I
don't know about the document you're referring to, but I know that a
Master's will make you more employable. Particularly as Korean
universities are already planning or making cuts in their staffs
(including professors) and programmes (majors/courses).
If
you want to teach English, an MA or MEd in English, linguistics,
applied linguistics, or TESOL/TEFL would be most valuable, I believe. I
know some people who only have Master's degrees and teach in other
subjects at universities, but I think these jobs will become rarer as
well.
This
is mainly speculation, of course, but I know for a fact that cuts are
happening or coming in a number of Korean universities because of the
decline in the birth rate which will lead to reduced enrollments by
somewhere between 2017 and 2020.
I
agree with Mathew that uni positions will soon be hard to come by, and
already have become quite competitive. Our university has already added a
requirement that candidates need two years teaching experience at the
university level in addition to an MA, and we are still flooded with
qualified applications. Currently, an MA via a distance program can be
sufficient, but preference is still given to those who get MAs through
traditional programs.
As
I have come to understand things, a master's degree is required for
advancement into the professor rank (E-1), however, one may still be
hired by a university at a level below that, e.g., an instuctor under an
E-2 visa. The greatest asset for an entry level hire is not always the
master's degree but rather university equivalent years of experience.
Once a person has at least 2 years of experience they may seek a
teaching position at a uni. Unfortunately, univeraities do not include
hakwon experience when calculating the required years of experience a
candidate has at the time they apply for a professorship. Hakwon
experience is included in the calculation of required years toward an
instructor position though.
This blog has run a series of interviews that you might find helpful. http://www.alienteachers.com/1/post/2013/05/ma-tesolapplied-linguistics-interview-1-with-tyson-seburnt.html
Showing posts with label EnglishTeachingKorea. Show all posts
Showing posts with label EnglishTeachingKorea. Show all posts
Saturday, June 15, 2013
Friday, May 31, 2013
http://www.alienteachers.com/1/post/2013/05/ma-tesolapplied-linguistics-interview-1-with-tyson-seburnt.html
http://www.alienteachers.com/1/post/2013/05/ma-tesolapplied-linguistics-interview-1-with-tyson-seburnt.html
Friday, May 24, 2013
EPIK Cultural Shock
Korean base privacy on
the status and relationship of that person meaning certain personal
information such as age, marital status etc are necessary in order to
maintain that relationship.
Koreans give personal
information to strangers or casual acquaintances to become more
intimate whereas Westerners require intimacy first. We like to know
someone first.
Restrictions among
western friends are
1. Not borrowing money. We have a saying in the US “If you want to loose a friend loan them money “
2. Respect a friend’s privacy
3. Not putting another under obligation. Again we don’t mind if you ask but learn to accept no without being offended.
1. Not borrowing money. We have a saying in the US “If you want to loose a friend loan them money “
2. Respect a friend’s privacy
3. Not putting another under obligation. Again we don’t mind if you ask but learn to accept no without being offended.
Korean ways are
1. Respecting the elderly (though I do not see this on the subways and buses nor with the handicapped or mentally ill) Korean society has been influenced by the West to wait in line, but it is still uncommon. Westerners and Koreans have opposite views on courtesy in a business relationship.
Westerners place business and personal relationships separate as to keep neutrality in decision making and to process quickly. Whereas Korean’s value personal connections for a long-term, trusting business relationship. Both of these practices have their good and bad points. I personally will not rent an apartment to a friend, close associate or a friend or a friend. It can cause too many problems and cause one to make decisions based on that relationship and not what is necessarily good for the business.
1. Respecting the elderly (though I do not see this on the subways and buses nor with the handicapped or mentally ill) Korean society has been influenced by the West to wait in line, but it is still uncommon. Westerners and Koreans have opposite views on courtesy in a business relationship.
Westerners place business and personal relationships separate as to keep neutrality in decision making and to process quickly. Whereas Korean’s value personal connections for a long-term, trusting business relationship. Both of these practices have their good and bad points. I personally will not rent an apartment to a friend, close associate or a friend or a friend. It can cause too many problems and cause one to make decisions based on that relationship and not what is necessarily good for the business.
Let’s talk about
what we are all here for “English Education.” I grew up in a
family of teachers and have many friends who are teachers in the US
so I was really taken back when I came to Korea.
Though Korea has a
national curriculum there seems to be no conformity in English
Education. Even in the Universities where Native Teachers have a
Master Degree and are teaching Koreans about English Education the
majority of their degrees are not in English. In Korea’s thirst for
English Education they have been bomb-barded by many Koreans and
foreigners who lack the skills or the passion as teachers. In
choosing a NT, recruiters first seem to look for someone who is
white; between the ages of 22- 35 then they consider their
experiences last.
Rumor has it in the
foreign community that NT’s will no longer be considered for
coveted positions in public schools in Seoul or Busan if you are over
50 and sometimes down to 40. I have seen this myself on the websites.
Recruiters have told me to only look for positions in the country or
less popular areas.
Korean teachers have
too much power in what goes on in the relationship and when something
goes wrong they have no where to turn. Again I am lucky at my school
as the teachers there are real cool.
(Maybe a board of
Koreans and NT’s who are trained in conflict management and
cultural differences and can give needed information to live and work
in Korea).
2.
Consistency in teaching
methods- Though I like to do many things in teaching we want
consistency in certain teaching methods. Being from a family of
teachers I have learn that students in the elementary schools need to
build a solid foundation and some things are just not negotiable.
In the English language
there are 220 Sight Words. These are all taught from pre-kindergarten
through 3rd grade in western schools. This starts a
foundation where children will be able to recognize the meaning of a
sentence even though they may not understand every word. At least one
sight word is in every sentence in the English language.
In Korea this should be
mandatory starting in the first level in which English is taught and
should be finished within 4 years or the 6th grade
whichever comes first. Students can do many things to learn these
sight words through stories, games etc. Word families should also be
apart of that program. Scholastic and Spectrum are my favorite
companies in providing books etc for this purpose. I can also provide
you with other favorites upon request. Most can be bought in Korea.
Also word families should be taught in the upper elementary levels.
Students want more than anything to be able to talk to foreigners.
This can be done by doing Surveys. A great book for this is “The
Survey Says” 100 Surveys for Students to Conduct by John Cabot. It
gives them a sense of pride and makes them want to continue learning.
Yes, English is difficult but like all languages English is based on
a timeline and rules. Once these rules are taught it makes it easier
to comprehend why English is the way it is. I am including with this
essay what I would teach in the ideal situation on the elementary
level to build a foundation for the middle schools and above. But
since most NT’s only assist and the curriculum in mandatory it
makes it more difficult but not impossible.
Most after school
programs are also difficult due to the different levels placed in one
classroom. How I deal with that is to pair two lower level students
with 3 higher level students so they can help them.
I have spent millions
of won on my students in Korea. Many NT’s tell me I am crazy and
maybe I am. But I love what I do and I love these kids. I believe
that to teach English one must also live it. In Korea too much
emphasis is based on the tests they take to enter college making
English a dreaded and most hated subject among the Korean students.
This is why after years
of language learning they still cannot speak it. That is sad. I teach
English but I also teach hip hop and yoga (which teaches English
words about movement and dance. It also builds confidence. I tell my
students that hip hop, like English looks difficult but if you break
it down and make it fun it is much easier. Also students in
after-school programs need to be able to use English more with
foreigners through doing surveys, eating in English restaurants and
going where foreigners are.
because really after
all the cultural and personal differences are put aside, are we
really all that different? I don’t think so. We all want the same
things, Love, Happiness and success for ourselves and our children.
Dolch word list SIght Words
Dolch word list
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Dolch Word List
is a list of frequently used words compiled by Edward William Dolch,
PhD, a major proponent of the "whole-word" method of beginning reading
instruction. The list was prepared in 1936. The list was originally
published in his book Problems in Reading in 1948.Dolch compiled the list based on children's books of his era, which is why nouns such as "kitty" and "Santa Claus" appear on the list instead of more high-frequency words. The list contains 220 "service words" that have to be easily recognized in order to achieve reading fluency in the English language. The compilation excludes nouns, which comprise a separate 95-word list.
These lists of words are still assigned for memorization in American elementary schools. Although most of the 220 Dolch words are phonetic, children are sometimes told that they can't be "sounded out" using common sound-to-letter implicit phonics patterns and have to be learned by sight; hence the alternative term, "sight word." The list is divided into grades in which it was intended that children would memorize these words.
Contents |
Dolch list: Non-nouns
Pre-primer: a, and, away, big, blue, can, come, down, find, for, funny, go, help, here, I, in, is, it, jump, little, look, make, me, my, not, one, play, red, run, said, see, the, three, to, two, up, we, where, yellow, youPrimer: all, am, are, at, ate, be, black, brown, but, came, did, do, eat, four, get, good, have, he, into, like, must, new, no, now, on, our, out, please, pretty, ran, ride, saw, say, she, so, soon, that, there, they, this, too, under, want, was, well, went, what, white, who, will, with, yes
1st Grade: after, again, an, any, as, ask, by, could, every, fly, from, give, giving, had, has, her, him, his, how, just, know, let, live, may, of, old, once, open, over, put, round, some, stop, take, thank, them, then, think, walk, were, when
2nd Grade: always, around, because, been, before, best, both, buy, call, cold, does, don't, fast, first, five, found, gave, goes, green, its, made, many, off, or, pull, read, right, sing, sit, sleep, tell, their, these, those, upon, us, use, very, wash, which, why, wish, work, would, write, your
3rd Grade: about, better, bring, carry, clean, cut, done, draw, drink, eight, fall, far, full, got, grow, hold, hot, hurt, if, keep, kind, laugh, light, long, much, myself, never, only, own, pick, seven, shall, show, six, small, start, ten, today, together, try, warm
Dolch list: Nouns
apple, baby, back, ball, bear, bed, bell, bird, birthday, boat, box, boy, bread, brother, cake, car, cat, chair, chicken, children, Christmas, coat, corn, cow, day, dog, doll, door, duck, egg, eye, farm, farmer, father, feet, fire, fish, floor, flower, game, garden, girl, good-bye, grass, ground, hand, head, hill, home, horse, house, kitty, leg, letter, man, men, milk, money, morning, mother, name, nest, night, paper, party, picture, pig, rabbit, rain, ring, robin, Santa Claus, school, seed, sheep, shoe, sister, snow, song, squirrel, stick, street, sun, table, thing, time, top, toy, tree, watch, water, way, wind, window, woodSee also
- Sight word
- Reading education
- Phonics
- General Service List
- Most common words in English
- Word wall
- TOON Books
External links
- Dolch flash cards by level w/ voice
- Animated Dolch Quizzes
- Printable Dolch Word Lists, On-line Dolch Slideshows, .Mp4 slideshow for media player
- Top 500 English Words
- Top 100 English verbs
- Top 1000 English words
- website for the Award-winning TOON Books and free web tools, which use Dolch words in Graphic Early Readers
- Sight Words Cheat Sheet
Culture Shock - 4. Agreeing to an appointment, promise etc and later changing it. ut as a whole we consider a broken promise a character flaw and frown heavily on this practice.
4. Agreeing to an
appointment, promise etc and later changing it (Westerners do this to
a small degree depending on the situation concerning appointments but
as a whole we consider a broken promise a character flaw and frown
heavily on this practice. Also the breaking or trying to change a
contract is a no- no unless agreed upon by both parties. This is also
where manipulation comes in and westerners don’t like to be
manipulated. This happened to a native teacher in one of the schools
with their contract. In the middle of the year the stipulation
changed on the airfare going home in the next year contract and the
Korean co teacher asked them to honor the change .Even though their
contract was signed the previous year. The native teacher refused
saying they wanted to keep the agreement they already signed. This
caused a conflict in the relationship. We as foreigners don’t
understand this behavior. Koreans sign contracts to buy cars, homes
etc. Can they change these agreements on a whim or if their
situations change? I hope not. How can a country be a civilized
society if agreements mean nothing or excuses are so easily
acceptable? This is how westerners generally feel
EPIK - Can you get along with Korean co-teacher? - Relationship with Korean co-teacher is the deciding factor in future work, and career prospects.
EPIK
- Can you get along with Korean co-teacher?
- Relationship with Korean co-teacher is the deciding factor in future work, and career prospects.
- Can you get along with Korean co-teacher?
- Relationship with Korean co-teacher is the deciding factor in future work, and career prospects.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Employment possibilities in South Korea
Jobs
Employment possibilities in South Korea
As a newly industrializing economy, South Korea offers many
opportunities for employment for foreigners; anywhere from teaching
English, to international project managers, to placement in high-tech
industries.
South Korea experienced a financially devastating crisis in 1997.
However, its economy has been steadily progressing ever since and
continues to grow today.
Following the Asian Financial Crisis of ´97, many Westerners fled the area and took with them the important resource of language. Due to the shortage, English-speaking foreigners are highly sought after in every occupational field. Whether you speak English or not, it is to your advantage to have a high school diploma and a college degree in order to heighten your marketability.
Seoul, the capital and largest city in Korea, is the center of everything from economy and politics to culture and international business. Some of the world’s largest companies are headquartered in Seoul and its surrounding area.
Aside from its agricultural aspect, most of South Korea’s economic activity takes place in the capital city. It is also easier to find jobs as an English tutor/teacher in big cities like Seoul where the pay tends to go up in proportion to the cost of living. For those looking for work outside of Seoul, other metropolitan cities in South Korea include Busan, Daegu, Daejeon, Gwangju, Incheon, and Ulsan.
Other popular places to utilize your language skills include:
Finance:
Following the Asian Financial Crisis of ´97, many Westerners fled the area and took with them the important resource of language. Due to the shortage, English-speaking foreigners are highly sought after in every occupational field. Whether you speak English or not, it is to your advantage to have a high school diploma and a college degree in order to heighten your marketability.
Typical industries and sectors
South Korea is one of the most technologically advanced and digitally linked countries in the world. As a leading exporter of automobiles, cell phones, and other high-tech devices and a growing competitor in information technology, specialists in these fields are needed in Korea.Seoul, the capital and largest city in Korea, is the center of everything from economy and politics to culture and international business. Some of the world’s largest companies are headquartered in Seoul and its surrounding area.
Aside from its agricultural aspect, most of South Korea’s economic activity takes place in the capital city. It is also easier to find jobs as an English tutor/teacher in big cities like Seoul where the pay tends to go up in proportion to the cost of living. For those looking for work outside of Seoul, other metropolitan cities in South Korea include Busan, Daegu, Daejeon, Gwangju, Incheon, and Ulsan.
Employment trends
Due to the high demand of native English speakers in South Korea, expatriates can easily find jobs tutoring and teaching English. Translators for any industry are also sought after. Most foreigners who choose to teach English in Korea end up working at "hakwons" (private foreign language institutes).Other popular places to utilize your language skills include:
- university language institutes
- corporate in-house language exchange programs
- private tutoring courses
- editing/public relations at an advertising company
- government/private research institutes
Finance:
- fund managers
- foreign exchange dealers
- insurance brokers
- insurance specialists
- securities analysts
- stockbrokers
- database administrators
- information system analysts
- Internet consultants
- IT system consultants
- network specialists
- programmers
- web designers
- web masters
- foreign market researchers
- international project managers
- international outsourcing specialists
- copyright specialists
- database specialists
- marketers
- merchandisers
- microelectronics specialists
- robotic specialists
- direct marketing system designers
- IR specialists
Further reading
- Finding a Job: Where to look for Jobs in South Korea
- Working in South Korea: Work ethics, salaries and holidays
- Labor regulations & social security : Unemployment, illness, maternity etc.
- Taxation of your income: Income tax and social contributions in Korea
- Employment contracts: What you need to know
- Applying for a job: Cover letter, CV and job interviews
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Top 100 Most Powerful Resume Words
Top 100 Most Powerful Resume Words
18 Interview Preparation Questions
Download My Copy
Download My Copy
In today’s society, your resume is the most important document you have to get yourself an interview.Including power resume words will increase your chance of getting hired by 80%!
When a hiring manager is seeing the same old resume time and time again which includes the cliché words and phrases such as “highly dedicated individual” or “great team player” you are guaranteeing yourself your resume will be deleted.
Poorly chosen words and clichéd phrases can destroy the interest of the reader. Power words when chosen correctly can have the opposite effect of motivating and inspiring the reader
Power Resume Words will make help you stand out from your competition and increase your chances of getting hired!
Top 100 Power Resume Words
- Advanced
- Assigned
- Assessed
- Absorbed
- Accelerated
- Attained
- Attracted
- Announced
- Appraised
- Budgeted
- Bolstered
- Balanced
- Boosted
- Bargained
- Benefited
- Beneficial
- Comply
- Critiqued
- Closed
- Collaborated
- Designed
- Delegated
- Demonstrated
- Developed
- Detected
- Efficient
- Enhanced
- Excelled
- Exceeded
- Enriched
- Fulfilled
- Financed
- Forecasted
- Formulated
- Generated
- Guided
- Granted
- Helped
- Hosted
- Implemented
- Investigated
- Increased
- Initiated
- Influenced
- Integrated
- Innovated
- Instituted
- Justified
- Listed
- Logged
- Maintained
- Mentored
- Measured
- Multiplied
- Negotiated
- Observed
- Operated
- Obtained
- Promoted
- Presented
- Programmed
- Provided
- Projected
- Qualified
- Quantified
- Quoted
- Recommended
- Refine
- Revamp
- Reacted
- Retained
- Recovered
- Reinstated
- Rejected
- Sustained
- Skilled
- Saved
- Scheduled
- Supported
- Secured
- Simplified
- Screened
- Segmented
- Streamlined
- Strengthened
- Triumphed
- Troubleshot
- Taught
- Tutored
- Translated
- Trained
- Uncovered
- United
- Unified
- Updated
- Upgraded
- Validated
- Viewed
- Worldwide
- Witnessed
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
The Game
Thus we have stakes (enjeux) which are the most part the product of the competition between players.
We have an investment in the game, illusio (from ludus, the game): players are taken in by the game, they oppose one another, sometimes with ferocity, only to the extent that they concur in their belief (doxa) in the game and its takes; they grant these a recognition that escapes questioning.
Players agree, by the mere fact of playing, that it is "worth the candle", and this cullusion is the very basis of their competition.
We have an investment in the game, illusio (from ludus, the game): players are taken in by the game, they oppose one another, sometimes with ferocity, only to the extent that they concur in their belief (doxa) in the game and its takes; they grant these a recognition that escapes questioning.
Players agree, by the mere fact of playing, that it is "worth the candle", and this cullusion is the very basis of their competition.
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Teaching Tip : Stopping an Activity
Teaching Tip : Stopping an Activity
How:
- If you have a small enough group that you can be heard by everyone, just
say something like "OK, you can stop there. Well done everyone. Thank you,
you can stop now. Yes, that includes you, Giovanni!" Then give the students
a few seconds to finish their sentences until the room falls quiet. Let them
finish what they were saying.
- If you have a big group so you won't be heard if you try talk over everyone
then don't bother to shout yourself hoarse, simply have a certain place in the
classroom where you go and stand when you want everyone's attention and
go and stand in it. The students will stop talking very soon. (I stand in front
of the board, facing the class which gets their attention because for the
previous ten minutes or so I've been cruising round the room monitoring).
You can explain to students at the beginning of the course, "When I want
your attention I will stand here and you will stop what you are doing and
listen to me because I don't like shouting for your attention. Is that clear"?
When:
- It's not important if the students have finished the activity - it's the taking
part that counts, as they say.
- It's a good idea to stop things while they are going swingingly because it
means you never hit the students' boredom threshold. Leave them wanting
more and enthusiasm will remain high. On the other hand, don't stop it too
soon because not everyone will have had a chance to speak or guess the
answers yet so they'll feel cheated.
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Top 10: Job Interview Mistakes
No.10 Dressing down
Just because your interview may be scheduled for Casual Friday, it doesn’t mean that you can show up in jeans and an untucked shirt. Regardless of the job you’re applying for, it’s important to dress for success by wearing a subdued suit and tie with a minimal amount of bodacious bling. Conversely, it’s also important not to overdress. Waltzing into your interview looking like the Monopoly Man may make your prospective employer think that you’re failing to take the process seriously. Play it safe and leave your top hat and tails at home.Friday, April 19, 2013
Thursday, April 18, 2013
How to Ace a Job Interview
An important step in every professional man`s life is the interview for
that much-anticipated job position. Men prepare for this moment their
whole lives, yet many things still go wrong. Here are some key interview
tips to remember in order to have a successful job interview.
This research should also include specific job-related issues and requirements. Applicants don't want to be faced with a tricky question often asked by interviewers, catching the applicant off guard. A good technique is to look at yourself in the mirror, go through the procedure of an interview and address your flaws. Portraying confidence and assertiveness are surely the most important parts of an interview. The interviewer wants to see that the applicant is sure of himself, and that his high confidence is a reflection of his abilities.
preparation
Of all the interview tips you will learn about, this is probably the most important part of the whole process, because with good preparation, everything should go as planned. Before getting to the interview, conduct some research so that you know some basic information about the company , like its mission statement and its position in the industry. This will allow you to intelligently answer questions that might suddenly be thrown your way during the interview session.This research should also include specific job-related issues and requirements. Applicants don't want to be faced with a tricky question often asked by interviewers, catching the applicant off guard. A good technique is to look at yourself in the mirror, go through the procedure of an interview and address your flaws. Portraying confidence and assertiveness are surely the most important parts of an interview. The interviewer wants to see that the applicant is sure of himself, and that his high confidence is a reflection of his abilities.
looks do matter
Using the same concept as when preparing a resume, your appearance will play a key role in presenting a good image of yourself. We wouldn't expect an employer to be wearing running shoes and jeans, so why should we? Dress appropriately for the position. Office and administrative jobs require, without a doubt, a suit and tie. Be wary of overdressing for the interview, but remember, it's better to be overdressed than underdressed.introduction and body language
There are three main things to do when entering the interview room and first meeting a human resources person:- Present yourself by clearly stating your name.
- Make direct eye contact with the interviewer.
- Give a firm handshake. A trick to avoid getting sweaty palms is to carry a tissue in your pocket to dry your hand right before the handshake.
- Constantly moving hands will usually represent nervousness. Keep them on the table, or on your knees.
- Sit up straight and don`t slouch. Sitting up portrays confidence and savoir faire .
- Unintentional nervous ticks are clearly noticeable by interviewers, but might not be to the applicant. Be careful not to tap the table, touch your face constantly or stutter when answering questions.
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Incidentally, there are a few more things that will make your trip an enjoyable and rewarding experience but they are by their very nature difficult to obtain:
Incidentally, there are a few more things that will make your trip an enjoyable and rewarding experience but they are by their very nature difficult to obtain:
a sense of adventure,
an open mind,
a kind heart,
a tolerant attitude,
a practical disposition
and a flexible view of the world.
Luckily the conditions under which they develop are often found when you leave the safe confines of your everyday life, so don’t let a few personal imperfections scare you off making the journey of a lifetime.
a sense of adventure,
an open mind,
a kind heart,
a tolerant attitude,
a practical disposition
and a flexible view of the world.
Luckily the conditions under which they develop are often found when you leave the safe confines of your everyday life, so don’t let a few personal imperfections scare you off making the journey of a lifetime.
Presents for boss/co-workers
Gifts are good. Everybody likes them and they’re a great way to ingratiate yourself with the boss. Think distinctive local produce.
Aussies could bring chocolate covered macadamia nuts
A photo album or PowerPoint presentation consisting of family, friends and your local environment is a great way for students and co-workers to gain a deeper understanding of who you are and where you come from. Like everybody else on this screwy planet, Koreans can have some pretty strange ideas about foreign places and cultures. This is one way to open their eyes and let them see that the similarities aregreater than the differences.
If working with kids it’s a good idea to bring heaps of flashy stickers as rewards for good behavior and excellent work. These can usually be had for a few bucks at your local dollar store. Hold off on buying bigger purchases like board games or flashcards until you’ve had the opportunity to talk with someone on staff, as there’s no point duplicating what they’ve already got.
Little treats for you aren’t a bad idea either. A jar of Vegemite, a kilo bag of Reese’s Pieces or a duty free bottle of Baileys can help take the edge off a day spent fighting the evil forces of kindergarten. They also come in handy when trying to lure a love interest into your lair, though to be honest a spread made from brewer’s yeast probably has limited appeal compared to chocolate or alcohol.
With a few exceptions, this whole chapter boils down to three easy questions. Is this item essential? Will I use it? Can I buy it there? If you rigorously apply this line of reasoning to everything you’re thinking of bringing you should be able to pack two bags that won’t blow your luggage allowance.
Aussies could bring chocolate covered macadamia nuts
A photo album or PowerPoint presentation consisting of family, friends and your local environment is a great way for students and co-workers to gain a deeper understanding of who you are and where you come from. Like everybody else on this screwy planet, Koreans can have some pretty strange ideas about foreign places and cultures. This is one way to open their eyes and let them see that the similarities aregreater than the differences.
If working with kids it’s a good idea to bring heaps of flashy stickers as rewards for good behavior and excellent work. These can usually be had for a few bucks at your local dollar store. Hold off on buying bigger purchases like board games or flashcards until you’ve had the opportunity to talk with someone on staff, as there’s no point duplicating what they’ve already got.
Little treats for you aren’t a bad idea either. A jar of Vegemite, a kilo bag of Reese’s Pieces or a duty free bottle of Baileys can help take the edge off a day spent fighting the evil forces of kindergarten. They also come in handy when trying to lure a love interest into your lair, though to be honest a spread made from brewer’s yeast probably has limited appeal compared to chocolate or alcohol.
With a few exceptions, this whole chapter boils down to three easy questions. Is this item essential? Will I use it? Can I buy it there? If you rigorously apply this line of reasoning to everything you’re thinking of bringing you should be able to pack two bags that won’t blow your luggage allowance.
The interview is their chance to establish whether you’ll be an asset or a liability to their organisation. The following is a list of questions they’re trying to answer.
Most postings will give details such as location, starting date, contract period, basic salary, overtime, housing, student level, working hours, holidays and benefits. This is usually followed by a list of requirements necessary for application. These may include a cover letter, statement of teaching philosophy, resume, recent photographs, copy of passport, reference letters from past employers, university transcripts, a copy of your diploma, a criminal record check and of course an email address and phone number. After first contact is made, providing they’re interested, you’ll most likely be invited to attend a telephone interview, though a Skype chat wouldn’t be out of the question in tech savvy South Korea. Some schools will have you speak directly with the owner; others leave everything up to a Western manager or member of staff.
The interview is their chance to establish whether you’ll be an asset or a liability to their organisation.
The following is a list of questions they’re trying to answer.
Does the applicant speak clearly
Can they express themselves without difficulty
Do they sound outgoing and friendly
Will they fit in with other employees
Are they committed to working for a whole year
What motivates them to seek this kind of work
If they’re happy with the interview and the material you’ve sent them they’ll no doubt get a couple of contracts off in the mail. All that remains is the tiny hurdle of getting your E-2 visa.
The interview is their chance to establish whether you’ll be an asset or a liability to their organisation.
The following is a list of questions they’re trying to answer.
Does the applicant speak clearly
Can they express themselves without difficulty
Do they sound outgoing and friendly
Will they fit in with other employees
Are they committed to working for a whole year
What motivates them to seek this kind of work
If they’re happy with the interview and the material you’ve sent them they’ll no doubt get a couple of contracts off in the mail. All that remains is the tiny hurdle of getting your E-2 visa.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
How to make yourself irresistible to hiring schools.
How to make yourself irresistible to hiring schools.
If
you’re like most job seekers, you follow a set of routines in looking
for work. You check the ads in the newspaper, or on the internet related
to what you are looking for. You write a nice cover letter and enclose
your CV. You practice for interview questions. And then you hope for the
best.The key to any successful venture, though, is to understand as much as possible about how the system works. You can’t improve the performance of a car without knowing something about engines, and you can’t hone your job applications without knowing how hiring decisions are being made. I’ll talk generally about how you can leverage a basic understanding of the way applicants are selected.
Your CV
It sounds obvious but a well written CV is vital, with no spelling or grammatical errors. Your CV is the first contact you have with an employer: make sure it gives the right impression. Get someone else to read it through before sending - they might pick up something you have missed.
Be the candidate you are on paper
You can create the most amazing resume, detailing exactly why you’re the best candidate for the job, but if you cannot fluidly and succinctly talk about those experiences in the interview, you may lose the opportunity to compete for the job. Expect the interviewer to ask you about what is on your resume, and prepare to explain your skills and accomplishments in stories that resemble sound bytes more than autobiographies.
Maintain a Smart Online Profile
All that stupid stuff you put on Facebook — take it off. Be mindful of your social media profile online. It’s not uncommon for employers to check Facebook pages and other forms of social media, so keep it clean.
Take a Class or Get a Certificate
This is especially helpful if it teaches you a skill you don’t have or don’t feel confident in. Teaching in a different country can be challenging and obtaining a TEFL certificate will equip you with skills and confidence to make you great ESL instructor. Say Kimchi Recruiting is proud to be associated with TEFL Online. Follow this link to find out more http://www.teflonline.com/saykimchirecruiting/
Volunteer
This is especially important for first time teachers. You might think you like kids, but actually you don’t. While at home, volunteer at a local school to get a feel of a ‘teaching’ environment. There is still, for some reason, some ridiculous stigma related to volunteering that many people cannot seem to get over. In a similar vein to updating your skills, taking on some volunteering work will show a desire and self-motivation to get involved and make a difference within a project, again desirable attributes that will make you attractive to a potential employer.
Be Flexible
You may not want to commute more than 10 miles, but being willing to bend a bit will open up more opportunities. It will also make you a more attractive candidate because it signals to employers that you’re able to handle change.
Sunday, April 7, 2013
ESL Teacher Taboos
Teacher TaboosAs a teacher of ESL there is a fine balance between being yourself and showing respect. If your students are learning English in your country, you want to share as much as you can about your own customs and lifestyle, while giving each of your students the opportunity and freedom to share theirs. If you are teaching English in a foreign country, you should take active steps to learn as much about the culture and customs of its people. This includes finding out about the taboo topics and actions that could embarrass, confuse or upset a student.Remember, that what is considered appropriate conduct or conversational material in your country may be considered rude, insulting or even bad luck in another. You may also find that younger generations are more accepting of and accustomed to American or European topics and gestures, while older students still consider some things taboo. Talking about taboos in general can also be tricky! We want to make sure not to promote generalizations or stereotypes that could upset or insult anyone. Before you travel to a foreign country, take the time to do some research, by talking to other English teachers who are working there. The EnglishClub.com Teacher Forums are a great place to start. Here are some general topics to avoid as an ESL teacher in a multicultural class:
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Saturday, April 6, 2013
Teaching English Positions with public schools in Seoul (EPIK-SMOE)
Teaching English Positions with public schools in Seoul (EPIK-SMOE)
The
Seoul Metropolitan City Office of Education (SMOE) announced that they
would place native English Speaking teachers at all Elementary and
Junior secondary schools from 2008. SMOE has allocated more than $200
million in additional budget to place at least one native English
speaking teacher per school, for a total of approximately 800 teachers
in the school district. Since 2010, EPIK (English Program In Korea ) has
been recruiting English teachers with SMOE.Seoul Metropolitan City, the Capital city of South Korea
- Population: 11 million
- 11th Most advanced city in the world
- World’s second largest metropolitan area
- Total area: 605.52 square kilometre
- City information : http://english.seoul.go.kr/
- SMOE (Seoul Office of Education): http://english.sen.go.kr/index.jsp
| Benefits and working conditions of English teaching job with Seoul public schools | |
| Employer | Seoul Public Schools |
| Starting date | February 15th or August 16th |
| Applicattion Openings | April 1st for August starting positions, Oct 1st for Feb starting positions |
| Job openings | 400-800 positions per sememster |
| Job location | Seoul, South Korea (http://english.seoul.go.kr/) |
| Working hours | 8:30 AM to 4:30 AM (M-F); 8 hours per day, 40 hours per week including 22 hours of teaching. |
| Teaching hours | 22 hours or week |
| Length of class | 45~50 Minutes per class |
| Number of students per class | 35~40 |
| Student age group | Grade 1 to 12 students, But mainly elementary school students (Grade 1-6) |
| Monthly salary | 1.8 Million Won ~ 3 Million Won |
| Income tax | A citizen of USA, UK,Ireland, Australia, New Zealand do not pay income tax in Korea (Candians pay 3. 3% of monthly salary) |
| Medical insurance (50%) | 2.38% of monthly salary will be deducted from the salary by the school every month. |
| National Pension Plan (50%) | 4.5% of monthly salary will be deducted from the salary by the school every month. |
| Vacation days | 20 days of paid vacation; 2 weeks in summer, 2 weeks in winter |
| Sick leaves | 15 Days |
| Housing | Free furnished single studio type apartment, 5 mins to 45 minutes to school by public transit or on foot |
| Settlement allowance | 300,000 KRW |
| Air fare | A total 2.6 M KRW of entrance and exit allowance will be provided |
| Couple positions | Only married couples may apply for couple positions. Friends or siblings or unmarried couples cannot apply for couple positons or couple housings. |
Seoul public schools have a very standard salary guide for English teachers. To find out whether you are eleigible or how much your monthly salary will be, please see below:
Level G: 2.0 million won per month
One of the following:
A Bachelors degree in Education
A Bachelors degree in English, English Education, English Literature, or Linguistics
A Bachelors degree in any discipline plus one (1) full year of teaching English
A Masters degree in any discipline
A currently valid elementary or secondary teachers certification
A TESOL/TEFL or English Teaching Certificate comprised of a minimum of 100 course hours
Level F: 2.2 million won per month
One of the following:
A Master’s degree in Education
A teachers certification with a specialization in English Education
One of the Level G requirements plus one (1) full year of teaching English
Level E: 2.3 million won per month
One of the following:
A Master’s degree in TESOL/TEFL or in English Education
One of the Level G requirements plus two (2) full years of teaching English
Employed as Level F at the SMOE for one (1) full year
Level D: 2.4 million won per month
One of the following:
A Bachelors degree in English Education plus three (3) full years of teaching English
A Masters degree in TESOL/TEFL or in English Education plus one (1) full year of teaching English
A teachers certification with a specialization in English Education plus two (2) full years of teaching English
Employed as Level E at the SMOE for one (1) full year
Level C: 2.5 million won per month
One of the following:
A Masters degree in TESOL/TEFL or in English Education plus two (2) full years of teaching English
A teachers certification with a specialization in English Education plus three (3) full years of teaching English
Employed as Level D at the SMOE for two (2) full years
Level B: 2.6 million won per month
One of the following:
A Masters degree in TESOL/TEFL or in English Education plus three (3) full years of teaching English
A recommendation by the superintendent or school principal of a current school (public or private) where applicant has taught English (at the same school) for at least three (3) full years
Employed as Level D at the SMOE for three (3) full years
Level A: 2.7 million won per month
One of the following:
A Masters degree in TESOL/TEFL or in English Education plus four (4) full years of teaching English
A recommendation by the superintendent or school principal of a current school (public or private) where applicant has taught English (at the same school) for at least four (4) full years
Level S: 3.0 million won per month
One of the following:
A Masters degree in TESOL/TEFL or in English Education plus seven (7) full years of teaching English
A recommendation by the superintendent or school principal of a current school (public or private) where applicant has taught English (at the same school) for at least seven (7) full years
Be hired to work as a curriculum developer with Doctoral degree in TESOL/TEFL or in English Education
If you have any questions about qualifications, working benefits, etc, please contact us.
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