So I tried applying to jobs during fall 2022 and only got tons of interviews. So I am sticking it out in Korea for a third year. But I now know that I don’t want to stay in Korea.
So my plan is to go back to the U.S. and get a EC-6th grade teaching license in my state. I know it would give me at least one year of being a student teacher. Is it possible to apply to an International School job right after certification? I keep seeing different jobs for Horizon International Academy so I was looking to apply there.
Or should I try a kindergarten after certification? I don’t really want to teach in the U.S. for multiple years.
Last question
Do international schools only hire for Spring start times? Or could I apply for a Fall start? It could be easiest if I teach in the US for a bit and apply as the school year is ending.
Also I really like korea as a country. It’s the school system that is driving me mad.
5 comments
Your chances of getting a job at a real international school as a freshly certified teacher with no experience are pretty slim. If you want a good job in Japan you’ll want to get a few years teaching experience in the US before coming over.
Korea doesn’t have many real international schools, so competition is pretty fierce. I’ll be applying this fall with a Masters and 3 years of home experience (elementary), along with multiple additional certifications in spec ed (autism and learning disabilities) and math. Even I’m not sure if I will get anything half decent.
> my plan is to go back to the U.S. and get a EC-6th grade teaching license in my state. I know it would give me at least one year of being a student teacher. Is it possible to apply to an International School job right after certification? I keep seeing different jobs for Horizon International Academy so I was looking to apply there.
If you go to the [Horizon International Academy website](https://employment.horizon.ac.jp/course/grade-6-and-7-science/) you will find your plan is very flawed since they specifically want “3+ years of teaching experience with secondary learners” and Korean experience often discounted by serious Japanese international schools.
Also an American, a US Ed degree/certification really does not to prepare you well for “the IB MYP and DP frameworks.” that Horizon wants. I once substituted for six months at an [IB—International Baccalaureate](https://ibo.org/) school. The IB curriculum threw me for a loop as a new teacher who had never attended an IB school and trained for a Californian ed certification. It’s not like teaching at an IB school is difficult, it’s just a little different.
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For reference:
> https://employment.horizon.ac.jp/course/grade-6-and-7-science/
…3+ years of teaching experience with secondary learners
Bachelor’s degree in education or a related subject
(Preferred) Knowledge and understanding of the IB MYP and DP frameworks…
Out of curiosity, why do you want to leave Korea to go to Japan?
Dude, as a fellow hagwon peasant in Korea (with contacts in japan) I think you’ll find Japan is alot harder to have a good life in as a esl teacher than korea. And trust me, I know the 10 hour a day no vacation hagwon jobs.