TaLK Application
Fall 2011 Term Guidelines
1. Application Procedures
※ The following dates are subject to change. Refer to the TaLK Web site (www.talk.go.kr) for updates.
(1) On-line Application
- Go to the TaLK Web site and click on the “Apply Now” menu.
- Submit the following documents on-line through the TaLK Web site.
① Application A
 Name – enter name as printed on your passport.
 Passport – enter the information of your current passport. If you do not have a
current
passport,
leave
this
part
blank
and
inform
us
via
e-mail
(talkkorea@gmail.com) once you receive a new passport.
 Permanent Residency – enter name of the country of which you have permanent
residency. If you have citizenship or temporary residency, leave it unchecked.
 Korean Heritage – if your parents or grandparents (inclusive of half Korean or
adoptees) are Korean, click “Yes.”
 Dual/Multiple Citizenship – If you do not have Korean heritage, ignore this section.
Korean Nationality is automatically granted regardless of your birthplace if your
father was holding Korean Nationality at the time of your birth.
If you hold Korean citizenship as well as citizenship of the country of your residence,
indicate you have dual citizenship. Be sure to read “Appendix-Guidelines for Korean
nationality Status Check” before you proceed with the application.
 Contact Information and Emergency Contact – it is important that you inform us of your current
information. If you do not, your Application A will be considered incomplete and will not be
further reviewed. For emergency contacts, relatives are preferred.
 Education – it is a requirement that you inform us of your education history,
beginning with elementary school as part of the TaLK application.
 Work Experience/Training Courses – provide us with the three (3) most recent
experiences/courses that may help you as a TaLK scholar.
 Contract Term – you must select one option.
 Joint Application – if you are applying with someone, you must write down the other
person’s name for our records (and vice versa). If you are applying independently,
this section does not apply to you so disregard this section and continue with the
application.
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 Relatives in Korea – if you have relatives in Korea, inform us here.
 Korean speaking level – your current proficiency in spoken Korean has no influence
on the final decision of your application; however, it influences the final location
placement (within the province) and the buddy system.
 How did you hear about TaLK? – this helps us with future marketing/PR. If you heard
this through a friend who used to be a TaLK scholar, let us know his/her name.
 Signature – after uploading your online application, print your Application A and sign
it. You will submit this hard copy with the rest of your application documents.
② Application B (Personal Medical Assessment & Personal Essay)
 Last visit to the physician – we expect you to answer this question, even if you do
not remember the specific date of your last visit to the doctor.
 Physical measurements – measurements in Korea follow the metric system
(centimeters, kilograms).
 Signature and Date – enter your name and date when uploading your online
application with your essay. We will require a printed/hand-written signature on the
Personal Medical Assessment form. You will submit this with the rest of your hard
copy documents.
 Personal Essay – this is your cover letter, which should tell us exactly why you are
applying to the TaLK Program. (Hint: a one-paragraph essay will not qualify you for
an interview.)
 Doctor’s Note – this is only required if requested.
③ A Photo
 This is a headshot photo for your profile and should resemble a passport photo.
Should you be a successful applicant, this photo will be used to create your personal
TaLK Identification Card.
(2) Interview & Submission of Required Documents
-Complete an interview.
-Submit all the required documents (①~⑩ as stated below) to the Korean
Embassy/Consulate by the deadline set by your application office.
※ Refer to the TaLK Web site (www.talk.go.kr) for detailed information on how to prepare the
following documents.
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① A completed Application A form
※ A passport-type headshot photo must be attached in JPEG format. Submit a printed
Application A with your signature at the bottom of the form. You may either submit this at
the in-person interview or mail with documents.
② A completed Application B form (a personal medical assessment & a personal essay)
※Submit a printed Application B (self-evaluation medical) with applicant's signature at the
bottom of the form at the in-person interview or mail with documents. Unless you have
indicated “Yes” on any item, no additional doctor’s note is necessary.
③ A lesson plan
※ Download the prescribed form from the TaLK Web site.
We prefer the lesson plan to be typed/printed, over hand-written. The lesson plan is open
to your imagination. If you have not put a lesson plan together before, we expect you to
do some research on putting one together. We expect at least a 2 page lesson plan for a
40-minute lesson plan for an after-school class for elementary school students. Select a
grade/no of students of your choosing and consider their English level.
④ A sealed transcript
If you are applying at the last semester of second year of the four(4)-year degree program
or graduating term at the community college, the final copy of your transcript must be
submitted again.
⑤ Two signed and sealed recommendation letters
※ Download the prescribed form from the TaLK Web site.
We do not accept recommendation letters from friends or family members.
Recommenders are to seal their recommendation letters in an envelope where their
signature is across the opening flap of the envelope.
⑥ A signed Letter of Pledge
※ This document is for informational use only and does not replace the actual Criminal
Record Check.
⑦ A national-level Criminal Record Check (CRC)
- U.S. applicants must submit an FBI fingerprint CRC:
http://www.fbi.gov/hq/cjisd/fprequest.htm
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**An Apostilled, state-level criminal record check applies only to U.S. & Australian
applicants who have been residing in the same state since high school.
- Under the International Apostille Agreement, applicants can obtain the Apostille stamp
from designated authorities: http://www.apostilleinfo.com
**All applicants in Canada must get their CRCs notarized at the nearest Korean
Embassy/Consulate.
- CRC must be issued within six(6) months from the application submission date.
※For prospective U.S. & Australian TaLK applicants who have been residing in the same
state since high school until the time of application, an Apostilled, state-level CRC can
replace the Apostilled, nationwide CRC. If the applicant has resided in more than one
state, he or she must either submit an Apostilled, nationwide CRC or retrieve Apostilled
CRCs from each state in which he or she has resided. Applicants intending to stay in the
TaLK Program (or other) for more than one(1) year, you will be required to submit an
Apostilled, nationwide CRC before your first year is completed.
⑧ A copy of your passport photo page
-If you do not have a current passport at this time, submit a copy once you receive it in
JPEG format to talkkorea@gmail.com
⑨ A copy of Permanent Residency (for Korean Nationals)
⑩ Middle and high school transcripts (for Korean Nationals who intend to obtain permanent
residency)
(3) Notification of Final Acceptance Decision
-You will receive a notice of the TaLK Office’s final acceptance decision two(2) to three(3)
weeks after your application has been forwarded to the head TaLK Office in Seoul.
-Check the final admission decision on the TaLK Web site.
(Go to "Login to My Page" at the top right corner → Click "Status of Application")
(4) Confirmation of Acceptance of Scholarship
-Confirm the acceptance of the TaLK scholarship after checking your contract in your
admission package.
-The admission package, which includes an invitation letter and a contract (both PDF files),
will be e-mailed to successful applicants one(1) week after receiving a notification of the
application result.
(Go to "Login to My Page" → Click "Status of Application"→ Click "Yes")
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(5) Visa Application at the Korean Embassy/Consulate: by July 29th
(6) Purchase of (or accept from TaLK) an Airline Ticket: by July 29th
(7) Arrival in Korea: August 5th – 7th
-If you arrive in Korea on one of the designated arrival dates, the TaLK Office will provide
transportation to the orientation venue.
(8) Participation in the TaLK Orientation: August 8th – 25t
-Adjust to Korea/time zone
-Theories & practices concerning English teaching methodology & classroom management
(9) Participation in the POE Orientation: February 25th – 30th
-Adjust to the province placement, meeting with the Provincial Office of Education (POE)
Supervisor and the school principal/teacher
-School placement and arrangement of accommodation
(10) Placement in the school: August 30th
-Adjust to the final placement, school & accommodation.
(11) Start of work: September 1st
2. Visa Eligibility Check Before Application
★ In general, applicants with less than two(2) years of university education as of July
2011 are not eligible for this term. Please apply when eligible for the E-2 visa.
★ Overseas Koreans (inclusive of half Koreans or Adoptees) with less than two(2)
years of university education as of July 2011 must inquire about their qualifications
for the F-4 visa at the Korean Consulate/Embassy before proceeding with their
application.
★ Overseas Koreans who were born on or after May 5, 1988 and whose father was
holding a Korean citizenship at the time of their birth may not be eligible for a visa
because they may be a dual/multiple citizen. For more details, see the Appendix
“Guidelines for Korean Nationality Status Check” on the last page.
3. Official Medical Examination (after arrival in Korea)
★ All TaLK Scholars will undergo a medical examination in Korea including a physical
examination, a blood test, a chest X-ray, etc.
During the orientation, TaLK Scholars will
be taken to the designated hospitals to take a medical examination, the cost of which will
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be supported by the Korean Government.
★ If a TaLK Scholar is found to have taken illegal drugs or is infected with HIV and/or
any contagious diseases, the contract will be cancelled and s/he must return to
his/her home country. In this case, any or all expenses for entry, departure, or stay in
Korea, including medical fees, must be paid by the TaLK Scholar.
4. How to Receive Tax Exemption
(1) Eligibility: All TaLK Scholars except those with Canadian citizenship
All TaLK scholars are eligible for income tax exemption for the first two(2) years of
employment in Korea. Canadian citizens are not eligible for this benefit as there is no tax
treaty between Korea and Canada.
* If you have previously worked for more than two(2) years in Korea, you will not be
eligible for this exemption.
(2) Required Documents
In order to claim tax exemption, you are required to submit to your school a copy of your
"Certificate of Residency" (a government-certified document that confirms the status of
your legal residency in your country). This can be obtained from the tax revenue authority
in your country or online, after being placed in your school.
▷ Issued from the jurisdictional taxation department in your home country
▷ Submit to your elementary school in Korea
▷ Korean National Tax Service Web site: http://www.nts.go.kr/eng
* If you do not know the school at which you will be working at the time that you apply
for your Certificate of Residency, you can enter the information of your Provincial Office
of Education (POE) as your employer. The mailing address is on the TaLK Web site
(under “About TaLK” → “Program Details” → "Placement"). Have this document mailed
to you so you can submit it in-person to your elementary school.
5. Military Service
A male applicant who has a dual citizenship or is a Korean citizen with permanent
residency in his residing country must make sure that the military service issue will not
interfere with his activity as a TaLK Scholar.
A male applicant with permanent resident status in his country of residence has the
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possibility of being drafted into Korean military service if his stay in Korea exceeds six(6)
months. If this applies to you, you must choose the six(6)-month contract and will not
be eligible for the scholarship extension. Be aware that your stay in Korea before and
after the scholarship period will count towards the six(6)-month limit as well. This
may also apply to male applicants with dual citizenship, entering Korea using a Korean
passport.
6. Re-entry Permit
If a TaLK Scholar is planning to stay in Korea for more than twelve(12) months and is a
permanent resident of a country where there are regulations against staying abroad, (i.e.,
USA) make sure to receive a re-entry permit before leaving your country of residence.
For more information, please visit the following web sites:
http://www.uscis.gov/, http://www.dhs.gov/
7. Visa Issuance
(1) Please ensure that you are in possession of an E2-2, F-4, or F-2 visa prior to arrival
in Korea. You cannot attend the TaLK Orientation, nor work in Korea, without an E2-2,
F-4, or F-2 visa.
(2) To apply for an E2-2 visa at the Korean Embassy/Consulate, the following items are
required: a letter of invitation, your signed contract, your passport, visa application fee and
two(2) passport-sized photos.
*In some cases, you may be required to provide additional documents. Be sure to check
with the Korean Embassy/Consulate where you will be applying for your visa. Inform the
Korean Embassy/Consulate that you are a successful TaLK applicant.
(3) To apply for an F-4 or F-2 visa, inquire at your Korean Embassy/Consulate for
information on application procedures and required documents.
Information on obtaining a visa
There are two(2) types of visas that you can apply for to participate as a
TaLK Scholar.
1) If you are a foreigner or overseas Korean with two(2) or more years of
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college/university education:
- E2-2 Visa (Foreign Language Teaching)
2) If you are an overseas Korean:
- F-4 Visa (Overseas Koreans)
If you are an overseas Korean with two(2) or more years of university
education, we recommend that you apply for the E2-2 Visa.
※NOTICE: If you are an overseas Korean in your first or second year
of university, you MUST apply for the F-4 visa.
※Applicants who applied at the Seoul TaLK Office and wish to change the status of
their visa, must contact the Seoul TaLK Office for additional information.
8. Contact Information (TaLK Office in Seoul, Korea )
Tel: 82-2-3668-1399/1387 (dialing from outside of Korea)
* If you are in Seoul, dial 3668-1399/1387
* If you are in Korea but not in Seoul, dial 02-3668-1399/1387
E-mail: talkkorea@gmail.com
Fax: 82-2-764-1328
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[Appendix]
Guidelines for Korean Nationality Status Check
IMPORTANT: Make sure to first consult the Korean Embassy/Consulate in the
country of your residence to verify whether your birth is registered in
your Korean Family Census Registry ("Hojuk Deungbon" 호적등본).
Unless you have filed a Nationality Renunciation Report, you are a dual/multiple
citizen if:
(1) the date of your birth indicated on your passport is before June 14, 1998, AND
(2) your father was holding a Korean citizenship on the date of your birth with or
without Permanent Residency in the seven(7) designated English-speaking
countries: Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, U.K. and U.S.
[Exception] If the date of birth indicated on your passport lands on or is before
May 24, 1983 (for males)/ May 4, 1988 (for females), AND your birth
is NOT registered in your Korean Family Census Registry (“Hojuk
Deungbon” 호적등본) then your Korean Nationality has been
renounced and thus you are not a dual/multiple citizen.
>> If you are a dual/multiple citizen based on the criteria provided above, you
must either enter Korea on your Korean passport, or obtain the F4 visa by
filing a Nationality Renunciation Report at the Korean Embassy or Consulate in
the country of your residence.
[Exception] If you are an overseas Korean male whose birth is NOT
registered in your Korean Family Census Registry, AND the date
of your birth indicated on your passport lands on or is between May
25, 1983 and May 4, 1988, you will not be able to renounce your
Korean Nationality, although you are still eligible to apply for the
F4 visa.
>> If you do not hold Korean Nationality based on the criteria provided above,
then you can choose to apply for the E2-2 or the F4 visa. **The F4 visa is
required if you are in your 1st or 2nd year of undergraduate study.
>> If you are a dual/multiple citizen based on the criteria provided above, yet
NOT eligible to apply for the E2-2 or the F4 visa, you are advised to enter
Korea on your Korean passport after registering your birth in your Korean
Family Census Registry. Once you arrive in Korea, you must register as a
Korean citizen by applying for a Korean Identification Card (주민등록증, “Jumin
Deungnok Jeung").
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