Live with a family in South Korea.
Everything you need to know about the English Companion Program — the family, the money and the visa. The program is paused for now and isn’t taking applications. Jump to any section, or just scroll.
The Companion Program, the short version.
What’s included. A guaranteed family placement, the online Korean culture course, a 3-day in-country orientation, 4 nights’ accommodation and airport pickup, full visa guidance and a 24/7 support line.
Paused for now — not taking applications or deposits.
Live with a Korean family.
Help their kids
speak English.
A guaranteed family placement in South Korea — no degree, no TEFL, no teaching experience needed.
This program is paused for now.
We’re not taking applications or deposits for the English Companion Program at the moment, and we don’t have a date for when it will open again. This guide stays up so you can see how the program works — please don’t plan around the dates in it.
Still want Korea? Our Education Assistant Program is open and needs no degree — ask us about it.
Korea has five programs.
Paused for now. Live with a Korean family and help their kids practice English. No degree, no TEFL.
Not certified yet? Train in Korea, then a guaranteed teaching job with a free apartment.
Already TEFL-certified? Straight into a guaranteed teaching job.
Support teachers in a Korean school — a different route in without a degree.
There's also a 6-Month Placement for TEFL-certified degree-holders. Not sure which fits? Just ask us.
"Feel the fear and do it anyway."
TEFL Heaven started when I invited myself on a girl's flight to Bangkok. She said yes — and seventeen years later we've sent more than 3,000 teachers abroad, and it's still a family business.
The Companion Program is the gentlest way into Korea we offer — no degree, no certificate, just a family waiting for you.
Seventeen years of putting people on planes.
"Over 17 years we've placed more than 3,000 English teachers in classrooms from Bangkok to Buenos Aires." A family business, still run by the person who started it.
Korea from the inside.
Get paid ₩1.2M–₩1.4M a month ($850–$1,000) to live inside a Korean home. You're not a tourist and not a classroom teacher — you're part of a family, with your evenings' work done by dinner and every weekend free.
From your sofa to Seoul, step by step.
- Before you fly— a 40-hour online Korean culture and language course
- Land in Korea— airport pickup and 4 nights' shared accommodation
- 3-day orientation— Korean lessons, a cooking class, a Hanbok experience and a palace tour
- Then your family— a guaranteed placement, anywhere in Korea
No degree, no TEFL, no teaching experience needed. You're a companion, not a classroom teacher — the job is conversation, homework help and being part of the household.
Mornings and evenings. The middle is yours.
English practice before school — usually something like 7–9am.
Homework help and conversation after school — usually something like 4–7pm.
Usually 1–3 kids in one family, most aged 3–12. Monday to Friday, up to 25 hours a week — a visa rule (Canadians have no limit). Weekends and public holidays are yours, plus one paid day off a month from your second month. Contracts run 6 months, and you can renew.
Paid to be part of the family.
Ten Mondays a year.
These are the program’s usual Monday intakes. None can be booked while the program is paused.
Two payments. Months apart.
Your place is held and the work starts — family matching and visa guidance.
Invoiced well ahead. Nothing else falls due after this.
$695 + $1,302 = $1,997 — the whole price. The deposit is part of it, never extra on top.
Paused for now. We’re not taking deposits or applications until the program opens again.
What your fee covers.
- A guaranteed family placement— usually 1–3 kids in one household
- 40-hour online Korean culture course— plus language basics
- 3-day in-country orientation— Korean lessons, cooking class, Hanbok experience, palace tour
- 4 nights' accommodation + airport pickup— a shared room when you land, pickup on the arrival day
- Help finding long-term accommodation
- CV, video and interview help
- Full visa guidance + 24/7 support line— through the Working Holiday process, step by step
- Free place on our Digital Marketing Program — earn $200 per booking through your affiliate link, plus paid content work
Not included: flights, medical insurance, long-term housing, visa fees, food, fun and daily transport. Bring travel insurance for your full stay — you'll need it for the visa.
Bring enough to reach your first paycheck.
It covers you until your first paycheck lands. You don't spend it all — most of it stays yours. But if your family doesn't give you a room, remember a rental deposit here usually runs $2,000–$3,500, with rent of $300–$450 a month.
We're telling you this early on purpose. If that number isn't realistic right now, you should know today — not after you've paid.
The easiest Korea rules we place for.
- Aged 20 – 30— Canada and the UK up to 35, several countries up to 34; Japan to 25
- A high school diploma— no degree needed
- No TEFL needed
- A passport from one of 25 eligible countries— USA, UK, Canada, Australia, NZ, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and more
- Fluent English
- Clean police check
- No partners, kids or pets— the Working Holiday route doesn't allow them
US applicants: you must be in college or within a year of graduating, with proof. Small visible tattoos may be fine — tell us at signup. Religious dress isn't allowed on this program.
The Working Holiday visa, step by step.
A cultural exchange first, a salary second.
- This isn't teacher money. $850–$1,000 a month, saving $100–$300 — less than our Korea teaching routes. You're here for the family and the country, not to bank a fortune.
- Housing depends on your family. Some give you a room (your salary may be adjusted). If not, rent and a $2,000–$3,500 deposit are yours to pay.
- The visa paperwork is yours to do. We guide you through the H-1 step by step, but you make the application.
- The medical rules mirror our other Korea programs. Epilepsy, TB, HIV, severe asthma and several other conditions can disqualify you — talk to us before booking if this touches you.
- Split shifts are real. Mornings and evenings on school days — your free time sits in the middle of the day and on weekends.
- Change your intake free with 35+ days' notice — inside 35 days a $250 change fee applies. The same $250 applies if you accept a placement and then push back to a later date. All payments for the program are non-refundable.
We'd rather you knew all of this today than at the airport.
Reviews — in their words. ★★★★★
"TEFL Heaven appealed to me most because they answer you so quick, that was a big plus to me. I had tons of questions and I feel like they go out of their way to help you and also that they really understand your situation."
"I loved that it provided a community of future teachers and friends. I also loved that the trainers had experience teaching in Thailand and could answer the many questions that we asked."
"The course was well structured, the trainers were thorough and knowledgeable. You are never alone after the TEFL course, you are always welcome to go back and visit your trainers if you need help or ideas with your lessons. The friends you make from the course is priceless, you become close like family."
More video and written reviews — from our alumni, on teflheaven.com.
Your free place on our Digital Marketing Program.
You’re going to post about this anyway — this pays you for it.
- Full marketing training — courses, workshops, live sessions
- A Digital Marketing Certificate when you finish
- A private group and a monthly mastermind
Plenty of our people are still earning from this years after they came home.
Applications are on hold.
- No applications or deposits — we can’t take either while the program is paused
- No reopening date yet — we don’t have one to share
- Want Korea sooner? — ask us about the Education Assistant Program, which is open
Questions about any of this? Just ask — we’re happy to talk through the other Korea routes.
The short answers.
No — a high school diploma is enough. US applicants must be in college or within a year of graduating.
No — no certificate of any kind is needed for this program.
Not right now — it’s paused, and we’re not taking applications or deposits.
4 nights' shared accommodation when you arrive. Some families give you a room — if not, we help you find your own, around $300–$450 a month.
Up to 25 a week — a visa rule (no limit for Canadians). Monday to Friday, split between mornings and evenings.
Contracts run 6 months and you can renew. The Working Holiday visa is valid for a year.
Paused for now.
Ask us about Korea.
The English Companion Program isn’t taking applications at the moment. If you want to be in Korea, talk to us about the routes that are open.