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I have over 15 years experience and a PHD in Education would I get a much higher salary?
Unfortunately higher salaries are hard to attain. Those with extensive experience are still only looking at the 2.2-2.5 million per month range. Since most positions are teaching conversational English, it doesn’t really require extensive experience
I’m of Asian descent, what are the chances of me finding a job?
It will unfortunately be a harder and take some patience. Many employers really key in on the traditional Anglo Saxon features as they find it is a better marketing tool to attract students to their schools. Jeju ESL doesn’t advocate these hiring practices, but in the end the schools are the employer and we are without much power to influence. It is improving but for now it is a small hurdle for those who fall in that category. Public school programs are definitely more open-minded in their hiring practices.
I’m black, what are the chances of finding a job?
As with those of Asian descent things are similar for black applicants… see last question.
What is the difference between public school and Private school positions?
Public school positions are government jobs where as private school positions are public sector jobs.
Public Schools
Private Schools (AKA “Hogwons”)
Pro’s
-Guaranteed your job will be there for the entire year.
-Safety
-More vacation time (anywhere from 3-5wks)
- More sick days (11 days)
-Less teaching hours per day (22 classes per week)
- Standardized contract
- More respect from Korean citizens
Pro’s
- Often compact work schedule (2-8pm) example
- Smaller class size (1- 12 students)
- Meet students multiple times per week,
better chance to develop connections and see their progress
- More individual attention can be given to students
- Often have multiple foreign co-workers.
- Can be a very fun environment
Con’s
- Class size (35-40 students per class).
- Lecture style teaching.
- Almost always you are the only foreign teacher in your school.
- Typically you only see students once per week.
- More formal environment.
Con’s
- School could potentially run into financial troubles.
- Teachers are at the whim of their director.
- More classes per day.
- Less vacation time (10 days)
- Less sick days (3 days)
- Contracts vary
Note: Overall it may seem that Public schools are better than private schools. If one gets a nice private school which is the majority of them they can have an amazing experience. The key when applying for a private school is to get a sense of the director as he will have all the power and really be able to dictate your work life. Best way to check is to request the email address of a current teacher at the school. This way you can get unfiltered information on the school. Please note schools don’t give out this until an offer has been made.
Do I have to pay for the flight myself?
In the past most schools paid for a 1-way flight upfront. In the last couple of years schools are now reimbursing teachers the flight cost when they arrive in Korea. The main reason for this is there is now a mandatory medical exam and if someone lies about having HIV or a drug addiction their visa will be canceled ones the medical results come back. The medical test is done in the first week after a teacher arrives to Korea. The results take 3-5 days. One can only have his/her visa revoked if they have a drug addiction or HIV. Any other medical conditions aren’t cause to revoke a visa.
Who can teach in Korea? What nationalities are able to get a teaching work visa?
Those who are citizens of the following English speaking countries can apply: USA, Canada, South Africa, New Zealand, UK, and Australia.
Other Requirements:
- Bachelors degree
- Clean Criminal record
Why have I not got a position or offer yet?
Could be that there aren’t many openings at the moment. If you’ve applied for a start date months away, we likely won’t have any openings until 1-2 months before the start date. Things in Korea are often last minute and most schools request teachers in the last minute also. Also, only those applicants with all the required visa documentation in hand will be considered for employment in most cases.
Required Documents
- Original Bachelors Degree
- 2 sets of sealed university transcripts
- Criminal background check (less than 6 months old) notarized with an apostille or by Korean Consulate for Canadian Applicants
Am I too old or too young?
Schools are typically looking to hire teachers aged 23-35yrs. Those who are a bit more mature in age will find it more challenging to secure a position. The rational is those older than 35yrs will have a harder time assimilating to life in Korea as their peer group will be smaller and they will be less tolerant of Korean management styles. We don’t advocate this hiring practice and are working to change these perspectives. It is still possible to find employment but it will take a little more patience and one must be open to various types of jobs…
I don’t have a university degree, what kind of position can I get?
I’m afraid ESL teaching positions are only open to those with a Bachelors degree. Some with a couple of years of University can apply for a government program called TALK.
http://www.talk.go.kr/
Can I find a position with a shorter contract time of 3-6 months?
There are some out there but they are few and far between. They won’t offer all benefits like airfare, housing though. Our clients only request teachers for 1 year contracts so we won’t be of much service for these types of contracts.
Why do you need a picture and what kind of picture would be best…?
While giving a picture in western cultures is unnecessary in the hiring process it is very important in Korea. Since a face-to- face isn’t possible, schools really pay attention to an applicant’s photo. It is very important to give a good impression and dress neatly and have a clear professional photo. A photo with you drinking a beer with a buddy will definitely work against you. Best thing is to just wear a collared shirt and send a clear shot from the midsection to head. The better the photo the more offers you will get…
Does Nationality Matter?
Often school will favor applicants from North America as most of their media is from there. Some schools will only want one accent at their school to keep things simple. Most of the time it is a non issue though…
Is it safe to live in Korea?
Korea is very safe. Like any place it’s wise not to be walking down dark alleys late at night. Overall, I’ve never heard of anyone think of Korea as anything but safe.
What kind of things should I bring to Korea?
These days you can find almost anything you could buy in your home country. Definitely bring a laptop if you have one.
How much money should I bring?
Since all employers pay monthly, it is wise to bring around 1 million KRW for the first month. Also, you can bring any western credit card as they can be used at most establishments these days.
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