It makes perfect sense, right? I mean.. it’s right there in the public school contract and it’s just about the easiest way for somebody working in Korea, especially in the public schools, to raise their salary. If you are looking at private school job, I have always found that comparing what you could get in a public school is a great way to get them on board for any salary demands…

Now – the maths. I know what you’re thinking: $200 outlay for a $100/month increase in salary only amounts to a 600% pay rise. Well… yes, and no.

Before I tell you the real secret to getting that extra 50%, I’m going to tell you about an online 100 hour certificate course that is accepted by ALL schools with minimal fuss. It’s the “KEI TEFL” course, and it’s the most convenient because KEI are a licensed education provider in South Korea. This means that your school can call them, and verify your TEFL by telephone, and if they are worried about the credentials of the program, they can call the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology to verify them. This is especially important when you are part way through your contract, or if you didn’t pre-warn them, because they don’t enjoy altering budgets after they have been set.

When I had my first training session in 2007, the GEPIK people actually recommended the KEI program to me. I finished it in August and had my pay rise from September. If I had known about it before I left for South Korea, I could have had the higher salary for 6 more months!

Now… I’m not about to direct you to the KEI TEFL site, because it isn’t the cheapest way to buy the course. I mean… it’s cheap enough at $197, but there’s a better way! There’s an association in Korea called AFEK, and they have a bookstore. You can actually purchase the entire course from there as a pdf ebook. It costs $17, and you can read the entire course for that price, though you won’t get certified, and you won’t get the higher Salary. Inside the book, on the very first page, is a huge link to KEI and a voucher code for $30 off the course – a net saving of $13 for you. It means the course only costs you $184, and you get to have a nice ebook version to carry around with you. Honestly… it’s a no brainer!

The AFEK Guide to TEFL - TESOL

This TEFL guide is a no-brainer!!

]]> http://efl-classroom.com/an-easy-way-to-raise-your-salary-in-korea/feed/ 1 http://efl-classroom.com/teaching-in-south-korea/ http://efl-classroom.com/teaching-in-south-korea/#comments Mon, 03 Oct 2011 13:01:40 +0000 admin http://efl-classroom.com/?p=92 If you’re teaching in South Korea, you’ll probably notice that salaries have become stagnated. The massive influx of teachers means you there is greater competition for those jobs that pay well. Unless you have a teaching certificate from back home, an English degree, or masses of experience, you need to do whatever you can to get access to the better English teaching positions.

One of the smartest things you can do to put yourself ahead is get TEFL or TESOL certified. TEFL and TESOL are pretty much the same thing: Teaching English as a Foreign Language (or to Foreign Learners) or Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.

There are a ton of TEFL certificates out there, so it’s important to go with one that’s recognised in Korea. There are a few options, some more expensive than others, but if your key motivation is to secure the highest salary, a 100 hour online certificate will be enough.

The most competitive course I know of in Korea is the online certificate given by Korea Education Incorporated (KEI). This is the one that the Korean Ministry of Education have granted a license to, and if you’re looking for employment in South Korea, it’s the only one that your school can easily call to confirm it is legitimate. They can call and speak to the secretary right away, and if they still aren’t convinced (or want to back out of giving you your pay rise) you can ask them to call the Ministry of Education to confirm that KEI are licensed.

Even if you don’t get full certification, you should at least brush up on some teaching methodology. It would be horrible to get here and find you son’t have a clue what to do in the classroom! That’s a sure way to make sure you have NO salary in Korea! At the very least, pick up a book that will teach you the skills you need for your teaching job in Korea.

With the US and UK economies performing the way they are, more and more people are looking for teaching positions, and that means that English teacher salaries have pretty much stagnated. As a new teacher, coming here for the first time, you are probably looking at earning around 2.0-2.1 million won for a starting position job.

There is one way to get an extra $100 or so each month if you work in the public school position, and that is to take a 100 hour TEFL course. As long as the course is from an approved provider, you get a bump up the pay scale!

Even if you work in the private school system, you can get the higher paying jobs if you have certification. Something worth considering, if you want to get the best salary in Korea!