![]() caption: Chung Sang-ki, second from left, president of the National Institute for International Education (NIIED), Han Duck-su, third from left, the Korean ambassador to the U.S., and other officials pose to celebrate the signing of a memorandum of understanding with George Mason University on the promotion of the TaLK program, at the Korean Embassy in Washington D.C., Friday. From left are, Rhee Yoo-sang, a TaLK academic affairs advisor in the U.S.; Chung of NIIED; Amb. Han; Park Hyun-jung, TaLK team director; Chung Dong-su, PR manager of NIIED; and Kim Eung-gweon,education counselor at the Korean Embassy. / Courtesy of NIIED |
By Kang Shin-who
The National Institute for International Education (NIIED) has signed agreements with three U.S. universities to recruit American students to teach English at rural Korean schools.
It signed memorandums of understanding with George Mason University, the University of Northern Iowa, and the University of Iowa.
The NIIED is recruiting new “English volunteer” teachers among ethnic Koreans and foreign students for its 6th Teach and Learn in Korea (TaLK) program for the upcoming spring semester.The program, introduced last year, is drawing popularity among ethnic Koreans and foreign students.
To attract higher-quality students, NIIED is moving to signing deals with foreign universities.
“George Mason University is the 10th international school that has signed an agreement to publicize the TaLK program to their students.
The latest agreements will open the doors wider to more foreign students,” said Chung Sang-ki, president of NIIED, after signing the deal at the university.
Undergraduate students who are overseas Korean residents or native English speakers can apply for the program to teach English in after-school classes at elementary schools in rural areas.
For native English speaking students, they should have finished at least two years at university, while ethnic Korean students can apply for the program even if they are freshmen and sophomores.
They will be paid 1.5 million won ($1,200) a month along with free accommodation and round trip flight tickets.
On weekends, they can enjoy cultural programs. Applications should arrive by Dec. 10. For more information, visit www.talk.co.kr