Non-native English speakers from India and other countries that use English as an official language, including Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines, will be able to teach at public schools in South Korea from next year. JoongAng Daily reported that the government plans to hire up to 1,050 teachers for public elementary and middle schools and by 2010, for high schools.
Perhaps reflecting a gradual shift in the economic balance of power from the West to Asia’s emerging markets, the Korean government has acknowledged a growing need for its people to be able to adapt to ‘World English’ and thus possibly to better capitalize on networking opportunities in the region.
Korea Times – The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and the Ministry of Justice said Sunday the government is opening the door for English teaching positions wider to secure more foreign English teachers at primary and secondary schools nationwide.
The government has so far allowed English teacher assistant jobs at public schools only to native-English speakers who had completed more than two years of their college courses; and the nationality of the eligible applicants was limited to seven countries – the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Ireland.
“There are about 50 countries that have adopted English as an official language. However, we will not open the door to all teachers from the countries,” Oh Seok-hwan, an official of the education ministry, told The Korea Times. “Only foreigners whose countries have trade agreements with Korea can apply for the positions. These include India, Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines,” he added.
The number of foreigners holding English-teaching E-2 visa has increased to 19,934 this year, up from 17,721 in 2007 and 15,001 in 2006. Among the visa holders, some 4,300 are working at public schools as assistant English teachers. However, many schools in rural areas are still in need of native English speakers. The government sees relaxation of the visa rule as a way to help those schools have foreign teachers for English conversation classes.
Requirements for the non-native teachers, however, will be much stricter than those for native speakers. Non-native speakers have to hold a bachelor’s degree or above in English studies and teaching licenses from their countries. According to the education ministry, more than half of current foreign assistant teachers don’t even have basic English teaching certificates such as TESOL.
English education experts are positive about the plan. “This word `native speaker’ is an invention there’s no reason why we should consider someone lucky enough to hold a passport from a country using English as a first language country to be a better speaker than someone from a land where English is used less prominently. I know many Filipinos and Indians who speak English more comfortably than some people who were born in the U.S.,” said Rob Dickey, an American English professor.
As for concerns over the “harsh” accent of non-native speakers, the professor said, “Many Americans can’t understand Australians and vice versa, so purity of accent is a political consideration. The other fact is more than 50% of all visitors to Korea who use English are not native speakers, so it would be good for students to hear many different varieties of English.”
Lee Byung-min, an English education professor at Seoul National University, said that qualified non-native speakers with teaching licenses would be much better for Korean English education than native speakers without teaching licenses. “We can also choose highly qualified non-native teachers at lower costs as their wages are relatively lower,” Lee said.
Parents’ groups also showed positive reaction to Asian English teachers. “Korean English education has put too lopsided focus on American English so far and there have been many unqualified teachers at schools. We don’t oppose English teachers from India or the Philippines as long as they are proven teachers,” said Yoon Sook-ja, chairwoman of the National Association of Parents for True Education.
12:21 pm on February 2nd, 2009 1
Still struggling to get a decent job anywhere and I am confident about my linguistic skills as well as my teaching skills are good.
I do hope that this brings a change to the current situation where you are looked down upon compared to someone who is completely green from some “native” country.
I would really like to ask these employers questions pertaining comprehension, grammar usage, colloquialisms and the like. It is just unfair to be prejudiced in this way.
Had to rant. Sorry about that, am frustrated from applying for jobs since the past 3 months without avail.
8:23 am on June 2nd, 2009 2
Where can I apply then? I’ve been trying to search over the internet but all schools are in need of NATIVE ENGLISH SPEAKERS. I just hope those schools will find time to “test” or consider hiring non-native English speakers who are actually good (and sometimes better) in speaking the said language.
10:01 pm on June 16th, 2009 3
Hi there,
Is it true that Korean Government will issue E-2 visa to Asian countries that include Indian, Philippines and Singapore? When will it happen just curiouse.
6:04 pm on August 6th, 2009 4
Hi there:) I am a teacher in Uzbekistan. We teach American English at our English courses and used to have native speaker teachers. But not all of them were ESL teachers. And they found difficult to explain grammar rules, cause they’re not ESL teachers. So, higher levels have been tought by local teachers, as they have gone through the learning process and succeeded and they know which way of explonation is easy understandable…I was looking forward to finding a job in Korea, but got a little bit disapponted when i found out that all schools need native speakers and it’s not nessesery to be an ESL teacher :( I’m sure that i can teach better than native speaker teacher who has no teaching experience.
8:59 am on August 16th, 2009 5
“as long as they are proven teachers”
how about those non-natives who are not teachers but fluent in english and wants to work in korea? i’ve been trying to look for a job opportunity in seoul but it seems like they don’t accept filipinos. after reading the article, it gave me hope that i can finally apply in seoul but then again applicants should be teachers? i am fluent in english and have been speaking the language for as long as i can speak eventho it’s not my 1st language.
3:51 am on September 2nd, 2009 6
hey…
i am an english(honours) graduate degree holder. and my wish is to teach english in south korea .but the problem is they don”t accept non native speaker i wonder when they will start accepting us.
i” would like to ask the korean government to give the permission to start accepting us .
5:13 am on September 4th, 2009 7
I am a non native speaker of English Language from Nigeria with a university degree and TEFL certification. I need an English Language teaching job in Thailand, South Korea, or Vietnam. I am not aware of the opportunities a non native speaker has in securing a job in any of aforementioned countries – I need your advice.
10:29 pm on September 22nd, 2009 8
send me job details to my e mail ID i am inersted in customer servce n IT and teaching job.
2:47 am on September 28th, 2009 9
I am from Nigeria living here in malaysia. I need such an opportunity if i could be considered for any teaching jobs in South Korea.Thanks
9:53 am on October 14th, 2009 10
I am also facing huge problem looking for work in Korea. I am from Singapore and we speak English our whole life! I don’t know whats happening with E2 visa now. From the above article it seemed quite positive but in actual fact it doesnt seem to be the case? What can i do??
11:27 pm on November 4th, 2009 11
hi,1 of the university in SK hired me,but i dnt know if it is possible for me to get E2 visa..what do i need to do?pls need ur advice..thank you!
8:20 am on December 15th, 2009 12
hi i m an ASSOCIATE LITIGATION SUPPORT team in very reputed LPO.where my working as a korean language translator n interperator.i want to work in south korea or AUSTRLIA.help me
3:34 am on December 20th, 2009 13
Hi there,
I am PhD degree holder from the Philippines with TESOL Certicate Course (TCC)Training. I have been teaching in the graduate school for a few years and is now seriously considering on coming to Korea to teach ESL in the univesity or any level. Just want to know when is the best time to file application? Thanks.
12:13 am on February 4th, 2010 14
Finally the Korean Government have come to their senses. I have been actively sending job resume since 2007 and it had all been rejected due to I’m an Asian passport holder.
2:52 pm on February 20th, 2010 15
Hi, Anyone knows about this? I am Indian but live in USA and have done my BA in USA and naturalized citizen. Can I apply for E-2 visa?
7:47 am on March 31st, 2010 16
It ‘s now April 2010 and I’m inquiring about the E-2. What does it say on the visa table? Is it this;to work in Korea you must be a citizen from a country where the official language is English. I’m doing an essay for my global English class and need to know some facts. Has anybody from Singapore, Phillipines, Malaysia,or India got an E-2 visa yet?? Muchly appreciated if you can help me
Julie
7:19 am on June 26th, 2010 17
i am a teacher of English in Sri lanka. now I have been working as a teacher trainer. I have the national diploma in teaching Engliah- 3 yr full time, National diploma in English 2 yr full time, B.A. in English, Post graduate diploma in teaching English as a second language, Masters in linguistics, and teacher training programme followed in EFLU india. can you help me to work in korea as a teacher. please
4:45 am on July 17th, 2010 18
Hi! I am also an English teacher here in the Philippines in fact, in an International School.It has always been a dream of mine to teach in south Korea as it happened to be one of my favorite places though I haven’t been there.I hope you can help me find a teaching position in South Korea.Thanks.
1:38 pm on August 12th, 2010 19
I am a trained journalist and public relations practitioner.I had once taught Public relations at the post-graduate diploma level at the Kwara State Polytechnic,Ilorin, Nigeria. I also taught Spoken English at the American Cultural Association School of Languages in Isparta ,Turkey before returning to Nigeria. I hold the following qualifications:
1.Post-Graduate Diploma in Public Relations
2.Advanced Diploma in Public Administration
3.Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communications
4.London Institute of Public Relations Certificat
5.Higher Certificate in Public Relations
6.Certificate in Public Information.
I woukld like to know if i qualify to teach english language in any of the South Korean schools employing english teachers of different nationalities.