Tefl in South Korea

@dory.

Do you mean ESL resources in relation to South Korea ? If so, check out http://waygook.org/

king of cork wrote: »

@col89

Working in Korea on a tourist visa is illegal. Correct me if I am wrong but the immigration rules on your first E-visa require you to visit the Korean Embassy in your home country to apply for the visa. Now, maybe everything will work out fine and maybe there are ways around this but why does the school need someone immediately( possibly the previous teacher did a runner) ? Ask about this on http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/ because there are resident legal experts on there.

Regarding location, do you mean Yangsan OR Jangsan ? Jangsan might actually be in the Busan subway area and close to the coast while Yangsan is a city just north of Busan. See subway map http://www.johomaps.com/as/korea/busan/busanmetro_en.html

Yeah, I didn't think that it sounded right to be honest... The recruiter seems to be a bit pushy with it, as well, which makes it seem like that they're in a hurry to hire someone.

As for the location, it's Yangsan City. I think that I will give it a pass because I want one in Busan, preferably.

king of cork wrote: »

@col89

Working in Korea on a tourist visa is illegal. Correct me if I am wrong but the immigration rules on your first E-visa require you to visit the Korean Embassy in your home country to apply for the visa. Now, maybe everything will work out fine and maybe there are ways around this but why does the school need someone immediately( possibly the previous teacher did a runner) ?l

RadioClash wrote: »

That would be a big red flag for me. They may not care about your visa status but you should. If immigration comes a knockin'(which isn't unheard of, some of my mates schools have been inspected) you'll be in a bind. There's no reason you can't have all your ducks in a row before you fly out. Up to yourself if you want to take the risk.

exactly what these guys say.

Don't do it...you don't need to, it's illegal and you have to get your first E2 visa in ireland anyway as you'll have to attend an interview here, which you can't do without a visa number.

Public school jobs allow you to go to japan for your first E2 visa, but they stillwon't tell you to fly out and work illegally.

An FYI for people thinking of coming over, some of the more seasoned teachers on here should give their analysis on this:

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2011/07/117_91266.html

07-20-2011 17:11
Budget cut puts foreign English teachers’ jobs at risk in Gyeonggi

By Na Jeong-ju, Yun Suh-young

A sudden and drastic budget cut will force more than 800 foreign English teachers out of their jobs at schools in Gyeonggi Province in the second half of the year.

The Gyeonggi Provincial Council passed a supplementary budget bill submitted by the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education (GPOE) Tuesday, but excluded the 15.6 billion won needed to extend the contracts of foreign English teachers.

Officials from the council said that they cut the budget as part of long-term plans to eventually reduce the number of foreign teachers and replace them with Koreans.

With the budget cut, about 819 teachers will have to find new jobs in the coming months, officials said.

Out of the 1,119 foreign English teachers in elementary, middle and high schools who receive their salary from the education office, 300 have already been laid off.

The budget cut is drawing criticism even from GPOE officials.

“The situation is ridiculous. It’s not even a half reduction or one-third reduction, but a total reduction. We feel very uncomfortable with the decision right now,” said an official from the office. “The budget should not have been taken away. If we don’t receive this, we’re not even getting what we should be getting. This has never happened before.”

The contract for foreign English teachers in local schools is valid for one year. Those whose contract expires in October, November and December will not be able to renew them. Contracts for at least 196 teachers are to expire during those three months.

However, the remaining 623 teachers whose contracts are just underway are the ones facing immediate trouble because they may not be able to receive their salaries starting next month.

“We’ll try to pay them as much as we can even if we have to use our own budget allocated for schools. We may be able to pay them for at least four to five months, but again, this is not finalized. We will try not to let go the 623 remaining teachers if possible,” the official said.

The unstable job status of foreign teachers is not just an issue in Gyeonggi Province.

An official of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education said the recruitment of native speakers has helped improve the language skills of Korean teachers and enhance the quality of lessons for students.

However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that schools will hire more native speakers.

Seoul educators are also hinting that schools will eventually hire a smaller number of native English teachers as Koreans will replace them.

“One of the reasons schools have native teachers is to give Korean teachers opportunities to learn from them so that they can provide better English lessons to students,” the official said on condition of anonymity. “However, as Korean teachers’ language skills are getting better, there will be less need for native speakers at schools. That’s the reality.”

Currently, there are some 1,600 foreign teachers in public and private schools in Seoul. Some 1,240 teachers were hired by the educational authorities, while the rest are employed by some private schools or district offices in affluent neighborhoods.

This year, Seoul Metropolitan Government set aside a total of 56 billion won ($53 million) to cover the salaries and benefits for 1,240 teachers, according to the official.

Officials from the education ministry said the quality of language lessons has improved significantly in schools nationwide since municipal governments began hiring native speakers.

But the cost of maintaining the system at the current level is too big, and it’s time to seek alternative ways to provide good lessons in a “more efficient” way, they said.

“It’s likely that the country’s spending on native speakers will decrease steadily in the coming years as Korean teachers become more competent. That means there will be less job opportunities for foreign teachers here,” a ministry official said, declining to be named.

“I don’t send my daughter to private academies so the only opportunity she can be exposed to real English is at school. Otherwise, she’ll have to go to a private academy which is very expensive,” said Oh Eun-ju, a parent of a student attending Kwangju Kwangmung Elementary School. “I’m sure many other parents will also oppose this decision.”

The high-priced private education fees seemed to be the common dilemma for parents with older children.

“I’m against the budget cut decision as well. If a native speaker teaches English at school, students won’t have to go to private academies. High school students, in particular, don’t go to private institutes just to improve their speaking because they have lots of other things to study. But if they can get the education in school, that’s great. The decision is very troubling for parents like us,” said Cha Suk-hee, a parent of a student attending Baekseok High School.

[email]jj@koreatimes.co.krysy@koreatimes.co.kr[/email]

dapto1 wrote: »

Okay, so my Notice of Appointment and contracts have arrived from Footprints (for EPIK). What's the procedure for going to the embassy, I take it I need to make an appointment? Will it take long? I have to come up from Kerry for it.

Cheers in advance!

You can ring the embassy (01 660 8800) to check about the interview - I rang them yesterday and was told I didnt need an interview - just need to come up with the documents. Be aware though that they only deal with visa applications on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings:)

The developments at GEPIK are a shambles. I suppose if there are budget concerns, the NET's were always bound to be first on the altar for sacrifice. Only it's because it's the most politically expedient thing to do however. They're relying on them not to kick up a fuss (and their lack of access to legal recourse and general labour rights), if this was Koreans getting axed the unions would be all over this like a hot snot. One girl I know quit a good job in Ireland to sign up for GEPIK, flew across the world and two month's later her job is in the firing line. Another mate of mine just had a kid, although he has residence through marriage so he's not as vulnerable as an E2 holder. The big selling point of the public programs was the security and not having to deal with the murkiness of the private sector gigs. Well this should be a lesson for all, Korea is Korea and those who can be steamrollered, will be steamrollered.

This could be the beginning of the end of the party for English language education here. It happened in Japan, why not K-town?

Newson123 wrote: »

I didn't have to get anything notarised when i applied for the last intake. You no not have to get the CBC notarised before you get it apostilled. I think they do in England, that's where the confusion arises from.

You do not have to get the copy of your degree notarised either. Just get the copy stamped by the University. It should be free. Then get it apostilled.

As regards the CBC, ask them for the free Criminal background check and say that you don't want the one where they have to send it off to Thurles. That should be fine.

Write a letter to the Superintendent asking for the free background check as you plan to teach English in Korea, quote ‘Policy Directive 127/02 and 97/05’ . Include your current address, a list of your previous addresses and your DOB. You also need a photocopy of your Birth Cert and a Photo ID

Cheers for that very informative post - much appreciated!

I'm still awaiting my documents and continuing to talk with a few different recruiters, some of them good and others not so much. It seems like forever that I've been speaking with them, without little luck on any of them! But hopefully I will strike up something with one of them fairly soon.

Does anyone know whether many schools give six month contracts? I've heard that the odd school does it, but that it is usually only year long ones.

net86 wrote: »

So went to the embassy today about my VISA so everything is going well so far. Just wanted to say a massive thank you to everyone on this forum who helped me with my decision to choose Geoje and answer my queries

Geoje is a great choice (my second after Busan) - keep us updated with how you get on!

cloneslad wrote: »

you'll love geoje, a lot of my friends have moved on in the 6 months since I've left, but there are still a few of them around, a few irish people too.

Sean and willow are leavin Geoje on Monday, I'm guessing you are headingout to replace them pretty soon. The hagwons on the island are on their summer hols this coming week or the following week.

I am really looking forward to it - nervous at the same time. Just trying to pick up things that I might need - no doublt ill forget a lot of stuff.

Yeah I was told I will possible be heading out around the 4th - although my visa will be ready at the end of next week so they may book me earlier flights - who knows

hyperbaby wrote: »

I think the embassy is opened from 9.30-11.30 Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I'm still waiting to get my passport back from the passport office. They need to hurry up.

Good question about the insurance, I wonder how necessary it is.

I compared prices on Skyscanner.net and went with Lufthansa/Asiana Airlines. Stopover in Frankfurt.

When are you going to Korea?

When I spoke to the embassy she said they could have it by Friday, but she didn't fill me with confidence. When I was asking her what I need, it went like this:
Embassy Lady: You need your contract and notice of appointment, that's all.
dapto1: Oh, that's great. But I assume I need to bring my passport?
EL: Yes, your passport.
dapto1:So it's my contract, notice of appointment and passport? Nothing else?
EL: No, that's it.
dapto1: What about passport photos?
EL: Yes, you will need passport photos. That is all.
dapto1: Okay... So what about fee?
EL: Yes, you will need the fee as well.


I'm just going to bring bloody everything tbf. :pac:

Do you mean it asks for your employer in Korea, or your employer in Ireland?

I found out today that I got placed in one school (not two schools like I was told previously) and it is an Elementary school.
Oh lucky me I hope....

Hi guys, flying out to Seoul tomorrow morning. Just wondering how much money should i bring with me? Was going to bring €1000 and change it at the airport. I get paid the end of the month so i'll have 5 weeks to get by. Thanks.

1000 seems enough. But you should other sources of income just in case anything happens.

I brought over my Irish BoI Mastercard and cash. A bank account and phone can't be setup until you have a Foreigner Card set up by your school/hagwon director...which is usually after the 2-3 week mark.

So after that you should set up a transfer with anybody back at home in case of any emergency issues.

Brimmy wrote: »

Igok has a load of cafes and is quite hilly, it's not as built up as the other areas of Daegu (Sangin for example) and has a bit of a more Korean feel to it but there's still a lot of restaurants and things to do. You're only 20 minutes away from Downtown via the subway though. All of Daegu is quite small enough that if you're not happy with your immediate area it's easy to get to others where there's plenty to do, especially if you're on the subway but large enough to offer enough variety. As well if you have your heart set on Busan it's only 50 minutes on the KTX from Dondaegu (and costs 9,000 won if you get a family seat with 3 other people, 15,000 if you don't). Daegu is great though, Busan was my first choice and I'm certian that I'm much happier here than I ever would have been in Busan which was also my first choice.

When we drove up the east coast and back down more central, we stopped in daegu for a day and night. I really liked the place, it had a nice feel to it, almost like galway or something like that...a city but still easy enough to walk around