You’ve decided to teach English in Korea, but now you need a TEFL certificate! Here’s what you should know about choosing a TEFL for South Korea.
When first looking into teaching English in South Korea, or any Asian country for that matter, one of the key requirements is a TEFL certificate. Many schools won’t even look at your application if you don’t have one. So with so many TEFL companies out there, how do you choose a good TEFL course for Korea?
Well, first things first, you should see what your specific program or school wants from you. Not only are there many different companies offering courses, but there are also a few different class types. I personally taught with EPIK (peep my pros and cons of teaching with EPIK here). Let’s start with the standard requirements to teach English in Korea.
↠ Read More: How to Get a Free TEFL Certification and TEFL Scholarships
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Requirements to Teach English in Korea
First things first, it’s essential to check if you meet the requirements to teach in Korea! We’ve already established you’ll need a TEFL certificate, but here are the other job requirements:
- Native English Speaker: Only citizens of the U.S., Canada, The UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and India are eligible to apply for the E2 teaching visa in Korea.
- Bachelor’s Degree: You must have at least a bachelor’s degree, but it can be in any field.
- Clean background and drug check: In order to receive your visa to teach in Korea, you need to have a clean FBI background check and pass a drug screening on arrival.
↠ Read More: How to Ace the EPIK Application
Different Types of TEFL Courses You Can Choose
Online TEFL Courses
These classes are completely online and done at your own pace and convenience, usually within a three month period. These are the cheapest and most convenient courses, however, they are also the lowest form of certification out there.
An online TEFL course for Korea is fine when applying to teach with EPIK. Just be sure it’s from an accredited company with good reviews. Look for a course with at least 120 hours and if you want to teach in Busan, a course with a practicum.
↠ Read More: Best 120-Hour TEFL Courses That Are Accredited
Hybrid TEFL Courses: Online Classes + ‘In-Class’ Hours / Practicum.
There are also courses that offer both online and ‘in-class’ hours. These mixed courses are a great compromise between the online courses and the all in-class options, and will give you a bit of a competitive edge as far as a TEFL course for Korea is concerned. These certifications are usually about mid-range in price.
Most of the coursework is done online, with an ‘in-class’ practicum requires you to put in some real-life teaching experience in a classroom. Depending on your company and your specific course, this in-class portion can be accomplished a few different ways. The TEFL provider may organize an in-person class you must attend, or require that you to find your own teaching opportunity.
I completed my in-class hours by volunteering to tutor immigrants learning English for their citizenship tests. It was a pretty cool experience and I got to give back to the community while simultaneously gaining teaching experience!
In-Class TEFL Courses
If you have the time to devote to an all in-class certification, these are great for people who prefer face to face instruction and learning. There are many courses that are located all over the world so you can really make it a fun learning experience while living somewhere amazing like Thailand, China, Brazil etc.
These courses are much more expensive because you have to pay for the course, the transportation to get there, and usually the room and board if it’s not included in your course fee already.
You don’t really need an in-class TEFL course to teach in Korea or many other countries. I only recommend this option for people who are interested in a hands-on experience in a new country, and who maybe want a more serious teaching gig for the long term.
The CELTA Course
CELTA courses are the crème de la crème of TEFL certifications. They are the most expensive and most well respected. These courses are accredited by Cambridge and it’s a high-end teacher qualification course. The course is all in person and is offered by a few partnered centers and universities.
For those looking to make teaching English abroad a true career, and you’re not already a qualified teacher, this course is for you.
Tips for Choosing the Best TEFL Course
- Know your program / country’s requirements
- Make sure the company is not a scam
- Check for accreditation
- Read reviews
- Decide in-class or online or mixed
- Take a course with at least 100 hours, 120+ is best
- Compare all of your options and all of the pricing
- Keep an eye out for discounts – most companies offer periodic sales on their courses. Don’t pay full price!
↠ Read More: What is TEFL Certification? An Ultimate Guide to TEFL
The Best TEFL Course Providers to Teach English in Korea
Now let’s dive into the best TEFL providers when applying to teach English in Korea!
1. iTTT / International TEFL and TESOL Training
iTTT TEFL Certification has been around since the 1990’s and offers an online course, online diploma, and in-class course in TEFL and TESOL all around the world. They are accredited and affiliated with many respected academic establishments and get good reviews. Ittt also helps you find a job if needed and their prices aren’t half bad either! They are a great option for a TEFL course for Korea.
I’m fortunate to be able to offer a 20% discount to readers in need of a quality TEFL course for Korea or any country abroad! Just click on the image below to see your options and your discount is applied automatically at check out.
Learn more about getting TEFL certified with iTTT and saving 20%.
2. PremierTEFL
Premier TEFL is also well respected and offers many different levels of online courses and in-class. They have a wide range of number of hours such as a 120, 168, 230 hours etc. They are also decently priced and won’t break the bank. Their 120 course starts at $439 but they have discounts often if you check their site.
Learn more about PremierTEFL courses here.
3. i-to-i TEFL
I-to-i has been certifying TEFL teachers since 1994. They offer not only certifications but also help and guidance every step of the way for your TEFL journey. Check them out here! I-to-i’s 120 course starts at $349 and they also offer various different courses!
Check out what I-to-I offers on their website.
4. International TEFL Academy
The International TEFL Academy is one of the most prominent TEFL certifications out there and is well regarded by the TEFL community. They offer a 170 online course that includes a 20 hour in-class practicum as well as in-class courses all over the world. Their course is by far the most expensive on this list, but they know what they’re doing.
Even if you don’t get certified through them, they actually offer this great chart listing out all of the countries where people teach English, and compare salary, benefits, cost of living etc. It was such a great tool for me when I was first trying to decide where I wanted to teach English abroad.
Learn more about the International TEFL Academy course here.
5. CIEE TEFL: Council on International Education and Exchange
CIEE, or the Council on International Educational Exchange, is a reputable company that has been helping young people study and work abroad for decades, which means they’re a well-respected name in the industry that many employers know and trust.
With CIEE’s TEFL, you get help with a personal tutor, helpful job resources, and assistance completing a 20-hour in class practicum that’ll give you a leg up on your application. I got my TEFL certificate with CIEE as part of their Teach Abroad Program in Korea that ultimately helped me get a job with Korea’s EPIK Program.
Learn More about CIEE TEFL and save $200 off your course with my unique link!
6. OnTESOL
OnTESOL is a TEFL provider based in Canada that offers a few accredited online advanced TEFL courses that are equivalent to CELTA and the Trinity CertTESOL. Their online TEFL courses include an optional 20-hour practicum as well as job search assistance to help you find your dream teaching job immediately after getting certified.
OnTESOL also offers add on TEFL packages so you can specialize in specific roles like young learners, business English, and more. The courses with OnTESOL are issued by Coventry House International, a reputable teacher training school that’s been open since 1988.
Learn more about OnTESOL’s 120-hour TEFL course here!
Do you have a different TEFL Course for Korea that worked well for you? Share below!
Hi Brit! I have a question on how you obtained your in-class hours. You mentioned hat you found your own opportunity through your local Literacy Network to earn your in-class hours; did the online TEFL course that you were completing certify the hours or did you submit separate paperwork to EPIK approved by the Literacy Network? Thank you so much!
Hello!! My TEFL provider (CIEE) certified my hours as part of my certification. I couldn’t receive my official cert until those hours were approved and then it was just my cert that I submitted to EPIK with the notation of online hours and in-class hours. EPIK didn’t need to see that separate if that makes sense! I’m not sure every TEFL-provider allows students to find their own in-class opportunities, but it was insanely convenient! Hope that helps 🙂
Hi Brit! I am having a very hard time choosing where to start. I am 54 and my goal is to teach in South Korea. I don’t know what TELF is going to be the best. My goal is to be in SK in the summer of 2024 after college graduation. I have been in touch with International TEFL and I-to-I but I just have no idea where to go. Can you please help? I have worked as a school bus driver for 23 years now and I am ready to switch careers!!
Hi Krissy! I recommend choosing a TEFL course that has partner schools in South Korea that they can connect you with and help you find a job. Unfortunately many places in Asia are known to ignore applications from older teachers that are close to the national retirement age (which is 62), so going with a company that has partnerships with schools can better your chances of getting hired! It looks like you’re also technically eligible to apply to Korea’s EPIK program! In which case any reputable TEFL on this list should work fine! But if you want extra help, CIEE TEFL offers EPIK application assistance that I utilized when applying to EPIK and I found it super helpful. If EPIK doesn’t work out, they can also assist with finding a job at a private academy (Hagwon). I hope this helps!!! Good luck!!