Paying off student loans, saving and travelling are three reasons graduates are flocking to South Korea to teach English.
Paying off student loans, saving and travelling are three reasons graduates are flocking to South Korea to teach English.
South Africans are walking away with R100 000 a year, so it’s the most lucrative place to teach, says Cliff Smith, co-manager of the South African-based recruiting company Teach Korea. At a talk at the General Career Fair at Rhodes University on Monday, Smith explained why graduates should go to Korea: rent-free accommodation and a low cost of living means extra pocket money for adventure sports and cultural escapades in and around the country, and convenience ranks high on the appeal list, with world class public transport, speedy service and safety.
But Smith warned that only the adventurous need apply. Challenges include extreme temperatures, overcrowded cities and the language barrier. Strict laws about jaywalking and recycling will also take getting used to. And if you are there to save, stay away from Korean shop assistants, who are “the most skilled on the planet.”
“Is North Korea going to nuke the South?” asked one audience member during question time. “No, North Korea is a lot like Robert Mugabe… they make a lot of noise but they never threaten civilians,” Cliff reassured the audience, which consisted mostly of Rhodes students.
Diverse, growing appeal
Bachelor of Science student, James Kinghorn, wants to see the East; he considered doing his Masters next year, but says Grahamstown is getting “old” now. Paying off her student loan appeals to third year Bachelor of Arts student, Charmaine Zwane, who wants to learn a foreign language so she can become a diplomat. Third year Bachelor of Social Science student, Nondumiso Mbambo, said, “You can come back and start off your career because you have money in the bank.”
Smith said that Rhodes students are popular for recruitment because they have the right mindset. Pumla Cuntswana from the Rhodes Career Centre said in a time when scams are rife, using an accredited placement company like Teach Korea is recommended: “There are no hidden fees. We know when we send our students across they are safe, and they don’t have to look for their own work.”
Because of the lengthy application process, job-seekers need to apply by end September for October interviews. Getting into the Korean mode of efficiency is vital because, warned Smith, “You snooze you lose.”
The basics of teaching in Korea
For most recruitment agencies, you will need the following to apply:
•A valid passport from South Africa, the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia or New Zealand
•A Bachelor’s degree from a recognised university
•A recognised Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) qualification of at least 100 hours or proof of commitment to do the course. Strongly recommended even for graduates with English, B-Ed or PGCE degrees.
•Police clearance
•A clear, neutral English accent
•R350 for the E2 Working visa
