Korean Job Discussion Forums

[boatofcar]

EPIK seems to be changing (for the better, it seems like), every year, so I was wondering if anyone who was at one of the orientation sessions within the past year could give me an idea of what to expect? It's kind of weird that it's in Seoul, then I go all the way down to Ulsan after it's over...

[schwa]

The new epik hdqtrs are in Seoul but I think you'll find the orientation is being held in Jochiwon in Chungcheong-do.

[boatofcar]

Anybody?

[sportrider1974]

[KYC]

I was accepted into EPIK but declined later on. When I interviewed with the lady at EPIK (I forgot her title) she told me the orientation is basically other FT/NT learning Korean culture...such as food, music, etc.

[passport220]

[mysterious700]

sounds useful. i went through a recruiter and bypassed this as i started in june. i am learning things on my own.

[shantaram]

It's basically turning up to a series of lectures in small classes and sometimes an ampitheatre where you listen to other ex-pat teachers and Korean officials from various industries give advice.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are part of the package. Everyone congregates in a big room for meals and they are amazingly strict. We got told off for staying in the room after the meal- everyone thought it was a joke- but no, they insisted we clear out as soon as we were finished. I can understand now but it seemed a bit full-on at the time.

There is the expectation you will attend 90% to all of the lectures (I forget the exact figure). In the weekend, you can go away. Most people went to Seoul but I went to Suanbo Hot Springs to get away fro the mob.

You can easily catch a bus into Cheongju from the University (if you're prepared to wait in the heat and have the right change- no 10,000 won notes on the bus). Orientation is held on a large university campus where Korean teachers go to learn English Education. It is not in Cheongju (it took me a good few days to figure this out) but it is about 10 kms from there. There is a cluster of bars and shops at the main entrance to the University. Most people head down there for drinks after class.

There are washing machines on every second floor I recall. You'll share your room with someone else. The room is quite comfortable. There are communal showers on every floor. Make time to chat to the Koreans who are helping out with things there, because they get overlooked.

You'll hear some random advice and some good advice (one person encouraged us to take private lessons if we got the chance- not good advice). It pays to think about what you hear there- is it like what you have heard in other places (for example on this website)? There's no right/wrong answer for the way you choose to go about your business, but you shouldn't accept everything you are told at Orientation at face value (nor should you completely disregard the advice).

The final day was madness. A concert was performed, we had to pack our bags immediately afterwards and were whisked away to our provinces henceforth. I met lots of people in an incredibly short space of time and had to absorb facts about my school and my apartment all in one day (several facts eluding me to this day, for example how to recycle and how to use the ondol properly). You will be able to make your choice about exactly where you want to go in your province on the second or third last day of Orientation. You might not get your first choice.

Hope that helps!

Bring some light clothes.

[sportrider1974]

The orientation schedule is posted on the EPIK web site: http://epik.knue.ac.kr/

bo

[stumptown]

Anyone know if this is mandatory? My vacation starts on the 18th and I already have the tickets.

[jhaelin]

i attended epik orientation back in 2003 so things may be different.
but the intent which i gathered was to help the complete newbie adjust.
provide some exposure to lesson ideas, education environment in korea, etc. through lectures and group demos.

but most importantly, it helps new folks make contacts that will help in terms of adjusting to life in korea. i still stay connected to my epik cohorts (atleast the ones that are still here, and were not insane...)

you'll like it if you're new to the country and have little acquaintances and friends here -assuming you are socially adjusted and not a socio-path...
you'll probably hate it, if you're settled in korea and just changed jobs and have to sit through things you already know and meet people you don't want to meet...

but who really doesn't like making new acquaintance?

[The Great Toad]

Well I enjoy cultural studies, and I hope to refresh my poor Korean as well so I think it will be a Super Duper Awesome C00l Time ! I have not slept with guys since my Camp Counselor Days on summer break between teaching in da USA wow this should be swell! I may get a big ole boy roomy from the Artic North who snores like a Kodiak . This time I will not read stories for bed time too!
I have a great idea for this- or maybe if yall think it is soooo great we could do a whole new post on it... but I think it would be great for all the EPIK to be attenders to put their pictures on here- hear me out here - not for stalking at all; not a real exacting facial pose where we can know you beyond a shadow of a nose- no no lets all put obtuse mysterious pictures of ourselves - then when we get to EPIK orientation we can say,

"Hey I know those/that knobby knees / royal nose / fat saddle bags / blue eye - I saw a weird barely discernible shot of it on Dave's You are ______ on the board aren't you?" Or in my case of my picture below,
"Hey you are the handsome guy in the picture with the Korean Ladies- I'd recognize that lordly visage anywhere. You are the immortal Lord Toad of Dave's aren't you?!"

Ok Ok I will start here is my obtuse hard to discern picture say "Hey!" to me at EPIK orientation if you can guess me:



Ok so post a hard to guess picture here and the correct guesser has to give the guessie a 1000 won note or by him an orange juice or something.

mmm actually that may be too easy maybe you guys at home have baby pictures that would be better- I am teaching in Taiwan now so all my photo albums are in my mama's attic stowed away.

[fromtheuk]

I started work in May and missed the orientation. My co-worker says my principal will decide if I have to go to the one in September.

Does anybody know if they serve English-type foods, or is it Korean food?

I pack my own lunch at school and cannot stand the idea of eating Korean food for a few days at the orientation.

To be honest, I don't want to go, but I'll see what happens.

[schwa]

This year's orientation is in a new venue & being run by new people so others' recollections above wont apply exactly. Its moving to Korea University in Seochang, Chungnam.

I see they've shrunk the course to 7 days from 2 weeks -- thats a good thing. A glance at the schedule suggests they've dropped a number of dry academic lectures by Korean profs. KNUE ran the program for years & had ironed out a lot of glitches but it was time for some fresh thinking.

This being Korea though, I imagine little expertise was passed along & the new organizers will be scrambling to reinvent the wheel. The program & its facilities might be a bit hit & miss this time, but hopefully worthwhile & comfortable enough.

The concept, at least for rank newbies to Korea, is necessary & commendable. It really does provide a buffer zone on arrival & a chance to mingle with others undertaking the same adventure. A bit of a chore for veteran teachers already in Korea but I've got a hunch there will be a good number of you in this group & you'll have the chance to network among yourselves & mentor the newbs.

Its only a week.

Avoiding attending is likely impossible in most cases -- they've set this up to be mandatory for people just entering the program. People already teaching with EPIK (a short time) have usually been exempt in the past.

Best luck all.