Tefl in South Korea

Geezy · 07-07-2009 1:56pm

Hey guys,

My GF and I want to teach english in South Korea but are unsure how exactly to go about it. I have been looking up various online forums and some people are saying that getting a job through agencies such as tigerenglish is the best route whilst others are saying you are better off going over to Korea and arranging a job when you get there. Was just looking for other peoples experiences and advice.
Thanks guys!!

ARGINITE · 07-07-2009 3:21pm

If you don't know Korean or anybody in Korean then going through an agency is an easier and safe bet. Also you will have your visa taken car of before leaving your home country.

My GF and I went through TG and we recommend them highly. Five months into the contract and I am still in contact with them about odds and sods, they are really help full.

Geezy · 08-07-2009 10:12am

Thanks Argentine,
Do you mind me asking what are your hours like and do you see yourself staying with the school for a year? I hear the contracts are difficult to get out of.

랴연 · 09-07-2009 6:46am

Lads, some facts.

Childrens Hagwons (Private schools) All you need is a degree. Full stop. TEFL/CELTA is great for YOU, the school however could not care less unless its one of the few top class ones who pay a lot. Then it may make a difference.

Public schools are great. Again, a degree and a pulse and your in.

After school program. This is kind of public school but its after normal classes and its ran by a private company paid by the government. Most of these go to people with residents visa's, spousal visa's etc.

University -> They ask for a PHD or at least a Masters. Its quite possible to get in with a BS. Just be in the right place at the right time.

Adult hagwons (Adult private schools) little more picky but a degree + a pulse is usually fine.

My advice:

I personally would never go back to a childrens hagwon after my first year. Its not the kids, its the working hours for relatively crap money + the late finishes. (middle/highschool kids)

So if your going to go teaching in a kids hagwon make sure its one of the good ones.

e.g > Your not working 9 hours a day for the same money some other guy is working 6 hours a day for.

Recruiters ? I wouldn't be overly fond of them. They'll stick you into any hole.

So basically I would recommend teaching adults.

Look for adult schools like Pagoda.

jobpagoda.com

Also check out www.worknplay.co.kr for jobs.

livinginkorea · 09-07-2009 3:05pm

랴연 wrote: »

Lads, some facts.

Childrens Hagwons (Private schools) All you need is a degree. Full stop. TEFL/CELTA is great for YOU, the school however could not care less unless its one of the few top class ones who pay a lot. Then it may make a difference.

Public schools are great. Again, a degree and a pulse and your in.

After school program. This is kind of public school but its after normal classes and its ran by a private company paid by the government. Most of these go to people with residents visa's, spousal visa's etc.

University -> They ask for a PHD or at least a Masters. Its quite possible to get in with a BS. Just be in the right place at the right time.

Adult hagwons (Adult private schools) little more picky but a degree + a pulse is usually fine.

My advice:

I personally would never go back to a childrens hagwon after my first year. Its not the kids, its the working hours for relatively crap money + the late finishes. (middle/highschool kids)

So if your going to go teaching in a kids hagwon make sure its one of the good ones.

e.g > Your not working 9 hours a day for the same money some other guy is working 6 hours a day for.

Recruiters ? I wouldn't be overly fond of them. They'll stick you into any hole.

So basically I would recommend teaching adults.

Look for adult schools like Pagoda.

jobpagoda.com

Also check out www.worknplay.co.kr for jobs.

Some very sound advice. I would like to add some more for the couples...

Going as a couple can be great but be prepared to have some difficulties in finding schools that hire you. Just a couple of weeks ago, the university I work in hired 20 people. There were 200 applicants and it narrowed it down to 60 who were interviewed. One couple were asked if one would work there if only one was picked and they said no. They weren't picked.

Also many places don't want to pick couples because 1) they don't have a big enough house for two people and 2) if one is unhappy with the job then very possibly both will quit but some places will look for couples because 1) they are cheaper then hiring two single people 2) they can be used easily, "your bf/gf said yes to these classes already."

I knew one couple who took a job position and turns out that the school didn't have enough work for both of them so they ended working one job between them meaning that they only got one salary and didn't work the same hours or at the same time. One had mornings and the other had evenings. Just because you are hired as a couple doesn't mean you are going to work at the same time, have lunch at the same time, etc. Could be completely different schedules changed easily by the boss.

So you should really think about working as a couple. I think working in two different places, and having one house would be the best way. Living and working together can be great but also you need some time apart at times.

Geezy · 09-07-2009 11:00pm

Thanks so much guys,
Just joined Boards and it's amazing how helpful the advice can be. If anyone else has some helpful advice for a couple teaching in Korea I would be very greatful!!
Thanks again guys

랴연 · 10-07-2009 1:37am

Geezy wrote: »

Thanks so much guys,
Just joined Boards and it's amazing how helpful the advice can be. If anyone else has some helpful advice for a couple teaching in Korea I would be very greatful!!
Thanks again guys

Don't try and get a job togeather.

My advice.

Step 1 - Bring the relevant documents, get on a plane and come here. (I don't know the new rules, do you have to take an interview in the Korean embassy in Ireland these days ? )

Step 2 - One of you get a job in Seoul or one of the other major areas.

Step 3 - Other one apply for jobs in the same-ish area and bum off the other one until you get sorted.

The advantages to this are;

- You can have a look around and see what your getting into, schools, area's etc.

- One of you can get a job as a single, they will provide an apartment so the other can bum around looking for a good job and when they do get that job they can tell the employer they don't need an apartment in the deal so instead of providing an apartment they will give you more money. (not a huge amount but enough to make a difference)

Geezy · 10-07-2009 6:24pm

랴연 wrote: »

Don't try and get a job togeather.

My advice.

Step 1 - Bring the relevant documents, get on a plane and come here. (I don't know the new rules, do you have to take an interview in the Korean embassy in Ireland these days ? )

Step 2 - One of you get a job in Seoul or one of the other major areas.

Step 3 - Other one apply for jobs in the same-ish area and bum off the other one until you get sorted.

The advantages to this are;

- You can have a look around and see what your getting into, schools, area's etc.

- One of you can get a job as a single, they will provide an apartment so the other can bum around looking for a good job and when they do get that job they can tell the employer they don't need an apartment in the deal so instead of providing an apartment they will give you more money. (not a huge amount but enough to make a difference)

Cool thanks for the heads up,
I know that they are quite strict in their contracts over there but is there much they can do if you only fulfill say 6 months of your 12 month contract? And also way if we were to last the whole year, would we not save a fortune on plane fares as most companies? (e.g. tigerenglish) pay for your flights

ARGINITE · 11-07-2009 2:52am

Geezy wrote: »

Cool thanks for the heads up,
I know that they are quite strict in their contracts over there but is there much they can do if you only fulfill say 6 months of your 12 month contract? And also way if we were to last the whole year, would we not save a fortune on plane fares as most companies? (e.g. tigerenglish) pay for your flights

If you only stay with the school for 6 months then they will not pay for your flights home, flights back to Ireland are expensive.
Also your E2 visa is tied to the school that you start working with in Korea, to move school would require a new visa I think.

If you last the year you would get your return flights paid for and also a bonus, normally about one months pay.

Tigerenglish do not pay for your flights, it is the school that pay.

livinginkorea · 11-07-2009 6:07am

Generally it's one visa per school except if your boss agrees that you can work another place to fill in your hours. If that is the case then you must get another stamp on your visa but that is rare. When you quit your job your school may not cancel your visa meaning that you have to wait until your visa year is up. A co-worker of mine quit after one month because he got offered a job in a women's university, did a runner without telling the school and was all angry, trrying to sue when he couldn't get a new visa for the university job. Rules are there for idiots like that.

By law the bonus is the average of what you make in the last three months so if you work some overtime that is factored into your bonus. A lot of people don't know this.

Also about the flights, it's standard procedure that if you don't finish your contract then you will have to pay for your own way home and also may not get imbursed for the flight arriving to Korea (which a lot of employeers bay back soon after you arrive to Korea, depending on your contract).

Seriously if you are going to break your contract then make sure you know the implications of your actions.

teflteacher · 12-07-2009 1:08pm

Would anyone recommend working in Busan?
Everyone seems to recommend Seoul, Seoul or Busan?

랴연 · 12-07-2009 2:15pm

teflteacher wrote: »

Would anyone recommend working in Busan?
Everyone seems to recommend Seoul, Seoul or Busan?

Pusan is grand, cleaner air, relatively small.

The problem is this. In Seoul you can find crap to do and people to do it with. You can find a few paddies if you want.

Go to Pusan or somewhere small and you'll be stuck with much fewer options. e.g > Spending 12 months with the same 20-30 foreigners who might all be yanks. Not my idea of a good year but whatever your into.

Of course if you intend to try and just spend your time with locals then theres no problem. Go anywhere.

teflteacher · 12-07-2009 7:32pm

do you know if transcripts and your actual degree scroll are needed?
maybe it depends on the school?

Also, is it necessary to have every years results, would the final year result not be enough?

Thanks:)

ARGINITE · 13-07-2009 12:32am

teflteacher wrote:

Do you know if transcripts and your actual degree scroll are needed?
maybe it depends on the school?

Also, is it necessary to have every years results, would the final year result not be enough?

You need your transcripts and at least a copy of your degree scroll. You will also need every years results. There are no short cuts here, it has nothing to do with what the school want you need all that to get the E2 visa.

timmy89 · 14-07-2009 4:13pm

ARGINITE wrote: »

You need your transcripts and at least a copy of your degree scroll. You will also need every years results. There are no short cuts here, it has nothing to do with what the school want you need all that to get the E2 visa.

I went through the IT route to my degree, so I did two years in scotland to finish off my degree. Do I need to contact my GMIT and Athlone IT to get my cert and diploma exam results too, or is it just for the degree course? Seems like a lot of work, as its going back a few years now.

Thanks in advance for your help!

ARGINITE · 14-07-2009 4:30pm

Short answer: yes.

You will need your results stamped and signed by someone in the college and also the college stamp across the seal of the envelop that the results are placed in. You will need this for every year you were in college and in your case all the colleges.

teflteacher · 23-07-2009 12:38am

It looks like Busan is sorted for teachers, or so I've been told by some recruiters.
Anyone know what the cities near Busan are like? I've been told I'll have a better chance of getting a job in one of these....
Thanks:)

랴연 · 24-07-2009 3:32am

ARGINITE wrote: »

Short answer: yes.

You will need your results stamped and signed by someone in the college and also the college stamp across the seal of the envelop that the results are placed in. You will need this for every year you were in college and in your case all the colleges.

Since when ? Unless the rules have drastically changed in 2 years then no you certainly don't need to do this. You need the transcripts from your final year degree and thats that.

랴연 · 24-07-2009 3:34am

teflteacher wrote: »

It looks like Busan is sorted for teachers, or so I've been told by some recruiters.
Anyone know what the cities near Busan are like? I've been told I'll have a better chance of getting a job in one of these....
Thanks:)

You'll be bored/lonely mate anywhere but Seoul in my opinion but whatever you want.

Yeosu is meant to be beautiful. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yeosu

Check here http://www.worknplay.co.kr/ for jobs related to public schools/Universities/Hagwons. Try searching for working in the countryside* and contact the recruiter. They'll probably blow their load if you tell them you want to go to a quiet city.

livinginkorea · 24-07-2009 5:08am

랴연 wrote: »

You'll be bored/lonely mate anywhere but Seoul in my opinion but whatever you want.

Definitely you need to be in a big city unless you fancy being a hermit!

cavanmaniac · 24-07-2009 12:07pm

I've been hunting about and found what I think to be an excellent recruiter/resource site for anyone thinking of teaching in Korea.

For anyone who has been over there already, maybe you can have a look and verify that the info is good, but I for one am impressed with the honesty and directness of the site, markedly different from other recruiters who tend to give it the "amazing cultural experience/well paid adventure in wonderful idyllic country" and all that type of old shlock:

http://www.asia-pacific-connections.com.

Just throwing it out there to other people looking at Korea, I found it very helpful anyway I must say.

ARGINITE · 24-07-2009 1:42pm

랴연 wrote: »

Since when ? Unless the rules have drastically changed in 2 years then no you certainly don't need to do this. You need the transcripts from your final year degree and thats that.

It is what I was told by the recruiter, I am just referring to what I was told.

Whitnailni · 26-07-2009 8:18pm

I'm thinking about going to Korea in October, talking to i-to-i at the moment and they said they deal with a recruiter based in and around Seoul. Anyone any experience of i-to-i recruitment?

ARGINITE · 27-07-2009 10:26am

i-to-i are very expensive, why pay for something you can get done for free or do yourself for free.

Their are a number of free recruiters out their already and as has ben pointed out you can also do it yourself.

marvin2k · 27-07-2009 2:49pm

Id reckon first choice should be in or around seoul and second should be Pusan . Pusan has a beach which is very nice and also it has a ferry to Japan for your holidays .The rest of the place is like Ireland in the fifties and you will be stared at like you have two heads .You will get paid more to work in these places as its harder to find teachers willing to work there . Koreans outside Seoul dont speak very good English and lots will just want to be your friend because you are a foreigner and they want to practice english or convert you to new Christian faiths and not because you actually have anything in common so maybe think twice about going somewhere with a very low expat population . Dont teach in Ulsan . Its very **** in my opinion.Dont go with I to I , try tigerjobs.ie or some other group and save yourself a lot of money . I to I actually get paid by the school to find you and then you pay them so they get double.

Neuro · 27-07-2009 4:12pm

Can anyone recommend some good recruiters for jobs in South Korea?

livinginkorea · 28-07-2009 11:10am

Neuro wrote: »

Can anyone recommend some good recruiters for jobs in South Korea?

Worknplay or Dave's ESL cafe are the best places to check out for jobs. It depends on where you want to go or who you want to teach. Some recruiters are only focused in one area or only with kids/business/adults/unis etc so it's best to check out the job market first if you don't have any idea where exactly you would like to go or who to teach.

Contacting agencies can always be hit or miss so let them do the donkey work for you and send you emails about the jobs. At least you can get offered many different kinds of jobs if you don't know what you would prefer yet.

teflteacher · 28-07-2009 5:10pm

I'm in the process of applying to work in Korea at mo.
I have my degree, transcripts and CBC.
Just wondering about recruiting companies-as far as i'm aware, you send your docs to the recruiting company?
so does this mean you're limited to this company then??

livinginkorea · 29-07-2009 9:14am

teflteacher wrote: »

Just wondering about recruiting companies-as far as i'm aware, you send your docs to the recruiting company?
so does this mean you're limited to this company then??

Well how would other companies get your documents if you only send them to one company? Anyway by that time (sending the documents by post) you should have signed a contract before hand. If you are just emailing documents (resume, scanned degree scroll, etc) then you can use as many companies as you want. Once you physically send the documents then you should be sure that's the company you want to work for.

Sabastien · 30-07-2009 2:11pm

Just wondering; I was going to do one of those weekend TEFL courses but have heard from a lot of people that there really isn't much point doing one as the schools really don't care whether you have one or not as long as you have a degree.

I still don't fancy being landed in front of a load of Korean children without any teaching experience whatsoever.

I was just wondering does anyone have any advice so Im not a total fish out of water when I get there.

Maybe any books out there to help with grammer or designed for people like myself heading out there.

Cheers.

teflteacher · 31-07-2009 10:15pm

Most tefl teachers have 'english grammar in use' by raymond murphy.
think it covers everything.

Sabastien · 01-08-2009 1:25pm

So, do you think if I had this book and went through it that would be sufficient without any teaching experience or should I still pursue a weekend TEFL course?

teflteacher · 01-08-2009 6:09pm

the school might give you some training if you tell them you don't have a cert.
it's grand once you get the hang of it.
i don't know how good weekend courses are. i done a 4 week acels course.
where ru thinking of applying for work?

honk05 · 01-08-2009 6:19pm

Myself and my girlfiend are heading over to South Korea teacing in public schools at the end of the month.

We have our visa interviews with the korean embassy on tuesday coming- was wondering what the story is with these interviews? I know they're very short but is there a dress code for them or anything? Would jeans and a hoody be ok or whats the craic? What kind of questions do they ask ya? and is there anything we should definitley not say? bar the obvious Im a terrorist, etc....

Also can anyone who is teaching out there at the moment tell me whats the normal dresscode for teachers in public school for both guys and girls- for guys is it kinda slacks and a shirt or shirt and tie or is it more casual? and for girls is it dress suits or pants and a blouse or can ya get away with dresses or long skirts r what?

Any help would be great! Thanks!

Sabastien · 01-08-2009 7:44pm

I've got a friend in Sanbon so probably somewhere around there hopefully.

DamienH · 06-08-2009 6:08pm

I'm just wondering what kind of a degree you'd need to have i.e. must it be a BA? I've got a BSc in Music and Audio Electronic Systems (Elec. engineering with an audio emphasis) and I'd really like to try South korea for a year, just wondering if I'd be able. Thanks, Damien

livinginkorea · 07-08-2009 1:28am

DamienH wrote: »

I'm just wondering what kind of a degree you'd need to have i.e. must it be a BA? I've got a BSc in Music and Audio Electronic Systems (Elec. engineering with an audio emphasis) and I'd really like to try South korea for a year, just wondering if I'd be able. Thanks, Damien

Hi, as far as I know any degree is accepted. Just start applying for jobs and if there is any problem than the agency will let you know. I am sure it's fine.

livinginkorea · 07-08-2009 1:32am

Sabastien wrote: »

So, do you think if I had this book and went through it that would be sufficient without any teaching experience or should I still pursue a weekend TEFL course?

Anything on language teaching methodology would be helpful for you. Scrivener or Harner or Brown or Nunan or Richards are good authors to look up. I taught Scrivener before and students liked it a lot. It's definitely worth buying to get more of an idea about teaching.

A weekend TEFL course is useful as an introduction to language teaching but to be honest there is a lot of information thrown at you that you should do some background reading first so that you have some idea of the basic concepts.

Best of luck!

livinginkorea · 07-08-2009 1:37am

honk05 wrote: »

...

Also can anyone who is teaching out there at the moment tell me whats the normal dresscode for teachers in public school for both guys and girls- for guys is it kinda slacks and a shirt or shirt and tie or is it more casual? and for girls is it dress suits or pants and a blouse or can ya get away with dresses or long skirts r what?

Any help would be great! Thanks!

To be honest if you are working in a public school then your contract will say 'formal' or 'semi formal' meaning nice slacks and shirt but no tie needed but that depends on the headmaster and remember that you might be the first foreigner that students see. Women can get away with a lot more but skirts and blouses are the safest way to go.

ARGINITE · 07-08-2009 1:52am

honk05 wrote: »

Myself and my girlfiend are heading over to South Korea teacing in public schools at the end of the month.

We have our visa interviews with the korean embassy on tuesday coming- was wondering what the story is with these interviews? I know they're very short but is there a dress code for them or anything? Would jeans and a hoody be ok or whats the craic? What kind of questions do they ask ya? and is there anything we should definitley not say? bar the obvious Im a terrorist, etc....

Have a search through this thread and you will find your answer. But nothing to really worry about, I think I wore a hoddy and jeans to it to

teflteacher · 08-08-2009 1:40am

Have been looking into teaching at public schools in Busan, SK.

Came across something about teacher certification, and a validity date...

I'm a primary school teacher-could this be registration with the teaching council?
i hope not as i didn't register with them cos i'm more likely to get work abroad...

anyone know?

ARGINITE · 08-08-2009 2:34pm

I know both m girlfriend and I were registered with the teaching council shortly after starting our teaching job. I think I read that you need to register within the first three months after starting work, but normally it is down to your employer to do it.

Ask your employer about it, they will require your original degree certs for a few days to register you.

Does that answer your question?

teflteacher · 08-08-2009 7:40pm

so you registered after starting work in SK?
that then would have nothing to do with the teaching council in ireland i presume?
the pay scale for public teaching jobs states that for level 2 pay you need either a bachelor of education or a 100+ hr tefl course.
since i have both i could just stick with the tefl cert-which would have nothing to do with teaching council.
I think you've answered my question but i'll ask agency anyway.
thanks!:)

dutopia · 13-08-2009 5:54pm

Hi all,

I'm heading over to Korea next week and starting orientation for SMOE (Seoul) on the 24th. Is anyone else on the SMOE programme and starting the orientation the same time? Would like to know if any Irish are going to be over there as well.

DamienH · 27-08-2009 1:11am

I've decided that south korea is definitely for me, would January be a good time for jobs? Tigerenglish is the way forward if I'm still in Ireland ya? Can't wait, sick **** of the dole and need something to live for

DamienH · 30-08-2009 6:17pm

can anyone help with regards availability of work?

ARGINITE · 31-08-2009 12:40am

Their is no shortage of TEFL jobs here.
I initially aimed to be in Korea by January 09, but in the end our contract started in March so I had to wait a short while in Ireland.

DamienH · 31-08-2009 12:54am

Thanks very much for the reply. Did you go through tigerenglish or just fly to korea and sort it from there?

ARGINITE · 31-08-2009 1:07am

We used Tigerenglish, found them very helpfull.

DamienH · 31-08-2009 1:16am

Nice one, thanks again for the reply.

Tefl in South Korea

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