Teach English in South Korea on a Paid 1-Year Contract in Public & Private Schools with Greenheart Travel

Chances are if you're interested in applying to teach English in South Korea through the English Program in Korea (EPIK), you already know how extensive and daunting the application process is. Looking back on my experience, I can't imagine applying without Greenheart Travel's help!

I learned about Greenheart Travel about six year ago. When I first reached out about applying to teach in Korea, I had already missed the deadline. So, I waited a few months before attempting to apply again. I was so impressed that Greenheart Travel staff remembered my initial correspondence! From that point on, Greenheart Travel staff members were always so attentive and personable, all the while professional and efficient.

Greenheart Travel helped me successfully complete and submit all of the necessary documents needed on time in order to be offered a English teaching position in South Korea. I ended up staying in Korea for two years and absolutely LOVED my life there. And even after I had arrived in country, staff members from Greenheart Travel continually checked in on me, as well as encouraged the work I was doing!

Kara and the team were extremely helpful during the EPIK application process. They were always available to answer questions via email and call, and made my life so much easier going through this process. I have nothing but amazing things to say about Greenheart!

It's helpful to have a company guide you through the intense application process. My Green Heart recruiter provided many detailed instructions on how to apply for certain documents and reminded me of the due dates for everything along the way.

I knew I wanted to teach English in South Korea, so I found a few different recruiters and emailed them all. Greenheart was one of them and the ONLY one that got back to me in a timely manner. This continued throughout my entire application process. Sara, the girl over the program for South Korea, was always so on top of things and replied to every email (no matter how silly the questions) within minutes, maybe an hour or two TOPS. She was very helpful and informative and sweet.

There was no way for her to help with my placement - this is just the nature of the EPIK program that I applied for through Greenheart. No recruiters would be able to guarantee a placement, as they fill up very fast and requirements change per area.

I was very happy using greenheart travel. I found all my incessant, anxiety-driven and sometimes desperate questions answered promptly and intelligently. I experienced a couple of paperwork issues and my recruiter (Sarah) was extremely helpful and seemed to make a genuine effort to rectify any of the administrative issues I was experiencing. Since my placement in Korea, I've also come to appreciate just how in-tune Greenheart travel is with the processes and the education system here. Now that I have a more comprehensive understanding of EPIK, I further appreciate how Greenheart guided me and all the applicants to make as strong an application as possible. The advice they provide about the interview process as well as the realities of the positions themselves is, in my experience, very helpful and quite honest. Though I haven't heard much from greenheart since moving to Seoul, I don't think it would be necessary at this point anyway. I would definitely recommend greenheart travel to those looking to transition into EPIK teaching.

Greenheart Travel has been excellent at every step of the way. While applying, our questions were promptly answered, and our apprehensions were cleared up. The entire process was made easier with their help. We knew exactly what to expect from the moment we landed in Korea until getting to our apartments. Big thanks to Sara at Greenheart!

Having had no experience as a teacher, the English Program in Korea (EPIK) has been an excellent first step in my teaching career. Over the past year and a half, I've seen entire classes of middle school students transform from being unsure of the lesson to having the 'a-ha moment' to being able to fire back answers as I review the material. I've never experienced something so rewarding.

I definitely recommend Greenheart Travel to anyone, with or without experience, looking to teach abroad.

Greenheart took great care of us throughout the application process. They we able to find me a placement despite my unusual situation- bringing a dependent.

Flash forward two years and my husband and I are still enjoying our experience here. We'll even be starting our third EPIK contract as a family of three. So let go of whatever is holding you back and just apply!

My school is so supportive and I love working with these cute kids. It's a big school so I teach only 5th and 6th grades and one period of English Club. My area is great; there is a great community of foreigners who offer support and friendship.

I have also been able to really get to know the Korean culture through travel, and native friends. Go to Korea. Greenheart travel will help you get there!

Greenheart travel makes applying to teach abroad a much less daunting process. They were very helpful the entire way through-from the first draft of my application to my final departure. They check your application for any faults before sending it off to the Epik which I love because the application needs to be completed in a very specific way. Additionally, they give you interview tips and a pre-depature info session. I applied for EPIK in 2012, so it's been about 2 years since then; however, I remember the application process running very smoothly, and I know this is thanks to Greenheart.

From the beginning to end of the long application process to teach English in Korea, Greenheart Travel (especially Sara Dorsey), has been exceptional. When I first showed an interest in teaching abroad, the Greenheart Travel website clearly displayed all the details of the program. (from benefits to job duties) I knew exactly how much my salary would be, how long the orientation would last, etc. This was extremely helpful. In addition, I became reassured at the legitimacy of the program when I noticed that Greenheart Travel is partnered with the EPIK-English Program in Korea. (a government-run program)

As the application process continued, Sara was extremely prompt in answering my questions via email and also offered helpful advice on what to expect while living in Korea. Since she had already taught in Korea in the past, it was very reassuring since I was already beyond nervous to move across the world and teach English. After I was accepted, I received a welcome packet and detailed itinerary of upcoming orientation in Korea. This was very helpful and I remember feeling so relieved when I received this from Greenheart Travel. It even had a map of the Incheon airport and helpful tips on how to handle culture shock! Greenheart travel made me feel much more prepared to begin my journey of traveling abroad.

I will be finishing my second year of teaching in Korea in February 2015 and am going to continue to teach and travel abroad. This time, it will be with Greenheart Travel Teach English in Colombia program! Overall, teaching in Korea has been full of ups and downs. But, it's been a worthwhile experience and I've gained various lifelong skills that will help me professionally in the future. These skills include: public speaking, classroom management, patience, and most importantly, ADAPTABILITY.

When I was applying for this program I was having some difficulties that were driving me crazy. The fault for this was of course the paperwork and the bureaucratic tape you had to jump through to get it. I was working full time while I was going through these hoops and honestly if I didn't have the help and advise of Sarah over at Greenheart Travel, I might have just given up. I literally had to apply for something three times because I kept getting rejected for this or that reason, but Sarah helped me manage to get in the essentials of my application so that I wouldn't be left behind in the late application pool. eventually, when I got the rest of my paperwork I submitted it and joined the rest of the applicants in the waiting game. Greenheart Travel was fantastic as they put all paranoia at ease and sent me information to prepare me for the insanity I had just willingly signed up for.

It really is insane to voluntarily drop all the opportunities in your own backyard to move 7,000 miles away to a completely different country and do something for which there is no safety net. But as I sit here in my apartment in South Korea, I know I made the best move I could.. I enjoyed my first year of teaching high school history in the US after I graduated college. I look forward to going back and doing that, but at the time I wasn't ready to submit to the game of politics one has to play to secure a long term job in education. I knew I still wasn't ready to settle down and so I opted to take advantage of my youth and travel. Coming to South Korea was the perfect opportunity. From a historical viewpoint, there is nothing better than experiencing a culture for yourself and actually going to see the history. From the teaching viewpoint, I am becoming more flexible ("Korean surprises" are a daily occurrence, be prepared) and becoming familiar with different methods. This opportunity is not about running away from something, it's about helping myself grow more through less mainstream means.

I have no regrets in coming here and I couldn't ask for anything more (perhaps besides some less expensive peanut butter). There really is nothing like walking down the street after what has become an average day of teaching and just being completely content with life.

During the 9 - 10 day orientation, I learned many helpful EL strategies from former EPIK teachers and those first hand experiences really helped me prepared for my first day in the classroom. Lots of resources were provided as well to help teachers get ideas for lesson planning as adjust to the culture and school system. Thank you EPIK for easing EPIK teachers into the classroom as best as possible.

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!

Greenheart Travel has been a blessing and a half. They were so helpful in getting our paperwork together and in order. Any questions were answered within 24 hours, and they provided us with a TON of information. We really felt prepared when we left for Korea. Without Greenheart travel, this process would have been close to a nightmare. And best of all, they do not charge for their services.

I would highly recommend Greenheart travel to anybody looking at teaching abroad.