Illustration by James Tucker

Words by Todd Bruns
Special thanks to Alison Eastwood for her research help

How does one go about keeping students engaged in class?  What are the best ways to arrange a classroom and use classroom materials? What the hell is a transitive verb anyway? As the legions of ESLers here know, there’s a lot more to teaching English than, you know, speaking it.

Becoming An English Teacher In Korea

While education degrees, MAs and PhDs are clearly the best routes toward plum gigs at international schools and universities in both Korea and abroad, these avenues are major commitments in time and money.

A lot of expat English teachers are not in the ESL (English as a Second Language) game for the long haul. For this large contingent, chasing an advanced degree in this field is no more practical than mastering underwater welding before taking a summer job as a life guard.

Fortunately, for those who want to widen their pool of potential jobs, or who wish to learn more about teaching methods, or to simply get a bump in pay, there are other options available. Amongst the sea of options, the most frequently available are the online TEFL or TESOL, the in-class TEFL or TESOL, and the in-class CELTA. Classroom TEFL, TESOL, and CELTA courses are available in Seoul as well as other locations around the world.

What exactly are TEFL, TESOL, and CELTA? TEFL stands for “teaching English as a foreign language,” while TESOL refers to “teaching English to speakers of other languages.” These terms are largely interchangeable. The primary difference is that TEFL is the more common term in the UK, and TESOL is used more in the United States.

Luckily, if you plan on becoming an English teacher in Korea, the Korean public schools treat both certificates the same way. In fact, coursework for both certifications is often identical.

CELTA refers to “certificate in English language teaching to adults.” It is a 140-hour certification awarded by Cambridge University, and is essentially a brand name for a specific type of TEFL diploma.

How Much Does It Cost To Be An English Teacher In Korea

This is the least expensive, least time-consuming way to receive a certificate. A 100-hour online certificate starts at $200 through a number of sources. For those who don’t like taking tests and want more personal attention, 120-hour courses with online tutors run around $300.

Value-wise, online is the most attractive choice for Hagwon and public school teachers that are not looking to work outside of Korea. So far as EPIK, GEPIK, and SMOE are concerned, online certificates are equivalent to pricier classroom study pay-scale wise.

Online courses do help with English teaching methodology, and they also pay for themselves within two or three months. These certificates are also useful for Hagwon teachers, as Hagwon owners will often pay more for teachers who hold them. That, and a teacher with some classroom management knowledge will be less likely to be fired by a fickle Hagwon owner. Many options are available. I used ITTT (International TESOL Teaching Training) at tesolonline.com.

Courses For Becoming An English Teacher In KoreaIn-class TEFL or TESOL

This is a common ESL certificate. This option, like all classroom options, is considerably costlier than its online cousin. This course increases its graduates’ options for English teaching jobs outside of Korea.

Within Korea, this course is as useful in moving up the public school pay scale as the online version. A variety of courses are available throughout Seoul and around the world. An eight week night or weekend class is the standard length in Seoul.

CELTA

CELTA can be completed over four weeks or three months in 54 countries worldwide, including South Korea. The course not only teaches basic classroom skills, but gives practical experience in real-life teaching situations.

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While CELTA is aimed at teaching small groups of adults, the skills are transferable. As well as improved teaching ability, CELTA certification is widely recognized around the world. The International Graduate School of English offers courses, as does the British Council.

Eligibility For Teaching English In Korea

All of these programs are open for everyone, regardless of teaching experience. So if you really dream on becoming an English Teacher in Korea, even Non-native speakers are welcome, as long as they are proficient enough to teach English to a range of levels. An extensive knowledge of grammar is not a prerequisite, but knowing the basics is certainly an advantage as you will be expected to teach it during the course.

Worth it?

I can definitely see that my teaching has changed for the better, especially where classroom management is concerned. As I opted for the online route, my certificate has already paid for itself via a pay raise from my Hagwon. I’m more marketable as an English teacher in Korea.

Should I later decide to take a classroom course for the sake of pursuing an ESL job in another country, my online studies will make the curriculum easier. And best of all, I know what a transitive verb is.

If you want to weigh your options about teaching English in Korea, look at our article about Public vs Private School English Teachers.