Unlike teaching posts in your own country, you do not need to be a qualified teacher – English or otherwise – to teach English in South Korea. Although salaries are usually higher if you have a teaching qualification, you will still be able to find work teaching English in Korea. Requirements do have to be met though, and these include:
Be a Native English Speaker
You will not be granted a visa to teach in South Korea unless you are a citizen of the U.S., Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, or South Africa. No exceptions will be entertained. Even the best non-native English speakers are turned down, usually because of their accents.
Hold a Bachelor’s Degree
In anything! From English to Engineering, and anything in between. As long as it has been obtained from an English speaking university in one of the above-mentioned countries, you are eligible to apply for teaching positions. Some schools also request a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certificate, or an equivalent qualification that has taken a minimum of 120 hours to complete. The better and more relevant your qualifications, the higher salary you will receive. Non-degree qualifications, such a diplomas or certificates, will not be accepted, even if they are in English related subjects such as Journalism or Creative Writing.
Be Enthusiastic and Hard Working
South Korea can be a challenging environment for western teachers, and it is important to have a positive attitude and a willingness to integrate and communicate with local staff. You need to be flexible and able to thrive in a changing environment. It is obviously also very important that you are caring, kind, patient and enthusiastic. A passion for children and a 100% commitment to your job are essential.
Unmarried (Preferably)
All accommodation is in a single studio apartment, so it is thus not feasible to bring a spouse with you, as shared accommodation is not available. Even if you are both teachers, schools very seldom place couples together as they are concerned that they could potentially lose two teachers if one had to leave. Taking children and non-working spouses is also not feasible – again because of the accommodation. English language schooling is also very expensive, and not covered by your employers.
Now is a good time to find out more about teaching English in Korea, requirements, and any other information.
ESL Job Link has all of the information you need to get started applying for an English teaching position in South Korea. Visit us at esljoblink.com.
