Teaching English in Korea The following information is provided by the government publication Teaching English in Korea. English Language Schools in Korea Teach English Abroad Online TEFL course. - £195/$295 Types of English Language Schools

Most English instructors teach in private foreign-language institutes (hakwons in Korean). There are, however, positions available in several other types of organizations:

• corporate in-house language programs;

• university foreign-language institutes;

• university departments;

• government/private research institutes; and

• public relations and advertising companies.

Hakwons

Private language institutes are found all over Korea but the majority are located in Seoul. Some are well known and have many branches, while others are small-scale operations and are short-lived. The ESL (English as a Second Language) market in Korea is extremely competitive and it is common for institutes to fail. Many of the more marginal businesses open their doors, hire the first foreigner they can find, advertise for students, offer classes for a month or so, and then close.

Most hakwons employ expatriate (American, British, Canadian and Australian) instructors for conversation classes. Some of the better institutes will provide housing for instructors. The typical full-time employee can be expected to work 20 to 30 hours a week. The majority of classes are conducted in the early morning and the evening, so many instructors have free time in the afternoon. Most classes have from 10 to 15 students — usually university students, or businesspeople who are contemplating overseas assignments or trying to improve their English skills. Many hakwons also have after-school classes for children as young as five years old.

All institutes are required by law to provide health insurance during the period of employment and severance pay on completion of a contract, but some institutes fail to honour these provisions. (For more information, see "Severance Pay.") The average monthly salary is currently about 1.4 to 1.5 million won a month.

Corporate In-House Language Programs

Most of the large corporate groups (chaebols in Korean) have their own in-house language programs. An instructor can typically be expected to teach more than 30 hours a week, working irregular hours all day from early in the morning to late at night. Most of these programs are intensive residential programs that require the students to study for three to six months. Some of the programs provide instructors with full benefits, including housing, but instructors may be required either to live on-site or to commute long distances from Seoul. The average monthly salary in such programs is currently about 1.5 to 2 million won. As a result of current economic conditions, many chaebols are reducing or cancelling their in-house programs.

University Foreign-Language Institutes

The major universities in Seoul, as well as some provincial universities, operate language institutes. Many of the students are enrolled in university but the majority are businesspeople. The hiring standards of these institutes tend to be the highest in Korea: most instructors have master's degrees in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) and years of teaching experience. The pay, status and benefits offered by these institutes also are among the best in Korea. As a result, there is a very low staff turnover.

Provincial universities tend to provide better housing, working conditions and salaries, and to treat foreign instructors as part of the faculty. These advantages, however, should be balanced against the cultural isolation a foreigner may encounter living in the Korean countryside.

University Departments

Most universities in Korea employ full-time English conversation instructors. University classes tend to be larger and feature less personal contact with the students. Most instructors teach between 10 and 15 hours a week. Academic standards in Korean universities, however, tend to be somewhat lax. Leftist, nationalist and sometimes anti-American attitudes may be prevalent among some students. As most Koreans have difficulty in differentiating between Canadians and Americans, this could be problematic for Canadian teachers. Many universities in Seoul do not provide housing, and some do not provide the benefits required by law. Monthly salaries currently average about 1.5 million won, with three to four months of paid vacation a year.

Government/Private Research Institutes

Many government agencies and some private companies operate research institutes. Most of the institutes hire foreigners with degrees in the humanities, economics or business administration to work as full-time editors. The editors proofread correspondence and research publications, write speeches, and occasionally teach as well. Most of the institutes pay quite well and some provide housing. Because the research institutes are usually government-run or closely associated with powerful corporate groups, instructors who work in them seldom experience problems in obtaining employment visas.

Public Relations and Advertising Companies

There are several public relations and advertising companies in Korea that hire foreigners to work as copy editors and occasionally as teachers as well. These positions are very difficult to obtain as they are quite popular with the resident English-teaching community. There are also opportunities to appear on television and radio programs, and in movies. Most of these companies pay quite well and some provide housing assistance.

Teaching English Part-Time

Many full-time English instructors teach part-time as well, either at another institute or in privately arranged classes. In principle, private instruction is illegal; however, many English teachers do have private students. Part-time instruction at a second institute is possible with permission from the sponsoring institute and the Korean immigration authorities. Private students often pay more per hour but some instructors have found that it is difficult to sustain a long-term private class.

If you are going to hold private lessons, you should arrange for lesson fees to be paid prior to each class. Keep in mind that, over the past few years, Korean immigration authorities have tightened their control over work permits for private instruction. If you are fined, you cannot leave Korea until you have paid the required amount. The immigration authorities will insist that you arrange for money to be sent from Canada if you do not have sufficient funds. When considering private teaching, make sure you know the law and understand that you may be taking a serious risk if you teach without permission.

Please choose from the following sections:

Teach English Abroad Online TEFL course. - £195/$295

Introduction
Types of English Language Schools
Visa Matters
Contracts
Housing
Working Hours
Severence Pay
Income Tax
Medical Insurance
Ticket Home
Cultural Differences
Adapting to Korean Society
How Canadian Government Offices can Help

Canuck Abroad takes no responsibility for the information or accuracy contained in this section and suggest you go to http://www.voyage.gc.ca/main/pubs/Korea-en.asp for the latest information.

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