Searching for ESL Jobs

And another helpful site so that you can search lots of sites at once for ESL jobs in a certain country.  Thanks to Brian for the tip.

Goals for the New Year

It's better for me to share these with the world, since I'll be much more likely to follow through.

My main goal for 2011 is to prepare for life post-Korea.  I've been here 6 years and it's getting entirely too comfortable.  My job is too easy, life too predictable and I need some new challenges.  So maybe one more year for me and then it's time to go.  To prepare for this, I'm going to do the following:

1. Doing a scuba diving instructor's course.  I want to have another income producing option, besides  the ESL thing.  This one has the bonus of being able to take me to tropical islands in exotic countries! 

2. Doing a Celta Course.  This is not a a necessity in Korea, but it really is if you want to teach ESL elsewhere.  I want to have a bit more to my resume than just "teaching in Korea for 6 years" and "I have an ESL teaching blog."  I hope to do it next summer, possibly in Toronto.  I could stay at my sister's house and hang out with my cute niece in the 3 minutes/day of free time I would have. 

3. I want to make a sort of database for myself about scuba and esl jobs in other countries, with salaries and basic job conditions.  Basically, just figure out where I want to go next.

4. Work on increasing my passive income.  My ultimate plan in 10 years or so is to just live off the money I have coming in each month and not have to use the principle.  I'm investing in dividend paying stocks, which already produce a nice amount of income each month.  I'm also starting to get some online stuff going which is showing early success.  So, this will be a big priority in my free time, of which I usually have a lot of. 

What's your plan for the New Year?

Little things help you land the big TEFL Job

Some excellent tips from Ted for those who are applying for ESL teaching jobs abroad.  I agree wholeheartedly!

If you follow his tips, you've already beat out 1/2 your competition!  It really is that easy.

Different level students

I've ended up teaching a 2 week intensive class for those students who failed their freshman English class the first time 'round and need it in order to graduate.  The desperate of the desperate essentially.  And most of them are truly terrible at English. 

In my regular class during the semester, I'll have one or two of these students in each class, mixed in with some average ones and then a few ringers who are little English geniuses.  This makes it very hard to teach at a level that makes everyone happy.  But this class I'm teaching now, they're all at the same level: very low.  And I'm actually finding it much more enjoyable.  Like I know what I'm dealing with so I can adapt my class and take everything really, really slow.  And nobody is bored I think and they actually appreciate how simple I'm making it. 

Anyway, my point is this.  If I had to choose between a mixed level class with a few stars in it, or a completely low-level class, I'd take the low-level one any day.  Of course, a class with all high-level students would be better!  Haha!

Should foreigners be tested for Aids?

An accurate article from a top North America magazine "Time" about foreigners having mandatory HIV tests here in Korea.  But, let's be clear about the situation.  Prostitutes, entertainers and migrant workers are exempt, it's only the ESL teachers.  Unbelievably. 

Brian's commentary here.

New E2 Visa Regulations...update

They will be put into effect, but with exceptions.  Thanks to Gusts of Popular Feeling for the update.

Hmm...so maybe don't make teaching at a Korean uni your long-term plan

From the Korea Times.  Not the main focus of the article, but in 10 years time, the number of college freshman is expected to be 1/2 of what it is now because of falling birthrates.  My uni is already pushing to recruit Chinese students to bolster their ranks.

On getting extra work

I was talking with my friends last night about pay at a Korean University. One of my friends who works at another uni, said that she would appreciate it if Korea unis would bump up the pay by 100 000 or 200 000/month after a couple years service.  I said that I didn't really care and am quite happy working for the salary I agreed to when I started, plus a little cost of living increase once in a while.

It's not about the base pay, but it's about the overtime opportunities.  There really isn't that much difference between 2.0 million and 2.3.  And, as my other friend that I work with pointed out, if you make more than the newbies you work with, it just makes your more expendable.  So back to the overtime.  When you are at the interview, you really should ask about overtime opportunities.  You will have plenty of free time, so can reasonably do 5-20 hours/week of overtime.  If the uni doesn't have any, I wouldn't necessarily work there unless the base pay was over 3.0 million.  But, if the uni has opportunities, this is how you can really make good money at a uni in Korea.  And, the longer you stay at a uni, the more connections you will make and the more offers you get.

What's your experience been like?  Lots of overtime?  Not so much?

Searching ESL Cafe

Okay, so that last post about taking a break for some R&R was kind of a lie.  I had good intentions, but as soon as I finished writing it, I checked my google reader and what popped into my list, but something too good not to blog about. 

ESL Cafe is the site for English teachers in Korea.  Jobs, forums, idea cookbook.  All good stuff. The horrible thing is the search function on the forums.  However, hope is here!  Thanks Brian for the tip.

Grades are in...

The semester is done and all my grades are entered into the computer.  Thankfully.  It was a good, but a long one and I'm feeling weary.  Now, for some much needed rest and relaxation and Christmas festivities with coworkers and friends.  Then, onto some studying for my upcoming trip to the Philippines to do a scuba diving instructor course.  Back on the other side of the desk for a while for me. 

So my readers, updates will be sporadic(once or twice a week) until mid-Feb when I'll start thinking and contemplating and planning for next semester.  Then, I'll be back to my regularly scheduled blogging.
If you're fixing for a hit of learning though, why don't you check out this book?  It comes highly recommended by me!

Top 50 Blogs for Teaching Abroad

I've been featured on a list for the Top 50 Blogs for Teaching Abroad.  There is lots of good stuff on the list that I've added to my Google Reader.  Check it out.

Do I really need technology to teach English

I would argue that in most cases the answer is no.  I've talked about it here and there on this blog but I've posted all my arguments in one place to make it easier to see what I really think.  Check it out here and let me know what you think.

Teacher Development

And...another site of mine that focuses exclusively on teacher development and becoming a better teacher.

Really?

On my final exam this semester, I have a kind of bonus question.  There are 2 parts:

"What's your teachers name?"  "Where's she from?"

Almost 100% of the students got the first part.  And about 90% got the second part (Canada) with some random USA's or Australia's thrown in there.  But, one student said, "Korea."  I kid you not.  Do I look Korean?  Do I speak Korean?  Did you not understand the question? 

Anyway, I laughed out loud when I read that.

Games and Activities for the ESL Teacher

Lots of people that find their way to my blog, find it through searching for games or activities they can do in the classroom.  To make the information on this blog easier to access, I've started a new site that profiles the games I use in the classroom.  And this is the site where I plan to list the activities that I do.

How to get a University Job in Korea

Many of the people that find their way to this blog, find their way through a Google search about working at a university in Korea.  I do talk about that, but I also talk about a lot of other stuff.  So, I've started a new site that deals specifically with how to find a job.  You can check it out here.  I hope it's helpful.  And this is a site with more general information about getting an English teaching job in Korea.  I'll be updating both sites every so often, so please subscribe to them via RSS feed for the updates.

Helpful Sites for the ESL Teacher

I've started posting on another site called Squidoo.  The content on there and here will mostly be the same, except it will be easier to find what you're looking for on Squidoo.  I've analyzed what people are searching for when they come to my site and I hope to be able to refer them to another site of mine that is more specific to what they're looking for.  No more wading through stuff that you're not interested in.  And don't worry, if you want all your information in one place, it will all still be on here as well.

I know that Squidoo has lots of ads.   Some people hate that in a website, so I still plan to maintain this site mostly ad-free.  But, if you do visit my Squidoo pages, please click on a few things.  I will be giving 1/2 the money I make to Kiva, which is my charity of choice.   They make loans to small entrepreneurs in developing countries.  You should check it out.

Anyway, my first new site that I'll introduce is: Websites for ESL Teachers.  This is the place to go if you need a bit of inspiration for your classes and want to introduce some new activities or games.  I've added a personal blurb to each link saying specifically how I use it.

Study Abroad

An interesting article from the Global Post about a Korean middle school student preparing for his study at a boarding school in America.

Reader Question...difference between English/ESL

This one from Sam:

"I have a B.A in English (Literature & Composition).  I also have a Masters in Science: Curriculum,Instruction, & Assessment. There is a job in Korea that is seeking an ESL Teacher.  Are my degrees sufficient or do I need more experience with ESL?  What are the major difference from teaching mainstream English as opposed to teaching ESL? Any suggestions would be helpful."

To answer the first part.  Your qualifications are more than sufficient.  All you need is a BA in basket weaving to teach here.  If you want to work at a uni, standards are a bit higher but you seem to have it covered with your masters degree.

Secondly, teaching ESL and teaching mainstream English are a world apart.  If you have extremely high level students, and are teaching an "English writing" or "English literature" class then it might be somewhat comparable to what you'd be doing back home.  Except these jobs are few and far between in Korea.  At my uni, only 2 or 3 out of the 25 of us actually teach these high level classes.  Anyway, the major difference is that you won't be teaching content, you'll be teaching very basic English vocab, grammar and conversation strategies.  If you have lower-level students, then think, "How are you today" and "What color is this?"  Mid-level students, then think, "What's your favorite movie?"  or "What did you eat for breakfast today?" 

Want to find a uni job?

Well...you should really check out this quality article from the Nomad Within.  Lots of good tips for you.

The Quiz Show

I usually have a class of review before the midterm and final exams.  I choose a couple of games that we can play.  This week, I've been doing a Jeopardy kind of quiz show. 

I make up categories from stuff that is on the test: "Vocab, grammar, movies, body"  I think of questions that range from easy ($100) to difficult ($500).  I put the students in groups of 3 or 4 and the they have to pick their category and question.  They can pick whatever they want, but the key is that if they get it correct, they obviously get the points.  If wrong, they get minus that number.  I put in a few +/- 500/1000 to make it more interesting.

Bingo

We all know and love Bingo.  I remember back when I was a kid and I just couldn't get enough of it.  Well, believe it not, university students in Korea seem to enjoy it as well.  Except if I did it where I just called out the words, and they crossed them off I probably couldn't really consider myself a real teacher.  So, instead I modify it to make it more more educational.  It's actually a fabulous way to get students to review a large amount of vocab.

I make up a grid, and at the bottom list all the possible words they can choose from.  They take a few minutes to write in the words that they want.  Then, I just give hints about the words and they need to figure out what I'm taking about.

Examples:  "I have many of them in my mouth" =teeth
"It's something difficult, not easy to do" =achievement

Yeah for native speakers!

A spot-on article from the Waygook Effect entitled, "Ten Reasons Why Korean Conversation Teachers Should Not Replace NSET's."

And, in native speakers news, this was a really good book!

How to get a uni job

I’ve been teaching English at a Korean University for 4 years and people often ask me how they can get the same job.  Once you meet the basic requirements for immigration, (a Native English
speaker with a passport from one of the big 6 English countries and a BA degree), it comes down to the following things:

1. Having a Masters degree in any subject.  Of course, if you have a degree in Education, English or a TESOL related field your chances will be much better.

2. Being from North America.  Koreans seem to prefer native speakers with this accent, as opposed to English, South African, Irish, or Australian.

3. Being a woman.  Male ESL teachers dominate the scene in Korea, so universities will generally want to hire woman to balance things out.

4. Experience in Korea.  Unis will want to see that you have at least a year working in Korea already.  It doesn’t matter if this is at a private institute or public school, but of course previous experience teaching adults will be better.

5. Residing in Korea. Most unis will require an in-person interview so make sure you are in Korea for the prime hiring seasons (May-June, Nov-Dec).

6. How handsome/beautiful you are.  Appearance is everything in Korea, so dress for success at the interview.  This means a suit/tie or equivalent.   And of course, have a professional photo done for the one that you must include with your resume.

7. Your application package must be impressive just to get considered for an interview.  Follow the directions on the job ad precisely.  Every uni has vastly different application requirements. Be timely in your response.  Each job ad will often get 100’s of responses within days of the job ad going up.

8. Work your connections in Korea.  Many of the best uni jobs in Korea never get advertised but instead get filled through friends of current employees.  My university advertises on www.eslcafe.com every semester but will generally hire those that come with personal
recommendations from one of my coworkers.

A group project idea

This week in my classes, I've been doing group projects worth 20% of their final score. 

The students could go in groups of 1-5 people.  I always hated group projects in school, so I like to give the option on going alone (maybe only 1 person/class chooses this).  They have to choose a problem such as global warming, eating junk food, human rights in North Korea, etc and make a poster about it that's worth 10%.  I give points for things such as how beautiful it is, English writing on it, and grammar. 

Then, they have to do a presentation about their poster worth 10%.  I take off points for reading from a script, and copying from the internet and give points for interesting and clear speaking.  Each student in the group has to talk for 1-2 minutes.

Results so far?   Quite good.  The students have done some amazing posters and there is always at least one group in the class who does a fabulous presentation.  They seem quite happy and proud of themselves when they're finished.  And not that it's all about me, but it has been a nice break from being up at the front and doing lesson plans for the week :)

I did this assignment before, a couple years ago but I was much more rigid with the groups and made everyone be in a group of 5. This time, by being flexible, it's caused me much less stress and made it a much better experience for the students as well because they can just go with their friends and don't have to work with people they don't want to.