Best Times to Apply for a teaching job in South Korea and Its Requirements

1. Best Times to Apply for a teaching job in South Korea and Its Requirements The best time to apply for a teaching job in South Korea depends on which type of job you’re applying for. If you’re applying to teach public school, like through English Program in Korea (EPIK), you should apply up to six months out. The hiring process for public schools takes a long time. However, public school usually offer the best benefits and tend to really hold your hand through the process. If you’re looking to start sooner rather than later, consider applying to teach at a private academy, or hagwon, instead. These academies often hire year-round. But, for the best selection, note that most jobs are usually posted in February or March, around the start of the new semester. Although the hiring process for hagwons is typically quicker than for public schools, still give yourself a few months for both you and the school to prepare the necessary documents and accommodations. Qualifications to teach in South Korea

2. The easiest answer to most qualification questions about teaching English in South Korea is, “It depends.” Depending on the city, the age of students, and type of school you want to work at, the qualifications differ greatly. However, there are some boxes you should check off across the board. REQUIRED: Be a native English speaker from an approved country -- To teach English on an E-2 visa (assuming you don’t qualify for an F-series visa), you must be a native English speaker from a recognized English- speaking nation such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, or Australia. Bachelor’s degree -- To legally teach English in South Korea, you must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university. The degree major does not matter. Clear criminal record check -- In Korea, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a job if you have any charges or convictions because a clean national-level criminal record check is required to receive an E-2 teaching visa. DUI’s and misdemeanors, too, will disqualify you, but don’t worry about traffic violations. SOMETIMES REQUIRED: Teaching certification -- While not all English teaching jobs in Korea require a teaching certificate, most do. A TEFL, TESOL, or CELTA certificate with 100 or more course hours are all equally acceptable. Many private academy jobs don’t care where the accreditation is from or whether it’s done online, but certain public school jobs may require you to have a certain number of “live hours” within a physical classroom. NICE-TO-HAVE'S: Master's degree in relevant field -- While not necessary, if you have a master’s degree in Education, TESOL, Linguistics, or a related field, you may qualify for high-paying university jobs. Some Korean skills -- I didn’t start learning Korean until I was on the plane to Seoul. But, knowing some Korean before you arrive, especially if you aren't going through EPIK, will make your life abroad dramatically easier. Even just learning to sound out hangul letters will help. Additionally, many schools will ask you to speak only English in the classroom. But, sometimes young children will not respond to English commands (such as, “Sit down, please.”) Knowing some Korean can make class time go more smoothly.