In Korea, I feel like I'm able to live and afford a better lifestyle than I had back home (in the U.S.) because the cost of living is very cheap here! In this article I'll break down some of the biggest costs and the price difference between Korea and the U.S. I've lived in Busan for over a year, so some of this information might not be accurate for other locations - for example I've heard Seoul is a little bit more expensive.
Read MoreTags: preparing to teach in Korea, Teach English in Korea, Teach Abroad, Teach English overseas, things to do in Korea, things to do on the weekend, busan, Beaches in Korea, cost of living
Training Week: Intense but Rewarding
The best way I can describe training week was that it was kind of like boot camp. You need your stamina! It’s an intense five days packed with information about Chungdahm and its curriculum. As a fresh college graduate completely new to classroom teaching, it felt a bit overwhelming at times, but by the end of the week, I felt somewhat accomplished and like I had a solid foundation going into my first week of teaching!
Read MoreTags: preparing to teach in Korea, Teach English in Korea, Teach Abroad, Teach English overseas, Training Center, training week
I had so many questions before moving to Korea, one of the most important ones was "what's a typical day teaching at iGarten like?" It's hard to feel prepared moving your whole life overseas, but having a glimpse into a day as a teacher helps! Here is a typical day at my school - iGarten in Centum City, Busan (near Haeundae).
Read MoreTags: preparing to teach in Korea, Teach English in Korea, Teach Abroad, Teach English overseas, iGarten
When I started teaching over a year ago, I didn't know very much about the working culture and educational culture in Korea. When I first started at iGarten, I was really surprised by the amount of workbooks and worksheets kindergarten students had to complete every month.
Read MoreTags: preparing to teach in Korea, on arrival, Korean culture, Teach English in Korea, Teach Abroad, moving to Korea, Teach English overseas, Teach English abroad, things to do in Korea, busan, iGarten
About 6 months after my boyfriend Colin and I started dating I asked him if he'd be interested in teaching abroad. I'd always wanted to live abroad and I knew he wanted to travel as well - I was so excited when he said he was open to the idea of teaching in Korea! Almost a year later we moved to Busan. I’m so thankful to Aclipse for making this all possible and finding a school where we could both teach and work the same hours. Moving overseas as a couple has a lot of perks, and I have been so thankful for this experience! Having lived in Busan for over a year, I've met lots of single people, people who started new relationships while abroad, and other couples who moved abroad together. Regardless of your relationship status, living abroad is an unforgettable experience. I'm especially grateful I was able to share these memories with Colin.
Read MoreTags: preparing to teach in Korea, on arrival, Korean culture, Teach English in Korea, Teach Abroad, moving to Korea, Teach English overseas, Teach English abroad, things to do in Korea, busan, iGarten
Why did you choose Korea? That’s a question I get asked often - both by foreigners and by Koreans. I knew early on that I wanted to live abroad after university. I just didn’t know where. Often people are surprised by my response. I guess they assume that I’ll see I was a huge fan of some K-Pop idols and/or watched a lot of Korean dramas. However, my appeal of Korean culture came in a very different manner.
Read MoreTags: preparing to teach in Korea, Korean culture, moving to Korea, teaching in Korea, teaching at Chungdahm
Coming to Korea as a Chungdahm teacher is a tremendous opportunity and experience and I want to reveal what items will be needed and useful on your overseas life. On a daily basis and for travelling, here is my top ten list to make your adventure in Korea the best it can be. Let’s go!
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Tags: preparing to teach in Korea, what to bring, teaching at CDL
It is such a whirlwind running around preparing for your contract teaching, especially with transitioning to life in South Korea. Oftentimes, you start training bright and early the Monday after you get in, with minimal time for time zone adjustment or sightseeing. It can feel chaotic, so here are a few words from someone who’s gone through two separate training sessions and contracts, one with April and one with CDI.
Read MoreTags: preparing to teach in Korea, teaching kids, teaching at CDL, teaching tips, teaching programs
Embarking on a journey as a first-year teacher can feel daunting and chaotic. Each person is different and has varying knowledge and strengths to bring. A piece of advice that may help one teacher may be useless to another, so I only want to speak from my position and say that these are some tips and tricks that would’ve helped me as I began my experience here, with this post more oriented towards moving and transitioning, and I’ll soon release tips for the classroom. All in all, this time will be full of growth and learning, and an experience you will never forget!
Read MoreTags: preparing to teach in Korea, cellphones in Korea, things to bring, traveling, Banking in Korea, what to bring
This winter is set to break records and be one of the coldest winters in a long while. Last year, when I first arrived to Seoul in November the air was icy. It was fall, but it was soon to be winter. I was born and raised in Southern California. I thought I was ready for winter, but I was wrong. While there are a lot of things that one obtains for a cheap price in South Korea, clothes is not one of them. Well, maybe if you are shopping for thick summer clothes in a college town, then clothes are cheap. However, the clothing and material needed to endure a real winter is far from cheap. Considering the first snow has already fallen in Seoul now (and it is only November!), I found it fitting to inform you of what I wish I had bought in the United States before coming to Korea.
Read MoreTags: preparing to teach in Korea, winter in Korea, things to bring