Great Positions with Public and Private Schools in Korea!

Name: Great Positions with Public and Private Schools in Korea!
Brand: Reach to Teach
SKU: 29129
Rating: 4.81 (58 reviews)

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4.81 Rating

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Location

South Korea
- Seoul
- Gwangju
- Busan

Length

52+ weeks

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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)

Last Updated: Aug 13, 2018

Last Reviewed: Aug 14, 2017

Wish List

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!

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Video and Photos

South Korea arrival day for EPIK and SMOE

South Korea welcome package for new teachers

Reach To Teach teachers getting to know South Korea

USA recruiter for the EPIK and SMOE program

Teach in South Korea with Reach To Teach

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Program Reviews

4.81 Rating

based on 58 reviews

Leave a Review

Rating Spread Teach

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 33 - 40 of 58 reviews

I'm so happy I went to Korea through Reach To Teach. The entire process was laid out to me in a step by step format. I always felt that I knew what the next step was and my recruiter John always kept me well informed on the required paperwork and estimated times for processing the paperwork.

Life in Korea has been great so far. The people have been very understanding of the fact that I am a foreigner here and have helped me settle into this country. My co-teachers have been amazing as well. They helped me set up a bank account, find an apartment (which is paid for by EPIK) and sign up for a cell phone. After the first few months it really starts to feel like a home.

The orientation was wonderful. Amazing presenters. The only thing I would change was our free time. It's our first time in Korea and we were give NO time to explore. I would take away the 10pm curfew and extend it to midnight, and maybe give us one day off to have the chance to explore a bit.

Other than that, I learned a lot of practical information from the presenters that were chosen.

I am a teacher for a hogwon franchise called Topia. I was placed by Reach to Teach. Throughout the entire process, the staff at Reach to Teach has been incredibly helpful and supportive. I have been very impressed that they continued to stay in touch with me after starting my position.

Overall I am satisfied with my job at Topia. The pay is decent and the housing is super convenient. I can walk to my school and I live adjacent to a main subway line. My coworkers are all very nice and my boss is easy to talk to. I teach elementary and middle school. The elementary kids are awesome, but the middle schoolers can be challenging sometimes.

My only complaint about Topia is that they make it very difficult to take vacation days. Also, they do not have as many holidays as public schools.

Overall I have been having a fantastic experience. I have tried many new foods, got back into hiking and outdoorsy adventures, and have participated in tons of festivals and events in the Seoul area. I have met tons of amazing people from all over the world. I highly recommend using Reach to Teach to find jobs in South Korea.

Reach to teach provided a great service to help me with securing a placement teaching in South Korea. Not only did they help with the front end process but the staff and members are available throughout for support with my time in Korea.

Deciding to come to South Korea was a major decision in my life. Without the help of my recruiter-Reach To Teach, moving overseas would not have been possible.

It takes a special person to leave everything you've ever known, and move across the world, especially when there is a huge language barrier. I chose Reach To Teach, because I feel that they are the most reliable, honest and qualified recruiting company. Their website is not difficult and it explains exactly what you need to know. I enjoyed the pictures they have of past and current teachers. RTT holds monthly events with their staff and teachers, which provides a way for everyone to feel at home. I really enjoyed the blogs of other teachers. I was able to read about people teaching in Korea, Taiwan and China. I had an interview with a former teacher who gave me some great insight. I also like that the people who work for RTT are all former teachers with great advice and experience. The head recruiter 'John Kellenberger' is top notch. I've talked with many people who had issues with their recruiter. He works for you and that is something that should be commended. There was not a time when John did not contact me when I asked. He also sends e-mails just to see how things are going. In my opinion, he was more than just a recruiter helping me get to Korea; he is a friend. I felt as if we were buddies. With a transition this big in your life, that is something that everyone needs.

In Korea, or any Asian country, your life is unpredictable. I think this is what is so exciting here. On a typical day, I work 8:30AM-4:30PM. I usually go home for about 2 hours, and then I head downtown to meet friends for dinner and drinks. We usually stay out and socialize for a few hours and we are back home by 10:00-11:00PM depending. The weekends are packed with eating, drinking and travel. Korea is a social culture and it allows you just relax and smell the roses as they say.

The biggest challenge is the language barrier. They speak Korean, you speak English. For the most part, it is easy to get around town with speaking much Korean. However, when you go to a restaurant and the ENTIRE menu is in Korea and there may or may not be a picture. We simply just point and hope for the best! Another challenge is teaching low-level students. You ask a question and they just stare at you. Motivating students is a challenge as well.

The best thing here for starters is the cost of living. It is very cheap! A 2 Liter bottle of water cost 800 won, which is equal to about $.75 is America. There is hardly any crime! You can just walk around freely at night, and be perfectly fine! Children as young as 5-6 are walking to school alone.

Overall, I highly recommend moving overseas, especially South Korea! It's a decision that you won't regret! There are so many people here with a different perspective on life and it is so enriching!

The staff of RTT is really awesome. They are always an email or phonecall away to answer even the most trivial of questions. Although I didn't like the fact that we did not know WHERE we were being placed (which is EPIK's decision, NOT RTT's), RTT did it's best to ensure us and keep us confident throughout.

The only reason I gave the safety review a six is because of the lack of traffic enforcement laws in South Korea. I honestly feel like I am playing roulette with my life every time I get on a bicycle or attempt to use a crosswalk. Remember the game FROGGER on Atari... probably not; I feel like the frog.

As far as day-to-day life in Korea, it is great. I was blessed with an amazing placement, a great school, awesome co-teachers (7 of them), and a good place to live. I was placed in Sangju; a bit rural, but perfect for me. I am huge into supporting the local economy, so I buy all of my fruits and vegetables at the marvelous farmers market held every five days; only five minutes from my house.

The transit system (train and bus) was fairly easy to figure out, but we did have the help of some other great EPIK veterans.

The most suprising thing so far has been the incredible community of foreigners (waygooks) in Sangju. When I originally started reading reviews and what not while applying through Reach to Teach (amazing recruiting agency. Attention: John Kellenberger ( ; ) I thought maybe there would be 5 to 10 other foreign teachers in the city I would be placed in. I was wrong. Try at least thirty. Great support group. We have set up our own Sangju facebook page which is an amazing resource. It is an invaluable resource for everything from how to understand the washing machine controls to just getting a group dinner together or answering questions about schools or lesson planning.

I have only been in Korea for about two and a half months, but must say it was a great decision. None of this would have been possible without the thorough guidance of Reach to Teach. I have already recommended them to others on blogs who are thinking about teaching English overseas, and will continue to do so.

Please feel free to contact me with any further questions or needs.
Thank you again for your guidance Reach to Teach and Mr. John Kellenberger. Have a great dye.

Jesse cox
2jessecox@gmail.com

The first couple of days in Korea were, admittedly, stressful and confusing, but I imagine that's how it would be for any country a foreigner moved to. It has been a few months now, and I can say with complete honesty that I am happy and having fun. Teaching can be hard, and it does take a significant amount of energy to keep up with the kids, but it is absolutely the most rewarding job I've ever had (this coming from someone who is used to 9-5 salaried jobs). So, while the weeks can be challenging, they fly by.
The hardest part of my experience so far was the Visa process. My recruiter warned me that it might be a "get your Visa one day and get on the plane the next" sort of deal, and I didn't believe him. He was right, though, and actually I had to get my Visa the same day as my flight to Korea! I was confused and frustrated at why the process was so last minute and mysterious, but every teacher who I have met in Korea has had a similar experience. It's not the recruiter, it's just the way the country does things. Regardless, I am happy to be here and wouldn't trade this experience for anything. Plus, my co-teachers (both foreign and Korean) are simply amazing and I love coming to work every day with them.
Also, I am a vegetarian. Being a vegetarian in Korea is like moving to Nashville because you hate country music. There is meat in everything. So, I do a lot of cooking at home. It can be hard at times but being a vegetarian is definitely doable, and I am happy and healthy.
Another note, I am a work-out fanatic, and it was hard for me to find a gym. When I finally did join a gym, I was surprised at the, err, differences in gym quality. Yes, there are treadmills and yes there are bikes and weights, but they are very, very old. A Korean friend told me that working out in gyms is not as big of a deal in Korea as it is in the USA or the UK. I'm grateful to have found a gym at all, even if it isn't the same as back home.

Come to Korea! It will change your life!!

Questions & Answers

Which TEFL Certification is the best qualifier for Busan?

Answer this question

Are service dogs allowed to be brought over?

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.

By Maddie Swanson on February 5, 2018

Is it okay to have pets?

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.

By Stephanie Boedecker on January 31, 2018

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Is the TEFL certification required?

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

By Mallory Meiser on February 18, 2016

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Alumni Interviews

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

Why did you decide use Reach to Teach to get a teaching placement in South Korea?

Wanting to teach abroad is something I wanted to do for ages, ever since high school really, so after obtaining my TEFL certification I researched and found myself overwhelmed by concerns and questions about whether or not I could do it on my own.

Using Reach to Teach as my recruiter was a decision reached after months of research on numerous websites (including gooverseas.com) and a desire to end up in the best situation possible for moving thousands of miles from home and culture of the only kind that I knew. I had decided that I wanted to teach in EPIK South Korea and anywhere I looked I saw questionable things about recruiters or the general comment on how complicated the application for EPIK could be.

Fortunately, most of the message boards that discussed recruiters at the time always seemed to have positive remarks about Reach to Teach and its main South Korea recruiter, John Kellenberger. After steeling myself for the process and reading what Reach to Teach offered as a service prior to, during, and after applying and getting to where I was going I felt far more at ease going into it than anywhere else after seeing what was offered. Reach to Teach has definitely lived up to the hype in my mind thus far.

What made working with Reach to Teach unique and special?

Working with Reach to Teach was so unique simply for the fact I had never approached a recruiter before but also because they are a small one that make you feel easily a part of something they care deeply about and have so much experience in.

For working with so many people at once they were always quick to return my emails of questions during the process (a little slower around the holidays but still always seemed to find time) and even set up a mock interview to prepare for the real thing with EPIK. Most importantly however, they gave me the support and confidence in being able to succeed in a process where I was already a bit behind in the application work. The whole thing is stressful enough without Reach to Teach being there to help you sort out everything in a professional and experienced manner, so really my gratitude toward them is incalculable.

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How has this experience impacted your future? (Personally, professionally, academically, etc.)

Personally, working with Reach to Teach has given me a comfort going into what is, so far, the biggest change in my life. This isn’t just moving across the US, which is massive in its own right, it's moving and starting a career in a culture and country foreign to my norms.

Reach to Teach, I’m sure of it, has prepared me to the best of their abilities and left me confident that I can handle it from here on out. In a professional sense I believe this is just the start as I’ve always wanted to be a teacher and this is a great way to get my feet wet so to speak. None of it would have been as simple, maybe even possible without Reach to Teach to guide me. Everyone knows, even in the academic world, when you want to do something or become further accredited to do so nothing screams “Pick me!” like practical experience in the field and that’s how I feel about this. I can’t wait.

What is one piece of advice you would offer someone considering teaching abroad in South Korea?

If there was a single piece of advice I could give someone wanting to teach abroad in South Korea especially with EPIK… it would probably have to be to remain calm.

It sounds silly and simple but I feel that the toughest thing with the whole process is maintaining the mental clarity required to make sound decisions when making the move. Not just doing the interviews but with gathering things for the documents on a time constraint, reading up on material of the country you’re going to, getting items essential to living in Korea, finding people with the same mindset as you that are heading over there and so on.

All of it plays a part in a huge undertaking in your life and it is important to understand that not everything in this is going to be under your control and panicking won’t fix things or get you there in any better a state than someone who didn’t and you’ll already be the worse for the wear. South Korea is a beautiful country and their government wants to welcome you there with open arms if you’re going through the EPIK program and I can’t think of a better way to repay that kindness than showing up not just anxious but ready to go and be a part of a culture, country and children’s lives.

Anahita Sotoohi

Whitney Zahar

Trent Fowler

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

What benefits do Korean private schools offer vs. public schools?

John: There are a number of important differences between public schools and the private schools Reach To Teach works with. First is the schedule: Public school jobs in Korea have morning/afternoon hours (typically from about to 8am-4pm) whereas private school jobs have an afternoon/ evening schedule (typically about 3pm-9pm).

Another significant difference is the number of foreign teachers per school. At a public school in Korea you will generally be the only foreign teacher at your school. However, private schools in Korea tend to have at least a few foreign teachers, while some locations have more than 10 foreign teachers! Most Reach To Teach teachers enjoy the support of having other foreign teachers around them. The school I originally taught at had five other foreign teachers and that made a big difference for me, support wise.

As far as benefits go, the packages are fairly similar across all schools in Korea. Public schools and private school jobs include a round trip flight, free housing and a settlement allowance. Good benefits all around! Teaching jobs in Korea tend to have better benefits than positions in other countries in Asia.

What is a typical day like for an English teacher in Korea?

John: The typical day for a teacher in Korea really depends on whether they are teaching in a public school or private school. Public school teachers work an morning/afternoon schedule, typically from about 8am-4pm, although this schedule may change depending on location and whether the teacher is participating in the EPIK, GEPIK or SMOE programs. Every teacher should be prepared to spend significant time each day preparing lesson plans. Always remember that your students have REALLY long days. Your goal should be to become a great teacher while also making their day a bit more interesting! We try and prepare each and every Reach To Teach teacher in Korea to care about their students and their work as a teacher. Doing a good job and making a difference in the lives of your students is rewarding!

Should teachers be worried about culture shock in Korea?

John: Any teacher planning to spend a year in a foreign country should be prepared to experience some elements of culture shock! Culture shock in Korea may be particularly intense: Korea is quite different than most western countries and the way people interact socially can be difficult to adjust to. At Reach To Teach, we always recommend that our teachers in Korea try to be as flexible and easy going as possible. Embrace the differences in Korea and immerse yourself in the culture as much as possible. Reach To Teach also sends each of our teachers special documents focused on culture shock, just in case. The above said, some teachers never experience any significant culture shock at all. Everyone’s personality is a bit different, of course, so your experience will be unique!

What is the standard of living like in Korea?

John: The standard of living in Korea is quite high and comparable with western countries. In fact, if you’re a recent graduate, you will almost certainly live a higher quality of life living in Korea for your first year out of school! The benefits are very good and Korea is a comfortable place in which to live. Koreans tend to be quite friendly to westerners and most teachers find it easy to meet new people and make friends. The food is my personal favorite! Korean food is delicious and there are a plethora of interesting culinary options. Korea is most famous for its delicious BBQ (which I love!), but the dumplings (Mandoo), Bibimbop and street food are all quite tasty. Overall, Korea offers teachers a great combination of interesting culture and comfortable lifestyle.

How does teaching in Korea compare to teaching in other countries in Asia?

John: There are a number of significant differences between teaching in Korea and other popular places in Asia. Whether these differences are pros or cons really depends on your perspective. Benefits in Korea tend to be significantly better than those of Japan, China and Taiwan (to name a few other popular destinations!). Korean children are generally well behaved, and the support provided at schools should be more professional and organized than in most other countries in Asia. Of course, every individual situation is different, but the above is generally true. Korea can also be an intense place in which to teach. There is a lot of pressure put on children by family members and Korean teachers. Our Reach To Teach teachers tell us this also means they feel the pressure at times.

The above is just a brief intro of the differences between teaching in Korea and other locations in Asia. Obviously, there is a lot more to discuss! If you have further questions, feel free to contact our friendly staff here at Reach To Teach.

About Reach to Teach

As any ESL Teacher can tell you, finding a good teaching job abroad can be difficult. Similarly, a lot of ESL schools feel that finding a good teacher is equally difficult. This is where we at Reach To Teach come in. Our motto is matching great teachers with great schools. There are a lot of ESL jobs available abroad, however it can be difficult to...