Re: Meschel E Hi Meschel,
I can't say that I know any single parents in Korea but I do know parents in Korea (myself included). Each school or job is likely to handle things differently so you should ask them if your child's airfare is included, though I would guess the answer is no. As for school, are you going to put your daughter into Korean school? You may be able to get her in for free as a resident but I don't know. However, everything will be in Korean. If you are sending her to a kindergarten you will probably have to pay as well as for an international school. I have never heard of employers paying for that, but like I said, it doesn't hurt to ask. Maybe you should search on the ESL Cafe Korean forum to find other people in your situation who have done this.
re: louise Louise, every school is different, some have their own curriculum that they want you to follow closely, others give you a book 5 minutes before the lesson and thinking on your feet is the name of the game. Just prepare to be flexible and if you feel like you need some preparation just check out some teaching websites for icebreaker/mixer activities and get to know the sites for puzzles and word games just in case you get thrown in at the deep end.
re: JJ If you are a Korean citizen then you don't have to go through the U.S. for a visa and they would probably be offended that you do so. If you are a citizen you have the right to work there like every other Korean citizen.
Teaching in Korea w/ dependents I am a single mom and want to teach in Korea but I have a 4 year old daughter. Do you know of any other teacher in this situation and if so how did they do it? School for my daughter? and is school and airfare paid for dependents?
Typical day in the classroom? Hey Jenjen,
I am considering taking a teaching job in Korea. I have a degree but no teaching experience and was wondering if you could elaborate a bit on the teaching methods used? Were you teaching from a book or were you left to your own devices??
Any info on this would be much appreciated thanks!!
Louise
Thanks! :-) I'm thinking of going to South Korea in October, just stumbled onto your blog -- it looks great and I'm very much looking forward to reading it! Thanks for posting!
re: jennifer du Please realize that visa restrictions have changed since I first posted this blog and that you are probably better off getting something lined up beforehand, due to the fact that you can no longer due visa runs to Japan. Other people have posted comments on this, perhaps you can scroll down and read their advice about it.
Im really sorry to bother you with my question but since you’ve already experienced this im hoping you can help me out. I was wondering if you recommend I go through an agency to get a teaching job or should I look for one myself. This is my first time doing this so I have no experience and no clue in what to do that’s why I am leaning more for finding an agency or program which can help me with every step but ive heard it is better to do this process yourself..what do you recommend?
Going to Korea before obtaining work/a contract Thanks for all the info. Everyone suggests going to Korea ahead of time. The idea just makes me really nervous but I'm more concerned with having to find my own apartment which can require a huge key money deposit. Also, the earliest I can start is mid August and have to leave the same time next year to start grad school in the States so organizing everything beforehand is really convenient. So my question is, if I go and find a job there, will the school still provide me an apartment and will it still likely require a one year contract? What recruiting agency did you use and can you suggest any good schools from your work experience? Thanks!
beware of Korean hiring practices Many Koreans have tendencies to judge people solely on their physique, rather than their talents or inner beauty. The Korean employers are no exception, they think a white American or a Canadian are absolutely the best English teachers, if you are a African of any nationalities or a Asian, you will have harder time acquiring a job in Korea. Perhaps this is the reason why Koreans cannot speak English or make any improvements on it due to their fixation on physical beauty rather than talents or teaching abilities.
Lost transcripts Hi Jenni. Certain provinces in S.Korea have for a time now allowed those with two years worth of uni credits to teach esl. I went to a vocational-tech school for my AA and still have my original diploma, however, the school filed for bankruptcy several years ago, shut down and I CANNOT get a hold of my transcripts as they were destroyed by the Custodian of Records(they were only required to keep them for 5 years). Is this going to effectively be an insurmountable wall blocking me from teaching legally? I still have my original diploma... but without transcripts am I going to be rejected outright?
btw, I'm still a S.Korean citizen, I have a S.Korean passport... do I even NEED a "visa" to teach esl legally?? lol
I left S.Korea for the U.S. when I was only 8 months old back in 1972. So, yes, English is my native language. I can now read Hangul and speak several Korean words :)
re:vicky is this recruiter based in your country? the only reason i can think they would use your passport itself is if they were procuring the visa for you or something. i don't know much about this as the visa processes changed after i had my work visas, but sending your actual passport sounds sketchy.
how much information do they need hi, i was also looking at a recruiting agency and it seems like they want a lot of documentation, what was the process you went through before getting on the plane? this certain organization wants my passport.. like the actual passport. is that normal??
Finding a job My bf is thinking of applying as a teacher in korea for a year and I want to go too but I dont have a degree. I have professional work experience and have about 1.5 years left of school - what are my options for finding a job in Korea PT??? Is teaching out of the question?
re:bianne yes, online english teaching is sought by some, but to be honest i dont really know where to go about searching for clients! you might look on dave's esl cafe to see if anything is there about it (they have a whole korea forum that you can search) if you don't see any ads listed on the work websites.
re: meredith there are sometimes contracts for less than a year, but they are much rarer. you might look into your possibilities for getting a spousal visa through your husband and doing privates if you dont find a short term contract.
re: dave sorry this is late, but maybe the answer will help someone else. (i obviously havent logged in for quite awhile!) yes they need your original degree to organize your visa, and you will get it back. (and probably be asked to show it again sometime when they get in one of their periodical frenzies about fake degree holders).
Online English Teaching great blog...very informative and inviting..wonderful pictures too!
I'd like to know though whether online English teaching (fr Philippines in particular) is sought in Korea? I am interested to teach Koreans however I just cant leave because I am starting a family.
Question Jenni, thanks so much for all the useful information. Do you know if there are any contracts for less than a year? I would like to move to Korea for 6 months (my husband happens to be one of those annoying GI's) instead of the whole year. What are your suggestions?
Another cool blog! :)
''Do you have something around your neck that offended people ?''
If she does, then we all do. Blog bashing seems to be major hobby of trolls. I am glad it does not seem to put people off writing all these great blogs. :)
recruiters asking me to send my original College Degree Nice detailed info--would any one happen to know what are the chances of I sending my original college degree to one of those recruiters in Seoul--is it safe and would I be able to get back the degree upon my arrival in Seoul? Thanks for your help!
"As long as possible live free and uncommitted. It makes but little difference whether you are committed to a farm or the county jail.... If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away." -- Henry David Thoreau (Walden)
So I did it, escaped the conformity of the corporate ratrace while I still had my youth and sanity, to see the world with my own two eyes and embrace all its beauty and ugliness. Central America to Europe to Southeast Asia in 2005; 2006 will find me ex... full info
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Very informative and insightful blog. It would be nice going to Korea. Hope you can visit us too at www.namipueblo.com.