Looking on my own vs. going on a contract I understand from your blog that looking for a job on my own would yield a higher salary than going through a contract. However, given the current US economic situation, if one has very low funds would it not be more advisable to go through a contract for the first time around, then pick up "independent" work and if one wants to stay to then negotiate a different contract because they are there already? (I want to go the beginning of March, 2010). There is so much fraud out there that I am afraid to go -- but given the economy in the US, I am also afraid NOT to go! Also, is there age discrimination? I am a single female, 58 years old. Thank you for a great blog, and I would appreciate any information you can give me.
Love the Blog Your blog was both beautifully written and inspiring. My trip to South East Asia did not have Burma on the list, now I'm reconsidering, thank you for that.
teach without a degree legally? Is it easy to find a English teaching job in South Korea without a degree legally?
I am looking to take those TESOL classes. I really want to go Korea to learn and teach ^^ for a year or 2
Please give me as much info as possible!
TIA
Visa Your article has certainly given me a much broadened look on teaching abroad, so let me start out with thanks. :) Throughout the comments and what i've read in your article I have come to the conclusion that you don't necessarily need a Bachelors Degree to teach in Korea, yet in order to go to Korea and teach you need a Visa from the Korean Embassy. How is it possible to get a Visa without having a BD to show the Korian Embassy? Thanks in advance for any help your able to share with me.
Good Information Hello, thanks for the insightful information - I'm one of those annoying GIs - I've pulled three tours in Korea and am heading back in March - considering teaching English when I retire - knew quite a few different teachers from my previous visits (both US and Canadian). Having access to a military installation with BX and commissary access will make my budget much easier to save.
Be careful to sign with a creditable company!!! Private hogwons such as Univro Academy in Seoul have been known to bend all the rules; this man has cheated several teachers out of their wages because he is a poor businessman trying to save money by making up the rules as he goes along.
If he followed the contract, it would be fine. But at every pay period, he comes up with a new invention, which saves him the bother of honoring the contractual obligations he has.
Not all schools are necessarily as bad as he is, but I would look twice before committing to work for such a man, who has proven to be something less than honest in his dealings with English speakers.
GOOD STUFF! After doing a TEFL certificate, I have been considering going to teach in Korea for a long while now, so this blog was extremely informative and interesting ... not to mention fantastically written with beautiful pictures to go with it - nice one! My question for you Jenni Jen is this - how many actual English English-speaking males (of which I am one) did you actually see working out there? What are my chances? Apart from being a limey bloke, I do have a 4 year degree, a TEFL certificate with practical experience from the course (in Costa Rica) and occasional teaching gigs and one-on-one lessons afterwards. Keep traveling ... Peace, Matt x
looking for jobs Hi! I really enjoyed your article and am really benefiting from the sites you linked the readers too.
I am currently in Seoul, and taking your advice into consideration: What would the best way for me to go about looking at schools? There are so many public schools and after school programs available that I wouldn't know where to start and learn about what programs are hiring so I could visit.
Would appreciate any info you can give!
:)
re: carl -- BCLAD credential Hi carl,
To be frank, your questions are out of my league. I am not familiar with professional teacher qualifications in the U.S. or what you mean by a self-contained classroom. Do you mean you want to teach at an international school? There are probably not THAT many opportunities for that. I know there are school on the U.S. army base and Seoul International School but not really much about them. ESL schools generally have their own materials they want you to use to teach from, though supplementary activities generally can be helpful for you. However, most of these can be acquired online so you don't have to bring anything with you, I'd say.
re: tori -- kids I don't really know that many people who brought kids with them but know a number, myself included, who had kids there. There is an international school (probably more than 1) in Seoul where diplomats' kids tend to go, but I really don't know much about this. See previous comments if you are interested in the race issue.
re: rose -- kyopos Hi Rose,
Korean Americans are actually sought after by many companies specifically, so don't worry about not finding work. If you are going with a public school I'd actually recommend NOT going with placement agencies as they can be scammers, if you are worried about not getting paid and having everything stable. Lots of time they work with afterschool programs that require you to travel to multiple locations, which can significantly add to your time as you have to commute quite a long ways from your home. I wouldn't worry about going into debt. If your job turns out totally horrible, there are always other options out there!
re: clay -- taxes Hi clay,
No actually you get a kind of visa waiver from the U.S. for income under something like 70,000 dollars, can't remember exactly what it is, but you could call a tax accountant and find out if you want to know the exact amount.
re:bill I haven't really had much interaction with older teachers in Korea, but I know a few. Yes you would need a visa still which would require you to get a visa-granting job, i.e. more than just tutoring generally. Unless you just live with your inlaws on a tourist visa and tutor illegally, or if they are your in laws perhaps you are privy to a different visa through your wife which would allow you a much easier status! check the korean embassy for your options.
I'm 57 years old & been wanting to teach Can you comment on how older people are accepted as English teachers. I am a retired lawyer, my in laws live in Busan, and could go to work privately (as a tudor) while living with them. I would imagine you need a work visa to do this? Any thoughts? Thanks for your site, it is extremely helpful.
good job Jen!! Hi Jen. This is excellent and informative. Have you met or seen any Filipino teachers in Seoul? Just wondering if a Filipino teacher like me would have the chance to work in Korea. Do you think my degree in Elementary Education is enough for me to get hired? Speaking of experience,I'm currently teaching ESL to primary students in two of the public schools here in China since last year. I can say that it was really tough in the first few times, cause they prefer "whites" same in Korea as you mentioned in your blog. But I'm lucky though, I've stayed here teaching for more than a year now. But i'm thinkin to have another place to work and enjoy with. And I'm considering Korea. So what do you think? Is it possible?
Great post! Thank you, this is a very informative page. I do have on question, though - do you have to pay both Korean taxes and U.S. taxes? I've been unable to find information about how that works, and I'd appreciate it if anyone had a link to more information.
families I wondered how many Americans take their children with them abroad to teach english? Are there schools for them and how are African american treated there?
Interested in Teaching English in SK I am a Korean-American female who is thinking about teaching English in S. Korea, but after doing some initial research, I am now terrified that 1) I will have a difficult time being placed in a good working environment b/c I read that Korean recruiters are somewhat racist, and believe that if you are not Caucasian, you are unqualified/unworthy to teach even if you studied in the US and speak the language fluently and 2) I will actually end up in debt because there are so many horror stories about teachers not getting paid.
I would greatly appreciate any insight you may have regarding teaching in a public school vs. private school. I'm considering teaching in a public school. Also, I took a look at worknplay and noticed that they have placement services at public schools for no cost. Do you have any idea as to whether or not this is a reputable placement agency? Do you recommend any other placement programs/recruiters?
THANKS!
specific questions Hi! I am actually leaving for Daejeon, South Korea in a little over a month to teach English, and have a few questions. If anybody has been there and has any advice, I would really appreciate it!
Do I need to buy plug converters for the walls? I can't seem to find if they have the same size as us or not! Also, this may seem silly, but what is a good warehouse store (to the equivalent of a Wal Mart perhaps) to get some necessaties when I arrive (lamps, shower supplies, etc)?
What are the best things to pack, and what are the things that I really don't need to bring?
I am bringing a DVD player, and wanted to make sure my DVD's would play over there? I also would like to get some kind of satellite TV service (I've heard Direct TV is big in South Korea) to watch football games on the weekend, any suggestions how to go about getting that?
Any other comments/ideas/advice would be very helpful! Thank you!
Is is easy for a non-native speaker to teach english in Korea? I am looking forward to be able to teach english in Korea part-time, to see the country and to be able to have the opportunity to learn the local language. I am from malaysia but I have a Masters degree from the United Kingdom. I have no TESL qualification. I notice that in countries like China, Korea and Taiwan they are only interested to take in native speakers as teachers. What is your advice?
Fed up in california Im desperately looking for employment teaching in korea. I live in California and went to school back east. I hold a BS in Nuclear medicine and a Masters in chinese medicine. I also tutor for the local school systems. Any negotiating strategies for getting a top notch job, decent living quarters and nice area where I can get to the beach or hiking....Im already packing my stuff.
Please reply to my email and here as well if you like, but Im scouring the web for other blogs
Degree? Hi!
I'm a McGill University Graduate and want to teach in Korea. I've finished my program and am just waiting for my diploma to be printed...is there any way to get an E-2 Visa without my actual diploma? I have a notarized letter saying I've finished and my transcript says the same thing....
"As long as possible live free and uncommitted. It makes but little difference whether you are committed to a farm or the county jail.... If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away." -- Henry David Thoreau (Walden)
So I did it, escaped the conformity of the corporate ratrace while I still had my youth and sanity, to see the world with my own two eyes and embrace all its beauty and ugliness. Central America to Europe to Southeast Asia in 2005; 2006 will find me ex... full info
Catherine51
non-member comment
Looking on my own vs. going on a contract
I understand from your blog that looking for a job on my own would yield a higher salary than going through a contract. However, given the current US economic situation, if one has very low funds would it not be more advisable to go through a contract for the first time around, then pick up "independent" work and if one wants to stay to then negotiate a different contract because they are there already? (I want to go the beginning of March, 2010). There is so much fraud out there that I am afraid to go -- but given the economy in the US, I am also afraid NOT to go! Also, is there age discrimination? I am a single female, 58 years old. Thank you for a great blog, and I would appreciate any information you can give me.