Location
  • South Korea
    • Seoul
    • Busan
    • Gwangju
Length
52+ weeks
Classroom Audience
Early Childhood Elementary
Financial Support
Payment plans

Program Details

Qualifications
  • Native-level English speaker
  • A bachelor’s degree in any field
  • Citizenship in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Ireland, or the United Kingdom
  • A commitment to 12 months of employment
  • TEFL certification OR Education degree is required (CIEE’s 150-hour TEFL certification course is included in the Teach in South Korea program fee)
  • Applications must be younger than 50 years of age
Classroom Audience
Early Childhood Elementary
Housing
Apartment
Weekly Classroom Hours
30
Age Min.
20
Age Max
50

Pricing

Salary / Benefits
- Competitive monthly salary of 2.1 million to 3.0 million won
- Rent-free studio apartment from your employer
- Contract completion bonus (1 month's salary)
- Schools either buy or reimburse a one-way ticket
- Health Insurance provided
Starting Price
1350
Price Details
Our program fee is:
$1,350 for candidates who already have their own TEFL/Education credentials
$1,950 to include the CIEE TEFL 150-Hour Certification Course along with our placement, preparation, and support services
What's Included
Accommodation Airfare Airport Transfers Travel Insurance
What's Included (Extra)

Expenses-paid Weekend Retreat in Seoul

Feb 02, 2024
Jan 18, 2023
56 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

CIEE's Teach in South Korea program will support you through every step of teaching English in South Korea. CIEE will help you secure a teaching position with either the Korean government's EPIK program (we are an official recruitment partner), or with our reputable private school partners, as you prefer!

You'll get all the preparation you need before departure with CIEE TEFL's 150 hour Certification course, visa guidance and comprehensive practical and cultural advice. After arriving in South Korea, you'll join a CIEE weekend retreat in Seoul where you'll meet other CIEE teachers and grow your network of new friends. CIEE staff in Korea can advise you on day-to-day questions, and are available 24/7 for emergencies.

South Korea offers you the opportunity to gain teaching experience and see the world while earning a competitive salary and enjoying rent-free housing. Placements are available in major urban areas throughout Korea, including greater Seoul!

Video and Photos

Program Highlights

  • Choose the type of job you want - whether its public schools or private, get step-by-step guidance
  • Weekend Retreat in Seoul for CIEE teachers - Hotel, transport, meals, and activities provided
  • Enrollment in CIEE TEFL's 150-hour certification course
  • Expertise and Experience - Our staff offer honest advice and individual support
  • International insurance with 24-hour emergency assistance services

Program Reviews

4.55 Rating
based on 109 reviews
  • 5 rating 70.64%
  • 4 rating 23.85%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0.92%
  • 1 rating 4.59%
  • Benefits 4.4
  • Support 4.5
  • Fun 4.45
  • Facilities 4.3
  • Safety 4.75
Showing 41 - 48 of 109 reviews
Default avatar
Rebecca
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Teaching English in South Korea

I was a bit nervous about teaching English in a country where I knew very little about the culture or the language, but CIEE has helped me every step of the way. Their online TEFL certification course allowed me to meet other teachers in the CIEE program while learning from a tutor who had real experience in the field and was dedicated to assisting us with our studies. The visa application process was also easy to understand. Their online application system organizes your required documents into manageable steps, and the staff is really helpful in sending you emails to remind you about upcoming deadlines. Once I got to the interview process, it was a breeze! It is so great having such in-country support to help me with everything from questions with my contract to cultural fo pas. The in-country orientation also helped me connect with so many other teachers in the program. I am never short of a traveling buddy! If you are still on the fence about applying, I say just take the leap and go for it!! Living in a completely different culture not only expands your world-view, but it also allows you to personally grow more than you may think is possible.

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
The Korean food palate makes for some interesting combinations involving processed foods. One of the most surprising things I have eating so far is a seafood soup with hotdogs and American cheese. It was surprisingly good!! The best advice towards trying their food is to just dive on in without trying to judge it too much.
48 people found this review helpful.
Response from CIEE Teach Abroad & TEFL

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. It looks like you are having an amazing time traveling and teaching. I am happy we could help you get there and I sincerely wish you all the best in the upcoming year. I'm sure you will have many more stories & photos to share!

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

It's a lot different if you're not in Seoul

I'm in a small town in Gangwon-do, so although I have nice people that I work with, the CIEE staff is supportive, and it has been an interesting cultural experience so far, it is really hard at times when there's practically no one in the whole town who is a native English speaker or even has a good amount of English skills. I have to take a bus, 20 minutes South, to Wonju to do any "good" shopping and encounter other foreigners. It has been a good experience and I feel fully-immersed in a Korean society, but it is just hard to be thrown into such a vastly different environment. If you're placed in a bigger city, you won't have these problems, but even ordering food/drink is sometimes difficult in a small town unless you can speak a fair amount of Korean.

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
It was a seafood dish at a Chinese restaurant. I thought most of the things in there were vegetables, but it turns out that most of them were sea-creatures including jellyfish!
54 people found this review helpful.
Response from CIEE Teach Abroad & TEFL

Thank you Michelle for sharing about your experience. With EPIK it is a possibility that you aren't in a major city, and this definitely can be difficult especially when you first arrive. I'm confident that you will thrive in your situation and embrace the immersion, but it's important for everyone to be aware of what they might face while abroad.

I hope your experience continues to improve and that you have an amazing year.

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

Review

It’s a challenge but worth it. The teaching position, if you’re able to land with EPIK, the public schools, is quite breezy. There’s a lot of time to prepare and desk warming though. Learning Korean is a must if you’re not in a city.
The CIEE staff is really nice. They do their best to help you if you ask. Shout out to Brad.

It’s a very exciting new way to see the world, especially if you are able to integrate a bit. It’s really hard to do so without Korean, so please learn Korean. You’ll get the most out of it that way.

It’s a really exciting thing to live in this country. There’s so much to eat and so much to do. Seoul is a blast. The teaching program won’t take your life so you’ll have to spend as you please.

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

Hagwon in Korea

I was relatively ambivalent as to my time in a new country. I wasn't sure what to expect, nor was I particularly expecting a lot of support from CIEE. I was lead to believe that most recruiters don't care once they've dropped you off at your job, but Brad was a fantastic resource, and the community of CIEE teachers has been great too.

CIEE has done a great job of answering any questions I've had, as well as the concerns of a few friends I made through the program.
The primary concern I have is that the TEFL course was kind of lacking, but once I settled into the school I'm working at, I wasn't experiencing too much difficulty other that what might be normally expected from one's first time teaching.

I can't necessarily recommend this program more than any other, since I've only been through the one, but it has certainly been a good experience for me, in part because of CIEE's work.

53 people found this review helpful.
Naomi
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Great experience

Teaching abroad in korea has been a life-changing experience. The support of the CIEE staff while on the ground also made it helpful to navigate the first few months living in Korea. During orientation, there was an emphasis on making sure we felt welcomed, prepared to take on this new challenge and adventure, as well as safety and tactics to better adjust to the new living environment. Both Brad, Yumi, and Megan made it a smooth transition from getting my paperwork completed to arriving onsite. Also, my Luke, before even arriving to Korea was super helpful, answering any questions and making me feel better about the move. During any major country event, the staff in country would send out information on how to remain safe, and I always felt well-informed. Thanks for an amazing two years in korea! Well worth it :)

What would you improve about this program?
Overall, it's been a great experience, I would just add that there be more events throughout the year that were organized by the staff so that teachers have the opportunity to meet more especially for those that have a harder time reaching out to strangers within the facebook group. The holiday gatherings help to bring us together and it's always an amazing time, it leaves me wanting more of these events throughout the year.
52 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Nina
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

#CIEE #ADVICE #SOUTHKOREA #GROWTH

CIEE has a great network community where you can get advice and learn from other CIEE teachers. They also have an amazing "in state" and "in country" team. Not to mention, the awesome orientation and end of year events (we're talking FREE lessons, FREE site seeing and FREE food). For the pass six months, I had the privilege to experience the culture, eat delicious food, meet locals, and travel. Despite all of the wonderful things that I have experience, my most memorable moments was meeting my team (totally amazing people ) and when I got lost in my neighborhood the first day I arrived in Korea. I wasn't sure where I was going, but then I stumble upon the neighborhood's walking trail that has a river flowing along side. It may seem ordinary, but somehow I felt like everything was going to be okay because of the peaceful vibe. It was "my heaven" and I still walk on that path during my down times. To be honest, my first few months were pretty tough because I couldn't speak or read Korean, so my advice is, to be open minded, adapt to the culture and engage in groups of your interest . The rest is really up to how you would like to remember your experiences. I've learned so much about teaching, communicating and most importantly I've gain a sense of who I am. I highly recommend taking this opportunity to grow as an individual and make memories that will last a life time.

52 people found this review helpful.
Raena
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Korea Review

I was able to meet some of my best friends while teaching here in Korea. I also was able to gain so much more than just teaching experience. I feel like I was put in situations that will help me grow as a professional in other jobs and has set me up with experience to succeed in other parts of the world. I absolutely fell in love with the students I have and didnt expect to have as much fun being a teacher.
The best advice that I have and that I would want to hear upon moving here to teach is to keep an open mind about everything! Nothing can be expected and everything can change. Staying positive and using my peers as support as well as believing in myself has gotten me far while doing this. It isnt easy, to do what we adventures love to do. Many people cant do it. But its worth it for sure! CIEE helped in that aspect as well.

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

Moving to South Korea

I moved to South Korea in August 2016. I picked CIEE because it had a TEFL certification program. I took it as I worked two part time jobs back in the states and waited for my placement. While I left my first location in Bucheon after a year, I have not left South Korea. South Korea is a wonderful city. After a year outside of Seoul, I moved to Seoul and created a good social circle. None of this would have happened if I did not got to South Korea in 2016 through CIEE. I have grown a lot as a person since then and constantly see myself improving.

I love living in South Korea and plan on living here for as long as I can, with hopes of getting the F Visa down the line. If I did not take that first step back in 2016 with CIEE, none of this would have happened.

What would you improve about this program?
I would like there to be more social events since there is a large alumni of people who came to Korea through CIEE at first. There is also the price. I did find it be worth it in the long run as it helped me with my Visa process and had the certification course. I would however encourage those who are looking to teach in South Korea for the first time to be firm with what you would like for being placed.
55 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers

Yes, you need at least a bachelor's degree in any subject to teach abroad.

So you can start applying in May, but unless it's for a special program it's not always necessary. You can easily wait until after graduation to apply to schools (one less thing to worry about at that time). Korean schools, hagwon (private academy)'s tend to hire at the end of every term. So the hiring process is fairly constant. To complete the visa and hiring process you do need your diploma to...

Unfortunatley you cannot teach English in a Korea if you are not from an English speaking country. Schools seek individuals from a limited amount of countries, all of which are English speaking countries. However, South Africans can get an E-2 (teaching) visa.

I was told that you could not bring pets, nor were you allowed to get a pet once you were here. However, I have heard of several instances where teachers got pets in Korea. I think it might depend on your area and living situation because I'm sure some landlords will not allow it.