Welcome to my blog!
My name is Kathryn. I’m an ESL teacher in Daejon, South Korea. This is a chronicle of my adventures in teaching.
This is my second trip to South Korea. I spent a year here between July of 2005 and July of 2006. I’m very excited to be back.
Stop by for updates on what I’m doing and what my kids are doing.
2 comments
Comment by Lauren Crandall on December 1, 2011 at 8:13 am
Hello! I stumbled upon your blog while looking up some Korean vocabulary words. I’m currently taking a Korean course as an undergrad because I am studying abroad in South Korea this Spring at Yonsei at Wonju.
Basically, I wanted to say that you are currently doing what my dream job is! You’re teaching English as a second language in Korea. I looked over your resume and I have a question though. I thought in order to get a grad degree/get certified in ESL you had to have an undergrad degree in a foreign language?
I know this is probably weird, but could you maybe tell me how you got to where you are? Like how you got your position, etc. This spring I will be tutoring Korean college students in English, and will hopefully be teaching in a local Elementary/Middle school. I’m trying to build up my resume, but I was afraid I would have to go back to school for another bachelor’s degree in Korean.
Anyhow, I really do love your blog; I’ve spent around an hour wandering through it when I should be studying for my Korean final!
Cheers,
Lauren Crandall
Comment by Kathryn on December 2, 2011 at 9:06 pm
I think I got here via Neptune. LOL.
To get the E2 visa, which allows you to teach in a hogwan or public school all you need is a degree from an accredited university from an English speaking country. You now need a federal background check (grumble grumble must do that soon).
My college degree was in psychology and science. My graduate degree (not needed it at all) was in developmental psychology.
When I first arrived here, I had very little teaching experience and knew not one word of Korean.
I hope you do decide to teach ESL. Decide on your age group and tell your recruiter that. I wanted kindergarten/elementary. Our kindergarten closed so now I have elementary and (yuck) a middle school program in the works.
Thanks for your great comments.