Jobs as an English teacher in Korea

Features of employment

In order to count on a good place, the applicant must meet a number of requirements:

• Possession of a high school diploma.
• Computer literacy.
• High level of English - Proficiency.
• Some government agencies may require basic knowledge of the Korean language.
• The presence of experience affects the salary - a teacher with experience receives 30% more.
• TEFL / TESOL certificate (minimum 100 hours of training).
• No criminal record, clean medical records.

Most of the vacancies with high salaries, as a rule, in densely populated cities:

• seoul,
• busan,
• Daejeon,
• andon,
• Ulsan.
• Gyeongju.

But often at the beginning of their career, many settle for small towns or note on the resume that they do not mind getting to the place in the morning. Study the geography of Korea before applying for a job. If crowds of people and busy city traffic do not bother you, then the capital Seoul will appeal to you. If you want more tranquility, then you should give preference to such towns as Gwacheon, Osan, Mokpo.

Korea has a very beautiful nature, so in your free time you should definitely visit the most important sights in order to get the right idea about this country. The most popular places are: Korean summer parks in Seoul, Busan, Sonnisan and Bukhansan national parks, Jeju Island, Hahoe village.

Options for educators

The most promising employment options for Russian-speaking English teachers in Korea may be:

• Bilingual Russian-English kindergartens.
• Preparatory yuchiwon for children.
• Hagwons are private academies that go to for extra English classes.
• Tutoring (often adults who want to learn business English need tutors).
• Public Schools.
• Private language courses for immigrants.
• "English villages" (for example, English Village in the city of Paju).
• "Camps for teaching English" (English Camps).
• Hanguk University of Foreign Languages.
• Training of technical specialists in Pangyo Tech Village - Korean Silicon Valley.
• for foreign job seekers - Job Fair for Foreign Residents, which takes place every September in Seoul.
• Online classes at the Cyber ​​University of Korea (Cyber ​​University of Korea).

There are three English programs in public schools in Korea:

1. The English Language Program in Korea (EPIK) is administered by the National Institute for International Education (NIIED) and aims to improve English skills for Korean students.
2. The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education is the most competitive program.
3. The Gyeonggi English program in Korea includes establishments in Gyeonggi Province outside of Seoul.

Advantages of private educational institutions

• More vacancies and, accordingly, opportunities.
• Significantly fewer students in the class (15-20 people instead of 30-40 in a regular class).
• Mostly evening employment (students visit Hagwons after the main classes).
• Availability of vacancies all year round, unlike state ones, which recruit staff in March and September, but you need to apply as early as possible. The best time to submit resumes and applications is January and June.

Advantages of teaching in public institutions

• Stability - A public school cannot suddenly and for no reason close.
• Standard work week of 40 hours from 8.00 to 17.00.
• On average, about 20-30 days of paid vacation (+ official holidays) - as a rule, private vacations are less.
• Social status, guarantees, bonuses, respect, accumulating experience.

If you are just starting your journey in education, you should pay attention to institutions for children of foreigners or bilingual educational institutions. Many initially focus on private teaching for cash, which allows them to gain experience, get to know the characteristics of Koreans and find a suitable place.

How to find vacancies?

The easiest way is to find a headhunter who, for a fee (about $150), will find a suitable job for you. On the one hand, it is much easier to explain your requirements and wishes and expect the result, but on the other hand, no one guarantees that you will like the work, and the money will not be returned.

Thus, an independent search has an undeniable advantage - complete control of the process and result.

So, where can you find jobs in Korea for English teachers?

• In newspapers in special sections ( koreatimes.co.kr, koreaherald.com, theseoultimes.com ).
• In groups on Vkontakte, Facebook or LinkedIn (type the thematic words into the search bar: Korea, Seoul, Work in Korea, etc.) and join the communities. There you can chat with those who have already moved.
• Post your resume on domestic online labor exchanges: hh.ru, rabota.ru, jooble.org with a note that you are ready to move.
• On special resources for hiring employees ( work.go.kr, jobkorea.co.kr, gone2korea.com, saramin.co.kr, higheredjobs.com, global.seoul.go.kr, kr.indeed.com, careerjet.co.kr, learn4good.com )
• If you speak Korean at a minimum level, you can visit the sites: koreajob.co.kr, sda.co.kr.
• With the help of social institutions ( Center for Social Security and Employment, Women's Employment Center ).
• When looking for TEFL/TESOL, look for those that will give you access to a job database upon successful completion of your training and certification.

After receiving an answer, you can be scheduled for an interview via Skype or by phone, and this is a good opportunity to prove yourself as an open, friendly, honest person who is fond of Asian culture and is confident in teaching methods .

What questions to ask in an interview?

In addition to demonstrating knowledge of English and flexible skills, it is worth talking about the following organizational issues:

• Conditions and cost of living. Many employers pay rent.
• Rate (beginners receive about 2 million won per month).
• The duration of paid vacation and the number of days off.
• Number of working hours per week, overtime rate (standard for overtime is 22,000 won per hour).
• Airfare payment.

Koreans are very attentive to appearance. This is the same case when they are greeted by clothes. If the interview will take place in the format of a video call, then be sure to dress in a businesslike manner. Well-groomed, neat manicure, hairstyle and light discreet makeup will give you more chances to please. Also, the inhabitants of this mysterious Asian country appreciate the smiling and conflict-free atmosphere, so you should behave at ease, relax and smile.

Preparation of documents for moving

Documentation is one of the most important aspects of a successful move. In 2020, people need the following documents to obtain an E-1 work visa:

• An application and a correctly completed visa application form.
• Valid foreign passport.
• Fresh color photo 3.4*4.5 cm.
• Autobiography (where he was born, lived, where he studied).
• Scans of pages of a foreign passport.
• A detailed description of your future work activity ( may require a portfolio and resume ).
• Diplomas of education, certificates confirming the qualifications of a person (requires an apostille for documents and a notarized translation into English).
• Certificate/certificate of having an employment contract allowing you to work in Korea.
• Certificate of no criminal record.
• Medical documents (their list must be clarified with those who moved recently or at an interview).
• Medical insurance.
• Service payment receipt.

A prerequisite for obtaining a work visa is the application of a Korean employer. The company receives permission from the migration service to issue a visa and informs the future employee about it. Sometimes Korean schools deal with visa processing on their own. This is also worth asking during the interview.

All documents must be submitted to the Korean Consulate of your country in person. However, the current situation with coronavirus allows specialists in the areas (E-1, E-3, E-5) to submit documents and apply for a visa online.

After entering the data in the personal questionnaire, it is necessary to pay the fee on the website of the Ministry of Justice using an international bank card. Consular fees range from $90 to $120.

If everything is done, the rule is that a person receives a work visa for a period of one year. If everything suits all parties, the visa can be extended after a year. However, if you quit or want to change jobs, the whole procedure starts over.

Coronavirus Changes

Since the beginning of the pandemic, education has moved online. However, teachers still come to classes and teach from classes via Zoom or Skype. Schools undergo weekly sanitization and provide personal protective equipment. Perhaps some institutions will be able to offer you to work remotely for the first time.

What should you pay attention to before moving?

• Type of visa to be issued. It must be working. Holding any positions on a three-month tourist visa is strictly prohibited and can lead to serious problems.
• On the terms of the contract.
• Manners and business behavior (for example, honoring elders, an unspoken rule to endure illness on your feet without sick leave, the inability to refuse those who are higher than you in social status).
• Learn as much as possible about Korean culture and especially about food so that you know what the restaurant will bring you.

There is a large Russian-speaking diaspora in Korea - find thematic groups on social networks, contact your compatriots. This may help you adapt.

Check out useful apps and web resources that you will definitely need:

• Visit Korea: Official Tour Guide - here you will find all cultural events, museums, parks.
• Seoul Metro Subway Map & Route Mapway is a Seoul subway planner.
• KakaoTalk By Kakao Corp. is a popular Korean messenger.
• Naver Dictionary - online dictionary.
•  네이버 지도 (Neibo Chido) is a map of Korea.
• Smarter Subway - subway map with train schedules and trip times.
•  요기요배달앱 — intuitive food delivery with the possibility of paying in cash.
• Currency converter, which at first will definitely come in handy.

Features of teaching in South Korea

Schoolchildren and students in this country are brought up with a clear goal - to become successful and useful to their country, so it is not uncommon for children to go to bed long after midnight after lessons and extra classes.

In Korea, it is not customary to give homework because children are overworked, and this can also affect the quality of the lessons - children may simply not absorb all the information due to fatigue. Therefore, you have to return to the same topic many times in order to repeat the material covered. If you mark in your portfolio or resume how you have achieved the effectiveness of learning English from children, then this can be a plus.

It is not customary to come to the lessons unprepared - it is necessary to have a lesson plan at hand, as well as all the necessary didactic material. At first, a beginner can be carefully checked.

The peculiarity of Korean children lies in the fact that it is difficult for them to give English, grammar and pronunciation - this is why native speakers are especially appreciated, because they can initially teach the correct accent and pronunciation. You can attach videos from your classes (classroom or private) where you can hear your free and clear English speech.

The mentality of the Koreans is one of competition, both among adults for more prestigious jobs and among children, so the system of tokens, bonuses, extra points and other rewards will help you create interest in learning. However, it is thanks to such competitions that many students experience anxiety, so it is important to show a creative, gentle and loyal approach that will interest the child, but will not aggravate the situation.

Many families, concerned about this problem, send their children to international schools, where there is no such race for grades, and subsequently arrange applicants for European and American universities.

Be prepared for the fact that in a few years you may be redirected to another educational institution - in Korea it is customary to change directors and teaching staff to prevent corruption.

In educational institutions, as a rule, there is a strict dress code: a uniform for children, a modest and neat business style for teachers. Bright manicure and makeup are prohibited.

The teacher collects mobile phones before each lesson and puts them in special numbered cells - discipline in the classroom is very important.

As a conclusion

If for some reason you didn’t manage to find a vacancy right away or you are offered only informal employment, then you can try to find a job as an English teacher job as an English teacher in China or complete TEFL/TESOL, which will greatly simplify your life not only with a certificate that is quoted worldwide about your qualifications, but also help with employment. Our courses provide access to a database of vacancies around the world and offer unlimited advice on the employment of English teachers abroad and online.