Achiever of the week: Sinekhaya Nazo

      Jul 06, 2020 | By Nqobile Mdima 

This week’s feature is Sinekhaya Nazo from South Africa. Sinekhaya graduated from Rhodes University. She holds a BSS Degree in Politics & International Relations and Philosophy. She also holds a BSS Honours Degree in Philosophy. Sinekhaya is an ESL Teacher in South Korea under the EPIK Program (English Program in Korea). She moved to South Korea alone, managed to conquer challenges one faces when moving abroad and has been thriving as an expat working in South Korea.

Sinekhaya shares with us how one can qualify to teach English in South Korea, where to search for jobs and the pros and cons of living abroad.

What made you decide to teach English in South Korea?

After graduating with my Honours degree in 2018, I decided to go look for work and start being independent. Two months into the job seeking world, my mother got retrenched and there was no money coming in at home. We had enough to get through a year tops and suddenly I had a deadline as to when I’d have to have things figured out. With unemployment in South Africa being at an all-time high, months went by and there was no hope of me having a job that could support two people (my mom and I). I had a friend who had recently returned from teaching in Korea so I decided to reach out to her and hear if teaching English was an option for me. A few weeks later, I contacted a recruitment company and started the process.

Where can one apply for opportunities in your industry/school if they are interested to teach English in South Korea?

I personally used Cliff & Yunock from GoldKey Education. Of cause there are many other agencies that others have used but this is the only one I can vouch for. I got to Korea safely and I have a good contract and all labour laws have been followed in my employment. You can also apply directly with EPIK and not use an agency at all.

-http://goldkeyeducation.com/

-http://www.epik.go.kr/contents.do?contentsNo=56&menuNo=286

What are the requirements to legally teach English in South Korea? 

A bachelor’s degree, a Tefl/Tesol certicate , a police clearance certificate, a medical check-up, two letters of recommendation and proof of English Education.

What is the name of the visa required to legally teach in South Korea and how does one apply for it? What is the application process? 

 It’s called an E2 Visa. To apply for it, you just need to fill out an E2 Visa application form, submit your signed contract, two ID photos and contact details of your employer. I could be forgetting something else, if so all information should be available on the South Korean Embassy website.

How much should one budget when they move to South Korea?

Take enough money to last you for 31 days. You’ll need to cover your own groceries, transport money to work and buy basic home essentials. When I arrived I didn’t have a lot of money, infact I ran out of money 15 days in. I ate ramen everyday until my first pay check 15 days later. Bring as much money as you can. If you don’t have a lot of money, you can make it too if you hold tight and squeeze your butt cheeks for just a month (laughing). But seriously, bring as much as you can.

What do you do for fun after work in South Korea?

I’m more into having a more strict routine. On weekdays, I don’t go out for drinks or dinner. I just work and after work I go for a jog, go the park for a nice walk and relax at home. On weekends, I go on dates or meet up with friends for dinner or drinks. There are all kinds of other after work activities one can do in Korea depending on their personality type. There’s something for everyone.

Please list 3 advantages and 3 disadvantages of living in South Korea 

Advantages

•Good salary and fair labour laws to protect your rights.

•Fast online delivery! Coupang is the Korean Amazon and can fast ship anything you need right to your door in just one day.

•The stores open till late at night and that’s very convenient.

Disadvantages

•You are far from your family.

•You can sometimes feel isolated and lonely.

•It is difficult to be black in Korea. Korean society has advanced quickly in technology but it is a homogenous society and with that comes problematic ideas about the “other”.

What would you recommend as the best hacks for surviving in South Korea as an expat? 

Translation apps are your best friend! Use “Papago” and “google translate” to help you communicate with people. Always use short sentences on the apps for more accurate translations.