Bookmark and Share

Teach for the SMOE Program in Korea
Now Accepting Applications for Summer 2010!

Teach English in Korea for SMOE - Fall 2010

Learn More About Teaching For The SMOE Program in Korea!

Public school positions with the SMOE (Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education) are some of the most sought after in Korea. Seoul, the capital of South Korea, is a dynamic, modern city with activities of interest for anyone! If you want to experience a large Asian city at it’s busy, energetic best, Seoul is for you.

What is the SMOE Program?

Teach For SMOE KoreaSMOE stands for Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education. The program was established in 2005 to provide English education to public school students in the Seoul metropolitan area with the eventual aim to place a native English speaker in every school. There are currently hundreds of ESL teachers in Korea teaching for the SMOE Program.

Benefits of working for SMOE Program in Korea

Teaching English for public schools in Seoul offers many excellent benefits. In addition to the standard benefits of a reimbursed flight, accommodation and contract completion bonus (one month’s salary), SMOE teachers also receive the following benefits:

  1. A competitive salary based on qualifications (1.8-2.7 million won / month)
  2. 21 days of paid vacation
  3. A teaching job directly in Seoul! If you want to live in a large, bustling Asian city, Seoul is a great choice
  4. Free housing (utilities not included)
  5. Reimbursed roundtrip flight
  6. Orientation and training
  7. Settlement allowance of 300,000 won
  8. A completion of contract bonus
  9. Full health insurance (50% of the costs covered by the SMOE Program)

ESL Training Provided by the SMOE Program

All SMOE teachers will attend a mandatory 10 day professional training session in Seoul. Teachers will attend this training session upon arrival in Korea. The orientation period is not included in the term of employment and as such is unpaid. Teachers will learn about the Korean Public School system, their role as English teachers, life in Korea, among other useful topics. Attendance at orientation is a required condition of employment for all candidates arriving to teach English in public schools in Korea. Training week is also a great time to meet new people!

Who is eligible to work for the SMOE Program in Korea?

In order to teach English in public schools in Korea all eligible applicants to the SMOE program must:

  1. Have citizenship from an English speaking country (Canada, USA, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, United Kingdom, Ireland)
  2. Be a Native English Speaker
  3. Hold a Bachelor’s Degree from a University or College
  4. NOTE: A criminal record will disqualify you from working in Korea
SMOE Teacher Honi - Teaching English in Korea SMOE Teacher Chad - Teaching English in Korea

Responsibilities of English Teachers for the SMOE Program

Public school teachers in Korea conduct beginner to intermediate English language classes with a Korean co-teacher. SMOE English teachers are required to teach 22 classes per week (varying from 40 - 50 minutes each). Your responsibilities as a Korean public school teacher will include:

  1. Conducting English classes in cooperation with the Korean teacher
  2. Preparing teaching materials and activities for your lesson plans
  3. Helping your school with the creation of teaching materials related to teaching English!
  4. Assisting with activities related to learning English and other extracurricular activities. (Judging a speech contest in English, voice recording for English listening comprehension tests, conducting English conversational classes, etc.)

Start Dates and Working Hours for the SMOE Program

The period of employment for public school teaching jobs in Korea is one-year, starting from the first day of employment in Korea. Public schools in Korea have two start dates per year at the beginning of each semester. The 1st arrival date is at the end of February while the 2nd is at the end of August. Teachers will generally work 8 hours per day including lunch, for 5 days a week from Monday to Friday. Teachers will have 22 teaching hours per week in the classroom. While teaching English in Korea at a public school you will not work on Saturdays, Sundays or National Holidays.

SMOE Salary Scale for teaching at public schools in Seoul

Salary for English teaching jobs at SMOE public schools depends on a combination of qualifications and experience. The guidelines are outlined below:

Level SMOE Requirements Monthly Salary
H A Bachelors degree in any discipline. 1.8 million KRW
G Must have one of the following qualifications:
  • A Bachelors degree in Education.
  • A Bachelors degree in English, English Education, English Literature, or Linguistics.
  • A Bachelors degree in any discipline plus one (1) full year of teaching English.
  • A Masters degree in any discipline.
  • A currently valid elementary or secondary teachers certification.
  • A TESOL/TEFL or English Teaching Certificate comprised of a minimum of 100 course hours.
 2.0 million KRW
F Must have one of the following qualifications:
  • A Master’s degree in Education.
  • A teachers certification with a specialization in English Education.
  • One of the Level G requirements plus one (1) full year of teaching English.
 2.2 million KRW
E Must have one of the following qualifications:
  • A Master's degree in TESOL/TEFL or in English Education
  • One of the Level G requirements plus two (2) full years of teaching English.
  • Employed as Level F at the SMOE for one (1) full year
 2.3 million KRW
D Must have one of the following qualifications:
  • A Bachelors degree in English Education plus three (3) full years of teaching English.
  • A Masters degree in TESOL/TEFL or in English Education plus one (1) full year of teaching English.
  • A teachers certification with a specialization in English Education plus two (2) full years of teaching English.
  • Employed as Level E at the SMOE for one (1) full year.
 2.4 million KRW
C Must have one of the following qualifications:
  • A Masters degree in TESOL/TEFL or in English Education plus two (2) full years of teaching English.
  • A teachers certification with a specialization in English Education plus three (3) full years of teaching English.
  • Employed as Level D at the SMOE for two (2) full years
 2.5 million KRW
B Must have one of the following qualifications:
  • A Masters degree in TESOL/TEFL or in English Education plus three (3) full years of teaching English.
  • A recommendation by the superintendent or school principal of a current school (public or private) where applicant has taught English (at the same school) for at least three (3) full years.
  • Employed as Level D at the SMOE for three (3) full years.
 2.6 million KRW
A Must have one of the following qualifications:
  • A Masters degree in TESOL/TEFL or in English Education plus four (4) full years of teaching English.
  • A recommendation by the superintendent or school principal of a current school (public or private) where applicant has taught English (at the same school) for at least four (4) full years.
 2.7 million KRW
S Must have one of the following qualifications:
  • A Masters degree in TESOL/TEFL or in English Education plus seven (7) full years of teaching English.
  • A recommendation by the superintendent or school principal of a current school (public or private) where applicant has taught English (at the same school) for at least seven (7) full years.
  • Be hired to work as a curriculum developer with Doctoral degree in TESOL/TEFL or in English Education.
 3.0 million KRW

Teach English for SMOE KoreaTeaching Locations for the SMOE Program

Teaching English for SMOE will guarantee you a teaching position within the city of Seoul. Unfortunately, the SMOE cannot guarantee placement within a certain area of the city, but you will be given your location prior to your arrival.

The Reach To Teach Community in Korea

Reach To Teach has a great community of English teachers in Korea. If you feel overwhelmed by the thought of moving halfway across the world, you are not alone. With new teachers arriving each month there will be many opportunities to meet new and interesting people. We have many regular events that include happy hours, hike events, dinner parties, paintball and even white water rafting!

See our Teacher Events and Monthly ESL Newsletters pages for further information.

Teaching English in South Korea - Get Advice from the Experts!

We here at Reach To Teach have all taught English abroad. We understand the anxiety that comes with considering a move to work for a public school in South Korea. We want to hear any questions you have about working for public schools in Korea! You need to feel as comfortable as possible with your decision. Leaving your home country to teach English in Korea is an exciting and adventurous choice. It’s important to be sure you have as much information as possible so you can concentrate on enjoying your year (or more!) teaching English in South Korea.

If you have any questions about teaching English in Korea, from your monthly salary to how delicious Korean BBQ really is (answer: very delicious!), please contact our Director of Recruiting for Korea, Gillian Benjamin. You are also welcome to contact any of our other teach abroad Recruitment Coordinators!

Apply Now to teach English for the SMOE Program in Korea