Teaching English in South Korea – Seoul

Published: 26 October, 2016  |  Last updated: 26 October, 2016

Teaching English in Seoul, South Korea

seoul_s-korea

Report submitted on 29 Sep, 2016 by Christina.

Teaching English in Seoul, South Korea:

How can teachers find teaching jobs in Seoul, South Korea?
There are a ton of recruiters available online to help you find jobs. You can also apply to schools directly.

The main English teaching jobs available are:
Full time English language school positions, teaching at kindergartens / pre-schools, teaching at private international schools, teaching at colleges / universities, private teaching (not through a school, agency, etc.)

What are the minimum teaching requirements?
A college degree in any field, being a citizen of a native English speaking country, and no criminal record. Teaching experience is not necessary but helpful for finding better jobs. ESL teaching certification will secure you a good position, but it’s not needed.

What teaching requirements would you recommend?
You can find good or bad positions with any type of qualifications; it all depends on how carefully you search for schools. If you want a university or international school position you will need teaching certification. Of course for any position you need to be a native english speaker.

What are the levels of payment?
Most schools (public and private) for first year teachers is between 1.9~2.1 million won (approx. 1,670~1,840 US$) a month. Better schools pay around 2.3~2.6 million won (approx. 2,020~2,280 US$). If you find a school that pays more than that, you’ve hit the jackpot, but be prepared to work much harder.

How many teaching days a week is normal?
5 days per week.

How many face-to-face teaching hours a week is normal?
25~30 hours per week.

What is the normal arrangement for holidays?
One week in Summer and Winter, a three day thanksgiving holiday and all other national holidays.

What advice would you give to someone considering coming to Seoul, South Korea to teach English?
Have an open mind to the culture and don’t expect it to be the same as your home country.

What are the positive aspects of teaching English in Seoul, South Korea?
Students are generally kind, schools are well set-up and usually they will help you with any issues you have with your living situation. Pay is great and you can afford to save lots each month.

What are the negative aspects for teaching English in Seoul, South Korea?
Many schools are corrupt and it can be hard to find a good place to work. Age is supreme here so expect to follow orders blindly from anyone older than you. Not much vacation time compared to other countries.

What are some of the teaching challenges for English teachers teaching the local people in your area?
The majority of students in the private academies are only there because their parents force them and are often overworked and stressed from the multitude of other academies they attend. This can lead to either really unmotivated, boring classes or classes with extreme behaviour issues.

 

Living in Seoul, South Korea:

Are there any visa or other legal requirements to live in South Korea?
You will need a teaching (E2) visa. This will be arranged by your school once you are hired.

What is the cost of living like in South Korea?
Rent between 400~700 US$ a month, cost of living very low compared to similarly-developed countries. I can afford to live rather lavishly and still have plenty to send home for college loans.

What are the usual accommodation arrangements and how can you find accommodation?
Your school will either provide a furnished apartment for you or provide a housing allowance, in which case you can walk into one of the thousands of real estate offices and find an apartment on your own.

Other than teaching, what positive aspects are there for living in Seoul, South Korea?
Living in Korea is great for 20-somethings who want to enjoy living somewhere with a low cost of living and plenty of opportunities for entertainment, travel, and shopping.

Also, the people are kind and easy to befriend. The food is amazing and there are great underground music and fashion scenes.

Other than teaching, what negative aspects are there for living in scenery, South Korea?
People can be rude occasionally in public, and only the younger generation is very open minded. You can find most foods from the States but they’re likely to be a little different than what you’re used to.

What advice would you give to someone considering coming to Seoul, South Korea?
Learn to read the Korean alphabet (Hangeul)! It will only take a few hours and it will help immensely even if you don’t actually speak Korean (many signs are just English words written in Korean alphabet). Also, make sure you do enough research on a school before accepting any positions.

What things do you miss most (other than family and friends) from your home country?
Pizza that doesn’t have corn or potatoes on it, greek yogurt, and some other random foods. Most everything else you can get here.

What do you think you will miss most when (or if) you leave South Korea?
The food, the clubs, McDonalds delivery, the convenience and availability of everything.

What things would you recommend to new teachers in your area to bring with them from their home country?
Most everything is available here. (Don’t listen to people who say you can’t find tampons or deodorant. A few years ago you couldn’t but they’re everywhere now.)

 

About Me and My Work:

My Name: Christina

Nationality: USA

Students I’ve taught in South Korea: Pre-school / kindergarten (4-6 years), elementary (6-12 years), junior high school (12-15 years).

Where I teachElementary School, Seoul. Teaching here for 4 years.

How I found my current jobs
Through a friend who recommended the company. Previous jobs here were all found through a recruiter.

My school facilities: Very good – I teach for an after school English program and my particular school doesnt have a classroom specifically for my class so my supplies are limited. Other schools I have taught at did not have this problem however.

What kind of teacher support is available at your school/s?: Training / workshops

 

Do you teach English in South Korea?

Tell us about your experiences – click here to submit your report about teaching English in South Korea.

No Comment Leave a Comment

Teaching English in South Korea – Goheung

Published: 16 September, 2016  |  Last updated: 16 September, 2016

Teaching English in Goheung, South Korea

goheung_southkorea

Report submitted on 13 May, 2016 by Angel.

Teaching English in Goheung, South Korea:

How can teachers find teaching jobs in Goheung, South Korea?
I taught in this country before and each time I went through a recruiter. I work in public school. I have almost 2 month of vacation time to travel. I personally work in the country so I am paid more for the isolation.

I work for the Jellonamdo region. They do their own recruiting so not as much competition as the national EPIC program.

The main English teaching jobs available are:
Full time English language school positions, teaching at kindergartens / pre-schools, teaching at state schools.

What are the minimum teaching requirements?
4 Year university degree, and be a native speaker.

What teaching requirements would you recommend?
Take a TEFL course. It helps with some teaching strategies and add to credibility at schools.

What are the levels of payment?
A new teacher start at 2 million Won (roughly 2,000 USD) and housing and insurance.

The pay increases with experience, maxing out at 2.7 million won (roughly 2,400 USD).

How many teaching days a week is normal?
5 days per week.

How many face-to-face teaching hours a week is normal?
15-22 hours per week.

What is the normal arrangement for holidays?
All public holidays plus 20 + winters day and 9 days summer.

What advice would you give to someone considering coming to Goheung, South Korea to teach English?
Have an open mind, learn to read the language and basic conversation. Make friends with other foreigners. Also make friends with the locals. Join a club, or church, or group of sorts to get a sense of community. Have fun, it supposed to be an adventure embrace it.

What are the positive aspects of teaching English in Goheung, South Korea?
I get to see real time impact on a community.

What are the negative aspects for teaching English in Goheung, South Korea?
Country still a bit racist/ xenophobic. The large problems dont happen as frequently though.

What are some of the teaching challenges for English teachers teaching the local people in your area?
I don’t always have a local in the class, so communication can be tough. Also because I have not mastered the language I cannot really discipline effectively.

 

Living in Goheung, South Korea:

Are there any visa or other legal requirements to live in South Korea?
Visa is issued by employer. No criminal record. Must be HIV/AIDS free.

What is the cost of living like in South Korea?
Low cost of living (compared to western countries) as the housing is provided. My winter bills amounted to roughly 200 USD and summer less than 100 USD. I bought a car for very cheap (under 1000USD) and a fill up is around 50 USD.
Grocery can get expensive for western food. Eating local is the best bet to save. A fun night out can be hard for around $50 including drinking.

What are the usual accommodation arrangements and how can you find accommodation?
Provided with the position. I have a 1 bedroom apartment. Appliances included. Basic furniture and a TV. The accommodation change for a married couple (if a couple accommodation is available), or family. Some accommodations are studios.

Other than teaching, what positive aspects are there for living in Goheung, South Korea?
I can travel for very cheaply. I also can save (well if student loans didn’t exist).

Other than teaching, what negative aspects are there for living in Goheung, South Korea?
Never being able to blend. Loss of privacy.

What advice would you give to someone considering coming to Goheung, South Korea?
Try it out, it charms you after a while (it might just wear you down, but either way).

What things do you miss most (other than family and friends) from your home country?
I live in the country so access to multicultural living (food, entertainment, people).

What do you think you will miss most when (or if) you leave South Korea?
The people. Also the money does not hurt.

What things would you recommend to new teachers in your area to bring with them from their home country?
Specialty snacks, specific toiletries (deodorant).

 

About Me and My Work:

My Name: Angel

Nationality: American

Students I’ve taught in South Korea: Toddlers (2-4 years), pre-school / kindergarten (4-6 years), elementary (6-12 years), junior high school (12-15 years), adults

Where I teach:

Jellonamdo Office of Education, Goheung. Teaching here for 7 years.

How I found my current jobs: Recruiter I have used before. Canadian connection.

My school facilities: Good – Some of the materials and tech are dated, but still very usable.

Teacher support at my school: None. 
 

Do you teach English in South Korea?

Tell us about your experiences – click here to submit your report about teaching English in South Korea.

No Comment Leave a Comment

Teaching English in South Korea – Suwon

Published: 13 February, 2016  |  Last updated: 13 February, 2016

Teaching English in Suwon, South Korea

Suwon, South Korea

 

Report submitted on 31 Dec, 2015 by Rachel.

Teaching English in Suwon, South Korea:

How can teachers find teaching jobs in Suwon, South Korea?
Easily by contacting one of the many recruiting agencies in Korea. I used Hands Korea.

The main English teaching jobs available are:
Full time English language school positions.

What are the minimum teaching requirements?
Bachelor Degree in any field.

What teaching requirements would you recommend?
Bachelor Degree and some form of ESL certificate.

What are the levels of payment?
2.1 million won per month (approx US$2,000)

How many teaching days a week is normal?
5 days per week.

How many face-to-face teaching hours a week is normal?
20 hours per week.

What is the normal arrangement for holidays?
10 days per year.

What advice would you give to someone considering coming to Suwon, South Korea to teach English?
Have a database of back-up games and teaching material for the unknown, such as last minute trial lessons. Korea is wonderful to live and teach in, be prepared for parents being overly involved and pushy in their child’s education.

What are the positive aspects of teaching English in Suwon, South Korea?
The kids are eager to learn and easy to have a good time with.

What are the negative aspects for teaching English in Suwon, South Korea?
The teaching methods and lack of creative thinking allowed in children.

What are some of the teaching challenges for English teachers teaching the local people in your area?
Parental involvement and a schools need to grant the parents every wish.

 

Living in Suwon, South Korea:

Are there any visa or other legal requirements to live in South Korea?
Clean background check and clear drugs test.

What is the cost of living like in South Korea?
Accommodation is generally provided, cost of living is cheaper than most Western countries.

What are the usual accommodation arrangements and how can you find accommodation?
Sourced and provided by the school.

Other than teaching, what positive aspects are there for living in Suwon, South Korea?
It’s quiet and easy going but also easy access to Seoul and Suwon.

Other than teaching, what negative aspects are there for living in Suwon, South Korea?
Lack of home comforts.

What advice would you give to someone considering coming to Suwon, South Korea?
Come with an open mind.

What things do you miss most (other than family and friends) from your home country?
The food…

What do you think you will miss most when (or if) you leave South Korea?
The people, and food..

What things would you recommend to new teachers in your area to bring with them from their home country?
Deodorant, toothpaste, blu-tac (barely exists here)…

 

About Me and My Work:

My Name: Rachel

Nationality: Irish

Students I’ve taught in South Korea: Elementary (6-12 years), junior high school (12-15 years), high school (15-18 years).

Where I teach: Pagoda Junior in Gwanggyo. Teaching here for 1 year.

How I found my current jobs: Through Hands Korea.

My school facilities: Very good – Great facilities, minor fallbacks due to it being a new school such as efficient internet and print access..

Teacher support at my school:lesson observations, peer support / training.
 

Do you teach English in South Korea?

Tell us about your experiences – click here to submit your report about teaching English in Japan.

No Comment Leave a Comment