Korean Job Discussion Forums

[daz1979]

Hi

I am supposed to be attending my TEFL course in early AUGUST with a view to moving out to Korea shortly after!

A recruiter is telling me not to bother with the TEFL she says I wont need it and to come out to Korea earlier for a start date of 24th July and complete an online TEFL whilst I am in Korea if I really want to do it!!

It made me think that might not be a bad idea!

What is your view?

[Ya-ta Boy]

Ummm...

I would stay home and do it first.

You can easily get a job here without one. Many jobs don't care a whit about what you bring to the class room except a white face. Depressing idea, isn't it? I wish it weren't true, but it is.

On the off chance that you land a job that wants you to teach (as opposed to just entertaining the troops with a song and dance), with a class under your belt you will have a better shot at doing a good job.

Doing a certificate here is doable if you have the right kind of job. If you have a hakwon split shift job you will have a lot of free time...to stare into space feeling gut-shot with stress and exhaustion.

Stay home an extra month or two, get prepared and then come over. It will open more doors for you under better conditions.

BEWARE of a recruiter who says the less you know about how to do a good job, the better. There is something fundamentally wrong with that outlook.

[ilovebdt]

Totally agree with Ya Ta Boy.
Ignore your recruiter she is just after her fee.

If you ever want to work outside of Korea, your certificate will be your key to getting a decent job.
Online courses, although popular, are not accepted by decent schools in Europe, South America etc.

Also, if you haven't taught before the course will be a good preparation for you.

ilovebdt

[oxfordstu]

Yeah, I did a TEFL before I came to Korea. My employer never asked for it though, and I was the only one at my school who had one. If you have any teaching experience, then keep your money.

Oh, and don't use a recruiter. Almost all of them are liars and will screw you. There are plenty of schools on the job board that you can contact directly.

[ttompatz]

[kiwiliz]

Agreed, get your TEFL.

Not only do you get paid more in public schools, and I think it gives the co-teachers a bit of confidence that maybe you know what you are doing, but it also will give you more confidence that you know what you are doing.

You will also be able to spot a hogwan with poor teaching prectises much easier and this will hopefully help you decide which school to choose.

[RachaelRoo]

But if the OP gets a job with a hagwon, then the certificate is a waste of money.

I actually agree with the recruiter. Why delay coming to Korea (for maybe an entire month) and lose that potential income, plus pay for the certificate, when it's not valued enough to increase your salary?
Sure it might increase her confidence, but is that really worth a financial sacrafice?

[dreaming_saturn]

[daz1979]

Thanks for the feedback!!

I was always going to do my TEFL and just initially wondered whether it was adviseable to do it online?

My TEFL has in fact been brought forward to July 22nd


Happy Days!!