Even with the growing number of job opportunities in Korea, foreigners still have a hard time looking for a job in Korea. This is because most of the jobs require knowing the Korean language. For foreigners, who donโt understand or speak Korean, this is difficult. Most of the people in Korea donโt speak Korean in daily life. In some urban cities such as Seoul or Busan, English is used in some jobs. In rural areas, no jobs exist for foreigners who donโt know how to speak Korean. That is why one of the best options for foreigners is to get an English teaching job in Korea.
English teaching jobs are available in several cities. As the majority of Korean citizens donโt speak English, institutions are always looking for foreigners for English teaching posts. These teaching jobs are available around the year, and you can apply for them whenever you want. Knowing Korean is not a requirement for this job, so foreigners can easily apply to them.
But the process to apply for a teacherโs post in Korea is quite complicated. It can be confusing as to what procedure to follow. Donโt worry as we got you covered.
Requirements To Apply For A Teacher
You must fulfill the following requirements to apply for an English teaching job in South Korea.
- You should have a bachelorโs degree in the English language from a recognized institute.ย
- If you donโt have a bachelorโs degree, you should have a diploma from a recognized institute.ย
- Furthermore, you should be a citizen of the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia, South Africa, or New Zealand.
- You can also be a citizen of India and apply. You need to have a license in English teaching to apply.ย
- Furthermore, you should pass a drug test.
- Moreover, you should also pass a health test.ย
- Lastly, you should have a clean criminal record.
If you pass all of the above requirements, you can apply for an English teaching job in Korea. But these are only the rules that the Korean government has set. The public institutes in Korea follow these rules. The private institute that you are applying for may have more rules than this. In this case, you have to fulfill those requirements too to be eligible for an English teaching job in Korea. Keep checking, because you might be eligible for one institution and not be eligible for another.
Documents To Provide For a Teaching Job in Korea
You must provide the following documents to apply for an English teaching job in South Korea. These documents must be submitted at the Korean embassy in your country.
- A copy of your degree
- If you are applying through a diploma, then a copy of your diploma.ย
- If you are a non-Canadian or non-American citizen, you would have to get your diploma/degree apostilled.
- The original transcript of your program
- 3 passport-sized photos
- Your original passport
- A copy of your original employment contract, provided by the institution that wants to hire you.ย
- Your complete criminal record check
Public School or Private School?
This is the most important decision you have to make while searching for a teaching English job in Korea. Both of them have their own sets of perks and cons. The process of applying to teach at a private school in Korea is easier. But the process for applying for an English teaching job in Korea in a public institution is a bit more complicated.
If you are applying to teach English in a public institute, you will have to apply through EPIK.
What is EPIK?
EPIK stands for the English program in Korea. The purpose of EPIK is to make learning English more accessible and easy for the people of Korea. You should apply for EPIK if you are applying to teach English in public schools. You have two different ways to apply for EPIK. Also, you can apply directly, or you can apply through a recruiter.
The best time to apply for EPIK is at the start of both the semesters. You can apply in February or August. This is the time of the year where the hiring process of teachers for public schools takes place in Korea. This is why all the EPIK seats are available at that time. You have to provide certain documents when applying to teach English in Korean institutes through EPIK. All the documents that have been mentioned above, such as degree, transcript, etc. should be submitted to the EPIK program. You should also provide all the necessary documents that are needed when applying for a work visa in South Korea. You should either have a masterโs or bachelorโs degree in education or be TEFL/TESOL/CELTA certified. Once you go through this, you would have to pass an interview.
Here is your complete guide for applying as an English language teacher in Korean institutes.
