As I mentioned earlier, there is a lot of talk of relaxing the qualifications to get a teaching job here, specifically in regards to one’s educational requirements. Well, I found an article that actually puts a timeframe on all this and it appears that, beginning in the fall semester of this year, native english teachers (or ‘assistant language teachers’, according to the article, which signals that they are referring to public school teachers. So not sure if this means there will be same or separate requirements for hagwon and university applicants.) can legally obtain E2 teaching visas, if they are degree-less, but are still in university. And if they are letting things go down this road, this opens up more questions that can lead to further unravelling and policy-circumvention, such as ‘what does a degree-less applicant now need to prove university attendance? A student ID number? Partial transcripts?’ Whatever it will be, it will be such a slippery slope that it will take no time for pretty much anybody without a degree and not nor ever having set foot in a university, to be able to get a teaching job in Korea, provided that they pass the criminal and health checks. Someone better grease the hinges on the floodgates, as they’ll be swinging wide open later this year.
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May 9th, 2008 at 9:33 am
korea - qualifications no longer necessary to teach
Well it looks like starting this fall the only qualification that one will need to teach in Korea is a heartbeat and youthful looks. Having a degree is no longer necessary. See this post from the GalbiJim blog and news article (Korean language). see al…
May 9th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Not necessarily. Would it not be acceptable to permit a “degreeless” individual teach but be required to have CELTA, or TESOL, or similar but regarded credentials?
After all, having a degree –in a number of cases — means ability to compete and complete, but doesn’t necessarily mean quality. Heck, I’m not in possession of a degree, but in the 3rd grade (many moons ago) I was eligible to represent my school in the National Spelling Bee contest, I was a member of the Academic Decathlon, earned a number of this and that, but later made a number of decisions that prolonged completing (still haven’t) college.
It is not difficult to find MANY college graduates who STILL cannot spell, who still commit word choice errors, misplace their modifiers, and violate any number of rules of English grammar, and are exalted because they possess degrees. If anything, there should be stricter screening, based on things I read in various places. If REAL teachers by training and experience undergo stress and wash out, how would a fresh-degree, non-teaching graduate hope to compare, or deserve as much respect as a REAL teacher or a CELTA or TESOL-certified person.
See:
http://www.tesolcourse.com/
I hope Korea decides to more stringently screen for not only criminal background, but credentials AND personality. But, unfortunately, the high demand for “teachers” will keep pressures on to fill vacancies.
Just my 2 or 3 cents… not sure if it makes sense, and hopefully, I didn’t leave any bad scents behind…
May 31st, 2008 at 10:09 pm
I do not have a Degree.
I have completed an intensive Government supported TESOL course. Requiring many hours of practicle teaching and observation of class-room behaviors.
Will I through this qualification be able to apply for an E2 Visa in order to teach english in Korea, or is my best option to have my Korean friends organise a Sponsor Visa for myself?