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As is the case with almost everything, ESL markets fluctuate and go through cycles. In the fast paced, ever changing market of Asia, there is a new country that is booming and on a dramatic upswing. Korea may not be as much of a banner country as Japan or China, but for ESL teachers, it is easily one of the best options for living in the Far East. Seoul, South Korea’s capital city, is the eighth most populous municipality in the world, and harbors more than a quarter of the countries population. It is the governmental, economic, and cultural center for South Korea.
Many teachers are heading to Korea because of the financial opportunities, along with all the perks and benefits the Korean government are willing to shell out for the native speakers. Will Cote went to teach in Korea a year and a half ago. He’s not sure when he’ll get back. “Maybe another year. Maybe a year and a half,” Cote says.
Being a native speaker and having a degree in English has provided Cote the opportunity to be given a free ticket to a country he previously had little knowledge about, given a rent-free apartment, and set up with a job teaching elementary school children for 30 hours a week, all without a teaching certificate.
Teachers can expect to be paid around $2000 dollars a month without many expenses. Ali Hayes, who is TESOL certified has an even better deal as an ESL teacher in Korea. In addition to her round-trip airline ticket and rent-free apartment, she received a free medical exam, and help with her visa plus a higher salary than an uncertified teacher. She only pays $75 a month in utilities and a $25 monthly charge for her cell phone and the rest goes to savings or personal expenses. "If you have any self control, you can easily save money. The cost of living is pretty low here. Food and transportation is cheap," says Cote.
The workload can vary as well, depending on the level of students you have, and experience with lesson planning. Hayes works from 9:30 to 6:00 Monday through Thursday and then goes on a field trip every Friday. She only spends 4 hours a day in front of her classes and has a Korean “helper” teacher that sits in on the classes and acts as a disciplinarian. Cote has 23 hours of class time a week, with some time spent outside of class planning his lessons.
With the world economy in recession, ESL teachers are beginning to ask questions about the English teaching market and job security. Unfortunately, Korea isn’t exempt from the economic woes the world is facing right now. Hayes has noticed teachers being laid off, but also that those teachers are not having a problem finding new jobs. Cote sees it differently. “There is no way people are getting laid off here. Korea has an idolatrous insatiable attitude toward learning English. I’ve read several articles that say they are actually pouring more money into English education,” says Cote. |
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From 12 People
