Teach and Learn in Korea (TaLK) is a Korean Government scholarship program that began in April 2008 under the direction of South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak. The program is designed to support public English education in rural areas of Korea, where the opportunity to meet a native English speaker is rare and educational resources are limited.

The program’s main objective is to invite and train native English teachers and overseas Koreans to teach practical English in after-school classes at rural elementary schools. Participants of the program, known as TaLK scholars, are given the opportunity for personal and professional enrichment through the duties & responsibilities set forth by the Korean Government.

The Award

The TaLK Program funds 300 TaLK Scholars each semester to teach conversational English in rural Korean elementary schools. The program provides a 1-month orientation for the TaLK Scholars in addition to round-trip airfare, a settling-in allowance, a monthly living stipend of approximately $1,300, health insurance and organized trips to historical locations in Korea.

As English instructors, TaLK scholars will create original lesson plans for varying grade levels (i.e., first through sixth), and teach in the classroom with a Korean university student. As explorers fulfilling the “learning” part of the program’s mission, TaLK scholars are encouraged to travel around Korea to learn about the history, culture, language and people.

Eligibility

To be considered for this program, applicants must:

Be a citizen where the national language is English: (Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, the UK, or USA) Check website guidelines on eligibility for overseas Koreans
Be enrolled in a Bachelor’s program and have completed at least 2 years of undergraduate study, or be a recent college graduate (four-year or Associate’s degree) or graduate student
Have a strong command of spoken and written English, sharp communication skills, be adaptable to new environments, and must carry themselves maturely and professionally regardless of the situation, location, or people present

The Application

In order to apply to the program, applicants must complete and submit all forms and required documents in an organized and timely manner, and undergo a series of interviews and application reviews by the Korean Embassy/Consulate, and/or the Seoul TaLK Office.

More information and the online application can be found on the official website listed at the top of this page.

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