Planning To Teach English In Korea? Key Things To Remember
Getting a job in a foreign country is never an easy affair. It requires you to come out of your comfort zone to establish your career in a different land. But if you are looking forward to teaching English in Korea, you have come to the right place. The criteria for becoming a teacher in South Korea are not as extensive or complicated as you think.
South Korea is one of the top destinations that attract thousands of teachers to teach English. It has an attractive teaching market that offers an excellent standard of living along with high wages. The vibrant culture, exceptional food scenes, and reasonable requirements make teaching English in Korea an ideal choice. This article will help you find answers to your burning questions of why you should move to South Korea to teach, how you can do so, and more.
English Teacher Requirements At A Glance:
1. Passport
2. Native English speaker
3. Clean criminal record
4. Teaching experience
5. Bachelor’s level degree
6. No outstanding health issues
7. TEFL/TESOL certification
8. Master’s degree or PhD
These are the requirements you need to fulfill to establish a prosperous teaching career in South Korea. Today we are going to discuss them. So, scroll down and take a look.
Why Should You Teach English In Korea?
It is crucial to know why you should pick South Korea over other countries to establish your career. The most prominent reason for making this decision is the tradition and culture of Korea. It is also the land of K-pop, K-drama, and K-beauty, and it nails all levels of entertainment and beauty. This explains why teaching English is popular in Korea. Apart from this, there are several other reasons to become an English teacher. There are plenty of jobs with outstanding schools and universities to teach English.
Another major reason to pursue your career as an English teacher in South Korea is the good standard of living. South Korea is one of the countries where it is fairly easy to save money even when enjoying your life to the fullest. Along with a decent salary, employers in South Korea offer the teachers incredible benefits like free accommodation, health insurance, free return travel, pension, and vacation days. Adding to the list, there is a friendly vibe where it is easy to build relationships with the locals. This makes living in this country very easy, even for the first-timers.
The list is not finished yet. While these are enough reasons to explain why South Korea is the best choice, there’s another reason why teachers look forward to teaching English in this country. Korea appreciates its teachers and knows how to make them feel special and loved. This is why, every year, on May 15, they ask the students to present their teachers with red carnations, thank-you notes, or gifts. Without a doubt, it is a place where an individual can grow both as a person and a professional. Believe us, South Korea is a lovely destination to teach English and learn something new every day.
Basic Requirements To Teach English In Korea
Here are the requirements that qualify a person to become a teacher in South Korea. It depends upon the location, age of the students, type of the school, previous experience, etc. However, we have a checklist that you must consider to teach students.
Passport/Visa
An E-2 (teaching) visa from the nearest South Korean embassy or consulate is necessary to move abroad and become a teacher. However, Korean immigration doesn’t issue a visa to all nationalities. You must be from one of the English-speaking countries: the United States, Canada, Britain, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and South Africa, to get the visa easily.
Native English Speaker
While this is not always required, some jobs or schools ask their teachers to be native English speakers. Currently, Korea permits candidates only from the seven designated countries – Australia, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Ireland. Anyone from other countries with strong English speaking skills is not allowed to teach yet.
Clean Criminal Record
Background check is of extreme importance when it comes to teaching in Korea. The country is very particular and cautious of who they allow working in their country. Hence, they require every candidate to go through a background check, or some may ask to submit a clean criminal record document.
Bachelor’s Level Degree
Anyone applying to teach English in Korea must have a bachelor’s degree in any major or field of study. While all subjects are accepted, the college must be from any of the seven designated countries. Along with the degree, you will also require a copy of the original transcript.
TEFL/TESOL Certification
While not every English teaching job in Korea requires a TEFL or TESOL certification, most of them do. Especially in public schools, this certification is considered essential. The candidate must complete 100 or more course hours to get a valid certification. This certificate prepares the person for a professional level and increases the chances of getting a well-paid job in South Korea.
Master’s Degree or PHD
This is not a must-have requirement to become a teacher in South Korea. While you can easily get a job even with a Bachelor’s degree, being a postgraduate or Ph.D. candidate will improve your chances of getting a well-paid, respectable job as an English teacher at a university or a public or private grade school. Having a higher degree will open up opportunities and better positions along with chances of getting higher pay.
No Major Health Issues
Besides qualifications, being physically and mentally fit is also required to become a teacher. All the desired applicants must submit a Korean Immigration Health Questionnaire before securing their visa. However, the process doesn’t end here. The candidate must also undergo a health test once they arrive in South Korea.
Tips For A Smooth Paperwork
Once you know all the requirements and have decided to establish your career as a teacher in Korea, it’s time to start with the application. Teaching in Korea comes with a lot of paperwork, and you need to get it right. To make the process hassle-free, we have shared some tips that you must keep in mind.
- Always Carry Your Official College Transcripts: Depending on where you are applying to teach, you might be asked to submit an official, sealed transcript. Hence, it is always a good idea to keep them in hand while filling out the application.
- Keep A Copy Of All The Required Documents: Maybe not at the moment, but your prospective employer may request you to submit a copy of your documents at some point in the future. This is why it is crucial to have at least two to three copies of all the records, along with the official ones.
- Have Official Passport Photo: To attach with your application, you will require a full-color passport size photograph. Check for the specific requirement before applying. But make sure you dress and look professional in the photograph.
- Never Ask Your Friends & Families To Write Recommendation Letter: While most private schools in South Korea won’t ask for a recommendation letter, some might require it. So, if you are asked for the letter, make sure it comes from a professional source, not your family or friends.
Conclusion:
These are the minimum requirements for teaching English in Korea. Even if they look complex, trust us, they are not. Now that you have learned all about the requirements, it’s time to take action and make it happen. You should conduct a deep study, look through various sources, ask questions, and talk to experienced candidates before taking the big leap and stepping into your role as an English teacher. Be sure of your decision so that you make a choice that you won’t regret later.
Good luck with your new adventure!