Frequently Asked QuestionsKorea Contract• How long is each contract? In most cases, 12 consecutive months. However, contracts shorter than 12 months are possible. Top • May I renew my contract if I wish? Are there advancement possibilities? If you and your institute agree, you may renew your contract. This can be arranged with your employer. If you wish to be placed at a different institute, it is possible by obtaining release letter from your employer. There are teachers who stay on in Korea for years. Some become teacher trainers. Some become academic directors for their schools. Others have been hired by Korean businesses. A lot can happen depending on your efforts to make the most of your experience and time. Certainly, if you wish to work in Korea for a second year, you can expect a significant pay rise as you will experienced and readily available to the schools. Top • If I do not want to work, can I break the contract? What happens to me if I leave before the one year contract if finished? If you leave before the one year contract, you may be required to reimburse part or all of the airfare. However, if you complete all 12 months of the contract, you will receive a Bonus (Severance Payment) of an additional month's salary. If you leave early, you will not receive it. If you break a contract, your visa will be cancelled. Top Relocation (Departing & Arriving)• Who will be picking me up at the airport? The director or someone from the institute will be waiting at the airport for you. They will be holding a sign with your name on it. If no one is there, wait for about an hour, as they could be stuck in traffic. If after an hour, no one has yet arrived, call the institute or the director directly. Top • Will the school pay for my return ticket to Korea? Yes, from the nearest airport to you. Top • How long will it take before I am hired? When should 1 sell my car and move out of my apartment? How long will it take before I am actually in Korea? The hiring process can vary depending on several factors. Sometimes if an applicant is ready to depart immediately, he or she could be hired as quickly as three days after the application is received. Sometimes it could take up to one month before a suitable institute decides to hire an applicant. The timing of a hire has to do with the number of institutes who are looking to hire at the time you are available. But in most cases, if an applicant can be hired he or she will be hired within one month from receipt of the application. You should not plan on selling your car or moving out of your apartment until you are officially notified of your hiring by your employer in Korea. In most cases you will have at least two to three weeks to prepare for your departure upon notification of your hiring. In some cases, it is possible that you will depart for Korea on a tourist visa and receive your work visa there a few weeks after arrival. Top Qualifications• You must have a Bachelor degree from a recognized University. • You must be a native speaker of the English language. • I don’t have any related experience. Will it be difficult to teach? No. Most institutes provide some type of training. In private language institutes, you will teach mainly everyday conversational English. Each class uses a textbook for the course. If you are a communicative, out-going sort of person, you should have no problems. Top • I have a college degree but my spouse does not. Can we still go together? Unless both of you qualify for the teaching positions, it will be difficult to find an institute which will hire you under these circumstances. Although in recent times we have been able to find some institutes which would accept these conditions, it could take a much longer time. The spouse could come to Korea on what is known as a Spousal Visa. If time is not a factor you are welcome to apply. Top • I would like to take my child with me to Korea. Is this possible? No. Dependents are not allowed. Korea has very little child care available, nor are there many English speaking schools. The few that exist in Korea are very expensive and may not be located near your job location. Top • I have a Teaching Degree/Certificate/Masters in English. Will I be offered a higher salary? In some cases you may be offered a higher salary based on your credentials. If a higher salary is offered it will be indicated by the institute in your contract at the time of hire. Top Accommodation• What is the accommodation like? It depends. In most cases, single housing is provided. In some cases, the instructor will be living in a shared apartment with other teachers. All teachers are assured of their own private bedroom. The director will provide basic furniture, such as TV, VCR, sheets, cutlery, washing machine, etc,. You will have everything you need to live comfortably. You may have to share the kitchen and bathroom in the apartment. Top • Will my housing be far from my job? Most jobs will be within walking distance of your accommodation. If not, it will be either a short bus or subway ride away. Most institutes have already established teacher housing very near the institutes. Top • What can I expect my housing situation to be like? All teachers are assured of their own private bedroom, although you may have an apartment mate who will also have her or his own room. This apartment mate will usually be another foreign language teacher like yourself though sometimes he or she will be a Korean English teacher. You will have to share the kitchen and bathroom in the apartment. The housing will be clean and modern by Korean standards. Keep in mind that the amount of living space in a Korean apartment is generally less than in a standard Western apartment. You will not need to use the kitchen often because eating out is inexpensive in Korea. The trend is for teachers to be provided single accommodation, which is now more common than shared accommodation. Top Internet Connection. Most apartments have a phone line, so internet connection is now possible. You will need to ask the school to provide this for you at your own expense. HolidaysThere are 14 national holidays in Korea throughout the year (Budda's Birthday, Independence Day, New Years, Christmas, etc.,) PLUS as a teacher you are entitled to two weeks of extra holidays during the year. All holidays are paid holidays so there will be no reduction in your salary. Classes• How large are the classes? The classes in private language schools generally contain from 7-10 students. Top • What are the classes like? All classes use textbooks, videos, cassette recorders, camcorders, and an array of resources like picture books, overhead projectors, computers, etc. With younger students, more learning activities are incorporated into the class. In adult classes, more “FREE TALK” time is given to promote conversation. Top • How long is each class? The classes are usually 50 minutes each. Top • What are the ages of the students? That will depend on the school that you will be contracted with. The ages can vary from kindergarten to adults. Most of the positions require you to teach a mixed group of students. The biggest demand will be teaching the younger students (5-15 year olds). Top • Who are the students? Language institutes are usually open to students of all ages, from elementary school students to working professionals. Teachers are expected to teach all age groups as required. Institutes operate year round. Instructors are hired on an individual basis as necessary all year round. The actual starting date will vary from instructor to instructor, institute to institute. Top • How much class preparation will be required of me? The amount of time spent on class preparation will be up to you. You will be required to prepare your daily lesson plans. Once you have gained some experience, you should be able to develop a lesson planning routine that will help you to greatly reduce the amount of time you will need to spend on class preparation. With experience, it should only take you about ten minutes to prepare each 50 min lesson. Also, remember that one prepared lesson can be repeated several times to different classes. Top Payment & Money Matters• How much will I be paid per month? You will probably receive a salary of between 1.9 to 2.0 million won per month (around $2,300AUS net). You will receive this for 6 teaching hours per day or 30 teaching hours per week. Out of this, income tax and health insurance will be deducted (6%). You will receive a net Australian income of around $580 AUD per week. You can save over half this amount and live reasonably well on the rest, especially as you have no rent to pay, the cost of living in Korea is cheaper and transport costs are low especially as your accommodation is located near the school. Top • End of year bonus? At the end of your 12 month teaching contract, you will receive a bonus of an extra month's salary. Furthermore, during the year you are entitled to two weeks of paid holidays as well as 12 Korean national holidays. Top • How often will I get paid? You will be paid once a month. Your monthly salary will be deposited directly into your Korean bank account in Korean “won”. The Korean won is one of the most stable currencies in the world. Top • Can I send money back to my country? Yes. On a work visa, you can open a normal bank account. Through your bank account in Korea, you will be able to transfer funds to your country, for a small transfer fee at any time. Top • How will I be paid? Monthly, weekly? You will normally be paid monthly. Earlier payments are possible if you are short on funds. Top • Will I be paid in Korea Won or Australian dollars? You will be paid in Korean Won. Your contract will indicate your pay structure. The Korean won is one of the most stable currencies in the • How much money should I take with me when I go to Korea to get me by until my first paycheck? Take as much as possible, it never hurts to have extra money. But we recommend at least $600AUD. This figure depends on what you plan on taking with you versus what you plan on purchasing in Korea. However, if you are short of money, schools in most cases are willing to advance you money to help meet your expenses in lieu of your monthly salary. Top Employers• Do schools have computers and can I access the Internet in Korea? Can I take my laptop to Korea? Some schools have computers, some do not. Again, it will depend on which school hires you. The Internet is accessible in Korea. If you have a laptop computer, you are encouraged to take it with you. Internet cafes abound in Korea and are very cheap to use. Top • If I am hired by a language school, may I contact it? When you are hired by a school, we provide you with the phone numbers and email address of the school so that you can talk directly with the director and with English teachers you will be working with. In this way, you will get detailed information about the specific school for which you will be working. Top General• Do I need to know any Korean? Can I learn any Korean while I am there? Are there any classes for Foreigners? Do most people in Korea speak English? You are not expected to learn any Korean for your classroom duties, though it would be wise to study it in order to enrich your time in Korea. Learning the language can help you gain insight into the Korean culture and help you meet people. At any rate, you should try to learn some “survival” Korean. Most Koreans do not speak any English. Though they may read and write and understand some English they may not have enough confidence to speak any English to you, although they would like to. If you would like to learn Korean, many Universities have classes for beginners. Sometimes teachers will also barter with some of their older students to tutor English privately outside of class time in exchange for private Korean lessons. The students get very excited about the prospect of teaching their teacher Korean. Top • What is the cost of living in Korea relative to Australia? Is there a difference within Korea? The cost of living in Korea is generally 22% less than in Australia. The cost of living varies from larger cities to smaller cities. Your monthly expenses will largely depend on your discretion, how you choose to spend your money. One way to save money is to buy domestic brands rather than imports with names you recognize. Dining out is inexpensive, as is public transport and taxis. Top • What is a breakdown of typical living costs for a month? Taxes generally run from 90,000 to 120,000 won ($150AUS) per month. Transportation might cost you between 10,000 and 20,000 won ($25AUS). Utilities would run between 10,000 and 50,000 ($15-75AUS) won depending on use, location and season. Food generally costs between 100,000 won and 170,000 won ($150-220AUS) per month. Top • I would like to go with my friend and be placed together. Is this possible? We can hire two or more teachers for simultaneous placement. You should cross reference on your application that you would like to be placed with a friend. If possible, submit your applications at the same time. Top • Will I be in a rural town or village? Will I be near other Australians, Americans/ Canadians Foreigners? You will not be placed in a rural village. If there is a demand for an English teacher, the city will generally have at least a population of 500,000 people. Since there are many English language institutes throughout Korea, there is a good possibility that other Americans/Canadians/ Australians/ New Zealanders/ British will be working in the area. Top CHINAQualifications•What qualifications should I have to teach English in China? The basic qualifications are: a Diploma/Bachelor degree and/or TESOL/CELTA teaching qualification. You should also be a native English speaker, which means that English is your first language. •What type of person are you looking for? Someone who has an adventurous spirit, who is flexible, out-going, communicative and friendly. Moreover, someone who can handle being in a foreign culture and a team player. Please do not apply if you have psychological or emotional problems. Top •What type of English will I be teaching? Depending on the particular school you are placed in, you may be asked to teach some of the following courses: Literature, linguistics, reading, composition, grammar and English for Special Purposes (ESP). •Do I need to know English grammar or speak Chinese? No, you don't need either. It's up to your students to speak English. By miming, drawing pictures and diagrams, and by your facial expressions and gestures, it is amazing how much students from a non English- speaking background will pick up and learn. Some Chinese schools also offer free Mandarin courses to their teachers. Top Contract•What documents should I submit when I am applying for a position in a University or Language Institute? If you are interested in registering with us, please provide us with the following:
•Do the schools provide positions all year round? Many of them accept teachers all year round. Top •How many foreign teachers do schools in China need every year? Over 150,000 every year. Top •What kind of service do we provide? The Gwanju Agency actively seeks to place you in a reputable school, be they private or state-run institutions of learning. We have a relationship with over 200 English language providers across the country. We will assist in your visa application with the Chinese consulate and advise on travel arrangements. We will arrange your pick-up at the designated airport in China. Top AccommodationUsually accommodation for westerners in China includes the following: colour TV, kitchen, shower/bath, western-style toilets, microwave oven, cooking utensils, cutlery, washing machine, drier, refrigerator, bed-sheets and bedding, electricity and running water, air-conditioning and heating, phone and internet connection, lounge-room, balcony and separate beedrooms. Generally, the basics are provided to ensure that your stay in China is comfortable. You may be required to share accommodation with another teacher. Bicycles are often provided as well. Top HolidaysTeachers are normally given 30 days of paid holidays throughout the year, plus a futher ten days of national holidays such as: Chinese New Year, International Labour Day, Foundation Day and Youth Day, etc,. Top Classes•How many hours of teaching will I be required to complete per week? It varies but in most schools you will be expected to teach a minimum of 18 teaching hours per week to as many as 30 hours per week. Teaching hours are generally considered to be 50 minutes in duration. However, you may teach more hours if you wish. Of course, you will be paid more if you teach more. The average is about 22 hours per week. Top • Will I receive some training or orientation when I arrive at the school? Yes. When you arrive you will be given two to three days of orientation and training. Please remember that in most cases, it is simply conversational English that the Chinese students desire most. It is just a matter of doing what you do naturally every day here in Australia – talking to a range of different people. Just about anybody can do it! The use of pictures, grammar exercises, text-book exercises, magazines, music and song tapes, videos, word games, quizzes and role-playing form much of the teaching methodology. Top Money•What about my salary and conditions? You are likely be paid anywhere between 4,000 to 7,500 RMB per month ($700-$1,300AUD/month) tax free. In addition, you will have free housing, utilities paid for by the school, health care, a travel allowance and in some cases, free Mandarin lessons. If you commit to one year of teaching, most host schools will reimburse at least a one-way ticket and many schools a round-trip ticket. Some schools also provide traveling allowance within China equivalent to half a month's salary. Still other schools in China may pay your airfare upfront but these schools are rare. Generally, you will need to provide your own airfare. While a salary range of $700 - 1,300AUD per month is not a lot by Australian standards, it is far greater than what Chinese teachers ordinarily receive. You will be automatically in a "high income bracket". You should bear in mind that the cost of living in China is quite low (around 2,000RMB per month) and your salary will be more than ample to meet all your living expenses. •Can you give me an approximate estimate of monthly living expenses in a big city ? In cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, the average cost of eating out is about 1000 RMB; 900RMB for taxis rides; 450 RMB for buses and sub-ways per month. In regional cities, the cost of living is much less. Clothing and TemperaturesChina has a very wide variety of climates. Generally, north of Shanghai can get very cold in winter (below zero). It is advisable to bring along heavy pullovers and warm undergarments. The Chinese dress conservatively, so when you are in public or in the classroom teaching, please bear this in mind and dress conservatively as well. Women in particular should avoid wearing very short skirts in public, and especially in the classroom or anything that pertains to immodesty.
GeneralAirfares? You are required to purchase your own 12 month open return airfare to China which will be reimbursed by the school at the end of your contract. However, some schools may be prepared to pay your airfare up-front. •How to apply for a work-visa? You can apply at the nearest embassy or consulate to you. Often however, you only need to apply for a travel (L class) single-entry visa which currently costs $40AUD. When you arrive in China, your employer will change it over to a work visa (Z class) for you. Generally, employers in China will ask you to apply for your Z-class work visa in Australia before you leave. •I have never worked overseas before. How will I cope with living in China? All the institutes and schools we represent are well experienced in hosting foreign teachers and will make every effort to assist you in settling in. As long as you keep an open mind and are flexible, you will settle in well. |
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