North Korean university seeks English teacher

The private North Korean university is looking for “an energetic, responsible and wellqualified professional teacher with relevant English teaching experience” according to the job offer posted on Hey Success, a British requirement website. 

Applicants must also have a Master’s degree in any subject, as well as “at least one year’s classroom English teaching experience at the high school, college or university level.” English teaching qualifications like TEFL/ CELTA/ TESOL are also preferred. Interestingly, most of the eligible candidates' origin countries are nonEnglish speaking ones like Argentina, China and Cambodia.

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The university is also looking specifically for someone with a “longterm” mindset who will be willing to stay in North Korea for several years, and who will be able to “commit to an entire 15week semester.”

The offer does not mention benefits or salary, but previous English teachers in the “hermit country” have had to pay a US$1,000 fee that "covers a return air ticket from Beijing to Pyongyang," as well as "a North Korean visa, weekend excursions around the country, all meals and threestar hotel accommodation,” as reported by Sputnik News. 

The listing reminds applicants that “due to the nature of the work and campusbased lifestyle, candidates should also be willing to work as part of a team, submit to authority, and exercise flexibility, crosscultural sensitivity and perseverance.”