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How hard is it to get a job through the SMOE program out of college?

I would like to teach English in Seoul, South Korea however, I hear that the SMOE program is very competitive. Are there any things that I can do while in college to make my job application stand out? #tefl #teaching-english-as-a-second-language-tefl ##korea #korean #esl #foreign-languages

foreign-languages korean esl korea tefl teaching-english-as-a-second-language-tefl
Thank you comment icon Are you interested in teaching after you time in South Korea? Jaron Hightower-Mills
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Ro’s Answer

I've actually taught in Korea! I started as a junior high teacher through the EPIK program, then taught privately at academies (aka "hagwons"), and eventually became a professor at Korea University for a few years. Korea was amazing, and I met a lot of great people, both students and instructors. SMOE is not the only program, but if you're really bent on using that organization, it would be best to have a major in a "English-related subject", and many instructors also have a Masters in teaching or education. Showing some experience teaching English, exam prep (SAT/ACT/TOEFL) would also benefit your resume - it could be privately, at academies, or teaching assistant for professors at your college. (I really like the TA one because you can list your school as an employer, which would make your experience stand out a bit).

Teaching in Korean public systems vs. teaching in private are different experiences, and both have good/bad points to consider, however teaching in public systems is generally more reliable. I recommend doing public at the beginning, and then switching up to private once you become more "Seoul-savvy".

PS- Although Seoul is the most populated city, there are plenty of other places to teach (Busan, Incheon, Daejeon, Jeju, etc.) and the KTX bullet train can get you anywhere in Korea (you can get from the top to the bottom of Korea in less than 5 hours). Just something to consider to broaden your options!
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Kristina’s Answer

Find people to tutor, whether paid or not. There are often ESL classes taught at libraries or schools where they need volunteers. This will help to build your resume, get you some experience, and show that education is a long-term interest of yours.

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Breana’s Answer

There are so many more private companies hiring in Korea, than just that one program. If you are more opened to teaching in other countries, there are actually more jobs in China. With proximity to Korea, you could travel to Korea when you have free time.
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