Thanks

@Tarzan: If you find any 6 month programs than please let me know! The only short term programs I know of are English camps, which are anywhere from 2 weeks to a month during either summer or winter seasons. Not many pay your way unless you’re already in Korea.

@Mariah: That has nothing to do with the requirements for teaching in Korea. Depending on the program you choose, the main requirement is just being a native English speaker and from a native English speaking country. =) For an associates degree, you might need to look into one of the other programs like Talk, etc.. I believe EPIK and hagwons require at least a BA. Good luck!

Thanks for writing, Park!

You can search for jobs in China and Hong Kong on http://www.eslcafe.com and research the requirements. There are also recruiters like Teach Away, Footprints Recuiting, etc.. that are hooked into programs already and will walk you through the process.

It’s ideal to have graduated college and to have a TEFL.

Equivalents to a TEFL might be a major in English, Teaching or an Master graduate degree. It really depends on the school, but basically, if you’re committed to teaching abroad, a TEFL is like a second passport.

I am not a native English speaker, I am originally Chinese-Dutch (would that be a problem).

Being Chinese-Dutch isn’t a problem. Not being a native English speaker or from an native English speaking country, may be. I don’t know your country nationality, so I can’t advise. It’s best that you fly it by a recruiter (if you choose to find one) or the school you wish you teach at. The idea of being given a sponsored working visa from another country is that you’re highly proficient in something a country national isn’t… thus, the reason they ask specifically for native English speakers. Not sure about Hong Kong though, as they are a British colony…

Anyways, this is what you might want to look into. I always believe there are situations which may make exceptions, but you’ll need to decide if it’s worth the effort.

Hope this was of help and I wish you luck, Park!

I also want to be an English teacher overseas in Hong kong or Shang Hai? What do you recommand for me to do? I have heard if you have a TEFL certifcation, it would be easier to get a job. I am not a native English speaker, I am originally Chinese-Dutch (would that be a problem). I like your website a lot. It seems like your enjoying a lot. I hope you can help me.

Cheers.

@Jeff: Thanks for your comment Jeff. Yes! I’ve heard about the discrimination the media and government stresses on the situation, more than experienced the negative aspects of it. On my end, I’ve only seen Koreans go out of their way to treat the foreigner well. My doctors, for instance, don’t charge me for my appointments because I am a foreigner… Pros and cons to the “waygook” situation.

Thanks for the article link– it’s definitely helpful for those incoming to get a dose of what they face… and yet, I believe one shouldn’t look as these things too hard. Discrimination is a battle everywhere. If you applied for a gov job in the U.S., you’d have to take a drug test. The military, I believe, you’d prob have to take an HIV test too? As westerners, we believe in individual freedom, we are “anti-discrimination” and we push for our rights. We forget– Korea is not our country to change; it has it’s own government system, its ways of doing things… and its prejudice.

HIV tests– while I think it’s wrong to discriminate, I do believe in the protection of children in general. FBI background criminal checks vs. the standard police ones seems extreme– it’s a friggin bitch but ok, but I get it. Crimes against children are all too common these days; if I were a parent, I’d be more at ease with additional precautions. The Korean society from what I’ve observed of it, is unfathomably trusting on one hand. I don’t think they experience nearly as much crime or theft as the U.S. which can make them vulnerable to outside influence. We leave our bags or purses unattended in a shopping cart or at a restaurant and if we came back 20 minutes later, it’d still be there! Korea is safer in comparison to other places I’ve lived or visited.

It all boils down to– how badly do you need or want this job? If we find a bad marriage, we can leave. Do you really want to teach English in Korea? Your choice.