How to Teach English in a Korean University
South Korea has emerged to play a considerable role in the global market. Korean companies make some of the brands you might see every day. Based on the 2010 statistics reported in the CIA World Factbook, Korea is the fourth largest economy in Asia. However, the country still wants to move closer to globalization and one way for the people to help is by adopting English as a secondary language. Americans and other people from English-speaking countries have turned to Korea to cash in on what seems to be a profitable market. If English is your first language, it is not very difficult to get into this job.
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Things You'll Need
- Passport
- Employment visa
- TEFL/TESL certificate
- Notarized sponsorship guarantee form
- Employment contract
- Certificate of employment
- Résumé
- Passport-size photos
- College diploma and transcript of records
- Application form
- Letters of reference
- Computer with Internet access
- Pen and paper
Instructions
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Obtain a certification that says you are ready to teach English as a foreign or secondary language (TEFL/TESL).You can sign up for online classes such as the ones in teflonline.net, which is probably the easiest thing to do. In countries like the Philippines, there are actual seminars and training rooms that can teach you to teach English to foreign students, specifically Koreans.
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Choose the city or location where you want to teach. If it is your first time to work in Korea, research the country so you can accurately choose the place that can cater to your needs. Some people go home dissatisfied with their job as a teacher in the country because they were not able to get the best accommodation in the area where they lived.
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Send your application to your chosen university. The TEFL/TESL certification program will often provide a list of universities that need English teachers. Most likely, you will be asked to fill out an application form just like that found in the AIPT Teach International website and to send application requirements such as your résumé or curriculum vitae and letters of reference.
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Gather the required forms and paperwork. Aside from the teaching certification, you must also prepare the essential requirements including a notarized sponsorship guarantee form, an employment contract and a certificate of employment, which should all be provided by the employer at least a month before your departure. You may also keep other forms handy such as your statement of purpose (an essay detailing your reason for wanting to teach in Korea), your résumé, some passport-size photos and your college diploma and transcript of records.
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Obtain the right employment visa from a Korean embassy or consulate in your country. It is advisable to get an employment visa while still outside Korea to smooth your entry into the country. You must then register with the immigration agency upon arrival and get a residence certificate within 90 days.
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Tips & Warnings
Try to learn how to speak Korean. Although not a requirement, teaching English to Koreans can be a lot faster if you can directly translate a word or a phrase from their language to English.
Unless you are given permission by the immigration agency, you should never try to look for another teaching job--full-time or part-time--in another university or institution. Having two employments at once is illegal in Korea.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit school bus image by Lombok from Fotolia.com
