How to Get an English Teaching Job in Korea

The word is getting out that South Korea is one of the hottest destinations around the world for teaching English in Korea. Most people don’t think of South Korea as their first choice to teach English abroad, but after learning about the country’s incredible opportunities, it’s no wonder that it is the most popular destination for hundreds of International TEFL Academy graduates each year.

The job market for teaching English in Korea is huge (25,000 foreigners teach English there every year) and those who meet the standard criteria – native-English speakers who hold a 4-year degree and a clean criminal record – can almost always get hired with a TEFL certification, but there is a process that needs to be followed.

From the day you begin your TEFL class to the day you get on a plane to go to Korea, the process of certification, arranging a teaching job, and making travel and visa arrangements typically takes 4-6 months (2-3 months longer for public school positions).

This means that if you want to line up English teaching jobs in Korea in the next 6-12 months, you need to start planning and beginning the certification process now.

Call An Advisor & Begin Your Research

Request a free brochure for teaching English abroad or call 773-634-9900 to speak with an ITA expert advisor to discuss your options and questions about teaching English in South Korea and around the world. If you already have been assigned to an advisor, send them an email or give them a call to set up a time to talk.

You should also check out our FAQs on teach English in Korea & Articles, which feature hundreds of articles about TEFL certification and teaching English abroad, and our Alumni Articles & Blogs, where you can check out numerous firsthand accounts of teaching English in South Korea and dozens of other countries around the world.

Enroll in a TEFL Class

Earning an accredited TEFL Certification will provide you with the skills you need to actually function successfully as a teacher and it will provide you with a recognized qualification that thousands of language schools and institutes in South Korea and around the world seek and require when hiring new English teachers. Even if you are a certified or experienced teacher, unless you have a degree in TESOL, you will still want to get TEFL certified.  Also, when you take a best TEFL course, you will receive the Job Search Guidance you need to get hired in South Korea and other countries around the globe.

Prepare For Your Job Search

With guidance with ITA Student Affairs, prepare your cover letter & resume and gather documents you will need for teaching English in South Korea, including a photo of you looking professional and clean cut, your passports and so forth.

Once your documents are ready to go, you will begin working with International TEFL Academy advisors who will help you with contacting  recruiters (International TEFL Academy enjoys relationships with top recruiting organizations for teaching jobs in South Korea), looking at job listings and exploring individual English teaching jobs in South Korea or elsewhere.

Note that private language schools, known commonly as hogwans, recruit and hire English teachers year-round.

Interview & Apply for English Teaching Jobs

You will apply and interview for positions in Korea from home and you will interview by phone & Skype. Typically you can begin this process once you have begun your TEFL class and you have certain documents ready to go, including your national criminal background check. Most interviews are given over the phone or by Skype.  Some schools will require a second or third interview, particularly for positions public schools, but for most positions in private language schools, one 20-30 minute interview will suffice. International Academy advisors in the Student Affairs Department will assist you in preparing for your interview and often any recruiter that you are working with will assist you with arranging and preparing for interviews.

Sign A Contract with a Korean School, Make Travel & Visa Arrangements

Once you receive a job offer that you want to accept, you will need to sign a contract, and then file documents and visit the nearest Korean Consulate to receive your E2 teaching visa. Your new employer and the recruiter you are working with will typically assist you with arranging the necessary documents.  Your employer will also work with you to make flight arrangements.

And finally, after everything is done, hop on a plane to South Korea and begin your new adventure!