Teaching abroad a year before law school? Forum

[SarahKerrigan]

so i have been planning on taking a year break after i earn my undergrad degree. During this year i plan on teaching English abroad. Would this hurt or help my law school app in anyway? thank you.

[downing]

I taught English abroad for 2 years and it did not hurt me in applying to any law schools. Law schools don't mind a bit of experience, and two years teaching abroad would make for some great discussion. The break between undergrad and law school is also an ideal time to think about your future and determine whether or not you really want to go to law school.

[cinephile]

I taught English abroad for 2 years and it did not hurt me in applying to any law schools. Law schools don't mind a bit of experience, and two years teaching abroad would make for some great discussion. The break between undergrad and law school is also an ideal time to think about your future and determine whether or not you really want to go to law school.

Completely agree. I'm so glad I took a few years to teach abroad before returning to my studies. There aren't many times in your life where you have no obligations and can pick up and take off. As for helping/hurting, I wouldn't know - I believe I got in where my numbers would've predicted. But it did give me material for my PS and it might give me something interesting to talk about on my resume.

[SarahKerrigan]

thanks for the replies! but yeah, i really think it is a good time to go, seeing as after law school it wouldn't make sense to teach when i could start practicing law. As of right now i only want to go for one year, but i guess that would always change ^_^

[downing]

Absolutely - if you ever want to go, go before law school. Best of luck!

[Real Madrid]

I'm doing it this year in Spain! Where do you plan to go?

[bhan87]

Won't hurt at all, may help a bit (but don't expect too much). The main reason you should teach abroad is because you WANT to teach abroad. And, if you want to teach abroad, you absolutely SHOULD do so because you won't get the chance after entering law school.

[loomstate]

Fulbight will definitely help. non-Fulbright will help also, but maybe not as much.

[SarahKerrigan]

Fulbight will definitely help. non-Fulbright will help also, but maybe not as much.

what is fulbight? oh and Real Madrid i either want to teach in south korea or japan. ^_^

[jlxbos]

i taught in korea for 3 years before law school. no regrets. if anyone knows what teaching english in asia is like, they know it's a joke, though. i wouldn't expect it to help much, but my cycle went as predicted...that all said, now is definitely the time to go if you want it.

btw, if you want any advice about teaching in seoul, feel free to ask. you can end up in some real hell holes if you're not smart about it.

[flexityflex86]

I taught many broads before starting law school. Skinny ones, fat ones, blond ones, red haired ones. It didn't matter much. All #s.

[dietcoke0]

Hey Sarah, just a little advice (recent return from Korea) go for the South Korea way, but make sure Public schools. Hagwons (private after school classes) are basically slave-trading Americans to teach from a book, no fun or control, and all money driven. Public school is by far the way to go. Research it first, because I didn't and hated every moment I was there. Japan has the sound of glamor, but you aren't going to make a dime, and may end up paying a bit. Plus I had to go to Toronto and Chicago for interviews, cost me nearly a grand each, and never even got a job. Korea, did phone interview, essay, a small youtube vid, and was hired. You will make more in the long run, and if you have your heart set on Japan, use some of that money and travel for a month there.

Also don't get hung up on having to live in Seoul. It's small, and good public transportation, along with a non-centralized area, and you can live anywhere and be in Seoul or Busan with the public transportation.

Anyway, do research, it was an experience, but a bad company I worked for made me very sour about an incredible opportunity.

[downing]

This is beginning to appear like a congregation of fellow Itaewon hopping ESL teachers from Korea. I was situated in Kyonggi province just 30 minutes from Seoul. Some hakwons are okay, others are terrible. Public schools are the best bet IF you can land a public school job, but I wouldn't rule out hakwons entirely.

*
You should also consider Taiwan and Hong Kong. These places are generally more liked by English teachers. The downside to teaching in either country is that your living costs will making saving a substantial amount of money rather difficult, but the experience is so much better. My opinion though; I met plenty of people who enjoyed Korea, but I was let down.

[SarahKerrigan]

Hey Sarah, just a little advice (recent return from Korea) go for the South Korea way, but make sure Public schools. Hagwons (private after school classes) are basically slave-trading Americans to teach from a book, no fun or control, and all money driven. Public school is by far the way to go. Research it first, because I didn't and hated every moment I was there. Japan has the sound of glamor, but you aren't going to make a dime, and may end up paying a bit. Plus I had to go to Toronto and Chicago for interviews, cost me nearly a grand each, and never even got a job. Korea, did phone interview, essay, a small youtube vid, and was hired. You will make more in the long run, and if you have your heart set on Japan, use some of that money and travel for a month there.

Also don't get hung up on having to live in Seoul. It's small, and good public transportation, along with a non-centralized area, and you can live anywhere and be in Seoul or Busan with the public transportation.

Anyway, do research, it was an experience, but a bad company I worked for made me very sour about an incredible opportunity.

thanks for the advice, i was leaning more towards Korea, because as you said japan doesn't really make you any money. But yeah public schools really do seem like the way to go. thanks again everyone!

[firemed]

what is fulbright?

A scholarship to teach english overseas.

They also offer Fulbrights to get Master's degrees or do post-grad research overseas.

Still wish I had applied for one.

Google Fulbright and you will find all the info you need.