Anyone Taught English Overseas?

[speg]

I've been looking into teaching English overseas (probably Korea) and wanted to see if anyone here has any experience.

I've heard bad stories (midnight runs), interesting stories (people adjusting to the culture), and generally good (fun) stories too. Seems to all depend on the school you get placed at. Public vs. private. I'm looking at a couple different placement groups, some of which seem a little sketchy - perhaps some of you have (or know someone has) some experience in the area.

 

[sandorski]

A couple years ago my sister did a one year stint in Korea. She didn't like it much, mainly due to the Cultural, Language, Food differences. She had a lot of fun traveling though, not just in Korea, but also to Thailand and Japan.

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

My cousin is teaching English in Peru.

 

[Farang]

You should check out the forums at www.eslcafe.com for more information. Use the search feature because everything you want to know has been asked before.

That said, you need to want to teach young children on a daily basis. As interesting and fun as the travel experience seems, your day job will be dealing with kindergartners. For me, as someone who loves to travel and doesn't care so much about making a ton of money, I could never get myself to sign up for a stint in Korea because I know I wouldn't want to babysit kids all day.

edit: basically you need a BA, a clean criminal record, and you'll be bringing in 2,200,000 won per month at best (see xe.com for conversion), plus one month's pay bonus at completion of one year contract. Apartment paid for, medical $100/mo or so, taxes none. Most jobs are outside of Seoul, jobs within Seoul do not pay more so the higher cost of living is out of your pocket.

 

[BoomerD]

Dammit...where's the clip of Robin Williams teaching English in "Good Morning Vietnam" when you need it? 😛

 

[grrl]

You should check out the forums at www.eslcafe.com for more information. Use the search feature because everything you want to know has been asked before.

Yes, Dave's ESL Cafe is probably the best site to check out.

That said, you need to want to teach young children on a daily basis.

That's not true. The government programs have placements in elementary, middle and high schools. You can also teach in hogwons (after school institutes) which cater to everything from children to adults. If you choose the hogwon route - especially if you go through a recruiter - be aware that it is a real crap shoot. If you have an MA you can also apply to a university, although some will hire you with a just a BA (standards though are slowly getting tighter).

 

[zoiks]

If you're under 30, have a degree then look for the JET program offered by Japan. They pay very well (I had a friend who did that there). The program is usually for a year but it can be extended to 2.

 

[theflyingpig]

In my travels, I have taught many people English. I taught them the many, many meanings of the word "pain".

 

[Locut0s]

In my travels, I have taught many people English. I taught them the many, many meanings of the word "pain".

You can do better than that. Everyone knows this.

 

[Toonces]

I've been here for 2 years.

Same job as the JET programme but through a private company.
I teach Junior High (11-15yo) and Elementary (6-11yo), Farang is right though - do it because you like teaching, not because you want to travel or love sushi. Those help, but 40 hours a week you're teaching children, and I've seen many miserable teachers during my time in Japan because they didn't understand the job is teaching English, not exploring Akihabara.

PM me if you'd like any more details.

 

[Locut0s]

I've been here for 2 years.

Same job as the JET programme but through a private company.
I teach Junior High (11-15yo) and Elementary (6-11yo), Farang is right though - do it because you like teaching, not because you want to travel or love sushi. Those help, but 40 hours a week you're teaching children, and I've seen many miserable teachers during my time in Japan because they didn't understand the job is teaching English, not exploring Akihabara.

PM me if you'd like any more details.

I've had MANY people suggest I go teach English in Asia as a way of travelling and I always lol at the idea for the very reasons you mention here. I love Asia but I would hate teaching. Besides that it's not like in the cowboy days of the early 90s when people went over there and taught English with nothing but the credentials that they were born in the west, they now expect *shock* actual teaching credentials. Back in the 90s people flocked to Japan and Asia and could get a job just reading out loud in classrooms as a "native speaker".

 

[vital]

is a BS degree ok?

 

[Locut0s]

is a BS degree ok?

I think usually they are looking for something simpler but more specific like a teaching certificate. As far as qualifications beyond that it's enough that you are a fluent speaker usually. Course you should really ask someone who actually knows. 😉

 

[Toonces]

I think usually they are looking for something simpler but more specific like a teaching certificate. As far as qualifications beyond that it's enough that you are a fluent speaker usually. Course you should really ask someone who actually knows. 😉

Any 4-year BA/BS/BSc/... is fine.

It's actually gotten easier to find a teaching job in Japan. The standards (and pay) have gone downhill in the 21st century with an expanding focus on cost over quality in the various Boards of Education which hire ALTs.

Non-native speakers can find work teaching English now. There were a few Filipinos and Eastern Europeans in my last company.
Still remember the meeting we had where a girl's introduction ended with "And I came to Japan to [something Romanian]... ah, I don't remember the English word for it".:awe:

 

[Locut0s]

Any 4-year BA/BS/BSc/... is fine.

It's actually gotten easier to find a teaching job in Japan. The standards (and pay) have gone downhill in the 21st century with an expanding focus on cost over quality in the various Boards of Education which hire ALTs.

Non-native speakers can find work teaching English now. There were a few Filipinos and Eastern Europeans in my last company.
Still remember the meeting we had where a girl's introduction ended with "And I came to Japan to [something Romanian]... ah, I don't remember the English word for it".:awe:

Wow really? I though it was that way back in the day and that it had actually gotten stricter. I know a friend of my fathers who has been there for close to 10 years or more now. He's gotten married an now lived there. He went over to teach and was just going to stay for a few months.