Korean Job Discussion Forums

Zutronius · Joined: 16 Apr 2007 Location: Suncheon

I'm a 24 year old Canadian University student who is considering teaching over in Korea when I am done school (this summer I will be graduating with my BA) and I am wondering if the TESOL programs are absolutely necessary (or required) to teach in a place such as Korea? I've heard that having it would possibly increase your pay, but aside from that it does little.

Can someone give me their experience with this or tell me if TESOL benefits you while working over there? If it does, I will take the course. Smile

Thanks all!

Zach

spyro25 · Joined: 23 Nov 2004

not needed

(MA TESOL student)

Zark

Woland · Joined: 10 May 2006 Location: Seoul

Zark has a good point about returning value to your customers.

I would add what I have often said here: About a third of your time here will be spent on your job. How it goes will effect your whole experience here. Having some training in how to do that job should make it go better. If your job goes well here, it's much easier to have a good time with the rest of your life here.

The choice is yours.

Zutronius · Joined: 16 Apr 2007 Location: Suncheon

Thanks for the advice guys. It probably would be a good skill to have. I mean it's no doubt a good idea to have an idea of how to teach ESL anyways. I will be taking it as soon as I get the time to (40 hours of university and 40 hours of work = no life until August).

Thanks guys! I appreciate the great responses and advice!

gsxr750r · Joined: 29 Jan 2007

Not needed in Korea.

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=82021&highlight=TEFL+TESL

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

Returning value to customers? Please. If you are working for an institute, the majority of your co-workers will be here for 'the experience', and not for a very long time, either. Few people work hakwons over the long-term, and nobody who is a serious minded educator works for them at all.

Employers (at hakwons) aren't paying for skilled teachers. If they were, they'd be paying more. It's a market, and they are providing warm, English speaking bodies to a market segment that wants to spend some time with a native speaker. Period. Sure, if they can get more, they'll take it. Anyone get a substantial pay increase because you have a certificate? Nope. Anyone get more leverage when they went to resign? Nope.

If you want to come over and teach, that's great. I'd hold off on the investment associated with a certification until you know 1) whether or not you want to teach for a career, and 2) whether or not the school will provide you any incentive for having one. If you do plan on teaching long-term, a certificate won't do you much good compared to, say, an MA in TESL or Applied Linguistics.

Some things to consider:

The majority of hakwon workers:

Are not education majors
Not English majors
Do not have certificates
Work in Korea for less than 3 years

The majority of hakwons:

Provide easy to teach materials that require no training to use
Don't expect you to be a model teacher right off the plane (they know they aren't paying for that)
Will try and get you some training, however basic (e.g. watch a few classes) before you start teaching.

Again, you don't even need that! Save your money and just come on over.

Zutronius · Joined: 16 Apr 2007 Location: Suncheon

I might want to teach and want to get some experience overseas and pay off my debts and travel while I'm young.

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

What is your point?

The_Conservative · Joined: 15 Mar 2007

bosintang · Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2007 6:26 pm Post subject:

If it was me doing it all over again:

IF I was just planning to come over for a year and work in a private institute, I wouldn't bother. I could always pick one up later on.

If I was planning to work in a public school or was thinking about spending a few years on this, I'd do it.

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

My point, exactly. Good input. So how much would a ceritificate run you? If you are only making 1200 a year from it, weigh the decision carefully.

xCustomx · Joined: 06 Jan 2006

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

Ah, so now we have it. It isn't about actually learning anything, or about improving skills, it's about getting the CERTIFICATE! A person after my own heart.

The OP's original intention was to prepare for teaching abroad. I like the down and dirty better. Get the cheapest on-line piece of paper you can get, and make more for having it. They pretent to educate, you pretend to teach. Fantastic arrangement!