Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jcm87]

Hi all, I'm planning on teaching English with the EPIK program in September in probably Busan (or Daegu, Daejon, Gwangju, etc.). I have a good Argentine friend who'd like to come to Korea to teach English. Are there opportunities for Spanish teachers as well? Can you teach Spanish in a hagwon or university in a city like Busan? Or would you have to go to Seoul for that? If you're looking for a Spanish teaching job, where can you look? Any information would be greatly appreciated. He also speaks, writes, and understands English very well.

[andrewchon]

Short answer is: Korea doesn't need any Spanish teachers.

[sheba]

It would be next to impossible.

If your friend has a passport and university degree from an English country, he may be able to teach English... but English has become so important here, there just isnt the demand for Spanish teachers.

[lifeinkorea]

Contact the Korean Bullfighters Association

[air76]

I am sure that your friend could find some part-time work, but only in Seoul, and Spanish teaching jobs would certainly be few and far between. My guess is that there are enough Spanish speaking Americans here teaching English full-time and then Spanish on the side to completely fill up the demand.

He'd be pretty hard pressed to find anyone to actually sponsor his visa to teach Spanish...and I doubt that even if he found work that it would be enough to get by on.

The best bet for non native speakers to teach English (if they really do speak it properly) is to go to Vietnam.

A lot of my uni students seem surprisingly interested in Spanish, but there is no way that any of them would pay for classes, and surely neither would their parents.

[Troglodyte]

There are a lot of young people in Seoul that want to learn Spanish. I've never seen an advert for a Spanish teacher, but he could try putting his CV on some recruiting sites or jobs-wanted sites. He might get lucky. If he has experience, he might also try contacting universities. The pickings will be slim, but there's also not much competition.

I don't know the situation in Busan.

[naturegirl321]

Try INsituto Cervantes. They're in Busan and Seoul. They are like CAmbridge is to the CAE. They do the DELE exams.

BUT . . .
most of the teachers there are married to Koreans and have F2 or F5 visas.

THOUGH. .
you might be able to "volunteer" a bit

[Konglishman]

[naturegirl321]

Here is some info

CENTRO CULTURAL ESPA�OL
Inter-Burgo Hotel
Suseong-gu, Manchon-dong, san.92-1, Daegu
[email protected]

Hongdae, www.realspanish.co.kr/. [email protected]

Spanish language school TODA in Gangnam, Seoul

www.felizspanish.co.kr, [email protected] Gangnam, exit 6, left side across from Adidas.

Also, in Busan and Seoul, there is the Instituto Cervantes.

[AndyRoofman]

In relation to this topic, I studied Spanish for about three years in Seoul and Daegu and I know several of the Spanish teachers in Korea very well. Because I am Australian and quality Spanish schoos are not easy to find in Australia, I did much of my learning in Korea.

I can say I know of quite of few schools, including all those mentioned by NaatureGirl above. I should say that unless the Instituto Cervantes have opened a Seoul branch, they were only in Daegu until two years ago. I also know of another Seoul school, Casa de Castellano, very near Jonggal station and on the 10th floor of an old building that is on the road next to the stream in Jonggak whose name I forget(I can't actually find the website atm).

AFAIK, no school will sponsor a Spanish teacher on an E-2 visa. If you understand how the set up works, most of these jobs are in essence considered part time jobs, I understand most teacher make 1-1.2 mill from working in these roles. As Naturegirl said, the majority of the teachers are married to Koreans, some are married to foreigners working as English teachers and there are a couple of Gyopo teachers from places like Argentina and Paraguay ( in fact one of my teachers, a Paraguayan-Korean, served as President Lugo's Korean-Spanish translator during his Korean visit).

I would suggest to your friend that he try to find private clients, given they pay anything for W20000-W40000 per hour (yes, people do pay for these services especially in Korea). It was relatively common for teachers to supplement their income like this, and their were several European business executives who came to one of the schools I studied at paying good money for privates on the side. Just look at any number of Korean expatriate websites for an indication of prices, classes etc.

Realistically, I think your friend would earn more money babysitting at children's hogwans, many of which employ university qualified non-native speakers under the table. However, your friend would need to develop the contacts to do this.

[Konglishman]

If a Spanish teacher is hired at an international school, then he or she can get an E-7 visa.

And if a Spanish teacher gets a job at university, then I imagine that he or she will get either an E-1 or E-2 visa. I will have to ask my Spaniard friend.

[Murakano]

there are a few Spanish hagwons in Seoul, most of the few I know are in Gangnam. 2 of my friends (Mexican and a Spaniard) taught at them but only part time as they were full time students at Sogang.