After-school ESL program teachers, Chungbuk & Seoul - CLOSED

Two public elementary schools are looking for ESL teachers for their after-school English programs.

The application process is simpler with less document requirement compared to the EPIK positions.

- Position: Full-time public elementary school ESL teacher
- Type: After-school English program
- Location : 1) Cheongju-si, chungcheongbuk-do, 2) Mok-dong, Seoul
- Start date: 1/14/2008
- Working hours: Mon-Fri 1pm-6pm
- Compensation: KRW2.0-2.3mn/month
- Benefits: 14+ days of paid vacation/ Round-trip airfare/ Year-end bonus/ 50% medical
- Required documents: Copy of degree/ Sealed transcript/ 2 pieces of passport photo/ Criminal record check/ Medical check
- How to apply: send a CV by email at recruit@tenetkorea.com ASAP.

EPIK: Interview then what?

Visa Application Process:

1. Submit the following documents to the Ministry of Education.
- Copy of your application form with your hand-written signatures
- Copy of Degree
- 2 Transcripts – sealed
- Copy of passport’s picture-page
- 3 pieces of passport photo
- 2 recommendation letters – sealed
- Criminal record check
- Medical report (see attached)
- (If applicable) Copy of Teacher's certificate, TEFL, TESOL or CELTA certificate (100+ course hours)
- (If applicable) Proof of teaching experience (full-time)

Note 1. Degree - Send a copy of your degree to EPIK. However, when you apply for a work visa at the Consulate/Embassy, you are required to show them the original copy.

Note 2. Transcript - Order two. One should be sent directly to EPIK by your school and the other one should be submitted to the Consulate/Embassy when you apply for work visa.

Note 3. Photo – Take three. One should be sent to EPIK and the other two should be submitted at the time of visa application.

Note 4. Criminal record check - All applicants from Canada should include, in their criminal record check, "vulnerable sector search", which tells whether the applicant is suitable to work with children under 18. If the record is not ready when all the other documents are to send, you may send a proof/receipt that tells your record check is in process and provide the original copy later.

Note 5. Medical report – You can take the medical test in Korea once you get there and submit the report. However, if the result turns out to be that you are not eligible to teach in Korea, you will be returned to your home country at your own expense.

Note 6. The most important documents to send are: 1) copy of degree, 2) transcript, 3) passport photo and 4) copy of passport’s picture page. If you think it will take too long to send the required documents all at once, send these first.

Note 7. When the documents are ready, send them in a package via Fed-Ex, DHL or UPS to the address below and give us the tracking number.

- Receiver: Ms. Jean-kang Lim, Coordinator, EPIK
- Address: 43 Ihwajang-gil, Jongno-Gu, Seoul, 110-810, S.Korea
- Tel: 82 2 3668 1401/ Fax: 82 2 765 9947

2. Receive an official letter of acceptance, employment contract and visa documents from the Ministry.

3. Visit the Korean Consulate/Embassy near you with your passport AND the documents from the Ministry and apply for E2 visa.

4. Book an airline ticket (the earlier the better).

5. Leave for Korea.

6. Attend an orientation.

7. Start teaching.

EPIK: Is it too late to apply?

The application deadline was officially December 15, 2007.

However, there are some positions available in the following regions:
Gangwon, Chungbuk, and Gyeongbuk

EPIK: How to apply?

- Go to the official site of EPIK (English Program in Korea).
- Go to Application.
- Go to Application Form on the left-hand menu bar.
- Download the application form.
- Fill it in.
- Send the following by email at recruit@tenetkorea.com by ASAP.
1) Application
2) Scanned copy of passport's photo page
3) Preferred day and time (in SEOUL TIME) for a telephone interview

We then arrange a telephone interview for you. If you successfully pass the interview, we begin the visa application process.

EPIK: FAQs

Q. Who’s who and what do they do?

- South Korea’s Ministry of Education is your employer.
- EPIK or English Program in Korea is a supervisory body within the Ministry that is in charge of English education of public schools across the country.
- Tenet Korea is a local recruiter of the Ministry. We recommend qualified candidates to the Ministry; process the application; and guide the applicants throughout the document preparation for the visa application.
- Korean Embassy or Consulate then takes over the process and issues E-2 visa (work visa) to legalize your employment with the Ministry.
- POE or Provincial Office of Education is a School District on a provincial level. POE will be your immediate supervisor while working in Korea.
- We work as a team to make the whole process efficient, convenient and friendly.


Q. I am NOT a citizen of the seven English-speaking countries - US, Canada, Britain, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. However, I grew up and obtained my Bachelor’s Degree in one of the listed countries. Am I eligible to apply for the position?

A. This is a tricky situation, but the answer is NO. In order to make sure that public school ESL teachers are native speakers of English, South Korea’ Immigrations Office requires public school ESL teachers to be citizens of the seven English-speaking countries, and issues E-2 visa (work visa) only to those who meet the minimum requirement. Although we may appreciate your qualification, the Immigrations Office won’t issue a visa.


Q. Do I need a passport to apply for this position?

A. Yes. However, if you don’t have a passport at the time of applying for the position, apply first and get your passport ready. You need a passport to apply for a work (E2) visa.


Q. Are there any tips for filling in the application?

A. See the application guideline.


Q. In the application form, there is a list of documents that are required to submit. Should I need to submit them all at once?

A. NO. When you apply, you only need to submit the 1) application form and 2) a scanned copy of passport's photo page ONLY. If your application passes the first screening by the Ministry, we arrange a telephone interview for you. If you pass the interview, the Ministry will ask you to send the rest.


Q. I'm waiting for my University to produce some transcripts. Are these then sent to Korea? Or the Korean Embassy? Likewise, I assume that you want the original copy of my degree. I'm a bit confused as to how this works.

- Transcript : When you order the transcripts, order two. One should be sent directly to the Ministry from the institution you graduated from and the other should be mailed to you. You need to bring a transcript when you visit the Korean Consulate/Embassy to get a work (E2) visa later. -
- Degree : As for the degree, you only need to send a copy of your degree. However, you need to bring the original copy when you visit to the Korean Consulate/Embassy to get a work visa.


Q. I've never been asked for these before. Is there a standard form to use? Although I understand the need to check police records before allowing someone to work in a public school, the checks are usually carried out by the prospective employer. How does an applicant acquire a criminal record check?

A. This is something that you should inquire locally. The Ministry requires a criminal record check to be submitted by applicants, because they, as a foreign employer, do not have access to do the check.


Q. With regard to accommodations, how close or far is it from the actual school that I would be teaching at?

A. It is normally a walking distance between the school and accommodation.


Q. Beside the accommodation, are the utilities included? If not, is the price of electricity and water expensive in Korea?

A. The housing is included in the contract, but the utilities are not. However, the price of electricity, hydro and water is cheaper than that of Canada or the US.


Q. Is internet usually available at the school? And is it quite easy to have a phone hooked up so I can have internet access in my apartment?

A. Yes and Yes. Korea is a nation of the Internet, probably No. 1 in the world in terms of the Internet connectivity. The Internet service costs around $25-30/month. Your coordinator will arrange this for you.


Q. What does the academic calendar look like in Korea compared to that of North America?

- March - July : 1st semester (A new school year begins.)
- Late July - Late August : Summer vacation
- September - December : 2nd semester
- Late December - Early Feb : Winter vacation


Q. How many national holidays are there in 2008?

A. Beside the national ones, there would be some more extra days like Pro-D days, exam days, etc.

1.1 New Year’s Day
2.6-8 Lunar New Year’s Day
3.1 National Independence Movement Day
5.5 Children’s Day
5.12 Buddha's Day
6.6 Remembrance Day
7.17 Constitutional Day
8.15 National Independence Day
9.13-15 Thanksgiving Holidays
10.3 National Foundation Day
12.25 Christmas


Q. When should I arrive at Korea by?

A. You should arrive 10 days before the start date to attend an orientation.

Korea's Ministry of Education's EPIK 2008 Recruitment

South Korea’s Ministry of Education is now hiring qualified PUBLIC SCHOOL ESL TEACHERS.

The Ministry is running a program called EPIK (English Program in Korea) to improve the public schools’ English education, and mandating English to be taught under supervision of native speakers of English.

The Ministry is now hiring ESL teachers for Spring 2008.

My name is Jenny Yu, and I represent Tenet Korea's Vancouver Office.

I will be assisting you throughout the application process.

Here is the Spring 2008 package you may want to review.

POSITION:
- Position: Full-time public school ESL teacher
- Level: Elementary / Middle school
- Location: South Korea (map)
- Start date: 3/1/2008
- Work hours : Monday-Friday 9:00am-5:00pm
- Classroom hours: 22hrs/week

LOCATIONS:
- Gangwon, Chungbuk, Chungnam, Jeonnam, Gyeongbuk

Note: Unless you have a particular location in mind, consider Chungnam first. It has recorded the highest contract renewal rate over the past 5 years.

COMPENSATION:

LEVEL 1 : KRW2.3-2.65mn/month
- BA + Teacher's Certificate + over 2 years of full-time teaching experience OR
- BA + TESOL/TEFL/TESL/CELTA Certificate + over 2 years of full-time teaching experience OR
- MA + over 2 years of full-time teaching experience

LEVEL 2+ : KRW2.1-2.45mn/month
- MA in Education, English Education, English (or English Literature)

LEVEL 2 : KRW2.0-2.35mn/month
- BA + Teacher's certificate OR
- BA + TESOL/TEFL/TESL/CELTA Certificate (minimum of 100 course hours) OR
- BA + over 1 year of full-time teaching experience OR
- BA + Major in education OR
- MA

LEVEL 3 : KRW1.8-2.25mn/month
- BA

Note: There is a difference between metropolitan and non-metropolitan cities in terms of the compensation and benefits, i.e., Chungnam pays more and Gangwon offers more paid vacation days. Also, there is extra pay, if you are assigned to teach at a number of neighbouring schools beside a main school you would be placed.

BENEFITS:
- Round-trip airfare
- Furnished studio housing
- Medical, Pension
- 14+ days of paid vacation
- Settlement allowance on arrival
- 100% severance pay
- 2 weeks of paid vacation with a round-trip airfare at contract renewal

QUALIFICATIONS:
- Native speaker of English
- Citizen of US, Canada, Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland or South Africa
- Bachelor's degree or higher

HOW TO APPLY:
Send the following by email at recruit@tenetkorea.com by ASAP.
- Application (attached)
- Scanned copy of passport's photo page
- Preferred day and time for a telephone interview

Note 1: If your application is selected by the Ministry, we arrange a telephone interview for you. Please specify the day and time that you wish to have an interview.
Note 2: The earlier is the better for the application submission as the positions may be filled before the deadline.

CONTACT:
Jenny Yu
Tenet Korea Vancouver Office
w. www.TenetKorea.com
e. recruit@tenetkorea.com
a. 400-21 Water Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada