South Korea - A Diverse Country Full Of Opportunities For The Esl Teacher

Teaching overseas has become increasingly popular over the last few years due to the economic downturn and the fact that many ESL countries offer a low cost of living in comparison to the wages that a foreign teacher can enjoy.

One of the most popular countries today for teaching English as a second language is South Korea. This country offers a deep and unique culture that will inspire most newcomers to the country. If we take the countryside for example, one popular destination for newcomers who wish to teach English in the country is the southern province of Busan.

Busan is a mountainous area with some absolutely stunning countryside and beautiful trekking trails to keep you fit and healthy throughout the duration of your teaching contract. The great thing about this rural area is also the fact that you will not be alone as there are literally hundreds of ESL teachers at schools and language centres in the area.

Perhaps the most obvious place for people to start their teaching career in South Korea is the capital city of Seoul. If it is night life and action that you are after on your weekends away from teaching then this is certainly the city that you want to consider. The great thing about this capital city is unlike many other capital cities around, the world the cost of living is also very low when considering the average salary of even the newest ESL teachers to the country.

Another popular group of people who come to teach English in South Korea are university graduates.

As we all know, the cost of education at Western universities often comes with it huge debt into thousands or even tens of thousands of pounds. For many new graduates, the idea of teaching their native tongue in South Korea as a way to pay back debt is a much more attractive alternative to perhaps working in laborious jobs in their own country until their university debts are cleared.

There is however, another aspect of the country in which many Westerners simply misunderstand. If you are seriously considering starting your teaching career in this country then be prepared for ultimate culture shock. Remember, this is a country that is extremely proud of its heritage and often repels the idea of Western influence into many aspects of their lives.

Therefore customs and cultures that you may be used in your own country should be completely put behind and you must make the effort to learn the cultures of not only Korea as a whole, but also the specific area that you choose to teach in. It is also an extremely good idea to try to learn the language and surprisingly, the Korean alphabet can be learnt by most Westerners within a single month!

If you really want to experience a completely different culture to your own Western society then you may want to teach English in South Korea. The attractive salary and remuneration also means that your adventure will not only be an interesting one, but also an extremely secure one from a financial aspect of your adventure.