Teach English in South Korea, World English Service Ltd. - Information about Teaching in Korea

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Information about Teaching in Korea :
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Information About Teaching in Korea

• Why Teach in Korea? • Do Your Research

There are many positions teaching English available in private schools and general businesses, immediately, and all year round. There is a strong demand for teachers in Korea at present, and anybody who has the required qualifications for a visa is able to apply.

World English Service (WES) Ltd acts as an agent for legal visas jobs, which are for a 12-month period. The Korean students you could choose to be working with vary from 5 years to adults.

Why teach in Korea?

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Making the decision to embark on such an adventurous job is a big one, and not to be taken lightly. You must evaluate yourself and determine whether you have the personality characteristics and attitude most conducive to success in this sort of experience. First and foremost, you must be open minded and flexible. You must be able to 'go with the flow' and accept sometimes less than complete information. You must be able to be fun and entertaining, yet professional in your work. Of course, you must not partake in any illegal activities, and, always strive to demonstrate your good character and preserve the employer's good reputation (ie. keep drinking, partying, etc. within reason).

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If you are a person who likes to have set routines in your day and you get stressed and intolerant if things change at short notice, or for strange reasons, then Korea will be a very big shock to you.

You should not be a person who will be expecting to work to a strict schedule or timetable, or for things to be logically organized and structured around you. This 'magical workplace' does not really exist in Korea, especially in the majority of English schools you may be required to work in. You should be going, not just to make money, but also to experience a new and different life living in Korea and to learn about the cultural differences between Western and Asian cultures.

You should have had some experiences working with others, or in a workplace other than a university, or at least be able to recognize the fact that small everyday frustrations, which you might face, are not (solely) the result of being in Korea - that they happen around the world. You should also be prepared for some give and take. If this is your first O.E (overseas experience), or workplace employment, please prepare yourself for the change as much as possible and take off the 'rose tinted glasses.' In all certainty you will experience the 'homesick blues' and the 3-6 month settling in phase of cultural shock.

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One complaint heard about Korean bosses is that they are concerned too much about money and making a profit. Well, that is why they are in business. If they are unsuccessful in this, they cannot keep their institute open or pay your salary. If you are ready to be a part of the team, to help were needed, your efforts are very likely to be rewarded. Koreans are extremely generous and sincere by our standards. But, if you demonstrate selfishness (not admired in the Asian cultures) and self-centeredness, you may be given more of a cold shoulder and your experience will not be all it could have been.

Remember - you are making a deliberate choice to become a part of the Korean culture. The impetus, and indeed responsibility, is on you to accept the changes that will happen.

Do your research

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You will no doubt have been sensible and done a little research yourself about working and living in Korea.

Many people have already taken the risk of leaving to work in Korea without understanding anything about the legal base of contracts, the job market or Korean culture, etc. Luckily many of these people will have had a positive experience, but there are also many people who have fallen prey to the recruitment agents who place small urgent ads in the newspaper promising excellent opportunities and good pay or the internet 'head hunters' who operate internet sites from Korea and will often deceive a genuine person as to what is being offered.

Pressure is a very big part of the game!! You do not have to be pressured. There are many good jobs waiting to be taken all the time. Only 10% of available jobs are actually advertised on the Internet, and often the historically reputable companies where people are advised to go to, are now the ones paying the lowest pay! Also some of the larger recruiters operating out of Auckland and Wellington are actually working through a Korean agent and not providing correct information and support to the people when they arrive in Korea.

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A good example of this would be 2 young ladies who went happily to Seoul thinking all was looking good and found they were on a base pay of 1.4 million and had to live with the director of the school (well it does say accommodation provided, they did not know the base pay should have been 1.7 million won!!!)

Design & development by Karere.

Girl colouring

Classroom scene

Classroom scene