So you're thinking about teaching English abroad. Maybe you're flirting with the idea of South Korea or maybe you've already signed a contract. Wherever you are in your TEFL journey, here are some things to consider before you settle on teaching in Korea.
Hagwon, Public School, EPIK? What do these all mean? I suggest researching all three in-depth if you want to do a comparison. Right now I want to tell you more about my experience applying to and signing with a Hagwon. First of all, yes, there are Hagwon horror stories. But do your research, ask a ton of questions and there's a very good chance you'll land with a good school. A quick break down of the advantages and disadvantages of working for a Hagwon:
Consider a recruiter. When I started searching for jobs my biggest challenge was finding a school that would be willing to hire my boyfriend and I as a couple. If you are in a similar situation I highly recommend going with a recruiter. You can definitely find jobs on your own and apply directly to schools but if you have any "special circumstances" a good recruiter is incredibly useful. Case in point, our recruiter was probably one of the biggest reasons we decided to sign with SLP Ansan. The biggest selling point that made him stand out from the other recruiters I contacted was the fact that he was very available and always willing to chat with us via Skype. Most of the others responded with very generic, unhelpful emails that rarely answered my questions. After speaking with this recruiter we went through a series of two more interviews, one with the Foreign coordinator and one with the Korean supervisor at the school, before we were ever offered a contract. This does not always seem to be the process with many Hagwons so we took it as a positive sign that the school was making an effort to really vet their candidates. Do you need a TESOL/TEFL certification? For a Hagwon, it's questionable. I went with a middle-of-the-road, online certification through Global English. Overall, I was really pleased with the support they offered and the course covered all of the bases. Would I say it was worth the $600 price tag? In Korea, not necessarily. And for Hagwon work, probably not. It is a strict requirement for EPIK, GEPIK and the like so if you are going in that direction I'd definitely recommend Global English. I went for one that had an extra certification specific to teaching young students in Korea but you can find cheaper options on their site. Again, do your research. Don't spend more than is necessary, save that money for when you arrive instead. Get your paperwork in order ASAP. I would recommend making this a priority before you even begin applying to schools. Trust me, it's a lot of running around to collect the appropriate apostilles and official documents and you don't want to deal with that headache a month out from your departure date...not that I uh...speak from experience or anything. The basic document requirements include:
If you've got the time for it, consider a 2-year stay. The unanimous word around the teaching scene here is that the job opportunities get significantly better once you are in country, as does your earning potential. I've known people who have packed up, moved to Korea sans contract and found work within a month. Personally, this would give me way too much anxiety so if you're the same, find yourself a decent first-year position and then keep your eyes open for that sweet public school job with a shiny salary to match. Stay tuned for an upcoming post on tips for after you sign: what to pack, how much money you should bring, those first few weeks, etc. Exciting stuff! To help you in your research here a few links I found helpful when I was starting the process: School Reviews: Waygook.org Korean Black List Dave's ESL Cafe TEFL Course Reviews: TEFLcoursereview.com Good break down from The Guardian Fun, random info Reddit - Teaching in Korea
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