SMOE Public School Jobs in Seoul





Teacher Application
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Phone / Email


Basic Information

Want to teach at Government Public Schools by the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (SMOE) in Seoul, Korea while experiencing fantastic cultural diversity? These positions offer tax exemption, secure employment and professional teaching experience for your career!

Do you want to teach at public schools in Seoul? Seoul is the capital of South Korea. With a population of over 10.5 million, Seoul is by far South Korea's largest city and one of East Asia's financial and cultural epicenters. As Korea's capital and most populous city, Seoul represents the country's center for business, education and modern culture. It offers many activities for everyone, including museums and palaces, parks and mountains, amusement parks and night clubs.

PlanetESL Recruiting is an agency selected by the Seoul and National ministry of education boards to recruit English teachers for public schools all over Korea. Working at a public school is an excellent teaching opportunity for teachers who are looking to gain valuable teaching experience and inter-cultural insight from sharing cultural diversity with other Korean professional teachers at public schools.

If you are looking for a unique cultural immersion experience, we highly recommend applying for these teaching placements. In these situations teachers are embraced by the communities and they learn more Korean language and get more exposure to traditional culture.

We seek applicants who are enthusiastic and flexible and care sincerely about what they do. Teaching experience is not necessary. Our schools are professionally run with very fair management that truly appreciates teachers who take their jobs seriously.

Advantages with working at public schools:

  • 100% secure employment
  • Guaranteed to be paid on time
  • Resume building experience, professional environment
  • Less teaching hours per week than language institutes
  • Korean co-teachers will share class duties and offer assistance
  • Free periods throughout the year where you don’t teach due to exams, field trips, sports days etc.
  • Opportunity for overtime work with good compensation
  • More vacation than most language institutes

Contract Term: One year
Monthly Salary: 1.8~ 2.7M KRW ($1400-$2400 USD) Depending on education level and teaching experience refer to the pay scale below.
FREE Accommodations: Single furnished apartments provided
Optional Housing Allowance: 500,000 KRW
Tax Exemption: 2 years of tax exemption for the first time teachers to Korea
Entrance Allowance: 1.3 Million won provided for the purchase of ticket to Korea
Exit Allowance: 1.3 Million won provided for the purchase of ticket to home country
Resettlement Allowance: One-time payment of 300,000 KRW upon arrival
Severance Bonus: One month salary upon completion of the contract
Medical Insurance: 50% paid by school
Paid Vacation: 21 working days within the contract year
Working Hours: 9am - 5pm, 88 class hours/month
Start Date: Aug 20, 2009


Minimum Qualifications:
Must be English native speakers from US, CAN, UK, IRE, AUS, NZD or RSA
Must hold Bachelor’s or higher degree from an accredited university in any field

TO APPLY
Application Deadline
Application forms and all other documents must be in the office to which you are applying by the deadline date. Interviews will follow immediately after the receipt of applications. The documents you submit will not be returned, so please provide copies for yourself.
The deadline date for submission of completed applications is May 31, 2009. Early submission is encouraged.

Requested Documents
All applicants will be required to submit the following documents:
First Round for application to arrange an interview with SMOE:

  • A completed application form with a passport size photo attached, (download below).
  • A personal essay, (included in application form, minimum 300 words).
  • Medical form - self evaluation, (included in application form).
  • Resume with cover letter.
  • Two reference letters from former employers or professors from your educational institution (any format - must contain contact/title and organization of the referrer).
  • 2 pages of free style lesson plan: for countless samples of lesson plans, please visit our website here at http://www.planetesl.com/t_lesson.php

Please contact us if you have any difficulties in collecting all the necessary documents to apply. You can apply initially with just a resume and cover letter at smoe@PlanetESL.com
After the initial application a phone interview will be arranged with SMOE. Those who pass the interview must prepare the remaining required documents. It takes a while to prepare all the necessary visa documents, so it is highly recommended to prepare in advance.

Required documents after the SMOE phone interview:

  • Criminal background report  (Criminal Record),
  • Original university diploma or a copy notarized by Korean overseas consulate office or an Apostilled copy (U.S. only) of university diploma.
  • An official school transcript sealed by appropriate school authority.
  • A copy of the information page of your passport (photo page),
  • (If applicable) Copies of certification (teacher certificate, TESOL, etc),
  • (If applicable) Proof of teaching/work experience,

Download Application form and Contract

        
Download SMOE Application Form

 
Address to send your application and documents or e-mail at smoe@PlanetESL.com

Attn: Jiyeon Kim
Planet ESL Recruiting Ltd.
Address: # 1804 Poongrim Bldg.
404 Gongdeok-dong, Mapo-gu
City: Seoul,
Country: South Korea
Postal Code: 990-020
Phone: +82 10 9012 0579

JOB DESCRIPTION
Successful applicants will be required to conduct English conversation classes for Korean elementary and secondary school students in Seoul as part of the Korean government’s aim to promote and strengthen English language education. A candidate should have strong sense of creativity, motivation, and enjoy working with young children as part of an academic team. Successful applicants are expected to focus on the development of oral communication skills using interactive teaching methods.

DUTIES AND PLACEMENT
A: Duties
The duties of the Native Speaker English Teacher (hereinafter “NSET”) are carried out under the guidance of the supervisor designated by Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (hereinafter “SMOE”).
The responsibilities and duties include but are not limited to:

  • Conducting English classes in cooperation with Korean homeroom or English language teachers.
  • Preparing teaching materials and activities for English language education.
  • Assisting with the development of teaching materials related to English language education.
  • Assisting with activities related to English language education and other extracurricular activities. (Judging English speech contest, voice recording for English listening comprehension tests, conducting English conversational classes in the English camp, etc.)

B: Place of Work
The SMOE will decide placements accordingly. The SMOE places teachers in particular schools during the orientation period according to their abilities and interests. Participants will work at elementary and middle schools within Seoul, but some may be designated to work at other educational facilities within the SMOE system. Rejection of placement may result in disqualification from the program.

C. Seoul Districts Information
Administratively, Seoul is divided into 25 districts (구 gu), each with an area and population comparable to a small city. The districts are then further subdivided into 522 sub-districts (동 dong). Districts below are major districts all around Seoul. Districts close to these can be reached in 10-15 min :

  • Jongno-gu (종로) – The Joseon-era historical core of the city, containing most palaces and government offices, lies on the north side of the Han-Gang(River). Here you can also find Insa-dong which is a popular street area to find souvenirs and within walking distance to many of Seoul's historic cultural landmarks.
  • Gangnam-gu (강남) – The area south of the river that is more 'uptown' and more modern. This is perhaps Seoul's most popular area for tourists and is also where the largest hotels are.
  • Yeoui-do (여의도) – An island in the Han River in Yeongdeungpo-gu (영등포-구) and the closest Seoul gets to Manhattan with skyscrapers, the National Assembly and the Seoul Stock Exchange.
  • Hongdae (홍대) and Sinchon (신촌) – Located west of Seoul Station in the gu of Seodaemun (서대문) and Mapo (마포), Hongdae and Sinchon are two of the areas most frequented by hip college students and foreigners. Features hundreds of restaurants, bars, and night clubs. West of Mapo-gu you can find the Seoul World Cup Stadium.
  • Dongdaemun-gu (동대문) – Once home to Korea's first modern sports stadium, Dongdaemun is now a shopper's paradise. With literally hundreds of vendors across dozens of buildings, you can find just about anything on sale here. Hyehwa (혜화) – colloquially known as Daehangno (대학로), is Seoul's performing arts center, with dozens of small theaters with live dramatic and comedic performances lining every street.
  • Yongsan-gu (용산) – Yongsan is home to the US Army Military Base as well as one of the largest electronics markets in the world.
  • Songpa-gu is where you'll find Lotte World, Olympic Park, and Seoul (Jamsil) Sports Complex. Songpa is one of the richest district in seoul.
  • Jung-gu rests to the south of City Hall--but still north of the Han River--and is where you'll find the 262-meter peak of Namsan (남산), a structure similar to the shape of Seattle and Shanghai's most popular skyscrapers and the National Theater. This is also where you'll find Itaewon (이태원), perhaps the most culturally diverse area on the entire peninsula and home to dozens of restaurants featuring cuisine from the world over, numerous shops selling everything from custom-tailored suits to antiques, and several Western pubs and bars.

Map of Seoul Districts
Seoul Information Links:
http://wikitravel.org/en/Seoul
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/destinations/asia/south-korea/seoul/
 http://www.lifeinkorea.com/Travel2/seoul
 http://english.seoul.go.kr/

REQUIREMENTS
Applicants must:

  • Hold a minimum of Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university.
  • Be a citizen from a country where the only official language is English. Canadian citizens from the Quebec Province where English is a co-official language must have been taught in English-language schools from junior high school forth to the university level.

    *Ethnic Korean applicants with foreign citizenships or legal residencies must have been taught in English-language schools from junior high school forth and have lived abroad for minimum of 10 years. (If you are a male citizen of the Republic of Korea under the age of 35, you must have either completed mandatory military service or have received an official waiver.)
     
  • Be fluent and proficient in the English language grammar and structure and be able to communicate fluently with clear and distinct pronunciation and manner.
  • Be mentally and physically capable of performing the specified responsibilities and duties. Must also have the ability and willingness to adapt to Korean culture and living.
  • Meet the criteria of eligibility for E2 (work) visa set forth by the Korean Immigration Authority.

REMUNERATION
Level H: 1.8 million won per month
- A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university in one of major English-speaking countries with the instructions taught in English.

Level G: 2.0 million won per month
Must have one of the following qualifications:
- A valid teacher certification for either elementary or secondary level schools.
- A Bachelor’s degree in Education.
- A Bachelor’s degree in English Related Education Major; English, English Education, English Literature, or Linguistics.
- A TESOL/TEFL or an English Teaching Certificate comprised of a minimum of 100         course hours.
- A Master's degree.
- A Bachelor's degree with at least ONE (1) full year of English teaching experience at accredited institutions.

Level F: 2.2 million won per month
Must have one of the following qualifications:
- In addition to one of the requirements for Level G, ONE (1) full year of English teaching experience at accredited institutions including at the SMOE.
- A teacher certification with specialization in English Related Education Major.
- A Master’s degree in Education.

Level E: 2.3 million won per month
Must have one of the following qualifications:
- Meet the Level G qualification with at least TWO (2) full years of English teaching experience at accredited institutions.
- Employed as Level F at the SMOE for ONE (1) full year.
- A Master's degree in TESOL/TEFL or in English Related Education Major.

Level D: 2.4 million won per month
- Employed as Level E at the SMOE for ONE (1) full year.
- At least ONE (1) full year of English teaching experience at accredited institutions with Master's degree in TESOL/TEFL or in English Related education Major.
- A Bachelor’s degree in English, English Education, English Literature, or Linguistics with at least THREE (3) full years of English teaching experience at accredited institutions.
- A teacher certification with specialization in English education with at least TWO (2) full years of English teaching experience at accredited institutions.

Level C: 2.5 million won per month
- At least TWO (2) full years of English teaching experience at accredited institutions with Master's degree in TESOL/TEFL or in English Related education major.
- A teacher certification with specialization in English Related education major with at least THREE (3) full years of English teaching experience at accredited institutions.
- Employed as Level D at the SMOE for TWO (2) full years.

Level B: 2.6 million won per month
- At least THREE (3) full years of English teaching experience at accredited institutions with Master's degree in TESOL/TEFL or in English Related education major.
- At least THREE (3) full years of English teaching experience as a present public or private school teacher with a recommendation by the superintendent or the school principal.
- Employed as Level D at the SMOE for THREE (3) full years.

Level A: 2.7 million won per month
- At least FOUR (4) full years of English teaching experience at accredited institutions with Master's degree in TESOL/TEFL or in English related education major.
- At least FOUR (4) full years of English teaching experience as a present public or private school teacher with a recommendation by the superintendent or the school principal.

Other Benefits
A. Vacation and Paid Leaves

  • 21 Working Days of vacation a year
  • 7 days of emergency special leave
  • 15 Calendar days of sick leave

B. Tax Exemption

  • First 2 years of tax exemption

All NSETs, except Canadians, will be exempted from paying Korean income tax for the first two years of employment. In order to be tax exempted, the following list of documents will be required to be submitted to the supervisor in charge of the program within the first month of employment.

  • an application form (provided by your supervisor)
  • a copy of Residence Certificate (issued by the relevant authority - Revenue Office of your resident country)

If you have already worked more than two years in Korea, you will not be eligible to be tax-exempted.
Canadian instructors will be responsible for approximately 2-4% of their income as Korean income tax depending on the level of employment, since there is no tax treaty between Canada and Korea.

C. Other Benefits

  • Settlement Allowance: 300,000 won in the beginning of the contract
  • Severance pay equal to one month salary upon completion of the contract
  • Medical Insurance half/half paid
  • National Pension half/half paid
  • Entrance/Exit Allowance: 1.3 Million won paid twice in the begging and at the end of the contract to cover airfare and other costs. 

 

To apply for an SMOE teaching position, download the application below, fill it out and return it by email to us at: SMOE@planetESL.com

SMOE 2009 Application Form (141k) in MS Word (.doc) format

For more information, feel free to Contact Us.