ESL Consulting-SeoulESL

ESL Consulting

Why choose ESL Consulting?

ESL Consulting is a Seoul-based ESL recruiting company founded in 2005 and has a large network with public schools and private English academies in South Korea and China. ESL Consulting-SeoulESL works with the Korean government and is an official partner of EPIK and GEPIK. ESL consulting - SeoulESL has intricate knowledge of the EPIK employment system and can guide applicants through the employment process in order to ensure their success. ESL Consulting - SeoulESL also possesses multiple job information on private English schools through South Korea and China. Through the experience of having connected thousands of teachers and schools, ESL Consulting -SeoulESL makes an effort to link teachers with schools that fit them best.

Founded
2005

Reviews

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

Seoul ESL experience

My experience with Seoul ESL was excellent. I felt very safe and supported throughout the whole process. Whenever I ran into any problems, the team was quick to resolve them. The communication was very prompt and easy. I personally worked with Grace, not only was she efficient and professional, but also very kind and thoughtful. Going to a new country for the first time, especially when you don't speak the language, can be a little scary. I didn't feel that way because she was with me every step of the way.

Default avatar
Liz
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Great Program

My experience through this recruiter was quite excellent! The communication was great throughout the whole process. Whenever i had a question, it was answered and in a timely fashion. They also arranged someone to pick me up at the airport. Even though there were some troubles, and miscommunications with the driver, Grace was very helpful and quick to respond. This allowed me to get picked up successfully. I would definitely recommend this company to anyone who asks. They were helpful and wonderful.

Pros
  • Communication
  • Location
  • Job
Cons
  • Misleading job position
Default avatar
Sarah
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Great Recruiter, Highly Recommend

Seoul ESL is an excellent recruiter that helped me every step of the way to Korea. They are excellent at communicating and make sure you know exactly what you need to receive a VISA. They sent a car to pick me up from the airport and were extremely kind throughout the process. If I ever look for another teaching job in Korea, I will be sure to reach back out to them. They will help you find the job you most prefer and be kind the entire way through. I will not use another recruiter. Thank you so much!

Pros
  • Communication
  • Friendly
  • Effective
Default avatar
Sabbah
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Great company to work with

I worked with Grace. From the very get go, she was polite and responded fast to the many emails I sent her. Grace not only answered all questions I had but put my mind at ease by providing my with an abundance of information that I had never even considered beforehand.

When I first decided to work in Korea, I had a somewhat specific list, such as location, requirements from the school such as working hours, and distance from the work place to the accomodations. Not only did I find a school that had the exact hours I would like to work but my accomodation is literally a 5 minute walk which made me very happy especially as I didn't want to have to try to navigate buses and subways from day 1.

Pros
  • Fast response
  • Continued support thought every part of the process
  • Constant communication
Default avatar
Lauren
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

SeoulESL Consulting

Sammie and May helped my boyfriend and I find a fantastic job in Paju-si, South Korea. It was one of the first job interviews that they found for us and the school had no bad reviews and was not on the hagwon blacklist like a lot of other schools we were offered by other recruiters. They helped us with all of our documents, flight bookings etc. and they always responded within 24 hours during the work week. Once we were in South Korea they helped us through the airport and checked up on us a few days later to see if we had settled in properly.
We love our school and we really think we were lucky to find such an awesome one, and it would not have been possible with SeoulESL!

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Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Why did you choose this program?

There was much talk about how wonderful teaching in Korea could be when I was studying for my TEFL. I did not buy into it. I wanted to spend some time in Spain to get more fluent so that I could return to New York City and better serve the Spanish speaking families and students I worked with.

After teaching abroad for two years in Spain, I couldn't imagine going back, continuing to travel was the only option. Still not really considering Korea, an opportunity arose and I took a risk. I began communicating with Yuri from Seoul ESL; she was highly organized and found the perfect fit for me.

What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

The team at Seoul ESL were in constant communication, offering support throughout the application, interview, hiring, and contract signing process.

I had a detailed list of documents I needed to gather from my universities, employers, and government. Seoul ESL handled all the communication in Korea between the employer and the government. I collected my visa in the US and Yuri met me at the airport in Seoul.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

It can seem a little overwhelming for a first-time visa applicant as South Korea requires very precise documents. Working in a foreign country is an experience everyone should have - obtaining a visa is part of the experience. You don't need to master the language before you get there; of course, it is great if you can, but part of the growth that happens working in a new country is learning the language immersed in the culture.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

I was hired under EPIK, but my position is outside of EPIK, in a National Institute that serves all of the public schools in the region. I generally work from 9:00 to 6:00, more like regular office hours rather than school hours.

I teach about 23 hours a week and have opportunities to teach classes for extra income.
It is a really interesting position because I get to go to many different schools throughout the region. I get to teach not only students of all ages but native Korean teachers too. In addition to meeting English teachers from all over the world!

On the weekends, I usually head to Seoul or another city to explore Korea's beautiful landscape and to meet friends. I live in a remote area surrounded by mountains, which is such a contrast to the cities I have inhabited all of my life, and I absolutely love it!

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

I usually move towards fear. It was a really difficult decision to leave my students in New York, but I thought ultimately the experience would benefit my teaching practice and therefore my students.

Deciding to move to Korea was exciting because I really did not think about it; it happened so fast before I could consider what to fear I was standing in Asia for the first time attempting syllables of a language I had zero knowledge of. The only thing I considered before arriving was how was I going to bond with people in the land of soy and soju when I am allergic to soy and I don't drink.

Turns out Korean is not a difficult language to learn; it is actually really fun! And there is an abundance of modern culture to get you engaged in learning and practicing the language. The soy allergy is difficult here, but the entire world makes avoiding soy nearly impossible. I'm learning how to better communicate, and making more Korean friends who help me at restaurants, but more fun is learning to cook Korean food without soy.

How can you blend in when you stand out?

I am used to blending in. Living in New York City, no one seems to notice anyone. Adjusting to living in a small Korean town was a bit of a hurdle.

Everyone recognizes you - you could become a bit of a celebrity. Attention is not something I enjoy, so it was strange at first, but humanity is easily desensitized and the initial shock wears off for the locals and they eventually stop noticing you. Or maybe your fashion sense has shifted and the short pants and socks and sandals are helping you blend in. Still, occasionally people will come up to you to practice their English.