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 Home Why Teach in South Korea? Where in South Korea? Highlights of Gyeonggi Province Eligibility Criteria How to Apply Position Description Things That Matter FAQ Contact Us Who are the students, and what are they like? Middle school is equivalent to our 7th, 8th and 9th grade. They are called 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade. High school is like 10th, 11th and 12th grade. They are also called 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade. Classes tend to be large, around 40 students, and are usually all girls or all boys. Some schools are mixed, though probably the boys study in one part of a school building and the girls in the other. Students normally wear uniforms and have strict regulations about hair length, jewelry, make-up and so forth. Students are often shy about speaking English in class and afraid of making mistakes. They need encouragement, group work with tasks to complete, and confidence-building activities. High school students are often quite dedicated to passing the university entrance exams and fail to see a link between English as a living language and English as an exam subject. In some of the rural schools, students see no need for English. Classes are mixed level, so you may have students who lived in an English-speaking country mixed in with students whose level is extremely low. Discipline, oddly enough, can be a problem for both foreign teachers and Korean teachers. It helps to keep students busy, and the novelty of a native English speaker will help. Let the Korean co-teacher take the lead in enforcing discipline. Sometimes physical punishment is used; leave that also to the Korean teachers. Students usually enjoy having a native English speaker. They like to hear about your life, your family, your hobbies, and look at photos. Will I work with a co-teacher? All GEPIK participants are assigned to one or more co-teachers. The working pattern varies greatly. In some cases, you will teach alone. Some classes may be taught together, or the Korean co-teacher may teach the grammar and translate vocabulary. You are expected to provide "real" English: conversation, listening, games, and activities that will stimulate the students to use English. Some co-teachers have not had much opportunity to speak English and may be shy. The co-teacher will be your ally and support in most cases, and can help you with daily living and understanding the school schedule and expectations. Ask questions! What are my working hours? Your contract calls for 22 hours of teaching per week. You are expected to stay at school for the working day, however. You can use the rest of the time to prepare lessons for the next day. Teaching beyond 22 hours is sometimes required. In that case, you will be paid overtime. What kind of clothes will I need? It is a good idea to have one suit or dress for formal occasions. School dress is generally conservative. Men should wear pants and shirts with buttons. A shirt and tie is good at the beginning as a sign of respect. Women should avoid low-cut or overly tight clothes, but nice pants are fine. Earrings on males, as well as piercings, are not acceptable in Korean schools. The schools are fairly conservative, and it is a good idea for you to be so as well. What kind of apartment will I have? Most apartments are modern and well-equipped. The school will find your apartment and equip it with basic furniture, a washing machine (though probably not a dryer), a TV, and a rice cooker. There are English-language channels on TV in Korea. Should I take money with me? Should I buy Korean money here before I go? Take some money with you for the first few days. You will receive a settling-in allowance on arrival of 300,000 won (see www.oanda.com for current conversation rate) to help you buy things for your apartment. Don't buy money in the US. Wait until you arrive in Korea because the rate is better. When do I get paid? Can I send money to the US? Can I save money? Participants are normally are paid on the 25th of each month by direct deposit to a bank account. The Korean won is a sound currency. Unless you live extravagantly, you will be able to live well and save some money. You can convert Korean money and send it to the U.S. freely. How much vacation do I get? Will I have time to travel? The contract allows 14 vacation days, excluding Saturday and Sunday. These vacation days have to be used when school is not in session. Korean holidays are not counted as vacation days. The main holidays are Chuseok, similar to Thanksgiving, in the autumn, and the lunar new year, usually in February. These holidays follow a lunar calendar, so they move around. During school breaks, you may be required to teach classes in special sessions However, schools vary in the programs they offer during school breaks. You can discuss this with the co-teacher and principal of your school. What is the school year calendar like? The general school year is: Spring semester: March 1 - mid-July Summer break: Mid-July - mid-August Winter semester: Mid-August - late December Winter break: Late December - March 1, but possibly with a couple weeks of school in early February. What benefits are offered? Teachers in Korea are part of the Korean health insurance plan. Half of the cost will be deducted from your salary (around $40.00 per month) and the other half is paid by the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education. You are also required to pay into Korea's pension plan, but you can have the money refunded at the end of your contract. Do I need to take special health precautions? No vaccinations are required before going to Korea. The water is drinkable, though bottled water is available everywhere. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (link to http://www.cdc.gov/) provides health-related recommendations for international travel. Is Korea safe? Korea is generally considered safe country. However, normal precautions should be used about going out at night alone; stay in well-lighted places and be alert, just as you would in the U.S. The U.S. State Department (link to http://www.state.gov/travelandbusiness/) provides country-specific safety information for travelers. (Many thanks to the University of Wisconsin for information provided for this web site.) |
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