Reach to Teach

Personally, working with Reach to Teach has given me a comfort going into what is, so far, the biggest change in my life. This isn’t just moving across the US, which is massive in its own right, it's moving and starting a career in a culture and country foreign to my norms.

Reach to Teach, I’m sure of it, has prepared me to the best of their abilities and left me confident that I can handle it from here on out. In a professional sense I believe this is just the start as I’ve always wanted to be a teacher and this is a great way to get my feet wet so to speak. None of it would have been as simple, maybe even possible without Reach to Teach to guide me. Everyone knows, even in the academic world, when you want to do something or become further accredited to do so nothing screams “Pick me!” like practical experience in the field and that’s how I feel about this. I can’t wait.

If there was a single piece of advice I could give someone wanting to teach abroad in South Korea especially with EPIK… it would probably have to be to remain calm.

It sounds silly and simple but I feel that the toughest thing with the whole process is maintaining the mental clarity required to make sound decisions when making the move. Not just doing the interviews but with gathering things for the documents on a time constraint, reading up on material of the country you’re going to, getting items essential to living in Korea, finding people with the same mindset as you that are heading over there and so on.

All of it plays a part in a huge undertaking in your life and it is important to understand that not everything in this is going to be under your control and panicking won’t fix things or get you there in any better a state than someone who didn’t and you’ll already be the worse for the wear. South Korea is a beautiful country and their government wants to welcome you there with open arms if you’re going through the EPIK program and I can’t think of a better way to repay that kindness than showing up not just anxious but ready to go and be a part of a culture, country and children’s lives.

We’ve seen a sharp increase in the number of applicants in recent years. More and more people are realizing that teaching abroad is not only a viable career option, but also a means to travel, pay off student loans, and ride out an unstable job market in their home countries. Consequently, we are seeing many applicants who are very well-qualified to teach overseas. Schools are now demanding that teachers have more qualifications, and the competition for those jobs can get quite fierce.

The emergence of new markets, such as China, also plays an important role in the ESL industry. China was once known for taking almost anyone on as a teacher, but those days are pretty much gone. Just recently, the Chinese government changed the requirements to teach English in China. For many teaching jobs you need to have graduated at least two years ago and ideally have some teaching or education experience. Places like South Korea continue to mature in terms of reliability and excellent remuneration packages, while Taiwan continues to attract teachers that are looking for a competitive salary offset by a low cost of living and tropical lifestyle!

The days of arriving in a country with a backpack and the expectation of finding a job are pretty much gone. You simply can’t land in a country like South Korea or China and expect to find a job by knocking on doors. Taiwan has been known in the past for having plenty of jobs for everyone, but the truth is that the job market in Taiwan is dwindling. We get phone calls and applications every day from teachers who are in Taiwan and are unable to find work. It’s getting harder and harder to find a good teaching job without arranging for a job in advance. Today, it’s all about planning ahead and beating out the competition. That’s why Reach To Teach works with the best teachers. All of our teachers are well prepared and ready to go with their teaching adventures abroad.

Furthermore, teaching requirements are becoming stricter, especially in terms of TEFL qualifications. In the last few years we have seen a big shift in schools preferring applicants that hold a TEFL qualification. Schools are becoming much more selective about who they hire and a TEFL qualification is one of the best ways to be selected. In many schools, a 100+ hour TEFL course will allow you to qualify for a higher salary.

Be sure this is something that feels right for you. Are you excited about working overseas? Are you committed to working abroad for a year? Before you apply, ask yourself what your reasons are for teaching abroad. Are you ready for the highs and lows of the challenge that lies ahead?

- Complete the application form as thoroughly as you possibly can. The more information you give us, the better we’ll be able to assist you.
- Read our FAQ page and contact us if you have any questions or concerns. Make sure you read up on TEFL and CELTA qualifications.
- In your interview, be upbeat and personable. Give us an idea of what you’re going to be like in the classroom. Show us your ideas and charisma. Be yourself.