Korean Job Discussion Forums

[umjorge2]

I'm new to this thought (a friend gave me the idea) of going to seoul south korea to teach ESL. I'm currently a student at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Canada graduating this summer with a bachelor of science in physical geography, focusing on atmospheric science. Its not a full decision I've made to go over there to do that but I just want to know where does someone like me begin to look for doing ESL, besides asking this question here? One place I was looking at was the Network of International Christan Schools in Seoul and if you can do ESL there, without a teachers degree.

[misschel]

I'm new to actually going to Korea to teach, but I've wanted to do this for a couple years before I graduated from university.
I found this website to be a great help. You get to read about all kinds of experiences people have had.
You can also just google ESL teaching and there's tons of info out there.

I find that official websites are good for introductory knowledge. But it's on this forum that I've learned the little things about teaching in Korea that can only be learned through experience. What's great about it is, you can "experience" it by reading what others have written and possibly save yourself from getting into something majorly dodgy!

[TheUrbanMyth]

You will NEED:

A degree (at least if you want higher pay)

2-3 copies of transcripts (must be no more then 3 months old)

2 reference letters. Should be sealed in envelopes

A Criminal Record check (must be no more than six months old)

A Vunerable Sector search (see above)

A resume

Several photos

A passport (obviously) and a couple of copies of the info page.

You will need to gather all these documents together in order to come and teach here legally. You do NOT require a degree in education or a teacher's degree. And it's best if you have certified copies of these documents because if you are going to a public school, Immigration will want copies as well as the local board of Education (and if they lose their copy) they will require you to provide another (at your expense, naturally) The school may want copies as well.

If I've missed anything, I'm sure others will chime in.

And if you still want to teach you can post your resume on this site (there's a separate forum for that) with your e-mail address and I'm sure you'll get plenty of hits.

[SHANE02]

or you could go to China

[D.D.]

Your graduation will be enough to teach in Korea.

I would like to warn you that Korean is a horrible place but you live in Winnipeg and even Korea will be better than that.

I hear that it is 40 below there this winter.

[teachergirltoo]

It will also make it easier, and benefit you too, to take a TEFL, TESL, or CELTA course before arriving.

[umjorge2]

When you say Korea is a horrible place do you mean the weather is bad or its bad in other areas (not a safe place, ghetto?) I've never traveled before (never been overseas) so this would be my first experience. How much do ESL teachers make on average in a year? Whats the cost of living? What do I do on my spare time? Just some questions I'm curious about towards making my decision. The earliest I'd go would be in September.

Could somebody clarify what a Vulnerable Sector search is?

[teachergirltoo]

Your experience in Korea will depend much on you. Myself and many others think Korea is a good place to live and work. It is safer than many places and a person can have a nice standard of living.

The weather is cold in the winter, and warm in the summer. Similar to Washington, D.C. I understand. My friend from Ontario says it is similar to where she came from also.

How much you make will depend on your job. Most teachers make above 2.0million won per month, some much more. With good budgeting a person can have a substantial savings account.

What you do in your spare time depends on you as a person. There are many people that enjoy night-life. Some of us enjoy quieter lives with outdoor activities keeping us busy.

A VSS is a check done by the police in Canada to make sure you are able to work with children, and do not have anything on your record that would not make that possible.

[yingwenlaoshi]

Red Blood.

[chris_J2]

[shifty]

Good question, surely transcripts can't become stale ? I'm guessing only.

[bacasper]

[yingwenlaoshi]

Rethink?

Do I need a hyphen here? Please advise.

[yingwenlaoshi]

[yingwenlaoshi]

Get disinterested.

Easy job, man. Do it. Low taxes, etc. Do it now.