Part of a series on ESL in Korea
Chapter One- The Job
Chapter Two- Before Coming to Korea
Overview Are you employable? Compensation and benefits How much can I save? Private lessons When do schools hire? Job hunt advice How to check out the school before deciding Schedules Employment process Contracts Salary Accommodation Airfare Proof of onward travel Vacation and National Holidays Severance bonus Medical Insurance Taxation Know your expatriate taxation Tax issues for Canadian expats Pension National Pension Offices Visa Sponsorship Alien Registration Card Immigration Visas Visa application form Multiple entry visa Visa expiration Permission to work a 2nd job Letter of Release Visa run Fukuoka visa run Osaka visa run Surviving and succeeding as a teacher in Korea Teacher training KOTESOL Teaching resources Classroom games Legal matters English-speaking lawyers throughout Korea Labor Board Labor Standards Act

Young student at a hagwon.

Although the situations vary, Korean schools generally employ a larger staff of Korean teachers, who teach students English through their local language. Korean students are usually very well taught in grammar and reading. What they sorely lack is speaking, pronunciation, and conversation practice with native English speakers. Therefore, the majority of your teaching responsibilities will often revolve around speaking, listening, and conversation, supported by the school's books and curriculum. Some schools provide very good teacher training and orientation. Some schools allow you to step right in and find your own groove of how you want to do things. Some schools are too overloaded with classes to make time for a good training program and you'll need to jump into the fray and learn as you go.

Words of advice:

• If you haven't done so already, you might want to take a look at this light-hearted, but invaluable peek into the ESL teaching universe, which also has some good industry stuff, as well.

• Read our sections on teaching resources and do your own pre-orientation by reading up on TEFL, maybe even take a month TEFL course, if you are serious.

• Once you start working in Korea, come to school in advance of your classes and use your prep time wisely to go over the school's books and lesson objectives.

• Rely on the Korean teachers and the current native English speakers there, for advice. Keep your mind open and be a sponge for information in the beginning.

• Take a look at our Korean language section to get comfortable with some basic skills.

• Analyze your students' language needs, then think how you can get there from here. Usually this will compel you to review and practice many basic things which will eb the building blocks for your students' later success.

Doing all the above will get you on a good path to begin your job, as you will not really know how thorough their teacher training is, until you get there.

As for me, I was very nervous before my first class. I had no idea what to expect. And I'm usually quite good in front of an audience. But looking down at 7 little Korean kids gave me pause the first time. Getting over the hump of uncertainty and disorientation in that first class takes some hard swallows of nervousness, but after you make your first steps, you'll get right into your groove and forget why you were ever so nervous to begin with.

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