Teach English in South Korea with Greenheart Travel

Sara and Greenheart are great! Always there for you, every step of the way. The application paperwork and timelines for placement with the Korean EPIK program is a bit gruelling, be spot on with your paperwork or you will miss your placement deadline! But if this is the position you want Greenheart can get you there with as much support as one can expect along the way. As well the EPIK program's orientation is extremely thorough, rest up before you arrive!!

My overall experience has been really good overall. I didn't really know what to expect, but I'm really glad I went with Greenheart Travel. My recruiter was always willing to answer my questions, often in a timely manner. She helped me with pretty much all aspects of my application process.

Greenheart travel was extremely helpful throughout the entire application process. Sara, my recruiter, was always extremely quick to answer all of my emails - and there were many! She was also very thorough in reviewing the details of my application so that it could be sent off to EPIK without any errors or problems. By sharing her story about teaching in Korea, she really makes you feel at ease before you depart on your journey and prepares you for the experience by sharing those personal details that you might not hear from another recruiter. I enjoyed working with Greenheart so much that I plan to apply for volunteer programs with them in the future. Anyone who is thinking about applying to teach in Korea should go through Greenheart if they want to work with helpful, fun people and get through the process stress-free. Thanks Greenheart!!

Teaching English is South Korea was an amazing experience. The process can seem long and complicated, but Greenheart Travel makes it doable and helps every step of the way. I think I emailed them 4000 times with questions and concerns before I left, ranging from a possible attack from North Korea to if I should bring bed sheets. I was also constantly on their website reading blogs and posting in the Facebook group. Greenheart partners with EPIK, who have very strong guidelines and rules that ensure you are getting the most out of your experience. I had afternoon and weekends off, got paid on time, and had a furnished apartment ready for me after orientation. I think this is why the process of applying and getting hired is so involved and requires so many documents, they want to makes sure they're putting quality people in their communities. There are also two long breaks during the school year, which was a perfect time to travel. I traveled most of Southeast Asia during this time, and it was great way to see Asia while having a job and home base in Korea. Overall it was just a wonderful, life changing (cheesy I know) experience!

I have three co-teachers, though I do all of the planning and teaching myself. The teachers are nice, and if the kids are being disruptive, the co-teacher will usually help restore order. Also, I am a male and all of my co-teachers are female, and I was more or less told that because of this, they wouldn't really be able to do anything beyond strictly school stuff. For example, many other EPIK teachers I know were taken out to get supplies by their co-teachers, or have been taken out for dinner/lunch and just in general helped them settle in, but that was not the case for me. It's not a deal breaker, but if you are a male and have female co-teacher(s), I think this may be a common theme.
Everything else about the program is pretty much as advertised, including the chaotic and often last minute schedule changing, which can sometimes be frustrating, but it's again not something that is bad. Overall though, I do enjoy my school and placement. I have not needed any real support for issues, but any little ones that happen do seem to be taken care of quickly. Though I do think that once you are actually in Korea, your recruiter and EPIK may actually not be as resourceful to you as they were prior to departing. Once here, it's pretty much the school and the respective POE/MOE offices.

Deciding to teach English in Korea was no easy decision to make, but Greenheart Travel made every step of the way 100 times easier! Greenheart was there to answer any questions I had (no matter how "dumb" the question was), and I always got a quick response. I especially loved how Greenheart connected me with people who had prior experience in Korea, as well as people who were going through this experience for the first time like myself.

The most difficult thing about Korea is the waiting game. Patience, patience, patience. It cannot be said enough. Waiting for a phone, internet, a bank account, and your ARC card can be hard considering that we take them for granted at home, but expect to wait a few weeks to finally get all of these things. After the initial shock of Korea and once you have settled into your new life, Korea isn't that different from home. I can find anything I could possible need all in my city. Also, everyone is super welcoming, Koreans and expats alike. So if there is anything that I can't figure out by myself, there is ALWAYS someone there to help me out in any way possible.

Teaching and living in Korea is definitely an experience I will never forget!

I must admit that so far my experience teaching english in South Korea has been amazing so far.I love the school that I teach at, the staff are very helpful and the students seem to love me and always greet when they see me in the hallways by saying, "Hello teacha, very handsome"! Which I obviously find cute.Through the Epik program in which Greenheart has sent me with, I get all weekends and evenings off, which provides me with ample opportunities to explore Korea and get to know the culture better.In terms of the service in which Greenheart has provided me throughout the application process, I must say that they have been very helpful and prompt.They respond to emails in a very timely manner and provided great advice to follow for the interview process.They are always avaliable whenever you need assistance which is very important given that the application process can seem daunting.In terms of and challenges, it would have to be homesickness.But such is to be expected when you travel to a different country.But it really helps that Greenheart sends its teachers through the EPIK program, because you then have instant access to a large network of english teachers all throughout Korea which serves as a good support system while adjusting to your new environment, all of whom you meet during orientation.Plus with a nation wide network, you always have a friend to stay by when travelling all over Korea.I do give Greenheart Travel my wholehearted endorsement!

Every since I have arrived in Korea I have received nothing but love! The EPIK orientation was so helpful and made so many friends (we now call each other family). When I arrived in my rural city, my coteachers just as well as locals have gone out of their way to make me feel at home. I never thought I could feel so at home and so loves in a country where I knew no one. Now I have so many friends. I am so happy here, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.

The main problem I encounter is the language barrier but once you accept that constant struggle you learn to laugh at it and start picking up some new words. If it doesn't challenge you, it doesn't change you. Living in a foreign country is life-changing and worth every struggle!