Australian Criminal Background Check
To apply for a Korean visa, you need to obtain a National Police Clearance Certificate from the Australian Federal Police in Canberra. You do not need a fingerprint background check for the Korean...
View ArticleNew Zealand Criminal Background Check
Get your New Zealand background check done by applying in writing to the Criminal Records Unit of the Ministry of Justice. The Ministry website claims that all applications are processed within 20...
View ArticleUK Criminal Background Check
There are two types of acceptable UK criminal background checks: the Subject Access Check issued by your local police headquarters, and the Basic Disclosure from Disclosure Scotland. You do not need...
View ArticleCan an outdoors-ey person survive in Korea?
Peterson and I are a bit “crunchy” (read: granola eating, nature lovers). And in South Korea, we were in good company: hiking is practically a national sport. Even if you don’t like hiking, there are...
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What will my Korean apartment look like?
If you choose a full time job teaching English in Korea, your employer will generally cover your housing costs for the year. Great, right? But what, exactly, does an entry-level contract with a hagwon...
View ArticleOn ATEK and 3WM – an enigma meets a mystery
I’m not sure when I accepted the role of an outspoken, if optimistic, critic of ATEK. Perhaps it was during this article where I offered then-new president Greg Dolezal a few suggestions. Perhaps it...
View ArticleGEPIK Hiring Freeze: It’s Official
In a news article dated March 29, 2011, the announcement was made that GEPIK will have a hiring freeze from May 25 – August 31. The article can be found below. GEPIK hiring freeze sparks anger in...
View ArticleDo I Need to Have Teaching Experience To Teach In Korea?
If you’ve done any searching for teaching jobs in Korea, you’ve probably seen a lot of postings that say, “No Experience Required!” Sounds too good to be true right? It’s not. The truth is that, while...
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AFEK opens membership to E-series visa holders
The following press release comes courtesy of AFEK‘s Mike Yates, AKA ‘The Web Guy’:AFEK, a group for expats in Korea, is pleased to announce that the leaders have opted to shun grand titles for the 2nd...
View ArticleATEK at a crossroads – the fallout post-3WM
Author’s note: if the title of this post makes no sense to you, please read this post to catch up.Some weeks after the Three Wise Monkeys’ expose on ATEK (read part 1, part 2, and part 3), the first...
View ArticleAT THE CROSSROADS: TO ATEK OR NOT TO ATEK (guest post from Chris D.)
Chris in South Korea note: this is a guest post from Chris D., whose biography is part of the story. Since we happen to share the same first name, please kindly address your comments to Chris D. (the...
View ArticleMoving forward: time to talk about a new teacher’s organization
It’s time to move forward.I do think we need a organization that assists teachers; in fact, I’d be open to sitting in on that future discussion and offering up some ideas. Let’s get the seven or eight...
View ArticleShould I use a recruiter to get a job in Korea?
What do recruiters do?Recruiters act as a liaison between you and employers in South Korea. They can help you get job interviews, negotiate your contract and remind you which documents you need for...
View ArticleTeaching: 8 games to play with your English-language-learning students
This blog focuses on travel and life in Korea – but for many wonderful readers, teaching English takes up a pretty significant amount of time. Hope these help you in your classes! Sparkle Die! Also...
View ArticleQuestion from a reader: a teacher’s schedule?
A reader writes in:Hi Chris:I stumbled across your blog and I’ve found it to be of great use to me, as I am going to be heading to Seoul in approximately two months to teach English. Although I have...
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Quiz: Where in Korea should you teach English?
I’ve received a number of questions asking ‘where should I live?’. Sure, it’s kind of fun thinking about Jeonju vs. Tongyeong, but the possible permutations are endless. If you’ve already passed the...
View ArticleQuestion from a reader: school gives bad references?
A reader writes in:I’m having a problem. I’m trying to find a new job in [city redacted], but no hagwon owner will hire me without speaking to my previous school about why I left early. (They stopped...
View ArticleI don't usually rant and ramble but...
My schedule was changed and no one told me. That’s par for the course and I’ve gotten over it, but when I went to find my students they were sitting in a dark room, lights were off, chatting or...
View ArticleHell to Teach English in the Countryside?
Teaching in South Korea, so far, has been a great experience for me especially that I am dealing with cute little children learning English. I love my students who are always cuddly though at times...
View ArticleI’m Your Korean Star: What It Feels Like to Be in South Korea Hollywood?
When I first came here in 2005, I was totally culture-shocked, but I guess that’s part of it all whenever I go. I think anyone could feel the same. Well, we all just need to keep calm and stay on the...
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