As promised, this week I will be talking about how I got into the TaLK program! I first heard about Teach and Learn in Korea (TaLK) when I took an extra curricular course on learning how to speak and write the Korean language during my first year of university. Two of the girls in my group at the time were planning to do this program of teaching English to elementary school students in South Korea. I was very curious when I first heard them talk about it, but didn’t think I will have the opportunity to do the program.
Fast-forward to a few years later, I was searching for my first Co-op position and an email was sent to me by SFU International Co-op program looking for students who were interested in applying for TaLK. The program was recommended to anyone who was interested in gaining invaluable cultural experience and knowledge of South Korea. There was an info session coming up and I decided to attend. I was able to learn more about the application process for the Spring 2017 intake of the TaLK program. A past Co-op TaLK ambassador led the info session, and told us all about her experience. She gave us very knowledgeable information and answered all our questions. After the info session was over, I decided I was going to apply and see what happens.
A week or so after I applied through SFU Co-op, I was shortlisted for an interview! During this time period, I was actually very conflicted on whether I should pursue my dream of going to teach in Korea or stay in Vancouver and look for a different Co-op. I was always afraid of change and felt to a point that things wouldn’t be the same anymore once I left. I didn’t want to leave my friends, family and loved ones. Change was so hard for me, but I knew I had to gain new experience, so I made the toughest decision of my life – I decided I will go Korea to teach! The next section will describe in more details of the application and interview process:
The Process
Interview 1 – Group Interview
The first interview took place at Simon Fraser University. It was a group interview with 3 interviewees and 3 interviewers. The interview committee rotated between asking us different questions. Some of the questions included why we decided to do this program, our experiences working with children, strengths and weaknesses, as well as situational questions asking us how we would deal with classroom issues. The second part of our interview consisted of designing a group lesson plan and teaching the lesson to our interviewers. The interview went smoothly and I passed and was nominated to the TaLK program with conditional acceptance. The second part of the process was the required documentation and steps I had to complete, which I will list below:
Step 1
Respond by e-mail to International Co-op advisor to re-confirm your interest in accepting the nomination to move forward with your application.
Step 2
Complete and submit (to MBC 1150) the following forms found on the TaLK Website:
1) A signed, hard copy of Application A and B
- Application A – includes Application Profile & Photo
- Application B – includes Self Medical Assessment, Personal Essay & Letter of Pledge
2) A lesson plan
3) 2 recommendation letters
4) A sealed, official school transcript
5) An Apostilled, criminal record check
- NOTE: Applicants must also have their CRCs notarized at the nearest Korean Embassies/Consulates.
6) A signed letter of pledge
7) A copy of your passport photo page
Interview 2 – Online Skype Interview
After my application documents were submitted, I received another email to set up a Skype interview with the program coordinator at the Head Talk office. It was an interview with different questions about background and ability to adjust in a new environment, understanding Korean culture, teaching strategies, situational classroom questions and more. I was granted to full acceptance after I passed the interview and all my documents were received. The next step was receiving the acceptance package and applying for our Visa as soon as possible. We had the choice to do either a 6-month or 1-year contract. Every TaLK scholar is required to enter Korea with a Visa. This specific visa is called the E2-2 Visa. When applying for the Visa, ensure you notify your Korean Consulate/Embassy that you are coming through the TaLK Program specifically, as the TaLK application process differs from all other application processes. Here is a link for an overview of the application timeline.
Pre-departure Session
Finally, since I applied through the SFU International Co-op program, I was lucky enough to be able to meet with all the other Co-op students that also got accepted to the program! I was able to make friends in the beginning of my journey and I was so grateful to have such an amazing opportunity to do this program. I would love to help and answer any questions about the application process, so please comment or send me an email inquiry!
Scroll below for more pictures 🙂
Have you heard of TaLK Korea? 🙂
