There are multiple companies set up to help you teach English online to Korean students. Different schools will have different requirements and rates of pay. The best one for you may vary depending on your circumstances, but we offered our own rating which can be helpful when making your ultimate decision.
Our top recommendation is Nil English, which has flexible hours and pays more based on experience.
See which places made our list of the 25 Best Companies to Teach English Online in 2023.
Basic Requirements to Teach English Online to Koreans
- 10+ Mbps download and upload speed
- A noise-cancelling headset
- A decent laptop or desktop & webcam
- Good English proficiency
- 120 hour TEFL
Top Companies to Teach English Online to Korean Students
Nil English
5/5 Stars
Nil English is a South Korean company that hires American teachers. They’re a great choice due to their flexibility. Classes run at any time from 6 AM to 12 AM, so you can pick your hours based on your schedule.
You’re paid for every 10 minutes of teaching, with a 10 percent attendance bonus on top. After three months, the pay increases. At six months, the pay increases again. You can teach 10, 20, 30, or 60 minute classes. Students range in age from 5 years old to adulthood.
- Requirements: No certificate required, but must be American
- Rate: $8.25 to $15 per hour based on experience
- Class Times: Classes anywhere from 6 AM to midnight
- Minimum Weekly Hours: 10 hours/week
English Hunt
4.5/5 Stars
English Hunt offers video and phone programs. The phone programs have no requirements, but the video programs require a 4-year degree and teaching certification. You will need to commit to teaching a class at specific hours throughout the year. Classes run from August to December and March to July.
Shifts usually occur during the afternoon in Korea, which might be anywhere from 4 AM to 7 AM EST. Teachers must be United States citizens, but they can teach while living abroad.
- Requirements: Teaching certification and 4-year degree for video programs; no certificate needed for phone programs
- Rate: $14.50 per hour
- Class Times: 4 AM to 7 AM EST
- Minimum Weekly Hours: 8 hours/week
Tutoring Go
3.5/5 Stars
Tutoring Go is a company that allows students to speak English 1-on-1 with tutors at any time of day. As such, the hours are extremely flexible. You will get the best results if you log on during peak hours.
Classes are offered to Korean children and adults. When applying for a native English position, the company prefers that you be from an English-speaking country like the US, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK, or Australia.
- Requirements: Must be 22 years or older with 2+ years of teaching experience
- Rate: $10 to $14 per hour
- Class Times: Flexible class times
- Minimum Weekly Hours: 1 hour/week
Cafe Talk
4.5/5 Stars
Cafe Talk uses Skype’s free telephone and video service to run its platform. Tutors are hired from all over the globe to give students one-on-one language lessons. The application process is simple: registering and applying is free, and then you simply fill out your profile and do a short interview.
This system allows for easy lesson management by doing all of your timezone conversions for you. The website is also available in English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Italian. If you want to teach students from other backgrounds in addition to Korean, this is a great place to start.
- Requirements: Bachelor’s degree or above required
- Rate: $8 to $25 per hour
- Class Times: 9 AM to midnight
- Minimum Weekly Hours: 2 hours/week
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Interested in teaching IN South Korea? Check out our guide here for teaching English in South Korea in 2023
Zik Talk
3.5/5 Stars
Zik Talk is a mobile app that’s meant to help users learn English on-the-go. The majority of the user base is Korean. Both native and non-native English speakers may be hired. You will be encouraged to upload educational videos to bring students to your practice. You will also need to leave feedback and ratings for your students.
Since you’ll need to work at least 20 hours a week, you must have a relatively open schedule. This is one of the best choices for people who don’t have a degree or certification. Your application will, however, be given preference if you have a TEFL certificate and at least one year of teaching experience.
- Requirements: No certification or degree required, 1+ year of teaching experience preferred
- Rate: $10 to $15 per hour
- Class Times: 9 AM to 6 PM
- Minimum Weekly Hours: 20 hours/week
Skybel
4/5 Stars
Skybel is designed for students who want to pass the International English Language Test. If you can teach students how to pass this test, the pay is anywhere from $15 to $20 an hour. The company prefers teachers who can teach with a British accent, but this isn’t a strict requirement.
It’s important that you be familiar with teaching the IELTS test. You need to teach your students how to pass the speaking portion. You must have at least one year of prior teaching experience, ideally with teaching IELTS or teaching business English.
- Requirements: Bachelor’s degree and 1+ year of teaching experience, British accent preferred
- Rate: $15 to $20 per hour
- Class Times: 9 AM to 9 PM
- Minimum Weekly Hours: 10 hours/week
Engliphone
4.5/5 Stars
Engliphone functions using a PC app, so it’s not the best choice for people who work with a Mac or smartphone for teaching English online to Korean students. The company mostly seeks native English speakers with a neutral American or Canadian accent. One of the key advantages of this company is that they have a flat rate of $13.50 per hour, so you’re guaranteed the same pay regardless of experience.
Right now, the company is expanding its clientele. This is an ideal job for anyone looking to tap into a large market of Korean speakers.
- Requirements: No certification, degree, or years of experience required
- Rate: $13.50 per hour
- Class Times: 9 AM to 9 PM
- Minimum Weekly Hours: 15 hours/week
Global VCC
3/5 Stars
Global VCC pays between $15 and $17 per hour, with students from the ages of 5 to 18. The hours are relatively limited, lasting from about 6 PM to 12 AM EST. The website must also be accessed through a PC computer on the Internet Explorer browser, which can make navigation frustrating.
You must have a college degree, though you may be considered if you’re currently a college student. A certification is also required. English speakers with a native North American accent are preferred.
- Requirements: Associates degree or higher required
- Rate: $15 to $17 per hour
- Class Times: 6 PM to 12 AM
- Minimum Weekly Hours: 10 hour/week
GMNY
4/5 Stars
GMNY is a global educational company that provides you with everything you need to teach your classes. Equipment is offered for free. Most students are between the ages of 19 and 50. Around 20 percent of students are in middle school or high school.
The goal of the company is to help students with their English communication skills. Many students have a good grasp on English vocab but haven’t spoken much English one-on-one. There are never any fees for technology or training, which is a huge plus.
- Requirements: Bachelor’s degree, with past teaching experience preferred; must reside in US
- Rate: $12 to $15 per hour
- Class Times: Flexible class times
- Minimum Weekly Hours: 1 hour/week
Carrot Global
4.5/5 Stars
Carrot Global is a South Korean company that offers a variety of services and websites for South Korean people who want to learn English. Your application will be given extra consideration if you have a TEFL certificate, but this isn’t a requirement. Speakers with North American accents are preferred to teach English online to Korean students.
The company prefers that teachers use a wired internet connection rather than Wi-Fi, as this provides a more stable connection. You do need to be available at least five days per week, and there is a 15 hour weekly minimum requirement. This is a good option if you’re willing to make a scheduling commitment.
- Requirements: Bachelor’s degree required
- Rate: $13 to $17 per hour
- Class Times: 6 AM to 6 PM
- Minimum Weekly Hours: 15 hours/week
Global LT English
5/5 Stars
Global LT English is an international company with offices in the US, the UK, China, and Hong Kong. The company was founded in 1979 and is an international language training provider. They also offer translation services. The focus is on teaching English to business professionals in a variety of other countries, including China and Korea.
Because this is such a high-quality company, and because the clientele are business professionals, you will be expected to have a Master’s degree. You should also have several years of teaching experience. Class scheduling is very flexible, and the pay is high. This is among some of the highest paying companies to teach English online to Korean students.
- Requirements: Master’s degree and 3+ years of experience required
- Rate: $23 per hour for the first year, $25 per hour after that
- Class Times: 6 AM to 3 AM
- Minimum Weekly Hours: 15 hours/week
Ringle
4.5/5 Stars
Ringle provides one-on-one English language sessions. It is one of the most flexible options on the list. You can work from home and choose your scheduling hours, so you don’t need to make any huge commitments. You also have the opportunity to network with other tutors and students.
Another helpful feature is the Ringle packet. Ringle packets are pre-made lesson plans that allow you to teach without worrying about creating your own curriculum, making this one of the easiest companies to teach English online to Korean students. This helps to standardize the instruction while taking the burden off of you. If you’d prefer not to create your own lesson plans, this is a great place to start.
- Requirements: College degree required
- Rate: $15 to $16 per hour
- Class Times: Flexible class times
- Minimum Weekly Hours: No minimum hourly requirement
Spicus
3/5 Stars
Spicus is a company with centers in the US and Korea. It focuses exclusively on teaching Korean students how to speak English. Classes are offered to individuals, schools and universities, business executives, and government officials. The pay will vary depending on the type of class you teach.
This is a good option for people who want to teach without having prior experience or a degree. You don’t need any special certification. However, the pay will be lower for people who don’t have professional qualifications.
- Requirements: No degree, experience, or certification required
- Rate: $9 to $13 per hour
- Class Times: 6 AM to 9 PM
- Minimum Weekly Hours: 20 hours/week
Pagoda Talkool
3.5 Stars
Pagoda Talkool isn’t the most easily-accessible company. They don’t have an English language website available, so you’ll likely need to use translation tools to navigate the website.
A bachelor’s degree is preferred. The company will hire English speakers from the US and South Africa.
- Requirements: Bachelor’s degree preferred
- Rate: $14 to $15 per hour
- Class Times: Flexible class times
- Minimum Weekly Hours: No minimum hourly requirement
Nao Now
4.5/5 Stars
Nao Now is an online 1-on-1 and small group English language platform. Their program teaches English through an engaging topic-based curriculum focused on American cultural topics such as the science behind Steph Curry’s basketball shot and the Statue of Liberty.
Nao Now hires college students and recent college grads from American universities. They have a pre-designed curriculum, so minimal prep work is required. Their students are primarily located in South Korea. No prior teaching experience is required.
- Requirements: Native English speaker, enthusiastic.
- Rate: $18-$26/hour
- Class Times: Flexible
- Minimum Weekly Hours: no minimum hourly requirement
BOK Tutors
4.5/5 Stars
Bok Tutors is a tutoring business that teaches multiple languages in addition to English. English lessons are their main area of focus. You must be a native English speaker to apply and have at least a bachelor’s degree.
Students are on the younger side, ranging from 5 to 18 years of age. If you want to teach schoolchildren, this is a good choice. If you’d prefer to work with adults, though, you might want to seek a different company.
- Requirements: Bachelor’s degree with 1+ year of experience required
- Rate: $13 to $18 per hour
- Class Times: 6 AM to 12 AM
- Minimum Weekly Hours: 12 hours/week
Other Companies to Teach English Online
Instead of teaching English online to Korean students, many people choose to work for Chinese online ESL companies. For more companies, check out our guide of the 21 Best Companies to Teach English to Chinese Students. They may have more navigable platforms, higher rates of pay, and more flexible teaching requirements. Here are some popular companies that are consistently hiring new teachers for online English classes:
VIPKID
VIPKID is an ESL teaching company headquartered in Beijing. The curriculum is already created for you, with lessons tailored toward critical thinking and creativity.
- Requirements: Bachelor’s degree required
- Rate: $14 to $22 per hour
- Class Times: 6 PM to 12 AM (Read more on VIPKID Hours)
- Minimum Weekly Hours: 7.5 hours/week
Magic Ears
Magic Ears is an ESL platform built for young students. You’ll be teaching children between the ages of 4 and 12. The company focuses on long-term growth, fluency, and language skills.
- Requirements: Bachelor’s degree with 1+ year of experience
- Rate: $12 to $26 per hour
- Class TImes: 6 PM to 9 PM
- Minimum Weekly Hours: 1.5 hours/week
Dada ABC
Dada ABC is a China-based company that has partnered with the TESOL Institute. It allows Chinese students to access on-demand English lessons. Students are anywhere from 4 to 16 years of age.
- Requirements: Bachelor’s degree, certification, and 2+ years of experience
- Rate: $14 to $25 per hour
- Class Times: 6 PM to 9 PM
- Minimum Weekly Hours: 6 hours/week
Tips for Teaching English Online to Koreans
Be Prepared
Always make sure you’re ready for the lesson ahead-of-time. Some companies like Ringle offer ready-made lesson plans, so you don’t need to create your own. Others have pay bonuses for creating your own lesson plans. Regardless of whether you create your own lesson plan or teach what is given to you, it still helps to preview lesson content before class so that you are familiar with the content.
Learn About Korean Culture
It helps to learn about Korean culture, even if you are not actually in Korea. This will allow you to interact respectfully with your students, and it will make communication much easier and more enjoyable for your students. This can simply be a quick “google” search on popular K-pop stars, Korean dishes, or major cities in Korea.
Have Props Ready
Props are a great way to supplement your lessons. You can use them to illustrate concepts and vocabulary. Sometimes props are offered by the company or you can easily bring your own to class using items you likely already have lying around in your house.
Be Positive
A positive attitude is the best way to encourage your students and enjoy your own job. Students thrive off the energy of the teacher, so it’s important to come to class excited and motivated.
Have Constructive Feedback
Sometimes it can be helpful for you to give real-time constructive feedback to students during class. Always be sure to let a student finish speaking before you offer actionable tips for improvement to the student.
Common Language Problems to Expect when Teaching English to Koreans
Pronunciation
Pronunciation can be difficult because English uses very different phonemes than Korean.
Korean students often swap different consonant sounds, and they may add extra vowels to words. It doesn’t help that some English consonants don’t even exist in the Korean language, so students might have a hard time hearing them.
In addition, the Korean language doesn’t have multiple consonants side-by-side. Students might add vowels to words with several consonants in a row.
Simply being able to expect these problems can go a long way in helping to correct these pronunciation problems unique to teaching English to Korean students.
Speaking Directly
Students in Korean schools tend to learn English from a young age, but they don’t often have a chance to speak directly to their teachers in one-on-one conversations.
Because of this, you might find that when you teach English online to Korean students, they have a very strong grasp on grammar and spelling, but they struggle to interact with you aloud. Remaining open and avoiding criticisms during the class can help students to feel more confident speaking to the teacher.
Grammar and Sentence Structuring
English and Korean languages use very different sentence structures and grammar. Korean sentences are structured with the subject, object, and verb. English sentences are structured with the subject, verb, and then the object.
Don’t be surprised if your Korean students make these grammar mistakes often, especially when they’re still beginners to the English language.
In addition, Korean verbs are conjugated differently from English ones. A Korean verb does not need to be conjugated based on the subject. Again, knowing why students make these mistakes can be helpful in correcting their grammar in the future as well as preparing lesson plans that address these concepts specifically.
You can see here for a more detailed catalogue of errors made by Korean students learning English.
Conclusion
If you want to teach English online to Korean students, there are many avenues available. Different companies will offer different rates of pay, hours, class times, and opportunities.
Most places will require you to have a TEFL certification, and the companies with few requirements such as a TEFL or bachelor’s degree are likely to have lower rates of pay.
We hope we have shared with you an option for teaching English online to Korean students that you are happy with! Have you worked for any of these online ESL companies? Let us know your experience in the comments below!
