Paid Teaching & TEFL Program in South Korea with TravelBud

TravelBud is very helpful throughout the application process as well as through any problems you have in-country during the course. I actually had 3 phone calls (as opposed to 1) to ask them a million and a half questions about where I should teach and why and TravelBud was always so patient with me. They guided me with spreadsheets, easy to follow websites, pros and cons lists and everything in between. It was so nice to have them by my side while prepping for a big move! Overall, if you are worried about placement and visas or anything else, TravelBud is there to help you transition smoothly :) I am so happy I chose to have a program to help me through this because, trust me, there are so many fine details that go into moving and working abroad!

Being able to travel and explore a country while earning money is the ideal situation that any young adult wants to be in. Working through Travelbud was a fantastic experience. The organization offered support throughout the entire experience. They helped me with all documentation I needed, answered all the questions I had about the program and offered emotional and practical support once I had gotten to South Korea. I never felt like I was alone in this ordeal. I was placed at a lovely school near the centre of Seoul. The program considers where you’d like to be placed which makes it truly unique to others. Through this program I made life long friends, traveled across South Korea and found myself immersing into their stunning culture. South Korea is a perfect blend of the modern wave and traditional customs and will suit almost anybody’s personality.

I chose to go through travelbud to teach in South Korea. Although the process of getting here is stressful thanks to all the documents and forms travelbud especially Saskia is incredibly helpful in making sure everything is filled out correctly and that you show the best of yourself. They also take great time to ensure that the schools you are placed at are good schools and that you will be safe and looked after properly in your placement.

I am at a private school in a small city, I have a modern one bedroom apartment with a bed and small kitchen area. I teach children from the ages of 7-16 during the week and on weekends can explore this beautiful country.

When in Korea they continue to look after you and check up on you. I couldn't recommend them enough and if anyone is wanting to go teach abroad go get in touch with them!

The reason why I chose to do this program with the TESOL is to learn more about the culture and prepare myself for my placement. This placement did it as whilst learning to teach, we were able to travel to different cities during the first month. They offered a few classes to learn more about history and language but I felt it was better for myself to experience it.

But the only thing I would say is, always plan for the unexpected because sometimes things change last minute and you need to be able to handle that as you are out in another country on your own.

Other than that, I have really enjoyed myself so far teaching here as the people who I've encountered with have been friendly! Living here isn't so expensive and travelling places is quite easy to use! Just make sure you are prepared for the month especially if it's your first time!

Everyone I worked with was amazing and they guided me to accomplishing my dream of teaching abroad.

Saskia and Sabine answered all my questions so quickly, and really helped me through the entire trip. They are always willing to help me and they give great advice.

I do wish the program worked a little more with the schools. Instead you in end having to go through middlemen which is a little frustrating. I think this would have a really helped me with the few issues I had. Overall, very awesome.

I found the assistance from Travel Bud to be excellent. The staff were very helpful and provided me with very valuable information. At no point did I feel that I could not approach Travel Bud with any concerns I had. Their availability to help me at any point was much appreciated. Saskia Smuts was especially helpful and provided excellent support and information which helped me to make well informed decisions.
I want like to extend my sincerest gratitude to all the staff at Travel Bud very their help and assistance in helping me to have an amazing experience in South Korea.

I have really enjoyed myself so far. It is a great country and most of the people are very friendly. My life has changed a lot and this experience is an eye opener. Each school is different so you shouldn't suspect any similarities. The lifestyle isn't to expensive and public transport is simple to use. I think the only way to understand their culture is to experience it yourself and make the most of it.

I would recommend the in country TESOL course as the experience is amazing. You get to interact with the facilitators and coordinators on a daily basis and their support and expertise is wonderful to have. The staff at TravelBud and their partners are professional, well organized and assists one to the best of their ability. The course itself is well planned and the support and training we receive is practical and realistic.

The only useful I can give is to come without any expectations. You'll be pleasantly surprised by what you learn both in and outside the classroom. I cannot comment on the post-program part as I am yet to complete it but so far so good. My favourite experience to date is the orientation week as we didn't know what to expect upon arrival but we learned so much and continue to learn everyday. All the activities were well planned and executed without fault.

This is truly a life changing experience and the impact on my life so far has only been positive.

I thought the whole process before I came to Seoul was really great. The team was really informative and handled my worries and questions well. I felt good about my decisions because I was being supported very well. I think my only problem was that once I arrived in Seoul I was thrust straight into the work. I had assumed that the company orientation woild take place once I started, or even before. I was only informed about an orientation and meet up after I had been here for over a month already. I had to settle myself, with next to no help or guidance.

This month marks my 4th month teaching in South Korea and feel so settled and could not think of doing anything else. Everyday is such a joy get to go to work and see such cute, excited and curious faces I call my students. The culture, the people (whom have welcomed in with such warm smiles and heart) and of course the food!! wow!
I am however thankful to the team that helped me get to where I am today, from the start to the finish line. Throughout the whole process, i am thankful to the team at Travelbud for the amazing management of the process, the support and the amazing communication and following up. I am also thankful to the team for the amazing TESOL course, they really equipped me to be the teacher I get the joy of being today, from lesson planning, class management, teaching skills etc.
And above all, I am thankful to the team in preparing me for this big move and probably one of the best decisions I've made to date.

Moving to any new country to go work can be terrifying and coming to Korea is no exception. I was overwhelmed with the process of getting to South Korea until I was made aware of travelbud. The company guided me every single step of the way and I was exposed to quality and personal service all along the process. Their support is also carrying one even now that I am in the country and working. I was very satisfied with their hands on approach in helping me teach abroad

I spent twelve months in Yeosu, Korea, a hilly seaside town filled with possibilities. What is lacks in fast-paced Seoul-like metropolitan charm, it makes up for with its ability to wake up the adventurer in you. There are brochures pointing you to the tourist spots, but jumping on a bus and exploring a new part of town, an island or beach or even the “mountain” behind my flat used to yield much more exciting experiences. I had the privilege to meet fantastic new friends with whom I shared an actual connection beyond drinking and partying.

The support from TravelBud was really good, they assisted in my predeparture preparation and would often check in the following months. It was a great help to have somebody else sort out my SIM card. I attended a belated orientation (because I arrived shortly after they had finished another) and met some lovely people from all around the world based in other parts of Korea. Thinking back to the Korean cooking class still makes me smile and salivate a little.

Don’t be fooled; Korea is not for the cowardly. There were difficult times, occasional times that made me wonder what I was thinking. Not even the handsome salary seemed enough. That said I found my sense of humour this year so those few moments were soon dwarfed by the epiphanies, friendships, laughs and splendour that I experienced in my time in sleepy Yeosu. If you have that curiosity in your heart that beckons you to explore and find the joy, you won’t be disappointed.

Last year I decided to pack up my stuff and move half way across the world. I kept hearing about what great teaching opportunities there were in South Korea and how much money I could save teaching here. Of course I didn't believe everything I heard. A friend of mine who was already in South Korea suggested I contact TravelBud and enquire about the opportunities available in Korea. He said he was happy with TravelBud and would recommend it to anyone. So I contacted them, and the journey of a lifetime began.

Naturally I was nervous and worried about moving to a foreign country, a country i had just heard of in passing. TravelBud were there for me every step of the way. They responded really fast, and gave me all the information I needed. I liked that they broke things down for me into manageable bits. It can get really overwhelming if you don't have anyone guiding you through the process. Looking back, I am sure that if TravelBud was not there for me I would honestly not be here today. Even though at the time I was based in Tanzania , TravelBud were so good that it didn't matter where I was. I still got the support I needed. They were so friendly, and caring that they made a process that would otherwise be quite stressful very easy and even enjoyable. I received guidance at every stage. They were extremely professional and definitely knew what they were talking about. They also let me know what to expect once I got here.

Now I am 7 months into my teaching contract in South Korea and I could not be happier. I got placed at an amazing school . I have had absolutely no problems with salary or apartment. I managed to save a decent sum and pay off my loans. I also got to experience a whole new culture. P.S . The food here is amazing.

I have heard so many horror stories of things going wrong here that I am glad that I had TravelBud there for me.
Just as someone recommended them to me, I would happily recommend them to anyone else.