John Morgan Recruiting

Yes, if your spouse is also going to be teaching, you can both apply for your E-2 visa at the Korean consulate in your jurisdiction.

If you will be accompanied by a spouse who will not be teaching English, or by your children, they will need to get an F-3 visa in order to accompany you to Korea. When you apply for your E-2 visa, you can apply for your spouse or child’s F-3 visa at the same time. You will need to provide the Korean embassy or consulate with your dependent’s passport and official documentation certifying your relationship, such as a Birth Certificate or Marriage Certificate.

They could ask for more documents but typically those will suffice.

Note that on the F-3 visa, your spouse will not be able to legally work in Korea.

For a complete list of list of visas to enter Korea, check out the Korean Ministry of Justice’s website:—http://www.moj.go.kr—under Main Function, there is a link to the Immigration Bureau.
OR the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Website:—http://www.mofat.go.kr
OR the Korean Immigration Bureau—http://www.immigration.go.kr

Most schools will be OK with your spouse coming, although some might have problems with it if they require their teachers to share housing. In most cases it would probably be OK as long as the school were aware in advance that your spouse was in fact coming with you.

Yes, we are always available by phone or email to offer tips and suggestions for teaching in Korea. All of our recruiters are experienced teachers in Korea and are prepared to share that experience with new teachers. We have included some tips and ideas for classes in our Orientation Guide for new teachers. Also, check out the links here, that we have provided to assist teachers.

Your E-2 visa only allows you to work at the school which sponsors your visa. If you wish to work at another school, you will need to obtain a rider for your visa (permission from immigration). Private teaching is illegal in Korea and is not permitted on your E-2 visa.

Most contracts are for 25-30 hours per week. The usual teaching load is for 5-6 hours per day. The teaching hours will be clearly laid out in the contract. Most schools have either a late morning/afternoon type schedule or an afternoon/evening schedule. Institutes with adult classes usually have tougher schedules with both early morning and late evening classes (the only time the students can come).

Dress-codes vary from school to school. Most schools are semi-formal and very few require a tie (although some do). For men, dress pants and shirt are normally required. For women, slacks or a skirt and blouse are fine. Jeans may be OK as long as they are clean and not torn. No torn clothing or t-shirts are permitted. Generally speaking, it is better to dress up more at the beginning and make a positive first impression than to show up in torn clothing. If you have any questions about the dress code, be sure to ask the director or teachers when you talk to them.

Yes. When you find a school that you are interested in, we will put you in contact with the teachers that are currently working at the school so you can ask them whatever questions you may have.

Yes, there is some training provided on arrival. Usually a new teacher is given between 1-3 days to sit in on other teachers’ classes, to get to know the school and a few students, to ask questions and to look at the textbooks. This will give new teachers a good idea of what to expect. While this sounds like a really short time to get adjusted, it is important to note that when a new teacher comes in, the old teacher is leaving and therefore the school does not have a lot of time to commit to training the new arrival.

Yes. The schools will provide you with the textbooks used in the classes. In addition, they will usually have supplementary materials such as workbooks, flashcards, tapes and games to add to the textbooks. It is nice when the teacher brings some personal touches from home to use in the classroom. This can really help create a friendly bond between the teacher and the students and increase student interest in the class. Some of these personal touches might include family/hometown photographs, postcards from your hometown, maps/brochures, some games you like or videos. You don’t need to bring these as the schools do provide teachers will all the materials you need to get started, but they do make the classes more interesting for both the teacher and the students. In addition there are numerous English bookstores in Korea where you can find all kinds of good teaching materials.

Yes. There will be other Korean teachers who will speak and teach English. In addition, there will be the other native English speakers who have also come to Korea to teach. The number of foreign teachers at the school depends on the size of the school. In some smaller schools there may only be 1 or 2 foreign teachers. In many of the bigger franchise schools there could be 20-30 teachers.

In most institutes the class sizes fall between 7-12 students per class. This small class size makes it quite easy to give individual attention to students and get to know them quite well.

The classes are focused on the principles of teaching English for communicative purposes, therefore the class time will largely be spent on speaking and listening activities. Textbooks will be provided for the instructor for each class, although teachers will be free to adapt and supplement textbooks. The schools also usually provide teachers will other materials such as flashcards and games. Typical class activities would include practicing dialogues and situations, role-play, playing games or listening to songs.

Most students are able to speak English at at least a basic level. Most students are able to introduce themselves and use basic expressions. As a result of the demand for English and increased travel abroad among Koreans, the English ability in Korea has increased in recent years. Students will be grouped according to their age and level. Some classes will be quite fluent while others may be at the beginner level.

Most schools will offer a variety of classes. There might be kindergarten in the morning and elementary school in the afternoon or elementary school in the afternoon with middle/high school in the early evening.

Depends on the school but most schools have a mix of kindergarten/elementary and middle and high school classes. Children’s institutes make up the highest percent of positions available (probably about 85% of all jobs).

Absolutely. During the class time you will be expected to use English with the students. Most students in Korea can speak English at at least a basic level as many have been attending private classes for some time. Sometimes the children are quite amazing in the English expressions that they know and have picked up. Some children have spent time abroad and most institutes have at least one class where the children are at a very fluent level. So no, being able to speak Korean is not necessary for teaching and using Korean during an English class would not be welcomed.

Having said that, I think that knowing and making an effort to learn Korean while you are in Korea will bring you closer to your students and also put you in the position of how it feels to try to learn a language. Also, it will help you understand the culture more and enhance your overall experience of living in Korea. To get you started Morgan Recruiting has included a basic Korean textbook in the New Teacher Orientation Package that we prepare for all new teachers in Korea. For a list of schools and places online where you can learn Korean, click here.

No. As mentioned above, these teaching credentials are an asset but are not necessary to apply for and obtain a teaching position in Korea. If you do have TESL/TEFL certification, you may be able to negotiate for a higher salary.

The best candidates are those that have a sense of adventure. They are really excited about the idea of living abroad and traveling internationally. They are positive and want to experience the world.

Teaching experience is an asset for sure. However, teaching experience is not necessary for obtaining a position in Korea. Furthermore, many things, such as creativity, passion and enthusiasm can help new teachers in the beginning when they first start teaching and gradually gain experience. Many of our applicants are not experienced teachers and had no teaching experience before coming abroad. Many of them in turn found that they loved teaching and decided to make a career of it.