Living and Teaching in South Korea
Jean Marie
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Teaching English in South Korea can be a rewarding experience. You not only are helping people to learn a second language that will benefit them and their career, make new friends, but also you 
are learning about another culture not like your own. Most of the schools do not require previous teaching experience.If you have a 4 year college or university degree and are interested in teaching English in South Korea, they want you! Looking to save some money or pay on college loans? Cost of living in South Korea is low. Taxes can be around 3.5% your monthly income. Some teachers can easily live off of $500 USD a month comfortably.
Language Schools
Not all language schools are the same. As a first time ESL teacher, you are likely to be working in a Hog-wan, which is a private school. When these schools advertise teaching positions, it all looks good. The salary isn't bad either. You can make from 2 million to 3 million Korean won a month (2,143.85-3,215.77 USD), free housing (paid for by the school), paid round trip airfare, work between 20-30 hours hours week M-F and get paid to work overtime. Sounds great huh? Once you have talked with your employer and accepted the position, you will need to get some paperwork together. This can involve mailing copies of passport and university transcript and degree, sending the original or a notarized copy of the degree to a Korean consulate for the E-2 teaching visa, etc. This can take a couple of weeks. Before or upon arriving, you sign a contract. It should be in English. Make sure you read it closely, ask any questions and make a photocopy of it. If you haven't taught a class before, it is a good idea to take a short ESL course. This will help you to be more confident and familiar with the classroom and understand the culture a little bit better.
Language Schools
Not all language schools are the same. As a first time ESL teacher, you are likely to be working in a Hog-wan, which is a private school. When these schools advertise teaching positions, it all looks good. The salary isn't bad either. You can make from 2 million to 3 million Korean won a month (2,143.85-3,215.77 USD), free housing (paid for by the school), paid round trip airfare, work between 20-30 hours hours week M-F and get paid to work overtime. Sounds great huh? Once you have talked with your employer and accepted the position, you will need to get some paperwork together. This can involve mailing copies of passport and university transcript and degree, sending the original or a notarized copy of the degree to a Korean consulate for the E-2 teaching visa, etc. This can take a couple of weeks. Before or upon arriving, you sign a contract. It should be in English. Make sure you read it closely, ask any questions and make a photocopy of it. If you haven't taught a class before, it is a good idea to take a short ESL course. This will help you to be more confident and familiar with the classroom and understand the culture a little bit better.