Program Reviews

I got hired at a school in South Korea with the help of Don from AMS Korea. At first it felt a little sketchy because the website didn't look that great, but Don ended up being a wonderful recruiter! He arranged for someone to pick me up from the airport and take me to my hotel, he even sent me a map of the Seoul subway station and gave me some helpful tips about navigating it.
After talking with some friends, I learned they didn't have a supportive recruiter like I did.
I also got hired at a great school! I worked there for 2 years and I loved every minute of it.

AMS Korea are an incredibly reliable company to go through. My recruiter, Don, really put in the extra legwork to make sure I ended up with a good school. I've used AMS Korea twice now, and both times I've been impressed with their rapid responses, and the sheer amount of work their recruiters put in.

My recruiter was good at responding, and incredibly helpful when it came to sorting out my visa, and whenever there was a problem, he helped work out a solution. He also followed up with me after arriving in Korea, and made sure that everything was ok from time to time. In that respect, I feel that the company really cares for their teachers.

Although not a program per say, if you're considering moving to Korea, and want a recruiter that has your back, I would definitely recommend them.

When I began the application process, I had no idea about where to even begin. With the help of Don Park, I was able to easily complete the sometimes confusing application process in my home country, and Don's involvement led me to a very smooth transition into teaching in Korea. He was very open and honest about different job opportunities and the realities of moving to, living and working in Korea. He was really interested in finding a teaching position that would be the right fit for me.

Based on Don's recommendation, I took a position just outside of Seoul in the Spring of 2013. I have been in the same position for nearly 6 years and have been nothing short of grateful for the treatment I have received since I arrived in Korea.

Upon arrival, Don also kept in contact just to check on me to make sure I was doing well and satisfied with my position. This is a testament to how invested he is in the teachers he places. Whether you are an experienced ex-pat teacher, or it is your first time traveling overseas to teach, I cannot understate how helpful it is to have someone like Don Park in your corner.

All of the ads about living and working in Korea are true. There is a magic here in Korea. The culture, the cuisine, the arts, the history and the landscape are wonderful to be immersed in, as are the wonderful smiles you will see. What may not be true in the ads about working in Korea is the work environment, and that's where a trustworthy recruiter is not just necessary to have, but imperative. Don Park is as honest and trustworthy as they come. He also works hard to insure that you will be in the setting that you will be comfortable and productive in. Having worked in one bad teaching situation, Don Park proved to be a blessing. He is also very funny and great to be around. I'm very fortunate to have found Don and AMS. Cheers from Jeonju, South Korea!

I was really worried before I came to Korea about how I would get a job, especially since I heard so many horror stories about bad employers in Korea and the slim likelihood of getting a job in Seoul. However, I was incredibly lucky in that a friend of a friend was doing what I wanted to do and so I got in contact with them, who then forwarded me to their recruiter AMS Korea by chance. And I couldn't have asked for a better recruiter! Sometimes dealing with recruiters can be a daunting and quite frankly scary prospect, but AMS were nothing but helpful and endearing with not only mine but also a few of my friend's and co-worker's applications. They are incredibly open minded to all people looking for work and have been patient even when I had issues with my application. And not only that, because of the relationships the company has made, it was easy for them to get me a job in Seoul. And I was lucky with that too as I love my job; I thoroughly enjoy my job and it never feels like work.
I owe a lot to this company. I don't usually feel this passionately about these kinds of things, but I am so happy with my life in Seoul that I strongly believe that it is down to the amazing quality role that AMS found me in the capital.
Trust me, if you are feeling anxious or nervous (like I was) just contact them and I can guarantee you won't regret it!

I have been in Korea for almost 2months now and it was the best decision I've ever made to teach here in Korea. I came with no experience of teaching and my first time being away from home for a long time, but do not have any regrets with my decision to teach in Korea. Kids are the same everywhere, and some days it can be a bit challenging when children play up or misbehave, but there are more good days than bad. I have so many kids that I look forward to teaching every week and a lot of them are so fun. It really makes the experience a good one.

Of course I have a lot more to see and experience here, but so far I've already had some very good experiences. Don Park from AMS also made it a very smooth process for me and I'm so grateful for the position I am in now. I'm in a great town called Jeonju, at a nice hagwon and have friendly staff members.

I can't wait to see what the rest of this year will bring me.

I had a great experience in Korea thanks to Don Park. I ended up in a great city and I was placed with one of the best academies. Everything was taken care of. I arrived to a cute apartment and was taken through orientation where I was given great training. This program gave me the opportunity to work and learn at the same time. It also provided me with an exciting chance to explore and learn the culture and language. Also, in Korea teachers are well respected and well payed. When you see the paycheck, you may not think it's that much but remember that your housing is covered and buying food in Korea is fairly cheap.

At first, I though I'd do a year and come back but I loved it so much that I ended up staying for 4 years. I also discovered that I really liked teaching. While I was there, I even ended up getting the CELTA during my holidays. Everything worked out really well for me and I am so thankful for my decision to go.

Wow, where do I begin... I have been back in the US for about 10 months now and I am just beginning to wrap my head around what just happened. My decision to leave America for a full year was a difficult one but spending a large amount of time overseas was something I had always wanted to do but honestly thought I would never have the time or opportunity, but it came. I spent all night one evening laying awake in my bed mulling over my decision. Everything was telling me that now was the time if there was ever going to be one and if I didn't do it may regret for a lifetime. I made my decision and was on a plane in less than a month. I landed in Busan, South Korea to a man who barely spoke any English holding a sign that stated my name. "Ok, let this journey begin" I thought to myself. Poor guy helped lug my 2 massive suitcases through the airport and in the car. I was beat tired from the flight but my intuition told me I was safe. As the neon lights flashed through the car window I realized I had made the right decision and was so excited for the next year of learning, even though I was one the one who was doing the teaching. Teaching…I had never taught before. Definitely spent my fair share of time with little ones but the act of actually teaching was a whole different ballgame. On my first full day in Korea I was shuttled to my new school. As I walked through the doors the kids peeked out of their classrooms to get the first look at Amy Sam. I arrived after the semester had already began so the administration was ready for me to get to work. Without any real preparation I was brought into a classroom full of rowdy 8-year-old boys and there I was at the front of the class about to teach my fist class. The boy’s English skills were pretty good, thank goodness because at that time I couldn’t speak a lick of Korean. I realized my years of charades really came in handy. The boys easily convinced me into playing games and died laughing while attempting to teach me to count to 5 in Korean. After a couple of weeks I got the hang of things and settled into my role as Seonsaengnim (teacher). Don’t be fooled, kids are kids and they are the same all over the world they just speak a different language. They love to be rowdy, play games and laugh. You definitely have your disrespectful ones but to balance it all out you have your favorites. I’m not going lie and say Koreans are the most welcoming and friendly culture. On a whole, there is a lot of staring. Staring on the subway, staring when you are out to dinner, staring when you walk out of your apartment, pretty much any time you are in public you are being watched. This didn’t bother some of my co-teachers but for some reason I never could get used to it. I tried to tell myself it was because I was beautiful but most of time it made me feel self conscious. On an individual basis I feel that Koreans are an extremely loyal and caring culture. Expats on the other hand, were extremely easy to meet. Most all teachers are somewhat new to Busan and are always looking to meet new people. I met my crew around my 3rd weekend in Busan. Once I met this group of Canadians, Americans and our one token European we were inseparable. In my group of friends I even met Eric, whom I will be marrying next summer! The nightlife alone is something I miss terribly. The bars never close, the neon lights never turn off and there is always a nori bong (karaoke room) to hit up. We painted the town of Busan red weekend after weekend. I am happy to be back in America and beginning a “normal” life but what I wouldn’t do for just one weekend back in Busan. Every weekend there was something new to do or see. Whether it was a different part of town to see, a new temple to visit, heading up to Seoul, heading down to Jeju or just spending all weekend on Haeundae Beach under the blanket of umbrellas. So many new things to see and do. You can’t possibly do everything but it is super fun trying. My time was amazing and I would highly recommend teaching in South Korea. It can definitely be tough at times but remember, before you know it you will be back in your home country and your overseas experiences will just be a cherished memory.