ITA not only provide you with a supportive advisor before you even sign up, but they also explain every step of the way with you and give you a TON of resources before, during, and after the course. - ITA Grad Jordan Greszczak

HOW THE COURSE WORKS

Why Take The Korean Culture Course for English Teachers?

Prepare for your transition to becoming an English teacher in South Korea with ITA's exclusive 40-Hour (1-week) Korean culture & language training course for English teachers, held in Incheon, South Korea

Tailored specifically for soon-to-be English teachers, this 40-hour week of in-person lessons, language lessons, and excursions will enhance your understanding and appreciation for your new home and make adjusting to the basics of daily life so much easier.

What will you get out of this course?

  • A week-long, interactive deep dive into South Korean culture, history & politics.
  • Six hours of introductory Korean language classes.
  • Excursions to a Taekwondo “dojang”, the Korean War Memorial, and the Grand Palace in Seoul.
  • Hands-on Korean cooking class.
  • Gain insights into South Korea's modern political history and learn how the nation transformed itself from one of the world's poorest countries into one of the most modern in just 3 generations. 
  • Get insider tips and insights into Korean culture that will prepare you for working with your Korean students & colleagues.
  • Meet and bond with fellow soon-to-be ESL teachers in Korea.
  • Accommodations, airport pickup, and some meals are also included.
Korea taekwando

Get Practical Tips & Insights from Local Experts

From making friends to eating Korean food, get expert tips about all aspects of daily life in Korea from experienced English teachers & local experts. 

Delve Into Korea's Rich History & Culture

South Korea is incredibly modern & dynamic, but to understand the nation's people, it's essential to understand Korea's ancient history and culture. Therefore, this program entails exclusive courses & excursions led by experts.

Learn Basic Korean to Acclimate to Life in Korea

Learning basic Korean will help you enjoy a seamless transition to your daily life in Korea. In addition, you will impress your Korean colleagues, students & friends.

Join a Community of Teachers & Travelers

Build friendships with fellow teachers before embarking on your common journey as English teachers in Korea. Establishing these bonds will lessen your chances of suffering from loneliness and culture shock as you transition to life in Korea. 

COURSE FEATURES & DETAILS
Korean Culture Course Structure

Korean Culture Training Course Content

This Korean Culture Course includes five modules based on topics:

  • Korean History
  • Korean Culture and Society
  • Korean Politics
  • Working and Living in South Korea
  • Korean Language:
    A qualified Korean Language teacher provides 6 hours of Korean language lessons to our participants. These are broken down into 3x 2-hour lessons and cover the basics of the Korean alphabet & basic conversational content.

Korean Training Course for American English teachers

 

Cultural Excursions and Activities

Exclusive Excursions & Activities

During the week, you will gain practical experience exploring Korean culture through the following exciting and informative excursions and activities included in the course:

Hanbok Costume Fitting and Gyeongbokgung Palace Tour

  • Hanbok Cafe: Choose your beautiful traditional Korean clothing from a Hanbok café. Get your hair done and choose your accessories so you can walk around the grand palace in style!
  • Gyeongbokgung Palace: Built-in 1395, Gyeongbokgung Palace is one of the most beautiful and largest of the five royal palaces. The visit includes an expert-led tour providing critical insights into the cultural significance of the various buildings and grounds of the palace.

Explore Korean History at the Gyeongbokgung Palace

Visit to the Korean War Museum

Guided by an expert historian, this excursion provides a detailed look into the Korean War, which played a significant role in the foundation of modern Korea. 

Taekwondo Class 

Learn about the Korean martial art of Taekwondo and the unique role it plays in Korean culture. We will be visiting a 'Dojang' where the Taekwondo master will perform a demonstration and participants even get to test their strength by breaking a wooden board!

Attend a taekwando demonstration

Visit the Jongmyo Shrine

Delve deep into Korean history and learn about Confucianism and the kings and queens who reigned during the Korean Joseon Dynasty.

Traditional Tea Tasting

Visit a traditional tea house in the cultural district of Insadong, where the streets are lined with antique shops, galleries, and old art shops.  

Hands-On Korean Cooking Class

From kimchi to fried chicken, Korean food has taken the culinary world by a storm over the past decade. Gain hands-on experience preparing (and eating!) Korean cuisine during this exclusive Korean cooking class with Chef Hero. Some dishes you will prepare include Bulgogi, Gimbab, and Kimchi Pancakes!

Accommodations & Other Included Features

Included Features

What’s Included:

  • Airport pickup
  • Housing for the week in a double occupancy room
  • Entrance fees for all cultural excursions
  • Transport to and from all cultural excursions
  • All lessons and cultural excursions listed
WHO IT'S FOR

Who Should Join This Korean Cultural Course?

This 1-week course in Incheon, South Korea, is open to those planning to teach English in South Korea who have earned an accredited TEFL / TESOL certification from International TEFL Academy (ITA) or another TEFL course provider (ITA approval required); or those with other advanced credentials such as a college or university degree in TESOL.

This orientation program is ideal for you if  you plan to teach in Korea and are looking to:

  • Gain a foundational understanding of Korean culture, language, & etiquette before beginning your teaching position.
  • Experience a smooth transition to your new life as an English teacher in South Korea with guidance from experienced teachers, guides & other experts.
  • Seek to join a community of fellow ESL teachers in Korea.
  • Gain the confidence to successfully manage the cultural differences teachers will face in day-to-day life and at work.
  • Maximize the cross-cultural experience of living and working as an English teacher in Korea.

NOTE: If you are enrolled in ITA's TEFL Course in Incheon, Korea, or the Teaching English in South Korea Job Placement Program, this week-long cultural orientation course is already included in your program.


BUNDLE A TEFL COURSE & SAVE

Bundle a TEFL Course & Save

If you’re not yet TEFL certified, consider bundling this in-person Korean Culture Course with our 11-week part-time or 4-week full-time Online TEFL Certification Courses.

Standard Tuition for this course is $919 $819 if you bundle. 

Benefits of bundling include:

  • Save Money! When you register for both a TEFL course and the in-person Korean Culture Course, you’ll save an additional $100. Existing students and alumni will also enjoy a $50 alumni discount on this course.
  • Combine award-winning TEFL training to prepare you for teaching English classroom with this exclusive orientation course to prepare you for your daily life outside of the classroom
  • Learn from the Best: Our In-Person Korean Culture Course is taught by a team of experts in the field of teaching in Korea and helping new teachers to navigate a truly cross-cultural experience.
  • If you take an ITA standard TEFL Certification Course, you will receive lifetime Job Search Guidance to help you gain employment teaching English in Korea and in 80 countries worldwide. 

Korean Culture Course Cost Comparison

With International TEFL Academy’s In-person Korean Culture Course in Incheon, South Korea, you can jump right into an expertly-curated introduction to Korean culture. You don't need to worry about the planning and logistics - we take care of that - and you'll save time and money. We're offering up to a 54% discount for International TEFL Academy students off the total cost of the included accommodations, lessons, and excursions.

 

 

Culture Course

Do-It-Yourself Cost

Total Cost

$919

$1,999

Pre-arrival online culture course

Included

$299

Accommodations in Incheon

Included

$300

In-Class Presentations 

   

Language

Included

$300

Culture & Politics

Included

$200

Placement

Included

$100

Road Safety

Included

$50

First Day of School

Included

$50

Diversity & Inclusion

Included

$50

Workshops

   

ESL Teaching

Included

$100

Navigating Culture Shock

Included

$75

Happy Teacher 

Included

$50

Cultural Activities, with Transport

   

Taekwondo Class

Included

$100

Cooking Class

Included

$100

Gyeongbokung Palace Tour & Traditional Dress

Included

$125

Korean War Museum

Included

$50

Welcome Dinner

Included

$50

Back To Top

Course Dates & Registration

IMPORTANT: Before enrolling, we strongly recommend that you are concurrently enrolled in an accredited TEFL certification, are already certified, or have experience teaching ESL. Not yet TEFL certified? Get in touch with us. You can bundle our TEFL certification course with this specialty course and save an additional $100. 

International TEFL Academy's Lifetime Job Guidance and support, access to our alumni community, and our high-quality accreditation are only available to students and alumni of our online and in-person standard TEFL certification courses.

We also invite you to read our registration procedure and terms & conditions. Note that all students will be charged a small processing fee per course/program purchased.

BUNDLE & SAVE: Get $100 OFF your culture course if you bundle with a standard TEFL course

 

The Preparation You Need to Succeed as an English Teacher in South Korea

Even the most experienced teachers and travelers face challenges when moving to a new country, including culture shock and even loneliness. That's why ITA offers this exclusive 1-week cultural orientation course in Incheon South Korea: to help you make the most of your teaching experience and to prepare you for a smooth transition to life in Korea. 

Gain the Tools You Need to Avoid Culture Shock

Learning basic Korean, making a core group of friends, and gaining a foundational understanding of Korean culture will help you avoid the culture shock many teachers experience when arriving in a new country. 

Learn from Experts

Our team has years of experience working in the Korean education system & helping new English teachers successfully acclimate to life in Korea. In addition, you will learn about Korean history, politics, culture, cuisine, and even taekwondo from local experts.

Better Prepare Yourself for the Classroom

Taking a week to acclimate to life in Korea and gaining in-depth knowledge about Korean culture, etiquette, language & values will help you relate to your students and better adjust to cultural differences you encounter in the classroom.

Ready Yourself for Daily Life in Korea

Going out for a meal. Shopping. Saying hello to your neighbor. Learning basic Korean and spending a week getting tips from experienced locals will make your transition to daily life in Korea so much smoother.

Download Culture Course Guide

Ask ITA's Director of Academics

Sarah Kalert, Head of Academics at International TEFL Academy.
Sarah has a Master's in English - TEFL/TESL and has taught English abroad in Chile.

Where will I stay during this one-week cultural orientation course in Korea?

Accommodations for the week-long duration of this course are included. You will stay in a double occupancy room shared with another participant. 

What visa will I use to attend this course in Incheon, South Korea?

This course is primarily designed for TEFL-certified English teachers who have definitive plans to teach English in South Korea. The vast majority of participants will have an E2 work visa sponsored by their employer in Korea prior to arriving in Korea.

I didn't get my TEFL certification or my Korea teaching job from ITA - can I still enroll in this Korean culture course?

YES. This 1-week course in Incheon, South Korea, is open to those planning to teach English in South Korea who have earned an accredited TEFL / TESOL certification from another TEFL course provider (ITA approval required); or those with other advanced credentials such as a college or university degree in TESOL.

Can I join this course with my friend or partner?

Yes!  If you are both planning to teach English in South Korea, you can definitely take this course with your friend(s) or partner/spouse.

Can I take this Korean Cultural Orientation Course at any time of the year?

Yes.  The course is offered and operates throughout the year. 

How far in advance do I need to enroll & save a place for my desired course date?

For this course, you need to enroll at least 30 days in advance in order to save your spot.

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