Teaching English in South Korea
The market for teaching English in South Korea is one of the largest and most established in the world. Currently, there are an estimated 40,000 English teachers working throughout South Korea, and with the market expected to steadily grow over the coming years, so too is the number of English teachers working here.
At a glance, it’s clear to see why South Korea is such a popular destination for English teachers. Through teaching in either a public school (through a government-run programme such as EPIK) or in a private language school (also known as a Hagwon), teachers can gain some valuable experience, all whilst saving a considerable amount of money.
South Korea boasts an extremely diverse landscape, which thanks to the country’s impressive transport systems, is easy to navigate. The country has a number of huge, cosmopolitan cities, such as Seoul, Busan, and Daegu, where there are countless things for teachers to do during their spare time. Not far outside of these cities, you’ll be able to explore the more beautiful and peaceful landscapes that South Korea has to offer, with beaches, mountains, national parks, and even volcanos being easily accessible!
Schools in South Korea
Teach in a Public School with EPIK
Teach English Global is proud to be a recruiter for EPIK (English Program in Korea), a public school teaching program that is sponsored by the Korean government. First established in 1995, the program was introduced in order to improve the English speaking abilities of Korean students, introduce new teaching methods into the Korean education system, and develop cultural exchanges between South Korea and other countries. EPIK offers TEFL qualified teachers an amazing opportunity to teach English in South Korea, and each year places around 1,500 teachers in public schools throughout the country!
Teach English in a Hagwon
Private Language Schools, also known as ‘Hagwons’ in South Korea, are extremely common throughout the country. At a Hagwon young learners attend after school in order to further improve their English proficiency. For teachers, this will mean a working schedule that differs from that found at a Public School. The average class sizes found in Hagwons are also noticeably smaller than in Public Schools, with a typical class holding around 12 students. This more intimate working environment is preferred by some teachers, and as a result, Hagwons are a very popular option. We have partnerships in place with a wide variety of Hagwons throughout South Korea, which offer English teaching opportunities to those seeking a position in South Korea.
