Welcome to RISE Gangnam!
At RISE Gangnam, we bring learning to life with our interactive curriculum that’s all about fun, exploration, and creativity!
Founded in 2014, RISE Korea empowers young learners with an American curriculum that makes English learning an exciting adventure through hands-on activities. With over 30 campuses across Korea, our program blends English grammar with real-world applications, fostering creativity and critical thinking beyond traditional textbooks. Our curriculum, recognized by a team of Harvard professors for its innovative content, environment, and approach, incorporates materials from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
At RISE Korea, we believe in nurturing curiosity, creativity, and confidence while supporting intellectual, social, emotional, and physical development. Each lesson offers students the opportunity to laugh, learn, and grow.
Ms. Helen Hong, Principal of RISE Gangnam
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RISE Gangnam - Inspiring Young Minds through Play
RISE Gangnam is directly managed by RISE headquarters, handling school operations, visa processing, recruitment, and onboarding, ensuring dedicated support from our team.
RISE Korea is part of RISE Global, founded by CEO and Chairman Barry O’Callaghan, who believes English education empowers children to navigate an uncertain future and become global leaders.
Our School System
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ESL Teaching Structure: Lead Instruction with a Korean Assistant Teacher
- Lead lessons with the support of Korean bilingual assistants.
- Native teachers lead lessons through interactive play.
- Assistants help manage the class and talk with parents.
Lesson Prep: Pre-Made Curriculum & Lesson Plan
- Teachers follow a set curriculum with pre-made lesson plans.
- Teachers are given lesson plans a week prior and are expected to prepare for classes accordingly. Prep time is provided during work hours.
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Grading & Reporting:
- Teachers are expected to grade student assignments, provide feedback, and track progress.
| Daily |
Review & mark student assignments, including vocab tests. |
| Weekly |
Review & mark weekly listening tests, and journal writings. |
| Monthly |
Grade and provide feedback on monthly exams, essays, and presentations. |
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Quarterly
(3M)
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Grade SR (iPad, test reading level throgh Renaissance Learning) and paper tests to prepare for TOEFL (listening, reading, vocab, grammar, and writing)
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Non-teaching Duties:
- Beyond the classroom, teachers also are expected to:
- Lead after-school programs (2:50PM - 6PM).
- Lead themed events planned by our team (i.e. Market Day, Planting Day, Halloween, Christmas, etc.).
- Supervise students during mealtimes (lunch, snack time)
- Assist students with bathroom breaks (kindergarten, if needed)
- Conduct parent-teacher conferences (twice in a year)
- Participate in field trips and school events
- Bus loading and send-off
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Our School Culture:
- Our staff includes teachers from the US, UK, Canada, as well as Korean teachers with international experience. We provide strong support for both students and staff, with academic excellence at the core of our mission.
- Our play-based curriculum aims to provide immersive English education through interactive activites.
Our Standards:
- Leadership: Ensures clear communication through regular weekly staff meetings.
- Teachers: Establish clear academic goals, deliver engaging lessons, and provide timely feedback to students. Teachers' performance is assessed through yearly reports by our administration to review classroom management, student engagement, and academic performance.
- Students: Students must follow the following classroom rules: be respectful to others, raise hands to speak, remain seated unless given permission, complete assignments on time, and participate actively in class discussions and activities.
- Parents: We maintain open communication with parents by providing regular updates on student progress and offering opportunities for parent-teacher meetings.
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CEO
Joshua Park
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Established Year
(Campus)
2004
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School Type
Language Academy
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Operations
Private (Franchise)
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Academic System
American
Academic-based
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Student Type
Kindergarten,
Elementary
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No. of Teachers
(per campus)
16
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No. of Students
(per class)
12
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Student-Teacher
Ratio
2:1
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Medium
of Instruction
English
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Religious
Affiliation
None
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Business
Registration No.
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Our Curriculum and Programs
Our programs at RISE for kindergarten (ages 5-7) and elementary students (ages 8-13) center around a American academic-based curriculum that combines language, cognitive, and social-emotional learning. Through fun, hands-on activities and a mix of print and digital media, we create immersive and interactive classrooms that foster a love of learning. This approach allows children to experience English not just as a language, but as a culture.
Throughout the year, we host fun events like Market Day, Planting Day, and celebrate holidays through themed events, including Halloween, Christmas, and Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving).
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In RISE K, we promote language development, critical thinking, and creative expression by balancing academic lessons with playful, hands-on activities designed to enhance students’ speaking, reading, writing, listening, and leadership skills.
Sample Academic Calendar
- March: Entrance Ceremony (early Mar.), St. Patrick's Day
- April: Arbor Day
- May: Children's Day Event, Day Trip, 1st Quarterly Test (7Y)
- June: Field Trip
- July-August: 2nd Quarterly Test (7Y), School Event, Summer Vacation (Late Jul.-Early Aug.), Summer Intensive Program, School Event
- September: Chuseok Event, Chuseok Holiday
- October: Day Trip, Open Class (in front of Parents)
- November: 3rd Quarterly Test (7Y), Halloween Event
- December: Christmas Event, Winter Vacation (Late Dec.)
- January: Winter Intensive Progam, Lunar New Year Holiday, 4th Quarterly Test (7Y)
- February: Graduation Ceremony & Orientation
RISE K Schedule
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Activity |
Program Details |
| 9:55 |
Circle Time |
Morning Questions & Discussion |
| 10:30 |
Interactive Whiteboard |
Learning with a Smartboard |
| 11:40 |
Act it Out |
Building Understanding and Expression through Role Play |
| 12:10 |
Play Gym |
Engaging with English through Play |
| 12:20 |
Lunch Time |
| 1:30 |
Singing |
Learning through Songs and Chants |
| 2:10 |
Theme Project |
Group Project with Presentation |
| 2:35 |
Wrap-up |
Homework Review, Reflection & Wrap-up |
| 2:50 - 6:00 |
Afternoon Class |
Games, Phonics, Art, Music, Science, etc. |
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| In RISE Quest for Self-Discovery (QSD), we focus on developing the 4Cs—communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creative thinking—through fun activities like storytelling, group presentations, and story writing.
Foundation Program (FP): For beginners learning the basics of English.
Exploration Program (EP): For RISE K graduates, follows the American curriculum.
Values Program (VP): Focus on American literature.
Sample Academic Calendar
- March: Entrance Ceremony (early Mar.), St. Patrick's Day
- April: Arbor Day
- May: Children's Day Event, Day Trip, 1st Quarterly Test (7Y)
- June: Field Trip
- July-August: 2nd Quarterly Test (7Y), School Event, Summer Vacation (Late Jul.-Early Aug.), Summer Intensive Program, School Event
- September: Chuseok Event, Chuseok Holiday
- October: Day Trip, Open Class (in front of Parents)
- November: 3rd Quarterly Test (7Y), Halloween Event
- December: Christmas Event, Winter Vacation (Late Dec.)
- January: Winter Intensive Progam, Lunar New Year Holiday, 4th Quarterly Test (7Y)
- February: Graduation Ceremony & Orientation
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Our Facilities
At RISE, our facilities are designed to make learning fun and engaging. Our spaces feature colorful, playful designs that inspire creativity in young learners. Classrooms are equipped with smart boards for interactive learning, and our playrooms offer a dedicated space for fun and play.
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Employment
1. Work Environment & Teacher Expectations
Teachers are the foundation of our excellence. At RISE Gangnam, we foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment, welcoming both seasoned professionals and passionate newcomers to teaching. Teachers are expected to be energetic, passionate, and enthusiastic about working with young learners, bringing creativity and adaptability to our play-based activities.
2. Reasons to Work at RISE Gangnam
- Support and Guidance from Headquarter Offices: RISE provides comprehensive support, including guidance through the hiring, visa process, training, onboarding, and housing assistance, with our team always ready to help teachers manage any obstacles they may face.
- Comprehensive Curriculum and Resources: Teachers receive fully developed curriculum frameworks and all necessary teaching materials, including worksheets, handouts, and other resources, eliminating the need for prep work. With the support of a Korean assistant to help manage the students, teachers can focus on engaging with young learners through play.
- Healthy Work-Life Balance: Maintain a healthy work-life balance with structured hours, generous vacation time, and ample breaks.
- Fun, Modern Teaching Facility: Our facilities are vibrant, dynamic spaces designed to encourage active play and creativity, equipped with resources that help teachers create an engaging learning environment.
- Culture of Collaboration and Growth: At RISE, we offer experienced teachers the opportunity to actively contribute to R&D, providing meaningful compensation and professional growth opportunities.
3. Basic Requirements:
- Passionate about teaching young children, particularly in a play-based or interactive setting
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited university
- Be eligible for an E-2 visa (citizen of the U.S.A, Canada, U.K, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, or South Africa)
- TEFL/TESOL certification preferred
- Apostilled diploma and criminal background check
- Clean health assessment
4. Hiring Period & Procedure
We’re always looking for enthusiastic, energetic teachers, with positions available year-round. For RISE Gangnam, hiring is managed through RISE headquarters. Before applying, please review the visa application process and estimated processing times in Korea. Once your application is reviewed and approved, you’ll be invited to an interview.
- Interviews include mock scenarios to see how you handle different situations in the classroom. The interview will be filmed and shared with the campus for review.
5. Teacher Training & Workshops
- Teachers complete a day of online training followed by on-site training, covering teaching methodologies, classroom management, and cultural sensitivity.
6. Salary & Benefits
- Competitive Compensation: We offer a competitive salary based on your experience and education level.
- Housing Support: To ease the burden of accommodation expenses in South Korea, we extend housing assistance in the form of provided housing or a housing allowance.
- Social Insurance: According to regulations set forth by Korean law, we enroll in the four major insurance programs.
- Severance Package: Bonus paid upon the completion of employment (minimum 1-year contract).
- PTO (Paid Time Off): Enjoy paid vacation days and holidays, synchronized with the academic calendar of the school. First-year teachers receive 11 days of paid vacation, with 15 days available for teachers who re-sign for an additional year.
- Airfare Reimbursement: RISE facilitates your journey by reimbursing the costs associated with your entry into South Korea.
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Leadership and Members
