Korea - FAQ | Teach ESL Korea

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Shenzhen is the 4th largest city in China with a population of over 20 million people. A lot of people are less familiar with Shenzhen because it has grown rapidly over the last 30 years. It has gone from being a small fishing village to the Silicon Valley of China. It also shares a border with Hong Kong, which adds further importance to it as one of the richest cities for commerce in China. Its rapid expansion continues to this day.

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Public schools in China strongly prefer that all teachers arrive about 5-7 days before the start of the semesters, which are March 1st or September 1st. There are some teachers who arrive late, though in this case, teachers are encouraged to arrive no later than October/November.

Private school in China can be more flexible with the start dates, so it is possible to start throughout the year and complete a 12 month contract.

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Both public and private schools in China are very open to hiring couples (both married and unmarried) and friends. Since the majority of teachers in China rent their own apartment, it can be advantageus to share this cost. If you combine the housing allowance provided by the schoool, it can be easy to rent a modern and more spacious apartment in a desirable area of the city, while still managing to cover any other rent related charges, such as utilities. A smaller number of school in China provide dorm-style housing, which is available to couples as well. Public school teachers in China will not be promised to teach at the same school, but will be placed within reasonable distance to each other.

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Obviously all cities have petty crime like theft and personal belongings should be treated with care. Beyond that, Shenzhen is likely safer than most western home countries in terms of serious crimes like murder. One should still be wary of small issues like counterfeit money, especially at bars or when given change by taxi drivers or at small convenience stores. This is a rare problem, but not unheard of.

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This really varies based on lifestyle and starting wages. A safe estimate would be that food will cost around 3,000 RMB a month, and bills will probably range from 300-600RMB. If extra expenditures are factored in, an output of 4,000 RMB is a reasonable estimate for costs outside of housing. Apartments also vary by area. Places in a more suburban neighbourhood like Longgang will be much less expensive than an apartment in the heart of Futian. Most of the studio apartments and 1 bedrooms range from 3,000- 4,000 RMB in the city center. After all of these costs are accounted for, most people still save around $500-$1000 from their base pay. Of course, it’s very easy to get extra classes at a training center or to do private lessons, which could raise a person’s wages by 50% rather easily and make those savings even greater.

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To qualify for a Z visa in China, applicants must hold either a 120 hour TEFL certificate or provide a formal letter of employement, stating they have completed 2 years of full-time teaching experience.

To qualify for a subject or international school teaching position, applicants must hold a passport from a native English speaking country, a BA degree and proof of 2 years full-time teaching experience.

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Yes, there are a few options to teach older students, who are at least at a middle school age.

Public schools: While most public school jobs involve teaching elementary or kindergarten students, there are some positions at middle or high schools available. Since there are fewer openings for teaching older students, it is best to apply well in advance, before these positions are filled.

Private schools: Private language centers in China have both younger and older students. It is possible to teach older students (middle and high school) as well as adults. Private language centers tend to have smaller classes and students are motivated to improve their English to qualify for studies in a native English-speaking country or their international business. Students in private schools are motivated and are eager to learn. Teaching hours can be: 9:00am-5:00pm or 1:00pm-9:00pm. Teachers are also expected to teach Saturday and Sunday, but will get two consecutive days off during the week instead.

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Receiving an FBI check can take between 6-12 weeks and then it can take several weeks for it to be authenticated by the Department of State. If you choose to go with a state criminal record check and then have it authenticated by the Secretary of State in your state, the turnaround times will vary from state to state, but often take several weeks as well. For most applicants this is too long, so we recommend exediting an FBI CRC by using an FBI approved chaneller, such as Accurate Biometrics. For full instructions, go to: www.accuratebiometrics.com and ensure that you select the paper copy option. By using a channeller, you can reduce the processing time down to 1 week, plush mailing time.

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If your CRC is ink signed by the issuing officer, it is ready to be authenticated by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA). If it is not signed, it has to be signed/verified by a notary public first. You can find a notary public here.

A photocopy of your degree must be notarized before it can be authenticated by DIA.

Download the complete guide for authenticating your documents here.

Finally, your documents are ready to be authenticated by the Chinese consulate.

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Make sure that your degree is notarized by a notary public (solicitor) and that your original criminal record check is either signed by the issuing authority or also notarized by a notary public. Ensure that the notary is registered with the FCO or their verification won't be accepted.

The cost for getting each documents legalized is £30 and the processing time is 2-5 business days. Review the FCO website for detailed instructions and up to date information.

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Generally teachers have anywhere from 12-16 classes a week at around 40 minutes each. Sometimes schools ask for teachers to be involved in some extra activities, but that is usually not the case. Office hours are from 8:00am to 5:00pm with a two hour lunch. A lot of schools don’t require teachers to desk warm and allow them to leave after all of their classes are finished. This is not always the case though, so teachers should still come prepared to work their office hours if required. Classes will usually have 50 or more children per class. This number can sound daunting, but sound classroom management and Chinese co-teachers usually help alleviate some of the problems that crop up. However, teachers should be aware that this can present a challenge at first, but perseverance, patience, and humility will be richly rewarded.

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You can get your documents authenticated by using a company such as MyChinaVisa (www.mychinavisa.com) or US Authentication (www.usauthentication.com). These companies will walk into the Department of State and the Chinese consulate/embassy on your behalf to bypass the lenghty mail-in delay. Sometimes these companies do not offer to have the Secretary of State authenticate the documents, so be sure to check their policy in your state.

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Your documents must be authenticated by DFAT. Within Australia, staff at the Australian Passport Offices in capital cities are authorized by DFAT to provide authentication services. Make an appointment or send in your authentication request to the nearest passport office. Processing times can vary, so please call ahead.

Once your documents have been authenticated by DFAT, you can bring them to the nearest Chinese consulate to be authenticated, or hire a company to do this for you.

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Wages in China have increased dramatically over the last few years, by 50 to 100%, while living costs only increased by 15 to 20%. You can expect to save around $500 month, working exclusively at your contracted school.

It is worth noting that it is much easier to work "on the side" in Korea, which can be very lucrative. Private lessons pay on average 250-300 RMB per hour, in a Tier 1 city such as Shenzhen. It is also possible to work overtime at private learning centers and earn additional pay per hour.

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If your CRC is ink signed by the issuing officer, it is ready to be authenticated by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA). If it is not signed, it has to be signed/verified by a notary public first. You can find a notary public here.

A photocopy of your degree must be notarized before it can be authenticated by DIA.

Download the complete guide for authenticating your documents here.

Finally, your documents are ready to be authenticated by the Chinese consulate.

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This can vary even more significantly than public schools because the management style will largely depend on private ownership. With that said, most teachers have around 25 classes a week, though they also usually get higher starting pay. Private schools give less vacation time as well, but they also tend to be more malleable to personal situations or giving time off for emergencies. Unlike public schools where elementary tends to represent the greatest demand. Academies usually have a wider range of demographics. Adult and high school classes are not uncommon. Class sizes also tend to be much smaller, from 6 to 20 students. As these are usually extracurricular programs for most students, the working hours are usually from the late afternoon to evening. Late risers tend to prefer this arrangement.

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Gathering documents required for the Z visa from outside the USA isn't as complex as it may appear, it just involves extra shipping costs. You'll need someone you trust to be able to send and receive documents and to ship them to you once they have been authenticated by the Chinese embassy. We highly recommend using a third party to order your CRC (ie. www.accuratebiometrics.com) and to get your documents authenticated (www.mychinavisa.com).

The Chinese embassy in another country will not authenticate documents that have been legalized in another country.

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Your criminal record check (CRC) must be less than 6 months old when it is submitted to the Korean immigration office.

American teachers also must get their CRC's apostilled within 3 months of the issue date as this is required by the Department of State.

Also, EPIK applicants need to submit CRCs less than 6 months old from the start of the semester date, rather than the date it is submitted to the immigration office.

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Gathering documetns required for the Z visa while outside the UK isn't as complex as it may appear, it just involves more shipping costs. You'll need someone that you trust to be able to send and receive the documetns and to ship them to you once they have been authenticated by the Chinese consulate/embassy.

For anyone applying from outside the UK, we recommend using a service which can handle notarization, legalization by the FCO, and authentication by the Chinese embassy.

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No, the process for getting documents legalized varies for each country. For use in Korea, documents are apostilled by the Department of State, but for use in China, they are authenticated by the Chinese consulate. Documents that have already been apostilled, cannot be authenticated. You will need to order another criminal record check and obtain a new notarized photocopy of your degree. We advise applicants who are considering both countries to not go past the notarizing stage until they have accepted a contract in either country.

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You will be met at the airport or at an arranged meeting place in Hong Kong or Shenzhen (or another city) by staff from your school or placement company. This designated person will help you over the next few weeks with things such as finding an apartment, phone and bank account set up, medical exam and registration at the government office, etc. They will also help you learn about the daily schedule of your school and help you meet other teachers who work for the same school or company.

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Detailed instructions on how to apostille your documents (criminal record check & degree photocopy) can be found on our E2 Visa Process page. Select your country on the page to go to the detailed instructions.

Canadian teachers cannot apostille their documents as Canada is not part of the Hague agreement. Instead of the apostille, Canadian teachers must get their documents stamped by the nearest Korean consulate.

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The E2 visa process depends greatly on how quickly you can send all of your documents to Korea after you accept a contract. When your documents arrive in Korea, it can take 1-3 weeks for your E2 number to be issued by the Korean immigration office. Once your E2 number is emailed to you, it can take another 2-3 weeks for the Korean consulate or embassy to issue your E2 visa. With the visa in your passport, you'll be ready to fly to Korea.

You should plan ahead and allow a mimimum of 3-6 weeks for the visa process, provided your documents are in hand and ready to send when you accept the contract. Add additional time accordingly, based on the expected time you will have your documents in hand.

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Yes! One of the great things about traveling and working in another country is overcoming the challenge of the language barrier. Most people in Shenzhen speak Mandarin, but traveling to different provinces will reveal that even fluency in Mandarin might not help in all situations. Fear not, though—body language and preparation can solve most problems. Also, Shenzhen, as an international city, has quite a few ESL speakers, especially in important government offices or banks, so most language barrier problems will not affect important matters. It would definitely be helpful, though not necessary, to take Mandarin lessons while working in Shenzhen.

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While your contract may include a clause forbidding work on the side, it is generally overlooked, as long you don't teach at another school or your private lessons interfere with your contracted school. Side work pays around 250-300 RMB per hour, so it can be pretty lucrative. Extra lessons are generally available during the evenings and on weekends, so it's easy to fit them into a public school work schedule.

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You will have to fill out a Medical Health Form and send it to Korea with the rest of the required visa documents. The form does not need to be filled in by a physician, but answers should be answered truthfully.

When you arrive in Korea, you will have a full medical exam at a local hospital or clinic. The exam will check if you have any contagious diseases that may be detrimental to a students' health, as well as check to determine if a teacher has traces of illegal substances in their system (ie. marijuana, cocaine, speed, ecstacy, etc.) Current tests are being conducted via blood samples, urine tests, and chest x-rays.

If a teacher fails the medical exam, their contract could be withdrawn, so it's important to be truthfull on your medical form and to advise us of any concerns you may have.

Note that marijuana is considered an illegal drug in Korea and could affect your test results.

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Most people will not have a satisfactory experience in China without a VPN. This is a program that unblocks popular websites like Facebook, Google, and Youtube. It’s best to purchase a VPN like Astrill or Express VPN before arriving in China because their websites are blocked here. With a VPN, surfing the internet in China is basically the same as any other country without the Great Firewall (though download speeds can be affected).

You can sign up for Express VPN by following this link.

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Shenzhen is a hot and humid place, so it’s important to pack a lot of light clothes. The winter can get a little chilly, so a light jacket or two might also be helpful, but it will be hot for 6-8 months out of the year. Outlet converters are necessary for foreign phone chargers or computer power supplies. Any over the counter meds that are commonly used would also be helpful—Pepto, Ibuprofen, Advil, and Benadryll, for example. It’s possible to find anything, but deodorant and any large size clothing or shoes can take some time to track down, and it’s probably better just to come supplied. Make sure to keep all visa documents secured, especially prior to receiving the residence permit.

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In order to teach legaly in Korea on a E2 visa, applicants must hold a passport and Bachelor degree from one of the 7 approved, native-English speaking countries: Canada, USA, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, or South Africa.

Applicants who with to teach at a public school in Korea, must also hold 100 hour TEFL certificate, unless their degree is in Education. Private schools in Korea do not officially require a TEFL.

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This answer varies by consulate, so you will have to check with the one in your jurisdiction. Most consulates require 6-13 months remaining validity on a passport in order to issue an E2 visa.

Please check with your consulate before you send your documents to Korea, since the visa number will be attached to the number in your current passport. If you change your passport during the visa process, it can cause delays and problems later on.

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In public schools in China, you will be expected to plan your own lesssons. However, once you have a lesson in place, you'll be teaching that lesson more than once.

In private schools in China, you will teach lessons from a textbook, though how you teach them is up to you. As long as the main objectives of the lessons are met, it will be fine. Some veteran teachers like to change up the lessons to make them more fun and engaging, but it's perfectly fine to follow the textbook.

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If you're a Costco member, this can be the most cost-effective option for N. American teachers. The next best stop would be Walmart of Walgreens, but any photography studio should be able to help you. Prices can vary, so shop around for the best deal.

You will need anywhere from 5-9 photos, depending on the school or partner you accept a position with. You can always use additional photos, so it's not a bad idea to get extras.

Please do not print your own photos, as they need to be professionally done. Your photos will be used for visa processing and there are strict requirements they have to meet.

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Private Schools: You will know the name of the city and most probably the location of your school as well.

Public Schools: You will know the name of the city (since most of our teachers head to Shenzhen on Hangzhou) and the district where your school is located when you receive the job offer. You will find out the name of your school either before or after you arrive in China, depending on how your visa process is moving along.

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While we understand that Seoul is an exciting city, as well as the city that most teachers have heard about, please do not get the impression that it is the only fun city in Korea or the only city with foreigners and a great nightlife. One of the biggest misconceptions by applicants for Korea, is thinking that any city outside of Seoul will be small and rural and that they will not have access to other English-speakers, western food, or entertainment options.

Cities like Daegu, Gwangju and Daejon all have between 1.5 and 2.5+ million people, a vibrant downtown and nightlife, Western dining options and other cusines, excellent public transportation (subways, buses, etc.) and are readily connected to other cities in Korea, including Seoul and Busan. KTX trains and express buses make commuting between cities easy and affordable, which means you're never more than a few hours away from exploring a new place.

Over more than 10 years, Teach ESL Korea has successfully placed more than 1,000 teachers in these 3 cities alone, which we like to refer to as "The Big 3" and the reviews from our teachers are consistently positive. In fact, some teachers get so attached to their cities and build a strong network of friends that they would not consider moving anywhere else.

On a personal note: Dan and I (Aggie) still consider Gwangju to be their second home. We've made some life-long friendships and our son took our first steps on the streets of Sansu-dong, which is something we'll never forget. We've traveled to Seoul and enjoyed some fun weekends partying in Hongdae, but can still remember the peaceful feeling of getting on the express bus on a Sunday afternoon to return "home". Seoul was always there, always accessible, but we enjoyed it more in small doses. :)

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Since most of our teachers are placed in Shenzhen, which has some of the cleanest air in China and plenty of green space, this does not seem to be an overwhelming issue. In fact, pollution rarely comes up with our teachers in Shenzhen and does not seem to cause problems.

For cities like Beijing and Shanghai (as well as other industrial cities), pollution can be an issue at certain times of year and peaks during the winter months. Buildings in China are also equipped with air filtration systems to minimize the health risks involved.

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Yes! VPN's make it possible to bypass firewalls put up by the Chinese government. There are several recommended VPN providers, such as ExpressVPN. Some are free and some require a monthly fee, but they are well worth the investment. From time to time, the government will block some VPN services, but usually not for long. This is more common closer to Beijin and Shanghai, but will happen in Shenzhen as well. For the majority of the time however, you'll be able to access all of your websites.

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The majority of public school in Korea have start dates of March 1st or September 1st, to coincide with the start of the school semesters. There may be some start dates one month after these dates.

Private schools also hire for the semester start days, which means most positions are filled by March or September. We do get some openings for November/December, as well as May/June. Keep this in mind if you are delaying your start due to wanting to spend Christmas & New Years at home and starting In January or February. Most schools will not have openings during these months and you may find yourself waiting longer than you hoped.

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In China, most teachers will need to rent their own apartment, which can be a significant expense. If you're heading to China, you should be prepared to spend approximately 2 months' rent worth for the deposit, as well as the 1st month's rent and the agent fee (approx. 1/2 month's rent).

i.e. 6000 + 3000 + 1500 = 10,500 RMB (If your rent is around 3000 RMB/month).

Apartments in China come furnished, though rather sparcely at times. Basic items such as a bed, used TV, A/C unit, table, chairs, gas range, fridge, etc. may be included. You will have to purchase your own bedding, cooking, cleaning and miscellaneous supplies at a local supermarket, such as Carrefour or Walmart.

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It is possible to bring your pet with you to Korea, but it does depend on the type of job and your school. It is important to mention your pet during the initial application stage, so you we can let schools know in advance.

EPIK (Public Schools) has a policy of not allowing pets, so please keep that in mind.

Private schools in Korea will make the decision on a case by case basis. If the school owns the apartment the teacher will live in and it doesn not allow pets, it will not be possible. If the school is able to still chose the apartment, they might be able to accomodate your pet. However, keep in mind that schools will prefer to hire teachers without pets if possible, so if your heart is set on bringing your furry friend with you, please be as flexible as possible on location and type of job.

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You will get assistance with setting up a bank account by a co-worker or someone from your placement company.

There are several ways to send money home, though you will be limited to how much you can transfer, especially if you try to send more than what's shown on your paystub.

WeChat is an application you can use on your phone and which allows you to pay for almost anything in China. A coworker should be able to give you a crash course in this extremely important app and we recommend downloading it and getting familiarized with it as soon as you start your job search in China. This is also a very common method of communicating with placement companies and staff at your school.

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Public schools officially can not promise to place unmarried couples or friends in the same city, but due to our experience and familiarity with their hiring process, we have had a 100% success rate in placing our couples in the same city.

If you are a unmarried couple or 2 friends, you will not be provided with a couple apartment by EPIK, but each of you will be given a free, single/studio apartment. You can decide to live together in one apartment, if that's what you prefer, but you will not be receiving "housing allowance" in lieu of the 2nd apartment.

Married couples who are with EPIK, will be placed in the same city, and provided with a apartment suitable for a couple.

Private schools can hire couples (married or unmarried), but we estimate that approximately 75% of schools will not consider hiring couples or friends. There are various reasons behind this decision, some of which we understand and others that are not as clear.

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There are very few (almost none) private schools in Korea who hire native English teachers for middle and high school aged students. This is mainly because these students are being taught by Korean English teachers who focus heavily on grammar.

Public schools in Korea has also cancelled all middle and high school positions for native English teachers.

Adult schools in Korea exist, but there are only a few of them. Many have been absorbed by universities, which run their own in-school programs. The adult schools that do hire native English teachers, prefer to hire teachers who are already in Korea, as this allows them to get a reference from the current school at teacher is working at, saves them the cost of flying a teacher to Korea and prefer teachers who can work independently with Korean students. Almost all adult schools have split shifts: 7:00am-11:00am and 6:00pm-10pm.

If you would like to teach older students, your best option is to work at a private school with hours of 1:00pm-9:00pm, so you can teach a mix or elementary and middle school students.

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This is a legitimate concerns for teachers interested in the EPIK program. We make an effort to help you understand your options and the realities of where you might be placed. Within the last 3 years, most or all of our teacher were notified of their city or province, at least 1 month prior to arriving in Korea.

EPIK does hire on a first come first served basis, so it is very important to apply at least 5-6 months prior to the semester start date (March 1st or September 1st). This will increase your chances of being places in the city of your choice.

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No, this is not expected from teachers and in reality, the majority of ESL teachers do not speak the local language. It will be a shock at first, especially if you haven't traveled before, but you will quickly learn to adapt. In Shenzhen, it is not difficult to find someone who speaks English if you need help doing everyday things, so you will not be left to your own devices.

With that said, many public schools and some private schools try to offer beginner Chinese lessons and cultural events for their teachers to help them get comfortable. Co-teachers are also often happy to do a language exchange. We encourage you to try, as daunting as it may seem at first!

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At any given time, we have at least 40 or more teachers in our active job hunt, waiting to be placed within 30 minutes of Seoul. This scenario would be similar for most other recruiters in Korea. This means that there are dozens of applicants waiting in line for every job in Seoul.

Before restricting your job search exclusively to Seoul and it's surroundings, please ask yourself:

1) What are your main reasons for wanting to be placed only in Seoul?

2) Are you familiar with cities like Gwangju, Daegu, and Daejon?

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This issue was one of our key motivators to starting this company back in 2007. We pride ourselves in providing a network of safe, reliable and enjoyable schools for more than 3000 teachers. We have worked with most of our schools for several years, so we know how they are run.

We will always try to connect you with a current teacher at the school you are interviewing with, so you can ask them questions.

You can also focus your search on public schools, if you are very concerned about private ones, as they are government run and more secure.

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In China, the demand for teachers is high and you will often be invited for a general interview even without a video, so it can be optional. However, a video can be your chance to talk about your experience teaching or working with kids, even if it has not been in a formal setting and you're not a veteran teacher. Experience that doesn't jump out from your resume can be highlighted and explained in a video, which makes it valuable and shows your enthusiasm. Schools want to hire capable teachers who meet the requirements, but what they look at beyond that is how you will present infront of a classroom and engage students.

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Most teachers who fly into the Incheon airport, will take an express bus from the airport to their designated city. They will be picked up by their director or co-teacher at the bus terminal and brought to their apartment. The director or co-teacher will generally help them with purchasing food and other supplies they may need to settle in.

While most schools try to have their teachers arrive on a weekend, so they have time to settle and rest from the journey, this is not always possible. It's not uncommon to arrive and be expected at the school the next day to observe classes and be introduced to their schedule. Not all schools offer training and some teachers are expected to start teachign classes on their own on the first day. Please try to prepare for either scenario and don't be shocked if you have to hit the ground running. You will also have 90 days within arriving, to pass the medical test and apply for your Alien Registration Card at the immigration office. Most teachers complete these steps within 1-3 weeks of arriving, since the ARC is required to open a bank accound and set up a phone. You'll be assisted by your school in completing these steps and setting up other required services and utilities.

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Most teachers will pay for their medical (60,000 - 150,000 KRW) and for their Alien Registration Card (30,000 KRW). It's not common, but a few schools will cover this cost.

You will arrive to a partly furnished apartment, which usually includes some basic cooking supplies. You can also purchase anything you may need at a local "Dollar Store" for an affordable cost. If another teacher lived at the apartment before you, you might "inherit" things scuh as a vaccuum, rice cooker, dishes, utensils, etc. Generally, teachers try to sell things that are of value, but leave small things behind.

The level of cleanliness of your apartment can vary widely as well. It will depend on how the teacher left it or if the landlord has had a chance to clean it prior to your arrival. We sometimes find that schools receive possession of the apartment at the last minute and don't have time to get everything ready before the teacher arrives. Always speak with your school if anything is broken and not usable when you first arrive, so they can address the problem early on.

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Private Schools: You will have 10 paid vacation days plus all national holidays. You can request additional unpaid holidays if you require, though it will have to fit into the school's schedule.

Public Schools: You will have 3 months vacation time over a 12 month contract. This includes:

1) 1 week during the fall (mid-Autumn) festival

2) 3-5 weeks from the end of January and over most of February

3) Several long weekends (3-5 days) for the Dragon Boat Festival, Spring Festival, etc.

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Once you apply for your alien registration card and receive it in the mail, you'll be able to set up a bank account. Your school will help you with this and may chose the bank for you to simplify the transfer of your salary each month. If you have a choice, you may chose KEB bank, which is international or chose Citibank and open an account before you leave your home country. Then open an account at a Citibank branch in Korea and you should be able to transfer funds at a low cost.

You can pay bills and transfer money online, which is simple and hassle free once you get the hang of it.

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Schools in China put a lot of value and emphasis on hiring teachers with either formal teaching experience or general work/life experience after they graduate from university. They feel such applicants are more stable and reliable, which helps the company both in the short and the long term. School also offer a higher salary to someone who has at least 1 year teaching experience, a CELTA certificate, or a Masters Degree. This increase can amount to 1,000-2,000 RMB per month, which can add up over time.

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Teaching at anywhere other than your contracted school is illegal and discouraged, though some teachers are willing to take the risk to make extra money. There are regular checks by immigration and if you're caught, you can be deported back to your home country and prohibited to return. One way you can boost your income is to teach ESL online from the comfort of your home. As long as you are doing this outside your working hours and the extra work is not affecting your regular job, it is not going to cause problems. Please email us at info@teacheslkorea.com for information on how to apply for online positions.

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Public schools in Korea do require teachers to create lesson plans. When you submit your application to EPIK, one of the requirements is to create a sample lesson plan. This is why TEFL courses are so important for teachers, since they help you learn how to create a lesson plan and engage your students. EPIK requires all teachers who do not have a B.Ed. to take a 100 Hour TEFL.

Private schools generally do not require lesson plans to be created, as they tend to provide teachers with text and work books to teach out of. Still, it's a good idea to be familiar how to lead a lesson and build on the content provided to you. *Some texbooks may provide you with a general idea, but it will be up to you to turn it into a fun and usable lesson.

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The rental cost in a Tier 1 city, such as Shenzhen can vary widely, depending on the district, the age of the apartment and its amentities. A single teacher can expect to pay between 2,500-4,500 RMB per month in rent. While this amount may exceed your monthly housing allowance, spending a bit extra each month can greatly improve your available options and help you enjoy your year more.

When you sign a lease in China, you should be prepared to pay 3.5 months worth of rent. It breaks down to 2 months rent deposit, your 1st month's rent, and the agent fee of a 1/2 month's rent. This is a considerable amount, but most placement companies in China can provide a no interest loan to help with this initial expense. Please check with your company at the time of signing a contract if this option is available.

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Schools in Korea tend to only want to interview 1-3 applicants per job opening, and since there more applicants than jobs, first impressions can be very important. A video can give you a chance to talk about your experience teaching or working with kids, even if it has not been in a formal setting and you're not a teacher by trade. Experience that doesn't jump out from your resume can be highlighted and explained in a video, which makes it valuable and shows your enthusiasm. Schools want to hire capable teachers who meet the requirements, but what they look at beyond that is how you will present infront of a classroom and how you engage students.

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No, this is not expected from teachers, and in reality the majority of ESL teachers do not speak the local language. It will be a shock at first, especially if you haven't travelled before, but you will quickly learn to adapt.

Many large cities offer Korean lessons to foreigners through the government or local foreign community. Co-teachers are often happy to do a language exchange as well. We encourage you to try, as daunting as it may seem at first!

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At times it can be challenging to change schools mid contract if you are unhappy. Not only do you have to give proper notice (usually 2 months), but your school must also provide you with a "Letter of Release" that will be required to transfer to another school. In cases where the school is being difficult and is not meeting contract obligations, you can plead your case with the local immigration office and ask to switch to a D10 visa.

The reason schools do not like to release teachers early, is that it's costly for them to bring a teacher over to Korea and they do not want teachers to get pulled away by other schools when they have gone through all that work.

If you are not happy with the situation at your school or if there are any issues that can be resolved, please be sure to let your School or TEK/TEC representative know as soon as possible. Many problems can be resolved and worked through amiably with open dialogue.

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With private schools in Korea, you will always know the city and location of your school. This is because you'll be hired by the specific school.

With private schools (EPIK), you will usually learn your city or province name once your application documents are submitted and accepted. EPIK also hires on a first come first served basis, so the sooner you apply, the better your chances are to get one of your top location choices.

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The standard private school contract will have a maximum of 30 teaching hours per week, or 120 hours per month. Some school consider each class to be equivallent to 1 teaching hour, even if the class is only 40-45 minutes long, while other schools will total the actuall minutes taught until they make up 30 hours. This means that you could teach 30-45+ hours each week, depending on the length of each class.

Public school teachers teach a maximum of 22 (40-45 minute) classes per week.

You will also be required to remain at school during "non-contact" hours, meaning that you'll need to be at the school even when you're not teaching actual classes. This additional time is known as "office hours" and is to be used for lesson planning, marking, etc.

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As with the rest of the world, the climate in Korea has been shifting over the last decade and temperatures are often freezing in winter and hot and humid in the summer. As Korea is a small country geographically, there isn't much of a difference in weather from city to city, though winters can feel more damp and get more snow in coastal areas.

You will hear Koreans pride in the fact that their country has 4 distinct seasons (though we're not sure this is that unique :) You'll see distinct weather changes during the seasons and the spring and fall weather tends to last for a long time. These are also favorite seasons, since the weather is mild and you don't see temperature extremes like in the winter and summer.

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Over the last few years, food shopping and options has greatly improved in Korea. You'll be able to find more foreign food locally, as well as order supplements or herbs and spices from iHerb. If you plan to make meals at home, you should be able to access a variety of ingredients.

Eating out can be a bit more challenging as restaurants do not make meals to order, but rather have everything prepared in advance to cook for larger groups. Western restaurants will be more flexible, though if they're run by Korean owners, that might not always be the case. Vegetarian restaurants have grown in popularity in Korea as well.

If you have strict restrictions, please be sure to let your Teacher Representative know.

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Generally, this type of situation can be challenging in Korea for a variety of reasons. First of all, schools in Korea only provide a single/bachelor apartment, which is usually only suitable for a single person. They often own the apartments, which means they are not going to be able to provide a larger place for a family or couple. Since sponsoring a family can mean more work for the school, many will not consider someone with dependents. This is another reason why single, young teachers are their preferred hires.

With that said, if a school is OK with hiring a teacher who is going to be bringing dependants, they may help with finding a slightly bigger apartment, but will ask the teacher to pay extra rent to cover this increase. It will be your responsibility as well to make sure your children have schooling or daycare and this can pose a challenge as well, unless the other partner is able to care for them at home while you work.

A spousal or dependant visa is quite easy to obtain and does not require a lot of additional work or cost. For spouses, a long form of the marriage certificate is required and a long form of the birth certificate is required for dependant children.

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Yes, you can. Recruiters can't tell you to not work with more than one recruiter and you should be careful if they ask you to send documents before securing a position. Teach ESL Korea will not ask you to send your documents until you have signed a contract with a school.

The only time you can not work with more than one recruiter is if you're applying for public school jobs through EPIK. EPIK will reject applicants who submit more than one application, so once you've submitted one, please don't reapply thinking it will increase your chances of being selected.

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Korea - FAQ's

How long is a criminal record check valid for?

How long is the contract? Can I get a contract shorter than 1 year?

How big or urban is Shenzhen?

What are the start dates? Can I start between semesters?

I have a criminal record. Can I still get a Z visa?

Is it easy to get around?

Do I have to undergo a full medical exam in my home country and then another exam when I arrive in China?

Does it have modern amenities?

I have a dog or cat. Can I bring it with me to China?

Can my partner or close friend accompany me to China? Can we teach at the same school and/or share an apartment?

Is Shenzhen safe?

I only have an Associate's Degree. Do I qualify for a Z visa?

How much money can I save in Shenzhen?

I have a Bachelor Degree and a passport from an approved country. Do I qualify for a Z visa?

Can I teach older students (middle school, highschool, etc.) rather than kindergarten or elementary students?"

How do I order a criminal record check?

I have a criminal record. Can I still teach in Korea?

How do I order my criminal record check?

How do I order my criminal record check?

How do I order my criminal record check?

How do I order a criminal record check?

How do I order my criminal record check?

How do I get my documents authenticated by the Chinese consulate?

How do I get my documents authenticated by the Chinese consulate?

How do I get my documents legalized by the Foreign &amp; Commonwealth Office (FCO)?

What is the teaching environment like at a public school in Shenzhen?

How do I authenticate my documents?

How to I get my documents authenticated by the Chinese consulate?

My passport expires in 8 months. Do I have to order a new passport before applying for a visa?

What level of criminal record check do I need to submit for the E2 visa?

How much money can I save each month or in one year teaching in China?

How do I get my documents authenticated by the Chinese consulate?

What is the teaching environment like at a private academy?

Can I teach for more than 1 year if I enjoy it?

I already apostilled my documents for Korea. Can I use them for China?

How do I authenticate documents from abroad?

I already apostilled my documents for Korea. Can I use them for China?

I have a Bachelor degree from an approved English-speaking country, but my passport is not. Do I qualify for a Z visa?"

I already apostilled my documents for Korea. Can I use them for China?

How long is my criminal record check valid for?

How do I authenticate documents from abroad?

I got my documents apostilled for Korea, can I use them for the Z Visa?"

Will the school reimburse me for expenses incured by the visa process?

What can I expect on arrival in China? I.e. Training, apartment search, banking, medical exam, visa and registration?"

What is the nightlife like?

How do I apostille my documents?

How long does the E2 visa process take?

I take medication for managed depression or mild anxiety. Will I pass the medical exam?

Will I have trouble with the language barrier?

Can I teach "on the side" to boost my income?"

Can I teach online while I work in China?

Will I have to complete a medical exam in my home country before I arrive in Korea?

What is a VPN, and do I need one?"

What should I bring?

I only have an Associate Diploma or a TEFL certificate, but not a Bachelor Degree. Can I still teach in Korea?"

Will I have a co-teacher?

My passport expires in 8 months - do I have to get a new one before applying for my visa?

Will I have to plan my own lessons?

Where can I get passport photos taken and how many will I need?

What if I don't like my school and I want to leave China or change schools?

Will I know the exact city/location of my school when I sign a contract?

My Bachelor degree is from one of the approved countries, but my passport isn't. Can I still teach in Korea?"

Will the school reimburse me for visa related expenses?

How long are contracts? Can I teach for a short term?

I heard Seoul is great, so I only want to focus my job hunt there."

I'm nervous about pollution. Is it true that all cities in China have poor air quality all the time?

Will I be able to access Facebook, Gmail, YouTube, etc. while in China?"

When can I start?

What expenses can I expect on arrival in China?

I have a dog or a cat. Can I bring it with me?

How do I set up a bank account? Can I pay bills back home? How do I pay my bills in China? Can I do online or phone banking?

Can I go to Korea with my partner or friend? Can we teach at the same school or share an apartment?

Can I teach older students, such as middle or school or older? I don't want to teach young kids."

What can I expect my fixed and discretionary expenses to be each month, living in Shenzhen?"

I am very interested in working at a public school in Korea, but I'm nervous about not knowing where I'll be placed until late in the visa process. How will I know the city and province before I commit to a EPIK job?"

Do I have to speak Chinese (Mandarin) to live and teach in China?

I have been searching for a job in Seoul for several weeks now and working with more than one recruiter, but I'm not getting any good interviews or job offers. "

How much money can I expect to save each month while teaching in Korea?

Can I teach for longer than 1 year?

How do I get my documents legalized by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO)?