Sunday, September 25, 2011

Teaching in South Korea F.A.Q.

 

  1. Do I have to be an English or Education major to qualify for the Teaching     Program?

No. you do not. The South Korean market has recently become very competitive so although all majors are accepted, it has become more advantageous if you are an English or Education major.

2. How many class hours are we supposed to teach in South Korea?
The standard work week is between 30-35 hours per week.

3. Do I need to speak Korean in order to teach English in South Korea?
No, you will be teaching Conversational English and most of the students already know English.

4. What should I take with me to South Korea?
The school will provide furnished accommodations which usually include the following: furniture, beddings, cooking utensils, TV, etc. Clothes are very inexpensive in South Korea so you might want to take very little clothes with you. You should try to take a laptop computer, a magic jack and a digital camera for your personal use.

5. Will I need to get any vaccinations before going to South Korea?
There are no mandatory vaccinations to go to South Korea

6. How much luggage is allowed on an international flight?
Each passenger is entitled to 2 fifty pound luggage and two carry-ones; this may include a hand bag or a notebook computer, and a backpack or a small suitcase.

7. How will I get from the airport?
A member from the school staff will meet you at the airport and take you to your apartment. There is a departure tax when leaving South Korea. You should check with the airline for the current rates.

8. Is it safe in South Korea for visitors?
The crime rate in South Korea is very low. The Korean people are usually very friendly to foreigners. You still however should take some precaution while on public transportation or in busy shopping centers.

9. Does it get cold in South Korea?
Korea has four distinct seasons:
Spring: Late March - May; Summer: June - early September;
Autumn: September - November; Winter: December - Mid March.

10. What is the school’s dress code?
Most schools will expect you to dress business casual

11. What are the emergency phone numbers for South Korea?
Directory Assistance: 114
Police 112
Fire & Emergency 119 or 129

12. What is the banking information for South Korea?
Symbol
Coins include: 10, 50, 100, 500
Banknotes: 1000, 5000, 10000, 50000
Major credit cards and cash are accepted in South Korea. Below are some of the most popular banks in South Korea.
· Korean Exchange Bank  http://www.keb.co.kr
· KB Kookmin Bank- http://kbstar.com

13. What’s the exchange rate between US Dollars and Korean Won?
Currently the exchange rate is US$1 ≈1.09 Korean Won. Exchange rate fluctuates periodically and also varies between banks. Please visit www.xe.com for current conversion rates.

14. Is it possible to send money home?
Yes. Money can be easily exchanged and transferred to bank accounts around the world. Western Union services are available.

Thank you for visiting our blog! Check out our website for more information on how to teach in South Korea!

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Employee Testimonial!



We recently received a wonderful testimonial from an Allestra recruit! Keep your testimonials coming, we love them! 


"Hello. I work in South Korea as an English Teacher. It is a great experience. This is my second time teaching, through Allestra. I would highly recommend this experience to anyone who is looking for an adventure. Children are wonderful. Food difference is amazing, and some historic sights are spectacular. "

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Facts About South Korea

 
Background:
The Republic of Korea, or South Korea is located in the southern half of the Korean peninsula.  The Republic of Korea in Korean means "The Great Nation of the Korean People" and is sometimes referred to as the "Land of the Morning Calm".  South Korea has become a major global industrial power and is currently one of the fastest growing economies in the world.
 
Climate:
Temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter
 
Currency:
South Korean won (KRW)
 
Ethnic Groups:
Ethnic groups: Korean; small Chinese minority
 
Government Type:
Republic
 
Languages:
Korean
 
National Capital:
Seoul
 
National Holidays:
New Year's Day                        January 1
Lunar New Year's Day               1st mth & 1st day of lunar calendar
Independence Movement Day    March 1
Children's Day                            May 5
Buddha's Birthday                      8th day & 4th mth of lunar calendar
Memorial Day                             June 6
Constitution Day                         July 17
Independence Day                      August 15
Thanksgiving Day                       8th mth,15th day of lunar calendar
National Foundation Day            October 3
Christmas                                   December 25
 
For more information, visit our website!

Sunday, September 4, 2011

More Information About China


Background:
China (Zhōngguó) is a cultural region and multinational entity in East Asia. It's one of the world's oldest civilization. with the world's longest continuously used written language system. China is also best known for its invention of paper, the compass,gunpowder,and printing.

Climate:
Extremely diverse weather; it is often tropical in south and subarctic in the north

Currency:
Yuan (CNY) - also referred to as the Renminbi (RMB)

Ethnic Groups:
Han Chinese 91.9%, Zhuang, Uygur, Hui, Yi, Tibetan, Miao, Manchu, Mongol, Buyi, Korean, and other nationalities 8.1%

Government Type:
Communist state

Holidays:
International Women Day Mar. 8th
Labor Day May 1st
Chinese Youths' Day May 4th
Int'l Children's Day Jun. 1st
Birthday of the CCP Jul. 1st
National Day Oct. 1st

Languages:
Standard Chinese or Mandarin (Putonghua, based on the Beijing dialect), Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghaiese), Minbei (Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects, minority languages

National Capital:
Beijing

National Holidays:
Anniversary for Founding of the People's Republic of China 1 Oct. 1949

Population:
1,313,973,713 (July 2006 est.)

Provinces:
China is divided into 23 provinces which include: Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guizhou, Hainan, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin, Liaoning, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, Taiwan , Yunnan, Zhejiang (Taiwan still under KMT government)

Religions:
Daoist (Taoist), Buddhist, Christian 3%-4%, Muslim 1%-2%

To learn more, visit our website!