The International Schools Review Forum

I am hoping to teach elementary at an international school, but unfortunately my only teaching experience is three years at Korean hagwons (very high quality hagwons, but hagwons nonetheless). My plan is to get dual certified in ESL and K-6 gen. ed, land an ESL job at an IS, then move to elementary when a position at my school opens up.

Do you think this will work?

If not, can you recommend a better course of action?

Will schools consider my Korean ESL experience relevant if I am applying for certified teacher ESL jobs? Or will my Korea experience be for naught no matter what?

Thanks a lot for your help!

Your experience in Korean hagwons will not count. The only experience that will count is where you work AFTER you are certified. Unless you really want to teach ESL, the K-6 gen. ed certificate will be much more valuable.