Tips for Interviewing with ESL Schools:

After preparing documents and a good application package, the first step in securing a position is to receive a job offer.  Applicants can either pass or fail their interview so it is key to be prepared and maximize your chances of receiving an offer.

Once a teacher receives an offer, we have a few days for you to go over the contract, communicate with a foreign teacher, and do further research if you like. As your agent, we are here to answer any questions you have and assist in any way we can.

However, without a job offer we have no option but to move on to a new potential position, so here are some key interview tips that can help you achieve optimum results.  Basically, school directors are seeking the following combination:

-          Enthusiasm

-          An affinity with children

-          A passion for teaching

-          Good positive energy and possibly some humour.

-          A good clear voice

-          Hard-working and diligent teachers

-          Adaptable and open-minded (the Korean way can be different from the western way)

Aside from the above, it is always good to have questions prepared to help a proper discourse along. The interviewee should not be silent, but be talkative and give the director a chance to get to know them.

-          How many students per class?

-          What are the ages of the students?

-          What kind of curriculum do you use?

-          Is there anything I can bring to add to the curriculum (this is a good one as it shows you have an inherent interest in being an                  educator).

-          Anything else about the position itself that you would like to know.

* Download:  Tips for Interviewing with ESL Schools

We hope this proves helpful to you.

Good luck!

SPRING IS BACK… TIME TO GET BUSY!

As with every year, summer will be a busy time for placements. Each year we seek to provide our schools with fresh, enthusiastic teachers, replacing the very same we placed the year prior.  This makes for good business all around, as our schools trust our judgement, and our applicants can feel at ease knowing they are following in the footsteps of  their peers who began the year prior . We also arrange for them to communicate with each other post interview.

In our experience, the early bird gets the worm. That is to say, those who have their visa documents ready first will have more options than those who wait until mid-summer to have everything prepared.  This may be a complicated process,  but we are here to guide and assist, so feel free to ask us questions or advice.

Don’t forget, you can use a letter from your registrar in place of your diploma (no need to wait for your convocation to get started).

Many applicants consistently ask us what the differences are between teaching at public school and a private school.  As with most sources of the information about securing a job and teaching overseas, the internet can be confusing and subjective, and not always accurate.

Having worked with as both a private and public school recruiter, I thought I would clarify the differences between the two with as objectively as I can, in order to help clear things up for those who not decided.

They both have their advantages and disadvantages. it really comes down to individual preference.

 

First, the BASIC facts:

Note: These are generalities. I will provide further clarification below.

 

TYPE OF SCHOOL	PUBLIC	PRIVATE
- Airfare	Reimbursed upon arrival	Provided upfront
- Vacation	4 weeks + 15 nat. holidays	2 weeks + 15 nat. holidays
- Class  size	30-40 students	8-12 students
- Hours	22hrs teaching/wk -40hrs incl. office hours and lunch	30 hrs teaching/wk 40-45 hrs altogether (prep, breaks, lunch)
- Curriculum	Provided	Provided – can be discussed during the interview).
- Salary	1.8-2.7 (generally 1.8-2.0)	2.1 – 3.0 (generally 2.1-2.3)
- Locations	Choice of three locations – First come- first serve	More choices (dep. On qualifications).
- # of foreign teachers per school	1	1-30
- Start date	March 1st / Sept 1st (generally)	Year round
- Application procedure	Systematic Bureaucratic selection/interview process (similar to JET in Japan)	Resume and photo to recruiter. Await for them to consult and guide you.
- Job security	Government	Private:  depends on school
- Qualifications	BA  any major + 100 hr Tesol	BA – any major
- Placement assurance	First come – first serve – will need to submit application and wait.	More of an organic process.           Placements depends on several factors: qualifications, time of year, preferences, recruiter

 

When considering a public school position, you generally want to be clear on the following:

- Beginning a position in ether September or March.

- Paying your own airfare to Korea (and applying for reimbursement)

- Being paid a little less than private (generally about 200 US/mth  for a first year teacher)

- Acquiring a min. 100 hr Tesol certification

- Being the only foreign teacher at your school

- Teaching large classes (it is harder to focus on the individuals students and discipline sometimes tends to be an issue).

 

When considering a private school position, you generally want to be clear on the following:

- Work with a good recruiter who will consult, support,  and guide you properly.  This is key as it is a big step to make the move to Korea.

- Communicate with a teacher working at your school (good as a 2nd source of reference).

- Be prepared to work and teach well. These are private schools and parents pay well to have their students study here in addition to their regular studies. Slacking is not an option. As with any job in the private sector, hard work benefits all and is rewarding at the end of the day.

- Be adaptable.. a team player. As with private schools back home, they are less rigid than public and can be more organic in their administration.  It is just the nature of the business. As such it is important to work with your administration as part of the team.

 

I hope this helps. Feel free to send us any questions or comments. We will see if we can help clarify things for you.

EPIK PUBLIC SCHOOL NEWS:

In the past, EPIK had accepted applicants without TESOL certification at the lowest pay level.  However, starting in September 2012, 100 HOUR TESOL certificates will be mandatory.

In addition, as mentioned in an earlier blog of ours, all EPIK Seoul positions have been eliminated from the program.

Apparently, due to the large class sizes and the general ineffectiveness of the solo foreign teacher being able to effectively discipline and teach their students, the government consensus is that it is a waste of taxpayer’s money. As such, it is believed that the other provinces will systematically follow suit in the future.

SPRING GRADUATES NEED NOT WAIT FOR RECEIPT OF THEIR DIPLOMAS TO APPLY FOR TEACHING JOBS IN KOREA.

Every year many Spring graduates are anxious to secure ESL teaching jobs in South Korea following graduation.  They also may be under the impression that they need to wait until they receive their diploma at their convocation to begin applying for positions.

There is good news however for those of you who are unaware.  In place of your diploma, you are able to use a letter from your registrar comfirming you have completed the necessary credits to graduate. You will need to get it notarized (by a notary republic) and apostilled (tywo copies bith with orgomal seals) as you would your diploma, but you can get it just after you complete your exams, allowing you to secure a position beginning as early as July.

Notes to keep in mind:

- US applicants: Keep in mind that FBI background checks take time, so you’ll want to prep those first (2-3 months).

- The visa process takes about one (1) month (after having prepare your documents AND having a secured a position and visa spronsor-your school).