Just 5 short weeks ago, Fiona McCullagh from Abbeyside, Dungarvan arrived into Seoul, South Korea for the adventure of a lifetime. Having graduated from DCU in 2010 with a degree in Business Studies, Fiona decided to venture abroad with some friends to teach English as a foreign language on a year’s contract.
After a month in South Korea, she’s written home to tell us all about it. ‘I live in Uiwang, south of Seoul, which has everything you’d need. The school is really nice, so are the teachers and my Director.’
‘The kids are really cute and are eager to learn English; I have a teacher’s assistant for the younger ones too which helps a lot. Everyday we have story time and songs with the kinders (Kindergarten students) which means watching too much Barney online for research!’
‘I’ve worked 2 Saturdays so far, the hours can be quite long but I’m really enjoying it and the school is very good to me.’
‘On Fridays we take the kinders to the playground or to a nearby mountain to get some fresh air and play out of the classroom – 50 kids on a mountain side can be stressful but good fun too!’
On her social life she comments ‘Life is very easy to settle into, you forget how far away from home you are. For Paddy’s Day we went to a festival in Insadong which was surprisingly Irish! There was a mixture of people – mainly Americans and there was a Korean U2 cover band, Irish dancing and a great atmosphere. I’m joining the GAA team so soon I’ll be training every Saturday.’
‘There is a big culture difference to acclimatise to though like bowing when you meet someone, I imagine it’ll be hard to stop doing that when I leave. Also, it can be annoying having to take off your shoes even when you’re running inside just for one thing. I attend free Korean lessons and I can say a few words now like ‘hello’ and ‘chew faster’ but it can be frustrating trying to communicate some simple things.’
‘My apartment is across the road from my school which makes for an easy commute and now I’ve had a chance to give it a good clean, I’m really at home now. Don’t ask me how the gas or aircon works though!’
Fiona obtained her job through i-to-i TEFL who also provided the training course that she needed to secure her job. Courses are run nationwide and start from €269.
To speak to an i-to-i TEFL Advisor about teaching English abroad call 01 5269506 or visit www.teflcourses.com.
What do you need to get a job in South Korea?
Hi Siobhan,
To get the correct work visa for South Korea you need to be degree qualified, it doesn’t matter what discipline though. Our partners look for a minimum of 100 hours TEFL training and native English speakers. Once you cover these requirements, you have a great opportunity to secure a job in South Korea.
Hi Siobhan,
I am working in South Korea at the moment.
The documentation you need for South Korea is quite extensive, and can take a while (and a fair bit of money) to get sorted. You need a degree, which should be photocopied and apostillised, as well as a Criminal Record Check (Federal if you are from the states), which also needs to be apostillised.
There are also a few less than PC requirements. You cannot have AIDs, or have ever had any mental health issues (although I think they only check this by asking if you have when you get out there).
Once you get out there I have found you need:
An outgoing personality (especially to work with adults).
Flexibility
A good knowledge of the English language and grammar (again, especially for adults, one of my students on Thursday asked me to go into all the different ways we use -ing endings and why).
I did a TEFL certificate, and although I’m pretty certain I would have got the same pay, and the same job without it (I love my job!), I would have been far less prepared for working in a classroom, and probably far more stressed. I did the Trinity CertTESOL, so I can’t speak for i-to-i’s certificate, but mine really helped.
Also, a piece of advice, don’t work Saturdays for the same pay as someone who doesn’t. You should get at least 100,000W more a month than someone who doesn’t, for the same teaching hours, but some on a Saturday.