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| FAQs |
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| We've included out most commonly-asked questions regarding teaching English in Korea here. If you still have a question after reading through this list, please let us know. |
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| Q: What age groups are there teaching opportunities for in South Korea? |
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| A: The age groups of English students include Kindergarten (children up to 6 years old), Elementary School (children from 7-12 years old), Middle and High School (students ages 13-19), and adults (20 years old and above). |
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| Most schools only hire ESL teachers to teach the English language. Only recently, some schools have stated having native English teachers teach math, science, and other specific subjects as well. |
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| Q: Where can I teach English in South Korea? |
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A:
English teaching positions are available across metropolitan, rural and coastal areas in Korea. Korean schools usually vary in sizes, from just a few students to hundreds. If you desire a teaching job in Korea, you should also remember that you can teach English in the type of community where you'd prefer to live.
Most schools or employers give teachers the information about the designated school in advance. A couple of education boards actually designate a teacher in a specific school after an orientation or training for teachers. As South Korea is not an extremely large country, you can go anywhere by bus or train, taking you only 4 to 5 hours of travel from the west to the east, or the north to the south of Korea. No matter where you are assigned to teach in South Korea, you can always enjoy going to the beach or skiing, located merely 2 to 3 hours away from many areas. |
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| Q: How much money will I earn if I teach English in Korea? |
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A: Salaries at most Korean public schools start out at 1.8 or 2.0 million won per month for those without teaching experience or qualifications. Teachers with a year or more experience, an education degree, teaching license, or a recognized teaching certificate tend to be offered 2.0 to 2.3 million won per month.
The pay rate at private institutions, or hagwons, for children range from 1.9 to 2.2 million won per month. Institutes that exclusively hire very well qualified teachers (with education degrees or teaching licenses) may offer higher salaries.
Some schools, especially public schools in more rural areas, will pay higher salaries. A rural allowance of 100,000 to 200,000 won is given in addition to the base salary. |
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| Q: When is the best time to apply for a job in Korea? |
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A: New terms for most public schools start in March or September every year, so English teachers are hired before those terms. If you want to teach English in a public school, applying 3 or 4 months in advance would be best. Applying early would also give you a better chance to be placed in your preferred location and teaching situation. **And remember, getting an E2 (English Teaching) visa takes about 2 months**
A great number of private institutes also hire ESL teachers year-round, so finding the right teaching job for you can be done at any time.
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| Q: I am interested in WorknPlay Consulting's services. How much does it cost? |
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A: All of our services are provided at absolutely NO COST to you. Native English teachers are in such high demand in Korea, that recruiters receive their full fees from the schools we work with. The downside of this system is that many recruiters care more about their big 'clients' than about teachers.
In our case, however, WorknPlay Consulting has established a reputation for quality unmatched in the industry. The number of schools desiring to work with our recruiters enables us to operate on our own terms, allowing us to advocate for the best interest of our teachers.
Potential teachers should always be highly suspicious of companies asking for fees, especially those trying to take a percentage of their salary. |
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| Q: What vaccinations do I need to come to Korea? |
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A:
There is a set of recommended vaccinations for those traveling to Korea for long periods of time. It is important to remember that South Korea is a modern, industrialized nation with first-rate medical care. Those who will be living in rural areas, however, or plan to spend significant time on farmland in certain regions may choose to take extra precautions.
Disclaimer: This should not be seen as medical advice. Rather, we are relating to you what the conventional wisdom among the native English teacher community in Korea seems to be on this topic.
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| Q:
Will I be able to deal with the emotional stresses of living in a new culture? |
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Living in a foreign country is challenging, and it often takes a while to adjust to all of the new situations you will be faced with. Starting a new job is stressful, and being away from family and having to make a whole new set of friends can be emotionally difficult. All these stressors can really wear you down if you don't have some way of coping.
If you have problems such as depression and anxiety, you should have a conversation with your healthcare provider about how well you could cope with these new situations. The good news is that you would most likely be able to find all your needed medications in Korea . There are also often English-speaking and western-trained counselors, therapists and religious professionals of any number of denominations that can help you deal with hard times. You will need to do some research, though. Once again, we can help you with this.
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| Q: What if I have a horrible boss, the apartment is terrible, I get sick, and want to go home? |
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Breaking your contract is serious business, but at the same time you're not signing your life away. There are always options.
Everybody goes through an initial adjustment period. It is difficult to find a person that has not seriously wondered if they've made a huge mistake deciding to teach abroad. If your problems are cultural or emotional, let us know about it. We can help you deal with a lot of problems and can even guide you in finding professional help, if need be. If something is seriously wrong at your school, you don't have to just leave in the middle of the night! You can talk to your school about your situation, and you can always talk to us.
If things are absolutely unbearable and you just can't take it, follow the terms of your contract. Give the required notice and try to leave on the best terms possible. It is possible to get a different job in Korea , but there is a lot of paperwork and procedures that must be done. If you leave before six months, you will usually need to refund the school for your airfare.
That being said, if there is something criminal going on at your school, or you feel in physical danger (which is extremely rare), of course you should never stay in that situation and immediately go to the police, labor board, immigration, etc. If you're not sure what to do, it's better to be safe than sorry, but you can always call us for advice as well. |
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| Q: I've heard that I can make a lot of extra money doing work on the side. Is this true? |
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We cannot recommend taking on private tutoring or other part-time work unless it is cleared by your school as well as the Immigration Office. Realistically speaking, however, it is done quite a bit and the risk is relatively low. It is not wise to count on this money, though, as it may be more difficult to develop the necessary contacts than you think. Most such arrangements are 'lucked' into. If you decide to do it, exercise discretion both in the students you take on and the people with whom you discuss it. |
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| Q: Seriously, I've never taught before. I'm not sure I can do this. |
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If the thought of public speaking terrifies you, you have zero social skills, and you do not know how to use an Internet search engine, then you may be in trouble. Barring those extremes, though, you will probably do just fine after the first few days. Many people have been quite surprised by just how well they take to the work and some even decide to make a career out of it. If you have the study and research skills, and self-discipline it takes to earn a college degree, then you certainly have the inner resources you'll need to teach English in Korea .
If you're seriously worried about this, then it may be best to work in a private institute (hagwon) for your first job where your classes will be much smaller than in public schools, your curriculum is planned in advance for you, and all you have to do is walk in, read over the lesson, and get to work. There are some very good hagwons out there with established curriculums, which are a great place for new teachers to cut their teeth. |
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| Q: How is Korea compared to Japan? |
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A: Korea and Japan are remarkably different. Specifically in terms of teaching English, Korea seems to have a lower cost of living and teachers that come to Korea can usually save more money and/or have more money for travel, joining a gym, etc.
Korea definitely has a lot to offer in terms of its own unique culture, art, and people. Although its culture may not be known as well as Japan's or China's, there will be a world of history to discover, food to savor, friendly people to meet, and cities, mountains, coastal towns and countrysides to explore.
There is a treasure trove of information on Korea out there. A good place to start is with our own 'information' pages at www.worknplay.co.kr . |
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| Q:
Who pays for my flights? |
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A: Sending a certified copy with apostille stamp is an option if you'd prefer not to send your diploma. (If you are Canadian, please visit a Korean consulate to certify your copy.) While having a copy of your degree certified by the Korean consulate in your home country is possible, most people don't find this process practical. Whether or not this is an option for you largely depends on where you live. For example, if you live in Wichita , Kansas , USA , you would have to travel to Chicago , Illinois or Dallas , Texas to visit the nearest apostille office. It may be possible to take care of this by mail, but please check with your local apostille office or consulate.
This is why most teachers find it easier to pay a reputable courier service to send their original diploma to Korea . There are rarely complications, and since you don't need to have it physically with you to enter Korea , we will have it waiting for you when you arrive. |
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| Q: My friend/spouse and I want to teach together. Is it possible to find work together? |
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Yes, it is possible. Be aware, though, that you may need to make certain compromises to make this arrangement possible, or else allow yourself more time to find the right opportunity. In the end, you might not get your preferred location, but if you can live with that, Korea is waiting for you with open arms. |
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| Q: How do I use my vacation time and holidays? |
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You won't be able to just take your vacation time whenever you please. Most likely, you will be able to arrange for one week in the winter and one week in the summer.
You can expect public schools to offer a few more holidays off than hagwons, although no matter where you work you'll definitely get Christmas day off, and nearly a week off at Chuseok, the fall harvest festival, which is Korea 's biggest holiday of the year (closely resembling Thanksgiving day in the U.S. or Canada ). |
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| Q:
Will I be able to find my favorite products in Korea ? |
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It depends largely on your favorite brands, but, for the most part, yes. Korea is very modern and you can find pretty much all the same comforts of home, but you will have to do some searching. Please read our section on "What to Bring" in the Life in Korea & Work Culture section of our website. |
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| Public School Opportunities |
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| Public school opportunities for native speaker English teachers exist across the Korean Peninsula. Elementary, Middle and High Schools are looking for teachers excited to share their language and culture with students. Korea has a number of metropolitan, mid-sized and rural areas, each with their own pace, personality and cultural offerings. |
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| GEPIK (Gyeonggi English Program in Korea) |
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Teach English in Gyeonggi
Vast Province Dotted with Many Attractions
(2.0~2.3mil won; Start February, 2010) |
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| Public School Positions Throughout Korea |
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Teach English in Busan
The Largest Coastal City
(1.8~2.65mil won; End of August, 2010) |
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Teach English in Daegu
A Developed Urban Area
(1.9~2.75mil won; End of August, 2010) |
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Teach English in Daejeon
The City with the Highest Quality of Life
(1.9~2.75mil won; End of August, 2010) |
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Teach English in Gangwon
An Area in Great Harmony with Nature
(2.1~2.85mil won; End of August, 2010) |
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Teach English in Gyeongbuk
A Peaceful and Historical City
(2.1~2.85mil won; End of August, 2010) |
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Teach English in Chungbuk
Ski Resort & Natural Rest Area
(2.1~2.65mil won; End of August, 2010) |
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Teach English in Incheon
A Costal City with a Mixture of Cultures
(1.8~2.65mil won; End of August, 2010) |
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Teach English in Gwangju
Hub City of the Southwestern Region
(1.9~2.75mil won; End of August, 2010) |
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Teach English in Jeju
Beautiful & Peaceful Island
(2.0~2.75mil won; End of August, 2010) |
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Teach English in Gyeongnam
Mild Climate; In Harmony with Nature & People
(2.1~2.65mil won, Throughout the year) |
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Teach English in Jeollabukdo
Real Korean Culture and Food
(2.2~2.85mil won; End of August, 2010) |
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Teach English in Ulsan
Upscale Center of Modern Industry
(1.9~2.75mil won; End of August, 2010) |
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