Teach English in South Korea

Currently hiring for public school positions starting August 2012

Introduction to Teaching in South Korea

Korea, 'Land of the morning calm' is a country of great contrast. You will find high craggy peaks, lush forests, tremendous waterfalls, boulder-strewn white water rivers, beaches, ancient temples, high technology, and ancient oriental tradition.

In the last 25 years Korea has gone through a period of rapid growth. International names such as Hyundai, Daewoo, Samsung, and Gold Star/LG all began here. South Korea is now considered a recently developed nation with over 60 million inhabitants.

South Korea is playing an ever more important role in World politics and the market place. Entering the world stage has created a massive demand for English language teachers. At any one time there are thousands of English teachers living, working and experiencing South Korea.

The rewards available to the native English speakers match the demand. The wages and benefits for ESL/EFL jobs are some of the best in the world, with many opportunities for entry-level teachers.

Many teachers come to South Korea to experience adventure and save money. Whilst on face value the wages in South Korea may seem comparable to what you would earn at home, you must consider the low cost of living and the low tax rate of around 5%. With the addition of free housing, airfares and even food in some schools, it can sometimes be hard to spend money!

In general, the capacity to save money as an ESL/EFL teacher in Korea is very high. Your average expenditure is likely to be 25–30% of your monthly income. This makes teaching English in Korea a popular choice for graduates with University debts, and travellers looking to fund their next big trip.

What is South Korea Like?

South Korea is different, very different. It is safe to assume that everything will be the opposite of what you are used to back home. But it is this very aspect that makes for a unique and memorable experience. The joy of discovering all that is new is the secret to loving South Korea.

Teaching English in South Korea requires an open mind and a willingness to fit in. Many teachers arriving in South Korea for the first time experience culture shock. This is normal and with a little time you will adjust.

Before you decide to accept a position in South Korea, consider the following: If you choose to live and work in another culture, you must respect that culture and accept the fact that customs are not the same as in your own country. Too many teachers arrive in South Korea unprepared for the change, and unwilling to make any compromises or adjustments. Two vital ways to get the most of your experience is to be prepared and be open-minded. If you focus on these, you are likely to have a very enjoyable experience in South Korea.

Koreans are extremely generous and sincere people, and they don’t admire selfishness. You will often be treated as a guest in their country. There will come a time when your Director, fellow teachers and friends will want to socialise with you. Of course this is not compulsory, but by offering your companionship you will build many bridges.

Those that have experienced South Korea comment about the greater understanding they gain of themselves and the world they live in and the life long memories they are left with.

Is Korea safe?

South Korea has always been a popular place for female teachers to work. Women often comment on the safety of South Korea. Not surprising when you read that the country is one of the most law-abiding nations in the world. This can be partly attributed to South Koreans ancient beliefs in Buddhism and Karma, where one is taught not to do bad things towards another. Korea has a matriarchal society. Whilst men hold many positions of seniority, it’s obvious that women clearly ‘wear the trousers’ in Korea.

Recent History

Following World War II, Korea was split, with the northern half coming under Communist domination and the southern portion becoming Western-oriented. An armistice was signed in 1953, splitting the peninsula along a demilitarized zone at about the 38th parallel. Thereafter, South Korea achieved rapid economic growth with per capita income rising to roughly 18 times the level of North Korea. Today South Korea is regarded as a safe, peaceful, recently developed nation.

What’s It Like To Teach in South Korea?

In general, an entry-level candidate will start off teaching younger age groups. It is typical to obtain a job in a private language institute where the ages of the children range between 7 and 15 years old. Classroom sizes vary from around 6 to 12 students.

South Korean private schools (Hagwans) are common, and a private school is available for everything from Mathematics to Piano to Tae-kwon-do. Students attend these private schools after public school finishes at around 2pm (Kindergarten classes can start as early as 10am). It is commonly accepted that a typical student views their English class as a ‘fun half hour’ with a foreigner. Everything you do and say will be a new way of expression, and being children they love to imitate what you do and say. This of course is an excellent way of learning. Not just learning of English, but also social interaction with a foreigner.

Your job title will be ‘English Conversational Instructor’. As the title suggests you will encourage conversation and classroom activity. When it comes to teaching in hagwans, forget complicated grammar. The school will supply you with all required teaching materials, and guide you in the best way to utilise your resources. Internationally published exercise books are commonly used. Teachers are not expected to speak Korean. In fact, most schools request that you refrain from using Korean (Hangul) in the classroom to enhance your students' participation in English.

Typically, the level of your students English will be quite low; although you will find classes are arranged according to different levels of ability. The emphasis of your classes will be on conversational English. And you will do just that, converse with your students. A good teacher is able to think of fun games and activities, making books a topic of conversation and interaction. An active, fun class will bring the best results from Korean children, and of course make your teaching time more fun as well!

Many hagwans also cater for Kindergarten classes. These students will be 4 to 6 years old. Classes involve a lot of games, art type projects and story telling. A love for children is essential as they will cuddle you, climb on you and generally act their age. These positions are ideal for a teacher that enjoys a fun, activity based class. Kindergarten classes are often the most rewarding, with the youngsters soaking up the English language like a sponge.

Salary

Entry level teachers can expect to earn from 1.8 million to 2.0 million Won per month (around £1,000/$2,000). However, this does vary slightly between schools. This can also be affected by your nationality. Often American and Canadian teachers can expect 1.9 million to 2.1 million Won whilst other nationalities are more likely to earn 1.8 million to 1.9 million Won per month.

Taxation

The tax rate in South Korea is very low, as is the cost of living. With tax at 3.3%, plus residence tax, gives you a total salary reduction of around 5%, which means you will take home most of what you earn!

Can You Save?

Well, this really depends on your lifestyle. But, for those dedicated to leaving South Korea with a bundle of cash, it is possible to save 75% of your income. Plenty of money to travel, pay off debts or just live the champagne lifestyle for a while.

Working Hours

You will be required to teach up to a maximum of 30 hours per week (often less), including breaks. In addition to this you will be expected to spend at least an hour a day preparing for your lessons.

Other Benefits

• Free return airfare for those who complete a 12 month placement,
• Free, furnished accommodation in a quality apartment (single or shared),
• 50% health insurance contribution (if required),
• 10 days paid vacation per year + Korean public holidays (In 2004 this amounted to 21 days),
• A bonus of one months salary upon completion of your 12 month contract
• Full visa sponsorship,
• Transfer to school in Korea

Why Get Qualified to Teach in South Korea?

A TESOL/TEFL qualification is essential to gain employment in South Korea with INTESOL. Schools value teachers who have recently qualified or are currently studying towards their TESOL certificate, and experience has taught us that the best jobs go to the best qualified teachers. Not only does getting qualified show your potential employer your commitment and enthusiasm to be a good teacher, it equips you with the skills and knowledge to actually be a good teacher.

Although it is possible to obtain work in South Korea without any formal TESOL qualification, as a native English teacher you will be expected to know how to be a confident teacher. On the job training is extremely rare, and there will be no one to hold your hand.

The single greatest reason for teachers failing to succeed in South Korea is a lack of knowledge about teaching and classroom management.

For anyone who has researched the TEFL market they will realise that most jobs around the globe request 1 year’s experience and an internationally recognised TESOL certificate*. Once you have become qualified and taught in South Korea for 1 year you will have an excellent foundation as an ESOL/EFL teacher, with opportunities to climb the TESOL/TEFL employment ladder or continue teaching and travelling around the globe.

Some teachers will see teaching as a profession. Others will see it as a great way to work overseas for a year or two before applying what they have learnt to any other vocation that requires them to be self motivated and able to think on their feet.

*Please note that one-day, weekend, and 1 week TESOL/TEFL courses are not considered internationally recognised.  For a course to be internationally recognised it should feature at least 100 hours of tuition and must be accredited by a professional educational body. The most widely respected validation bodies are the College of Teachers, Cambridge/RSA CELTA, Trinity TESOL, RELSA, SIT or any University.

Required qualifications

• You must hold a passport from one of the following native English speaking countries - U.S.A, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.
• You must hold a BA/BSc/BEd degree, in any discipline.
• You must have a clear, strong voice. 
• Be under 56 years of age.
• Previous teaching experience is not essential.

Personal Qualities needed include: adaptability, open-mindedness, initiative, professional, patient, fun, ability to cope with new challenges, reliable, accepting.

Korean schools do not require you to be an experienced teacher. You will be teaching conversational English and with hard work you will have the opportunity to learn and develop as a teacher.

Leisure Time

There is a large ex-pat community in South Korea. You will be sure to find fellow foreigners with similar interests to share your experiences with. You will also find that Koreans are always warm and welcoming and are usually keen to make friends with foreigners.

There are many leisure pursuits you can get involved in during your spare time. You can go hiking in the spectacular mountains, learn a martial art (Tae-Kwon-Do is Korea's national sport), visit Buddhist temples, go shopping or partake in the popular activity of socialising in one of the many bars or restaurants. In the winter you can ski and toboggan and in the warmer months you can visit the islands and beaches to swim in the seas between Korea and Japan and China.

Many foreigners take advantage of the cheap Gym prices. You can try a Korean hot bath and Internet is cheap to use and everywhere so communicating with home is easy.

There are the usual range of fast-food restaurants from the West, large department stores will have international food halls, so you will find some reminders of home! However, the local eating experience is not to be missed. You will discover a huge variety of Korean restaurants to choose from, each serving their own special dish. Prices are very reasonable too; you can eat out every night if you wish!

Placement Process

1. Apply online.
2. Find out if you’ve been accepted for job placement.
3. Start your TEFL course.
4. We’ll send you all the information you need to start getting prepared for your placement.
5. When ready, instruct our Korean representative to source you a job.

Apply For TEFL Job Placement in South Korea

Currently hiring for public school positions starting August 2012