There are very few qualifications needed to teach as a foreigner in Korea. This is a big reason why the job draws so many people straight out of college. Besides a bachelor’s degree (in any discipline), an additional requirement is a certificate known as TEFL or TESOL attesting that one can Teach English in Korea.
Savings
By the time teachers finish their year (or longer) in Korea, they save quite a bit of money. It will be a large sum for those that are frugal, possibly enough for a down payment on a house or tuition for graduate school. Even if someone doesn’t save at all, don’t worry. The final financial package includes flight reimbursement, severance, and pension (exceptions for some countries). That’s thousands of dollars that go into their pocket once they’ve finished their journey.
Convenience (for urban areas)
Korea is all about convenience — at least in the city. From transportation to food. There seems to be a 24-hour convenience store around every corner. I had two just thirty seconds from my place. Great when craving a midnight snack. For those who don’t enjoy cooking, there is always food delivery available through various phone apps, such as Yogiyo. Delivery lasts late into the night and is pretty affordable. It even can be delivered while just sitting in the park.
The public transportation system in Korea is also the best I’ve seen. It’s cheap, clean, efficient, and has a ton of safety measures in place to protect passengers. And seat warmers during those cold winters. Some of these conveniences may be unavailable to those teaching in more rural areas; however, hope is not lost. Access to the countryside is easy with the development of the Korea Train Express (KTX) and bus lines. Great for planning weekend trips around the country.
Kids are kids, and they will cause trouble. It’s challenging to control a class that can barely understand anything you say. However, by setting classroom rules on the first day, such as chants or reward systems and reiterating them throughout the semester, the students will respond well. If all else fails, be stern. Even if they do not understand the words, they should recognize the tone.
On the flip side, the students suffer as well. They were born into a competitive society that demands perfect grades to get into a good college, then a good job, a good marriage — you get the picture. Some students will be so busy with extra lessons after school they will not get home until 11 PM. It is a widespread issue. Society dictates their future, and there is little one can do about it.
Ironically, a foreign teacher’s job is to support this system because learning English is considered essential for their success and SAT scores. It’s good to make lessons engaging but not overwhelm the students with tons of homework or projects. Middle school and high school can be especially challenging, considering that students are under the most pressure.
