Teaching English

Sources Of Information

The Embassy does not keep a comprehensive listing of foreign language institutes, nor does it provide assistance in finding employment.  In Korea, English-teaching jobs are filled either through word of mouth or through advertisements in the local English newspapers.  They also occasionally advertise through college placement offices and newspapers in the United States.

RECRUITING AND PLACEMENT SERVICES
Most English teachers hired from the United States do not get their jobs directly through the institute where they work.  Instead, they are recruited by a placement service.  These services recruit on campus and in U.S. publications.  The Embassy has received complaints about a number of recruiters; those considering working in Korea should deal with recruiters carefully.  Many of them do not know at which hakwon or area of Korea the teacher will be placed.  Very few of them, to our knowledge, will accept responsibility for a placement that is contrary to the original terms of agreement or contract.  Prospective teachers should keep all of the information in this publication in mind when discussing employment terms with a recruiter.

NEWSPAPERS
Once you arrive in Korea it is a good idea to subscribe to one of the local English language newspapers, The Korea Herald or The Korea Times.  Both are published daily except Mondays, and cost 16,000 won per month.  Both are available in Seoul at some street newsstands, but outside of Seoul are generally only available through subscription.  The Herald can be contacted at 727-0205, FAX 727-0677, and The Times at 724-2715/2359, FAX 738-2625.  Overseas subscriptions are available.

KOREAN YELLOW PAGES, OTHER DIRECTORIES
The Korean Yellow Pages is a very useful English-language phone directory.  It–and similar business directories – is available at most larger bookstores, or at www.yellowpages.co.kr.  The U.S. Foreign Commercial Service and the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea jointly publish a Korean business directory.  These directories contain a wealth of information, including addresses and phone numbers for universities and Korean government offices.  The Korean Research Foundation publishes a pamphlet on studying in Korea that contains information on all the universities in the country.

KOTESOL (Korean Teachers of English to Students of Other Languages)
KOTESOL also offers plenty of information.  KOTESOL is an independent, national affiliate of TESOL (Teachers of English to Students of Other Languages).  KOTESOL was founded in 1992 as a union of two separate national organizations.  KOTESOL is a non-profit organization established to promote scholarship, disseminate information, and facilitate cross-cultural understanding among English teachers in Korea.  KOTESOL has active chapters in Seoul and other cities in Korea.  For up-to-date information, please visit www.kotesol.org.