Working abroad / Korea

top_drawer_2

Hello

I'm looking for information regarding teaching abroad and am seriously considering Korea but am struggling to find a great deal of information about it. I have a degree and a CELTA qualification.

Has anyone done this? What was it like? Having done quite a bit of research I think that I will be best suited to a public school but am concerned that I will be the only native english speaker working in the school. I'm worried this could turn out to be a lonesome experience in terms of doing things alone - which is fine to a point but then it gets very trying.

What could I expect from the accomodation? The application website says it is provided but then that once you've applied you can't alter your choice as to whether to take the accomodation / or the allowance.

Has anyone any thoughts on Buzan vs Seoul?

How did you manage in being such a long way away from family? what about Christmas? Its a long way to travel back from for a week and on that subject who pays the airfare?

Thanks for any advice.

agrinnall

Are you looking at TEFL or teaching your own subject in English? I'd guess there will be more opportunities for the former, the latter might only be an option in ex-pat/international schools, although it would probably be better paid. Can't help on the Buzan/Seoul issue, but I believe Korea is one of the more difficult countries to live in without help, it seems to be just that bit more foreign than most places.

rock_queen

I lived and worked in Korea a few years ago. Most jobs are in private language schools, you can expect to get return flights at beginning and end of contract paid and also accommodation which could be either a studio or a shared flat.

You can expect on average 2 weeks holiday a year and also national holidays. I didn't know anyone who had more than Christmas Day off.

Getting into university teaching is quite hard, you need to have been there a while and built up contacts the same goes for British/American schools.

There are large expat communities in most cities, so you won't be alone.

Hope this helps a bit with your decision. I've lots of stories to tell from my time there some positive and some not so but I'm glad I went and experienced it.

saintjammyswine

A friend recently went to S. Korea to do exactly this and is having a ball. As rock queen states, there is a large ex-pat & Western community there and they have been very supportive apparently.