Location
  • South Korea
    • Seoul
    • Gwangju
    • Busan
Length
52+ weeks

Program Details

Job Type
Government
Housing
Apartment

Pricing

Salary / Benefits
• $1,800 to $2,400 USD per month
• Free housing
• Medical insurance and pension
• Airfare Reimbursement
• Paid vacation
• Severance Pay
• Settlement allowance (EPIK & SMOE)

Aug 13, 2018
Aug 14, 2017
45 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Reach To Teach has over 40 years of ESL teaching and recruitment experience with offices in the South Korea, USA, and Taiwan. We understand the business and care about our teachers. The schools and programs we represent are among the best in the business. We provide our teachers with an upfront and honest perspective, because were all teachers at one time as well. We will prepare you to live and work abroad for a year, while always offering support as well.

Reach To Teach the only American official recruiter for the EPIK & SMOE program. The EPIK & SMOE programs in Korea offer a unique experience to gain valuable ESL teaching experience in public schools with start dates in August and February.

We also work with a number of private schools from Seoul to Busan and everywhere in between. We have private schools openings every month, so it's always a good time to apply!

Program Reviews

4.81 Rating
based on 58 reviews
  • 5 rating 82.76%
  • 4 rating 15.52%
  • 3 rating 1.72%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Benefits 4.75
  • Support 4.85
  • Fun 4.65
  • Facilities 4.8
  • Safety 4.85
Showing 1 - 8 of 58 reviews
Default avatar
Michelle
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A Great Help!

I was worried about applying to EPIK as I had no idea what I was doing, but Reach to Teach really helped me out with the whole process! I worked with Jason Cruzan throughout the whole process and he was there to assuage any worries that I had. Applying through them made it easier and I felt prepared for the application, the interview, and for the experience in general. I actually already recommended them to a friend who is also applying for the program. I would work with them again and would recommend to anyone hoping to apply for EPIK or any other teaching programs that they help with!

What would you improve about this program?
I think the one thing I was looking for was a forum or page where past and future teachers could talk and ask questions.
97 people found this review helpful.
Lindsay
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

EPIK Program through Reach to Teach

I decided to apply to the EPIK program in South Korea with the help of Reach to Teach. For months, I personally worked with Recruiter Jason Cruzan. Applying to EPIK can be confusing, frustrating, and extremely meticulous. Jason answered every question I had, no matter how small. EPIK is very specific about the application, interview, and official documents that must be sent. Jason has worked with them for years and knows exactly what is expected from EPIK applicants. Without the help of Reach to Teach, I would not have been able to complete the application process to receive a placement from EPIK. I highly recommend them for anyone who is interested in teaching in Asia. Reach to Teach is the best!

97 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Stephanie
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Great for newbies

For anyone looking to get involved in the 'teaching abroad' community this is a great company to go with. They help you with different options available (both between countries and within) and help with the app process along the way. They can be as involved as you want them to be as they are always available, but not overly pushy with information. Their services are free (seems too good to be true) and someone is always around to answer your questions. There is not much they do after your placement but they are there should you have questions. Just the right amount of help for me, personally.

What would you improve about this program?
Probably have more access to alumni that have completed the program should new applicants have more specific questions.
89 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Joe
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

You NEED them

Applying to EPIK is a long and difficult process, filled with government paperwork, applications, interviews and official documents. It would be extremely difficult to pull off this big of a move on your own. With the help of Reach to Teach, I was able to secure an EPIK teaching position in Daegu, South Korea. John at Reach to Teach is very helpful and is available to answer all your questions. Without a doubt, you will have a variety of emotions while applying to teach abroad. It is important to have an organization that you can count on to help you trough it all. Reach to Teach is that organization.

Best of luck!

84 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Betsy
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Couldn't Have Done It Without Them!

The help and guidance I received from Reach To Teach was invaluable for my application process with EPIK. John walked me through the application and helped me dot my i's and cross my t's. He even found a work around for an FBI criminal background check when the government shut down for two weeks. He truly helped make the whole process seamless and was there every step of the way. The communication was frequent, and he always responded when I had questions. Top notch service from Reach To Teach!

What would you improve about this program?
When I received a call from my recruiter to let me know I got the position, that was one of the last things mentioned on the call. It would've been nice for the conversation to start with that news. I know that's a nitpicky comment...but that's the only critical feedback I have!
72 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Maddie
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Reach to Teach Team

I enjoyed working with Reach to Teach directly to secure a teaching position with EPIK. The team is small and I felt that everything I had to do during the process was very personal and professional.

What would you improve about this program?
For urgent questions contacting my recruiter by phone was not possible. Your recruiter can only contact you via phone, you can contact them through email during the work week.
79 people found this review helpful.
Response from Reach to Teach

Hi Maddie,

Thanks for your comments on our program. We fixed the issue regarding direct phone numbers for our recruiters. Now all of our recruiters have a direct numbers that applicants can call.

Again that you for bringing this issue to our attention.

John Kellenberger

Default avatar
Brian
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Reach to Teach

John Kellenberger is great and goes beyond to help support and to prepare for the journey. E-mail response was quick and calls were made through each big step in the process. Reach to Teach is recommended to anyone who has a desire to teach and experience new culture.

74 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Tyson
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Quality Help for a Difficult Process (Reach to Teach EPIK)

The very first thing a prospective teacher should understand before going for EPIK is how time consuming and confusing the process applying for it can really be. As a first time teacher moving thousands of miles from his original home I looked into going through the process by myself but being a busy person on top of cautious I opted for a recruiter. I spent months searching on sites like Dave's ESL cafe and numerous other message boards hunting for a reputable one. Ultimately, when I decided I wanted to go with EPIK I chose Reach to Teach.

Quite literally a minute after I had sent my application/resume to Reach to Teach I was contacted by John Kellenberger (the recruiter I worked with) and he helped me get organized for the beginning of things like getting my fingerprints for an FBI background check, getting that apostilled, getting my degree apostilled and so forth. As I said, all this is super time consuming and he wasted no time in letting me know that while I had got a later start getting ready for the application process that we would get there and even gave me a mock interview to help prepare for the kind's of questions I would receive from the EPIK interviewer. It turned out that the mock interview was even more thorough than the actual one but I couldn't have been more grateful.

After my successful interview the waiting for the confirmation I had received a place was absolutely nerve destroying but John was there almost immediately to answer any questions I had and ease the anxiety I was having. After receiving my placement John and Reach to Teach got me my NOA (Notice of Appointment) and contract to me in a speedy manner even after EPIK was behind on getting all the teachers their paperwork to receive our visas. John even had asked for copies for all the documents I had made/received from places to keep for me just in case, they even worked together with a travel agency to get me a proper ticket to Korea in time for everything EPIK had set up and a pre-arrival phone call to discuss any more questions I had before leaving as well as make sure I had the proper stuff to go through whatever was waiting for me in Korea.

I know I'm doing nothing but gushing about this recruiter but for what a recruiter (who doesn't take a dime from me for their services) like Reach to Teach and John Kellenberger did to make this process as painless and smooth as possible I could not be happier. I look forward to my teaching and am nowhere near as anxious thanks to the work they did, they even set us up with an arrival expert and offer events for the teachers involved while in country. What more could you ask for? If I decide to continue this career somewhere else I will most definitely be returning to Reach to Teach, no questions asked.

Not everyone wants/needs to use recruiters to do this but I assure you, for the EPIK process, John Kellenberger and Reach to Teach have one very satisfied client in me.

What would you improve about this program?
I think putting us in contact with the other teachers before going would be a good idea.
79 people found this review helpful.
Read my full story

Questions & Answers

Regarding the dog, I think that this would be specific to the countries immigration and visa laws. I would imagine there is some paperwork that needs to be done to bring any pet to a new country. However, I am sure it is possible. South Korea has tons of dogs for sale. I had a friend who adopted a dog during her time there and then returned home to the US with her South Korean dog.

It depends on the apartment you end up in, I have many friends with small cats and dogs so generally yes, but not all apartments will allow it.

Hi Kayla, It looks like EPIK requires a 20-hour in-class TEFL component along with a 100-hour TEFL certification.