If you are considering South Korea as your destination for your next TEFL job, you are definitely making a good choice. The country has a lot to offer and the ESL teachers enjoy perks like higher salaries and rent-free housing. However, when making such an important decision, it is important to go through various aspects of moving into a new country altogether.
Before you commit to it, we have prepared a list of the Good and the Bad of TEFL jobs in South Korea.
The Good
Free accommodation
The moment you arrive in the country, you are given an apartment from the school or the organization you are going to work for. Majority of the cases the accommodation is good and spacious. If you are not happy with the apartment, you can raise the concern with your employer.
Pay, bonuses and savings
The ESL teachers in South Korea earn an excellent salary. Additionally, you can also expect bonuses, flight ticket expenses covered, and national health insurance. Even without insurance, healthcare is excellent and affordable. You can also save a decent chunk of money teaching English in South Korea.
Food
You will always find amazing and usually cheap food throughout the country. If you are working in the big cities, you will not have any problem finding a variety of food options.
Convenience
Whether you need affordable transportation in taxis, buses, and trains or you need a late-night snack, everything is available to you. The convenience stores are present in almost every corner so all your needs are taken care of.
People and Safety
You will quickly realize that the country feels very safe. No matter if there are drunk people on the road or you are walking late at night, you will always feel comfortable and safe. People are very open-minded about foreigners and don’t hold stereotypes against them.
Work culture
If you are teaching in a public school, you can expect fixed hours and a 9-5 work culture. However, the same cannot be said if you are working with a private school or organization.
The Bad
Pollution
While you won’t encounter pollution like in China, the air quality is still bad. It will take time to get accustomed to the weather and pollution levels.
Unscheduled changes
You can expect the school to make last-minute changes by canceling classes, assignments, lesson plans, or tests. If you are not constantly keeping up with the changes, you might miss out on them.
The students
There is no denying that students everywhere can be difficult. However, you need to learn to adapt, set class rules from the first day, and be stern when needed as students here can be troublesome.
Competitiveness
The general understanding in the country is that you have to get good grades to get into the best universities. The pressure on students by their parents is high, they enroll in academies in addition to the school. The instances of students turning to suicide are a direct result of competitive behavior.
The experience of teaching English in South Korea is one worth trying. One should immerse themselves in the culture, language, and food offered in the country. We hope you can gather the necessary information from this blog to help you make the right decision.
