August 2009 TaLK Invitation
The TaLK (Teach & Learn in Korea) program is inviting adventurous global leaders to teach English to students and to experience and learn about Korean culture. Sponsored by the Korean Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Time to be announced.
The ‘TaLK (Teach & Learn in Korea)’ program is inviting adventurous global leaders to teach English to students and to experience and learn about Korean culture. Sponsored by the Korean Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, ‘TaLK’ will sponsor individuals interested in gaining personal and professional enrichment through teaching and learning in Korea. The program is open to citizens of countries where English is the national language. We are seeking approximately 630 TaLK scholars including renewals.
1. Program Description
Participants will receive Korean government scholarships and teach English in after-school classes of Korean elementary schools while enjoying cultural programs during their free time. Recipients will be placed at schools in rural areas in need of greater exposure to English and teach the language by forming one-on-one working relationships with Korean university student volunteers. Candidates should have a desire to work with children, have a service-centered mind, a willingness to work in rural areas and have consideration for others with a positive attitude.
2. Eligibility
Applicants must:
- Be a citizen of a country where the national language is English.
(i.e. Australia, Canada, New Zealand, U.K., U.S.A., Ireland and South Africa)
* Ethnic Koreans with legal residencies are also eligible.
- Have completed two or more years of education at an accredited university,
or graduated from an accredited college in the countries aforementioned.
* Ethnic Koreans who are in their 1st or 2nd year of college/university are eligible also.
* University graduates and graduate school students are eligible also.
- Be mentally and physically capable of performing the specified responsibilities and duties.
- Have the ability and willingness to adapt to Korean lifestyle and culture.
- Be able to communicate in English fluently with clear and distinct pronunciation.
-Meet the criteria of eligibility for E-2 (Foreign Language Instructor), F-4 (Overseas Koreans), or F-2 (Spouse of Korean national) visa set forth by the Korean Immigration Authority.
※Preference will be given to the following candidates:
- have or will have a degree in education, English or subjects related to Korea.
- have excellent school records including good command of English.
- have completed primary and secondary education in the countries aforementioned.
※ Instructions for applicants
- Any male with Korean citizenship who has not fulfilled his military duty or received an official waiver must choose the six months contract term.
- If you are an overseas Korean with less than two years of university education as of July 2009, you MUST apply for an F‐4 Visa. Therefore, please inquire at the Korean Embassy/Consulate General whether you meet the F-4 visa qualifications before you apply. ※ If you are a foreigner without Korean heritage, you MUST have completed two or more years of education at a university or graduated from a college as of July 2009 to be eligible for the program.
- After arriving in Korea, you must undergo a medical check-up at a designated hospital, and if the test results determine that you have any serious disease(s) which are infectious or may keep you from performing your duties (e.g. drug addiction or AIDS), your scholarship is cancelled and you must return to your home country at your own expense.
- TaLK scholars are not permitted to have additional employment (including a part-time job) except working as a TaLK scholar.
3. Duties
The duties of TaLK scholarship recipients are carried out under the guidance of the supervisor designated by the Provincial Office of Education (hereinafter "POE"). Duties include:
- Working for the designated elementary schools in rural areas in Korea
-Teaching English in after-school classes* : 15 hours per week
*This is after receiving theories and practices concerning English teaching methodology and classroom management at the four-week preparatory orientation.
TaLK scholars may form a co-teaching arrangement with a Korean University scholar.
TaLK scholars are recommended to participate in the activities organized by the school, the POE, and the community.
4. Contract Term and Place of Work
A: Contract term
The contract terms are for the duration of either 6 months or one year, starting August 2009.
① August, 2009 – January, 2010 (six months)
② August, 2009 - July, 2010 (one year)
TaLK scholars will teach 15 hours per week from Monday to Friday (e.g. 5 days a week) and are not required to work on Saturdays, Sundays, or national holidays of the Republic of Korea.
B: Place of work
- The POE will decide placements. Participants will work at elementary schools within the POE.
- Rejection of placement may result in disqualification from the program.
※List of placements : Incheon, Gangwon, Chungbuk, Chungnam, Gyeongbuk, Gyeongnam, Daegu, Ulsan, Busan, Jeonbuk, Jeonnam, Jeju
※ Gyeonggi will no longer participate in the TaLK program, thus unavailable.
5. Benefits
A. Monthly allowance : 1,500,000 KRW
* Payment of monthly allowance begins in September 2009.
*During the preparatory orientation in August, board & lodging is provided instead of monthly allowance.
B. Accommodation
- The POE will decide the type of accommodation for each scholar.
※ Possible accommodation: a dormitory, an apartment, or a studio-type room, or a home-stay
-If a scholar does not wish the POE to provide accommodation, he/she will also be given monthly housing settlement (400,000 KRW) instead.
※ Any and all fees, charges, costs, taxes, expenses, etc. incurred from the accommodation provided, shall be borne by scholarship recipients.
C. Round-trip airfare
-An economy class airfare of the most direct one-way flight available from the international airport nearest your place of residence to Incheon Airport and a return air ticket at the completion of your contract term entitlement
-If your scholarship is cancelled during the contract term, a return air ticket will not be provided.
- Transportation from Incheon Airport to the orientation venue will be arranged.
D. Health insurance cover
- POE will cover your health insurance with its contracted agency.
- Method of use : TaLK scholars must pay for their medical treatment on their own and then
receive reimbursement a week or two after submitting reimbursement application and
original receipt.
E. One-off settlement allowance
- 300,000 KRW will be given soon after being placed in the designated school.
F. Opportunities to participate in cultural programs
-A variety of programs to experience Korean culture will be offered under the supervision of the POE during the weekends and in the scholar's available free time.
- Cultural programs arranged by each POE will vary in terms of group & individual experiences, types of cultural events, frequency of activities, and procedures.
G. Korean language acquisition
- Opportunities to learn Korean will be offered (e.g. lessons organized by the POE, on-line lessons on the Internet, conversations with the Korean university scholar, etc.).
H. Distinction & personal enrichment
-As a Korean Government Scholar, you will distinguish yourself as an individual with a unique and profound interest in teaching while enhancing your personal and professional competence.
-After a successful completion of your contract term, you will be awarded a Korean
Government Scholarship Certificate".
I. Other benefits
-Preparatory Orientation is held for four weeks upon arrival to Korea and before being placed in schools. Examples of workshops to attend: teaching & learning methodology, understanding Korean lifestyle and culture, theories and practices for classroom management.
- Paid Leave : total of 7 working days (per 6 months)
- Sick Leave :
① total of 3 working days (for 6-month contract holders)
② total of 7 working days (for 1-year contract holders)
- Buddy system:
- A Korean university scholar who is designated as your partner will help you adjust to Korean life:
• by providing helpful advice upon your request.
• by joining you in your cultural field trips as well as in your after-school classes.
6. Application
A. Required documents
All applicants are required to submit the following documents online by the deadline:
① A completed application form A (one passport size photo must be included along with applicant's signature at the bottom of the form)
※ A print-out of your on-line application is accessible via the TaLK website (www.talk.go.kr)
② A completed application form B - a personal medical assessment & a personal essay
※ A prescribed form is available on the TaLK website (www.talk.go.kr)
※ There is a 1,000 word limit on the personal essay.
③ A photo file ※Preferably a passport-sized identification photo in .GIF or .JPG format
④ A lesson plan (for a 40 minute English class)
※ The prescribed form is available on the TaLK website (www.talk.go.kr)
※ Suggested reference websites : www.lessonplanspage.com/LA67.htm
www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/index.shtml
⑤ A sealed transcript - transcripts showing at least 2 years of university education
* If you turn in an unsealed transcript, it must be legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in your home country with an Apostille number and stamp.
* Ethnic Koreans in their 1st or 2nd year of college/university may submit transcripts available at the time of application.
* A certificate of university enrollment (applicable only to those with transcripts that do not show evidence of university education, where final grades are not available by the application deadline)
⑥ Two signed and sealed recommendation letters
* Letters from your university professors will be preferred.
* Letters from highschool teachers, employers, or leading figures of the community
※ A prescribed form is available on the TaLK website (www.talk.go.kr).
⑦ A criminal record check (county level)
⑧ A copy of your passport photo page
⑨ A copy of legal residence certificate (for Korean nationals)
⑩ A diploma or transcript of secondary school (if applicable)
B. Application deadline:
April 20th, 2009 for early applications / June 10th, 2009 for late applications
C. Application office: Submission of required documents & interview
- Korean Embassy/Consulate-General in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, U.K., and U.S.A.
- TaLK Office in Korea
※ Only applicants residing in Korea at the time of application or citizens of Ireland or South Africa can directly apply to the TaLK Office.
※ Refer to the TaLK website (www.talk.go.kr) or inquire at the Korean Embassy/ Consulate-General in your home country for the addresses and contact numbers of the office you will submit your application.
D. Application procedures:
1. Online application : Initial application documents (Application A, Application B & a photo) must be submitted on-line through the Talk website.
① Complete the application form A on the TaLK website (www.talk.go.kr) and submit it on-line.
② Download the application form B (personal medical assessment & personal essay) from the TaLK website and complete it. Upload the completed form onto the TaLK website by attaching Application "B" to Application "A".
③ Attach your photo file to Application "A".
2. Interview will be conducted at the Korean Embassy/Consulate-General
*After you submit your on-line application, the Korean Embassy/Consulate-General in your place of residence will contact you to arrange your interview schedule.
3. Submission of documents: all the required documents (①~②, ④~⑩ as stated in 6.A.) must be sent to the Korean Embassy/Consulate-General in your home country by mail or in person by April 20, 2009 (early applications) or by June 10, 2009 (late applications).
*Early applicants will have a higher chance to be selected and positions may all be filled before the deadline.
4. Document screening by the Korean Embassies or TaLK Office
5. Final screening by TaLK Office
※ The final decision is made by the TaLK Office. Although your records may meet
the minimum criteria for admission, your application may not be successful if your file is not competitive with the rest of the applicant pool. Therefore, the TaLK office will not respond to any inquiries regarding unsuccessful applications.
※ Successful applicants will be notified via the TaLK website by May 12, 2009 or by July 2, 2009.
6. Receive an invitation letter and a contract (.pdf file) from the TaLK Office by email.
7. Sign the official written contract
E. Instructions following successful application
Applicants must:
- confirm his/her acceptance of the scholarship through the TaLK website
(early applicants by June 9th / late applicants by July 10th).
- obtain his/her visa at the Korean Embassy/Consulate General (by July 24th).
- submit his/her flight schedule through the TaLK website
(early applicants by June 20th / late applicants by July 11th).
*Detailed information on how to obtain a visa and an air ticket will be explained after we receive confirmation of scholarship acceptance.
- arrive in Korea on a set date (August 1st, 2nd, or 3rd).
- participate in the preparatory orientation (between 4th and 28th, August).
※ The dates are subject to change. Refer to the TaLK website for updates.
