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Program Description
CIEE English Teaching Jobs in Korea
Description
Teach English in South Korea with CIEE to explore a country that embraces both a modern and traditional way of life. CIEE Teach in South Korea places enthusiastic individuals in established, trusted, private English language immersion schools in and around Seoul, South Korea for year-long paid teaching positions. By teaching in South Korea, you will immerse yourself in a nation with a strong national identity and you will come to learn about the value of the self reliance that has driven South Korea to become one of the leading economic centers of Asia.
* School levels: Primary
* School locations: Urban, suburban
* Typical teaching load: 26.25 classroom hours weekly (plus additional 10 hours planning time)
* Contracts: 12 months: mid- to late August-August or mid- to late February-February
Orientation
All participants take part in a four-day orientation conducted by CIEE staff in Seoul. During orientation week you will get to know the CIEE staff well and build a relationship with the support network that is available to you throughout your time in South Korea. You will also get to know your fellow CIEE teachers and through the training exercises and excursions, build relationships that will last throughout your time in South Korea and beyond!
CIEE Teach in South Korea orientation provides:
* Airport pick up on designated arrival date in Seoul
* Cross-culture training and cultural problem solving seminars
* Trip to the DMZ
* Orientation briefing by the U.S. embassy in Korea
* Accommodation at a clean, friendly hotel and most meals
* Sightseeing trips and cultural performances
Location
CIEE has partnered with an upstanding, long-running private school that has locations all over South Korea. All positions will be within a 45-minute commute to downtown Seoul, some lying in the major neighborhoods of Bundang and Ilsan. Most positions will be teaching young children ages three to seven years old.
Highlights
* Pre-departure school placement at reputable institution on a 12-month program, teaching mostly young children
* Salary of 2 million to 2.7 million Won/month
* Additionally, you can expect a:
- Signing bonus
- Relocation allowance
- Attendance bonus (scaled bonus based on attendance and fulfillment of all contract terms)
* Modern housing with basic amenities included as part of compensation for the duration of teaching contract
* Airfare included (half up front, half upon completion of contract)
* Four day cultural orientation in Seoul
* Support of CIEE professional staff before you depart for South Korea
* South Korea visa assistance
* Teaching and program guides to help you plan and prepare
* Half medical insurance paid as well as International travel insurance and 24-hour worldwide assistance provided through the CIEE iNext travel card
* Discounted Korean and Japanese language classes available
Qualifications
You do not need to be a teacher with extensive international experience to apply! Whether you're major was art history, zoology, or anything in between; if you have a good attitude and solid work ethic, your academic background will serve you well in the classroom - this time from the teacher's side of the desk.
It's essential that participants are self-motivated, responsible and recognize that their first priority is to their school and their teaching assignment. 110% commitment to the program is essential.
Basic eligibility requirements include:
* Bachelor's degree in any major
* U.S. citizenship: native English language fluency
* Teaching experience or TEFL certification preferred but not required
Ratings and Reviews
9 of 25 people found this review helpful
CIEE is a good resource for first-time native English teachers
90%Overall
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17 of 30 people found this review helpful
Be careful of ciee teach abroad!
20%Overall
Rating
I had an overall horrible experience. CIEE messed up my visa process and ended up assigning me to a school that worked me comparable to sweatshop conditions. The housing was awful. They refuse to take responsibility for their actions. Ciee will try to place you in a small town to try to get more money from the school. It's a complete rip off. My advice is to go online and do your own job search. Don't teach abroad in south Korea with CIEE!
---- Response from CIEE ----
CIEE is a well-respected non-profit that has been operating since 1947. We are a recognized leader in several fields, including undergraduate study abroad, as well as finding paid teaching jobs overseas for US college graduates. We are committed to providing high quality, safe and valuable experiences to all of our participants. We are proud of the programs that we operate and are committed to meeting our mission in every way. We are happy to share with you how we help participants overcome challenges while they are teaching abroad. Teaching abroad often isn’t easy and we recognize that. CIEE works directly with the Ministry of Education and other institutions to send people to teach in South Korea. We are happy to address anyone’s specific situation at any time, clearly as a U.S. based NGO, we do not operate these programs for the money and pursue quality experiences for all participants.
Matt Redman, Manager of CIEE Teach Abroad programs, teach@ciee.org.
My experience with CIEE has been very positive. I was placed at a public school in a small town in Yongin, a city about an hour outside of Seoul. My apartment is comfortable and in good condition. The cost of living is relatively low and my neighborhood is safe. I teach 22 hours per week, the kids are awesome, and the other teachers have been supportive and kind. I've also made a lot of good friends. Overall, I'm very pleased with how my experience in South Korea has turned out so far.
On a few occasions, I've mentioned CIEE to the teachers involved in hiring me and, surprisingly, was met with confusion and blank stares. They were completely unaware that CIEE even existed. (Because I worked with CIEE's partner recruiter, TEIK (which I don't recommend,) TEIK received a payment from the school once I completed my first three months here.) As far as I know, CIEE has limited to no contact with the schools themselves. Although I am fortunate enough to have a very helpful co-teacher, there is something to say about having a support network of people who understand the experience of being a foreigner in Korea and who speak a language that I know well.
CIEE has provided me with the kind of advice, training, and support that has made interactions with my Korean co-workers and school administrators run a lot more smoothly. At first, a cross-cultural training session sounded a little corny to me--until I blew my nose too loudly and offended an entire room full of people. That was when I understood just how important that training would be in building relationships with people whose language I couldn't speak. Coming here with barely any knowledge of Korean language or culture (I know, I know, I'm awful) was stressful. It would have been so much more stressful had I not been able, say, to go over my contract with a CIEE coordinator during job cuts or to be reassured that I could go to a Korean-speaking doctor with the flu and not be treated for shingles instead.
In the end, I'm glad that I went with CIEE. Even though the program is expensive, it has been a good resource to have.