Teaching English in S. Korea?

Question

Looking through several websites, this option seems like a sweet deal but as I'm of a cynical nature, I have to ask:"What's the catch?" Can I really have my cake and eat it too?

Here are some questions:

1) I have an MA in Literature from the Philippines, but I don't have a teaching certificate...will it profoundly affect my options?

2) I am an American Citizen (my dad was American) and speak and write mostly in English, but grew up and was educated in the Philippines...will that be an issue for employers? Do they prefer people who were born and raised in the U.S., Canada, U.K., etc.?

3) What is the job itself like? What are the benefits and drawbacks of teaching English?

4) What is it like as a foreigner living in S. Korea? How about for an Asian foreigner? Is there a big distinction?

5) What are the best indicators of a good school to teach in?

Answer 1

1. It's fine not to have one. Almost no English teachers there do. Of course, you'll feel like a better teacher if you either have teaching experience or training.

2. They might prefer people who grew up in the US, but if you have an American accent, it's not a big deal. The American citizenship is very important.

3. If you teach children, at some schools you might feel more like you are babysitting than teaching. Many schools have split shifts, where you work in the morning and in the evening, with time off in the middle of the day. Pay is usually good - you can save a lot of money.

4. It depends if you look Korean. If you do, people may get annoyed with you for not knowing Korean customs. If you don't look Korean, it's not as big a deal, and you'll be stared at less that a Caucasian. However, some employers hesitate to hire Asians... there's still the idea in Korea that people who are white are the best English teachers. You can find employers who don't have that belief though.

5. One that has been around a long time. Also, it's good if someone on the staff has lived overseas... it makes them a lot easier to work with.

Answer 2

I cannot give you much advice on Korea, but I did the JET Program a few years back in Japan.  I have known many people who have gone to Korea to teach English.  Many of them enjoy the work.  You can have your slice of cake and eat it, too.

In some cases the English instruction is sponsored by a corporation that basically pays native speakers as instructors.  If this is the case, you can bet that they are just serving as the "middle man".  When I was in Japan, I earned a great amount of money from the private lessons I instructed.

Not majoring in teaching has no impact.  If accepted you will do fine.  Being in the Philippines may be a drawback.  Often, I found that they wanted cultural instruction more so than English.  Again, this is specific to Japan.  Korea may be different in that manner.