How do I Teach English in Korea?
The following applies to public schools/EPIK/GEPIK. Some hagwons aren’t as strict.
You are too late. Korean public schools will not be hiring for 2014. Only 70% of us were kept in 2013. An additional 30% will be cut in 2014 with no new hires.
Game Over (for Busan and Seoul public)
If you’re willing to lower your standards and go the private route, these are my thoughts. Given the choice between Hagwons in Korea or Buxibans in Taiwan, I’d pick the latter 10/10 times. Unless you have some seriously sick Koreaphilia.
1/8/2013 update:
Public schools are still hiring in less popular, rural provinces for elementary schools. In fact, word on the street is some of the rural counties have big black budgets, so you’d be making 2.3 mil KRW / month or so.
Hi,
My name is Carlene and I was hoping to pick your brain a little regarding teaching in Korea. I found your (ex) blog by Googling “Americans in Busan,” as I have been thinking about teaching abroad for a while now and decided on Busan recently as The Place for Me. I was hoping you could tell me if I’m right.
A little background: I live in Philadelphia with my partner and I teach ESL freelance. I have a Korean student right now who’s originally from Busan, and he sold the city to me. Though I have never been there (or in Korea at all), I felt the size, location and a few other factors make it a realistic, optimistic possibility for me.
Your blog, though I just saw the one final post, struck me because I think we may have a similar thinking on a lot of things. I really like your writing style and your attempt to educate other expats about what it’s like to teach in Korea. Also, and very importantly for me, you can understand my reservations as a gay person about spending a year of my life with my partner in such a notoriously homophobic country. Finally, you seem to know a good deal about the teach-abroad system around the world, and especially in Korea.
I guess that my biggest question is: Is it worth it? My main reasons for wanting this are probably similar to most of the people that do it: for travel within Asia, food, experience and the ability to come home with thousands of dollars I can use to settle.
But from what I’ve gathered from you, it may be a big problem to feel comfortable in my relationship AND find a job at a public school in Busan like we’re hoping. Maybe Korea isn’t the best choice after all.
If you could email me back, I would really appreciate it. I’d love some advice and maybe also something of a bond, if you’re open to it.
Best,
Carlene
You didn’t even leave me your email.
It’s c.majorino@gmail.com. The site had me leave it when I commented. Glad you saw my comment. Hope to hear from you soon.