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Question from a reader: teaching at university?

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I love questions from readers! Search my blog to see if your question has already been answered - if it hasn't, e-mail me at chrisinsouthkorea AT gmail DOT com.

A reader writes in asking about university jobs:
I just found your blog...thanks for a great resource! I've lived in Korea for a little over a year, just to the east of Seoul at first and now near Itaewon. I'm on my second Hagwon job, and while I enjoy it (unless you're very very cynical, it's hard to find fault with the life of an English teacher here), I'd really like to get a University job next year.

I've read a lot about it on ESL cafe and I realize it's quite competitive, particularly if you want to live in Seoul - and even more so because I only have a Bachelor's degree/CELTA.

What do you know about this? Have you heard of any tips to get your foot in the door at a Uni? Thanks! And thanks for blogging! [D.D]

Hi D.D.

Thanks for reading! I've actually answered a similar question in the past, but it's about time to revisit the topic. Seeing as how I have no first-hand experience in working at a university (yet!), I won't claim to have any :) Another blogger has already written about his first-hand experiences; although the first post is a little old, I'll defer to Joe Seoulman #1 and Joe Seoulman #2. Read those before venturing ahead.

Working at a good university of Seoul is one of those wonderful dreams some expats get after some time in Korea. They're still pretty cushy jobs (from most accounts, at least), and offer a working environment where you're still respected. While I wouldn't go so far as to say it's the best job available in Korea, it's almost certainly better than 98% of the hagwon jobs out there.

With that said, yes - competition is intense, just as it would be for any job truly worth getting. There are plenty of university offerings on Dave's ESL Cafe - just search for 'university' to find all the respective jobs. Remember that universities will do their hiring further in advance - March and April for jobs starting in August wouldn't be unusual, although some university postings were still on Dave's as of this (early June) post.

Assuming you find the jobs, the odds are still stacked against you. While applicants may have a Bachelor's degree in some cases, you're expected to bring some significant experience to the table. What counts as significant? That depends on each individual school - but verifiable time teaching for-credit classes at another Korean university would seem to be the gold standard. Time spent teaching kids or simply 'in Korea' won't be as valuable, from a university's perspective. After all, would you rather hire the person who can produce a published paper in a journal and has built lesson plans from scratch, or the person who has spent three years teaching kids how to write the alphabet?

From anecdotal evidence and my readings across the web, working at a university requires a much different skill set than working with kids. Where working with kids requires a bit more patience and willingness to work around fussy parents, a university atmosphere is expected to be far more academic. Even a introductory freshman class will be a very different setup than an elementary school. More lesson plans to make, more homework to grade, more organization required, etc. etc.

I don't want to discourage you from applying - or from making yourself a better person in the process. The bar is set pretty high, which is understandable considering the trust that's being instilled. English teachers already in Korea have some options for improving their career prospects:

1: Join KOTESOL. The per capita rate of people working in universities or academia seems far higher in that group than elsewhere in Korea. Make friends, and have an interesting / different perspective to offer. People don't get university jobs just because they're 'available' - the person really needs to know their stuff.

2: Consider teaching adults for a time. That'll be a chance to see what it's like to work with motivated students that can sit still and be quiet without being told. You might decide to go back to kids.

3: Consider getting a Master's Degree - whether your degree is in English, Applied Linguistics, or something else, the Master's degree does put you ahead of the curve for the time being.

4: If teaching university is more important than staying in Korea, consider looking to China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, or another country. There's no guarantees there (as anywhere else), but there's often just as many jobs there as well.

5: Learn Korean - being a native-English teacher AND having some Korean language skills may make all the difference. This culture places a high degree on certificates - if you complete a Korean-language program, send in a copy of that certificate with the rest of your paperwork.

For more about teaching university in Korea, A Geek in Korea blogs frequently about his academic adventures, along with the aforementioned Joe Seoulman.

Readers: do you teach at a university? What do you think of the environment there as compared to a more typical expat job?

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Creative Commons License © Chris Backe - 2010

This post was originally published on my blog, Chris in South Korea. If you are reading this on another website and there is no linkback or credit given, you are reading an UNAUTHORIZED FEED.

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Busan Cinematheque Brings Back Glory Days of Hollywood

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VINCENT MINELLI RETROSPECTIVE

Where: Busan Cinematheque

When: June 8-22

The golden age of Hollywood is easily one of my favorite periods in the history of cinema, when the likes of Billy Wilder, Preston Sturges, William Wyler, and Howard Hawks flourished under the old studio system. This month, the Busan cinematheque is running a retrospective in honor of another director whose name has become synonymous with the glitz and glamour of this prolific era in film. Vincent Minelli is most famous for his musicals, particularly “Meet Me in St Louis” with Judy Garland and “An American in Paris” with Gene Kelly; but not being too fond of the genre, I’m much more intent on seeing some of the films he made where the actors don’t burst into a song and dance number every other scene.

In English with Korean Subtitles:

Meet Me in St Louis (1944)

Yolanda and the Thief (1945)

The Pirate (1948)

An American in Paris (1951)

The Bad and the Beautiful (1952)

The Band Wagon (1953)

Lust for Life (1956)

Tea and Sympathy (1956)

Designing Woman (1957)

Gigi (1958)

Home from the Hill (1960)

Two Weeks in Another Town (1962)


Destination: Korea World Travel Fair (2010)

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Feast your eyes on dozens of countries and every part of South Korea - the Korea World Travel Fair is a chance to learn more about traveling Korea and the world than, well, traveling Korea and the world. An overwhelming variety of information and stuff to see is pretty standard for a 'international' or 'world' festival - yet this one actually had an extensive international presence.

Held in one of the larger exhibition halls at COEX from June 3rd - 6th, at least a hundred different booths hailed from all corners of South Korea and the world. Roughly split into halves, the Korean half and the 'rest-of-the-world' half got roughly the same amount of traffic. The booths along the hall's walls served media, publications, and more than a few sales booths quite nicely.



One of the first things you're likely to see after walking in - a nice reminder about the Formula 1 race to be held in Korea later this year.



A long line waiting to play a game - Korean Air was promoting the types of planes it uses. You won't see that international presence until you get away from the entrance, though - the Korean Air exhibit monopolized the entryway. A display showed the airline's luxurious new seating, complete with lay-down seats and surprisingly large TV's.




A fairly typical display - dozens of brochures, a large-screen TV showing a two-minute loop of the virtues of the land or the people, and a friendly employee who spoke limited English. In some cases the English brochures were on the table for foreigners to grab; other booths kept them stocked underneath. Why? Either they're bigger, or there just wasn't the demand for them - the Lady in Red and I only saw a few foreigners visiting the exhibition. More than a few were part of the show or the exhibition, though.



A decent display for Andong. We've been there recently for a day - a nice place to meander or take a tour.



Another provincial display - plenty of makgeolli (fermented rice wine) to try or buy.



While not as interesting to the adults, a few kids and college students took the opportunity to dress up in someone else's clothing. A map in the back showed a list of countries that were supposedly represented - some of the clothes must have been in boxes, as there's no way there were 100 countries' clothes here.



Getting into the 'World' half of the fun - no nationality was specifically mentioned on the outside, or anywhere in the booth that I saw. Plenty of colorful jewelry and clothing could help you forget to ask, however.



One of the largest displays - China's tourist display likely rivals what's happening at the Shanghai Fair. A little disappointing that they were only catering to the Korean audience - I saw nothing in English.



The 2nd largest display - Japan. A bit more eye candy, although we were carrying full bags of information by this point.



Some puppets from Bangkok, Thailand - I'd love to see these things in action.





A number of acts and presentations filled the main stage - this one featured some Filipino dancers and musicians. Both the Lady in Red and I thought it was South American until we saw the cell phone danglies they were handing out.




The Turkish ice cream guy in the corner had a brisk business of tormenting kids - flipping the cone around, just out of reach, then ultimately pulling the ice cream out of the cone. You'll occasionally see other vendors around Seoul, but this guy had the routine down pat.


An entertaining 'pedal-powered' display. Pedal and be taken through the world of Samcheok on the east coast. Hey, we've been there as well :)

That every city, county, and country represented offered brochures, maps, and booklets on themselves was wonderful - and a shame that only a handful of foreigners appeared to be visiting. Quite a few people came from around the world in support of their country's booths, although few were milling around to enjoy the sights and sounds. One notable absence: the United States. Either the country opted not to send their representatives, or Korea isn't a lucrative enough market for Korean tourists going to the U.S. - read into that what you will, but I'll be going through the 7-8 pounds of tourist materials I picked up along the way.

Ratings (out of 5 taeguks):

Ease to arrive:

Foreigner-friendly:

Convenience facilities:

Worth the visit:

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Creative Commons License © Chris Backe - 2010

This post was originally published on my blog, Chris in South Korea. If you are reading this on another website and there is no linkback or credit given, you are reading an UNAUTHORIZED FEED.

Vote for me on 10 Magazine's video contest - go to the contest page to see the video and vote!


My Big Decision

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Alright ladies and gentlemen.

No huge update here, but I'm trying to make a decision about something so I thought that it would be helpful to make a pros and cons list.

If you're visiting here via facebook then you've already heard me chatter about this in my effort to make a decision (though I feel like I've really already made one).

Here is the dilemma:

Should I cut my hair?

HAHA! did you think it was going to be a big deal? Well it IS!

Since my freshman year of college I've kept my hair particularly short. Recently, and for the first time in 5 odd years, I've allowed my hair to grow out and it is now the longest it's been in quite a while. Upon expressing my desire to cut it I received responses with varying degrees of both enthusiasm and horror from friends.

First: The photos

This is my hair now (as of yesterday June 7th, 2010)



Here's another. Excuse my expression, I was having a hard time being serious



And now here are two photos of my short hair (last summer before i started to let it grow out). This is the haircut that I'm thinking of getting this weekend.





After showing these two photos on FB I got a lot of positive feedback about both the short and long hair, and no negative feedback for either.

So now it's just about what I want to do, and honestly, I'm leaning towards the short hair again. I miss my short hair.

But here's a pros and cons list anyway.

LONG HAIR PROS

* I can put it up in a ponytail on bad hair days.
* I can braid it and play with more 'updo' styles than with short hair.
* I have a wider range of hair style options with longer hair.
* It makes me look more soft and feminine (this was said to me, so I thought I'd add it).
* I like the way my hair looks when I wake up in the morning when it's long. But no one else sees that so it's kind of moot.

SHORT HAIR PROS
* It's stylish
* It's fun and cute
* It's summer and this hair style is cool and keeps the hair off my neck and my face.
* I have more volume with short hair than I do with long hair.
* Easily washed and styled. Not a lot of time required.
* Cutting it short will get rid of all of the dead ends that make my hair look dull and damaged.
* You'd be able to see my earrings.
* My neck would look longer.
* No more tangles!

LONG HAIR CONS
* High maintenance
* Tangles
* Use more shampoo and conditioner
* Dead ends make hair look less healthy.
* Volume at the top and volume at the bottom looks funny.
* I don't like pony tails. I don't think they look good on me.
* I feel like there's no style in it, it looks like so many other hair styles I see.

SHORT HAIR CONS
* Not very feminine?
* Can't do a lot of different things with it. It's a one or two style cut.
* Uh... that's it.


Actually, the choice has pretty much already been made, but more feedback is totally welcome.

I'll be going to get my hair done this weekend. So I guess everyone will find out what I officially decided to do after Saturday. Haha.

Tootles until next time,

~Auggie

North Koreans Perfect Car Culture

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I’ll put aside my opinion, that leadership successions really aren’t that important for one post. One little detail WaPo leaves out about the brother-in-law of Kim Jong Il promoted to the No. 2 spot in the secretive nation’s leadership is, that Kim Jong-il was physically present for the event.

But, the report of who is now in power pales in comparison to the possible tale of who were taken out – and with cars:

A book-length historic study could be done on car accident culture in the DPRK. On one hand, a car accident, heart attack or “incurable illness” may be as reported. The side effects of the elite’s party and social culture–drunk driving fatalities (some elites seem to refuse chauffeur service), alcohol-related disease–have thinned the ranks of KJI’s trusted lieutenants in his Personal Secretariat. On the other hand, the car accident has also been a euphemism in the regime’s official obituaries, and can indicate either the beginning, or end, of a purge.

It’s like a Stephen King novel. Or, perhaps, it’s an illustration of how newly-developing – if the DPRK can be called that – states re-engineer existing technology for their local uses.

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Filed under: Korea, Military, Politics Tagged: cars, jang song taek, kim jong il, kim jong un, north korea, ri ji gang

Another Gulf Coast Tragicomedy

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It’s not just BP and Deepwater Horizon that are sullying the Gulf waters. The Federal government has its own kind of skill for scandal. Again, though, I have to go with this commenter (and, this comment raises a good point before descending into rage):

After Katrina, the undocumented workers participating in the reconstruction efforts became the victims of exploitation and the targets of violence, not because they were taking jobs, but because their status left them with little legal recourse. Undocumented workers often carry large amounts of cash and don’t feel safe going to the police.

A man who worked on our house after Katrina (as part of our contractor’s crew) was shot in the head for the few hundred dollars he had on him. He was one of the faces that didn’t change daily, so I sort of got to know him (though we couldn’t communicate well), and for me, he’s the reason ICE needs to get involved. Undocumented workers are workers at risk. It’s not racism to say that all workers, all people, should have the same protections under the law.

There’s a real chance Americans will descend to their vaunted proclivity to demonize each other equally, without treating each other, and others, fairly.

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Filed under: America, Business/Economy, Immigration, News, Politics, USA Tagged: bp, deepwater horizon, katrina, mother jones, oil spill

The Wrong Reason to Fire Helen Thomas

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I agree that former White House correspondent Helen Thomas’ odious comments about Israel’s conduct of the Gaza flotilla operation warranted her dismissal. It wasn’t just that this episode is startling in the context of her usually banal performances. Her tenure, after she shattered the glass ceiling for women reporters, was also an affront to meritocratic norms. She epitomized all the selfish scorn for democracy any politician she mocked did.

And, she was very banal indeed in the context of some of these comments, particularly this criticism of Israeli democracy.

Israel is facing an existential crisis as a result of its treatment of Palestinians, and not the existential threat of bombs and armies that everyone’s thinking of. At the end of the day, Israel’s current existence as a political entity is untenable. No nation can be both explicitly ethno-religious in character and also a pluralist liberal democracy, especially when an ethno-religious minority in the state has a higher birth rate than the ethno-religious establishment. Israel is currently struggling to maintain an identity with an inherent contradiction, and at the moment is looking more keen on giving up its identity as a pluralist democracy than it is on giving up its status as a Jewish state. Until Israel definitively commits to preserving its liberal democracy, or definitively commits to preserving its Jewish character, the current conflict will be fundamentally irresolvable.

I think we have to keep foremost in our public tasks the notion, that democracy is always a goal that every new generation of Americans needs to pursue unflaggingly.

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Filed under: America, Eurasian Balkans, News, USA Tagged: anti-semitism, helen thomas, israel, palestine, white house press corps

Destination: Photo contest at Simhaksan (Paju)

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Readers, this 'Destination' post needs your help! The photo contest allows me to select the three best photos to enter this particular contest - prizes include a brand new Nikon D90, along with some other camera gear. Vote for your favorite three in the comments - all VOTERS on this post will be entered to win a cool prize worth at least 25,000 won. One vote per person, please :) Deadline for voting: June 30, 2010.

So the Seoul Photo Club recently had a photo contest held at 심학산 (Simhaksan) in Paju - the idea being that all contestants take photos on the same day, at the same place, then submit prints from what they take. While not an active member on the Flickr page, I was interested by the prizes - first prize being a Nikon D90 and membership to the Korea Professional Photograph Association, second prize being a Sigma DP2, along with some other prizes related to cameras.

Off we went to the site - there was supposed to be some sort of flower festival here, but it was apparently canceled... In any case, the dozens of photographers - carrying everything from four different DSLR's to a point-and-shoot to some more exotic cameras that have aged well.

For what it's worth, all of the following shots were shot with a Nikon D70 - most with a fairly standard 18-55mm lens or a 70-210mm telephoto lens. Some rocked a polarizing filter (great for reducing glare), while some shots have had minor editing (brightness, contrast, etc.).


Photo #1: Purple flowers


Photo #2: Red flower


Photo #3: Blue flower with bee


Photo #4: young girl


Photo #5: Yellow flower and bee


Photo #6: Grandpa and girl


Photo #7: water


Photo #8: cracked ground


Photo #9: Dragonfly #1


Photo #10: Red leaves


Photo #11: Dragonfly #2


Photo #13: The view from the top


Photo #14: Red leaves #2


Photo #15: Grimacing statue


Photo #16: After 30 years...


Photo #17: Buddha


Photo #18: Miscellany


Photo #19: Between a rock and a TV


The contest was lots of fun - HOT with plenty of harsh light, but more than enough things to shoot for those willing to get away from the flowers. The boxed lunch and plentiful snacks / water were more than enough to keep the dozens of photographers shooting until the last minute.

Readers: time to vote! Vote for up to three of your favorites - all VOTERS will be automatically entered to win a prize worth at least 25,000 won.

Ratings (out of 5 taeguks):
Ease to arrive:


Foreigner-friendly:


Convenience facilities:

Worth the visit:

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Creative Commons License © Chris Backe - 2010

This post was originally published on my blog, Chris in South Korea. If you are reading this on another website and there is no linkback or credit given, you are reading an UNAUTHORIZED FEED.

Vote for me on 10 Magazine's video contest - go to the contest page to see the video and vote!


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