Korean Job Discussion Forums

[wylies99]

Requirements for E-2 visa softened

http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/


Requirements have been eased for overseas college students who wish to teach English on Korean government scholarship to elementary school students in rural areas.

The Education Ministry had initially sought undergraduate native speakers of English including ethnic Koreans from abroad who have completed at least two years in university.

But now the doors are open to graduates, community college students and ethnic Korean freshmen and sophomores as well.

Designed to close the regional gap in English education, the "Teach and Learn in Korea" program offers overseas college students a chance to experience Korean culture while teaching on government scholarship.

"We eased the application requirements upon requests from gyopo (ethnic Koreans abroad) as juniors and seniors are more likely to focus on preparing for graduation and many gyopo graduates wish to visit their parents` home country before starting a permanent job," said Kim Chang-eun, an Education Ministry official in charge of the TaLK program run by the ministry.

"A wider group of people can apply but that doesn`t mean the selection process will be less rigorous."

The scholarship program is titled "presidential" as participants are to receive a "government scholar" certificate from the education minister.

President Lee Myung-bak mentioned this program when he met with Korean residents during his visit to the United States in April.

The TaLK program offers round-trip airfare, accommodation, monthly allowance of about 1.5 million won ($1,500) and various opportunities to experience Korean culture.

Korean embassies and consulates in 20 cities across the United States, Canada, Britain, Australia and New Zealand are receiving applications until June 15, the ministry said.

Those who pass the document screening and interviews at the Korean embassies and consulates in their cities will be listed on http://talk.mest.go.kr on June 16 and July 17. Up to 500 selected students will come to Korea in early August to undergo a medical checkup at a designated hospital and orientation between August 4 and 29 to learn about Korea and acquire basic teaching skills.

If an applicant is found with drug addiction or serious diseases such as AIDS, his or her scholarship will be cancelled and no air ticket will be provided for returning home.

The selected candidates will be dispatched to elementary schools in rural areas to teach for six months or a year starting from Sept. 1, the ministry said.

They will teach English speaking, listening and writing skills three hours every day after school for five days a week. Some 1,500 elementary schools in Korea`s rural areas currently do not have a native-speaking English teacher.

Each of them will be paired with a Korean college student to help them adjust when they are dispatched to the schools, the ministry said.

Preference will be given to candidates majoring in education, English or subjects related to Korea and those with excellent school records. Applicants who have been taught in English-language schools from junior high school (seventh grade) and have lived abroad for at least eight years are also preferred.

By Kim So-hyun

([email protected])




2008.06.06







ⓒ Copyright 2002~2004 Digital Korea Herald. All rights reserved

[wylies99]

All of those who posting that this is a "great idea" will work full-time for 1.5, right? RIGHT?

[PRagic]

Any Kyopo with half a network can come over to Korea at any time and generate a network of privates through their aunt that will earn them at least 2 million a month working just a couple of hours a day.

[wylies99]

Plus, they don't have to be a slave under the E2 visas.

[Ya-ta Boy]

NOR would they have to live out in the boonies. Some of the rural parts of Korea are very rural indeed.

[chronicpride]

The TaLK program was announced last month:
http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=122209

And the lousy results of that program is talked about here:
http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=124790

[cruisemonkey]

'Homestay' for 6-12 months in the 'boonies' sounds like a great way to experience K-culture!

I'd love to roll out my mat every night to sleep in the corner of a traditional Korean house down on Mr. Kim's pig farm. I could eat K-food three times a day and learn to balance over a 'squat' without getting anything on my pants.

[Paddycakes]

[wylies99]

[VirginIslander]

[Roch]

[SuperHero]

[Draz]

If there are so many elementary schools that desperately need teachers, why did everyone get slotted into middle school (regardless of preference) on the last EPIK cycle?

[Sody]

[cruisemonkey]