigration Law.

Here is the Korean Immigration Website. They have a Q&A forum there where you could post this question.

[cheers]

I hold a Singaporean passport.
From what I read, the website did not specify E2 limitations to any nationality.
However, even if there is, I welcome any information leading to an exception to the rule.
Regarding the E2, I will certainly check it out with officials in the Korean Embassy in Singapore.

[JMILTON]

I have met several women from Philipines teaching English here. You have your education from the UK that does qualify you under Korean law to get the E2. But the difficulty is getting a school that will hire you. Most schools or recruiters won't even bother unless you have a passport from a native English speaking country. There is usually a way, but sometimes much more difficult. My wife has a phd in English literature, but cannot find teaching jobs here because she is not a native speaker. But I have met people from the Middle-East who cannot express a coherent thought. So you never know. It is always worth a shot.

[kangnamdragon]

E-2 visas are limited to college graduates from countries which have English as a native language---USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, New Zealand, and Australia. I don't think anyone else can teach English legally.

[cheers]

I just called the Korean Embassy in Singapore.
Contrary to many websites' advice on the eligibility of Singapore citizens for the E2 visa, the consular services personnel just told me to get an employer who is givng me the job first and all the rest shall follow.

I am not sure about who's right and who's wrong as the official South Korean visa website does not give a clue on that as well. Maybe there are some official statement somewhere in the net that you may know of, pls send me that link. Thanks

I conclude that I better look for a job first. Keep my options open on the country and send enquiries to various employers in various countries.
And if Korea does not open her doors to me, then I will knock more fervently on the doors of Japan or China.

[Michelle]

Oh, good luck! I really wish you luck. I think that Koreans are very fussy about having native speakers here to teach.

Actually it would be an issue of jealousy more then anything else as they would never speak english as well as a Singaporian.

They are so terrible about accents. Never mind that the person speaks english perfectly, the fact that they have an accent is too much.

That being said, I spoke to a girl who was born in Japan, but lived in New York for the longest time (about 20 years) and she was teaching here. I wonder how things went for her.

I wish you well. I hope this doesn't put you off.