The Internet Ramblings of the QiRanger

Greetings from Korea!

I am by no means an expert on what it takes to teach abroad, but I have been in Korea for three months (as of this writing) and I love it. The experience of living abroad is amazing, and I have to admit, I love teaching. In the past few weeks, I’ve received a few inquiries about what it takes to teach abroad (or at least in Korea), so I thought make a quick post here.

First, to obtain an E-2 Visa in Korea, you must be a citizen and hold a valid passport from one of the following countries: USA, UK, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand. You must also be a native speaker of English. In addition, you must have a 4-year College Degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent). In most cases a TEFL Certificate isn’t needed, but is often helpful when teaching.

“What degree should I have?” is a question I get quite often. The fact of the matter is that it really doesn’t matter. I will not lie. If you have an university degree, you’ll be set. English and Education majors will probably find it easier teaching than most; however, no matter your background, the first work week is tough.

What’s is like living there?” is also a question I get a lot. To tell the truth, it’s fantstic. I love living abroad and don’t know if I’ll ever return to the US. The apartments you are usually set up in (free of charge) are small and reminds me a lot of living in the dorms in college. Food is cheap and there’s a lot to offer in terms of a social life.

“How much can you make?” is a common question. That varies depending on experience and where you are. The basic salary is 2,000,000 won and the high end can be 2,500,000 or more. If you’re wise with your money, you can live on about 500,000 won a month, enabling you to save or pay off debt easily back home.

“What about time off?” is also asked. That also depends on the employer. But the basic contract is for 2 weeks (10 days) plus all National Korean Holidays (about 14).

“How long is a contract for?” is an important question. Most are for one year. Employers really want you long term and will usually try to up your pay after the first year. In addition, after completing the first contract, most will give you a full month’s severene pay.

“How do I get there?” is what I’m hoping you’re thinking. This really is a great opportunity. If you’re interested, contact me and I’ll get you a job, usually inside of two months. The employer will be top-notch and pay for your round-trip airfare.