Korean Job Discussion Forums

E_athlete · Joined: 09 Jun 2009 Location: Korea sparkling

it sounds harder to survive on 1.5 m won...but you're in for the life experience so...

epik is 22hrs teach time but from my experience i only talk for half the class so it feels like 11 hrs of actual teaching. The other 29 hrs a week i just sit in my desk with internet and have a pulse, which is nice.

RobLeeTeach · Joined: 20 May 2009

toadhjo · Joined: 07 Apr 2009

I haven't actually been to Korea yet, so keep that in mind while reading my opinion.

That said, I think if I was in your position, I would give TaLK some heavy consideration. I studied Asian Languages and Literatures in college, and TaLK would probably give me more time to explore Korean culture and improve my knowledge if I decide to further pursue educational opportunities in that field.

If money isn't a huge concern, TaLK may be the better option, depending on your goals. As a first year EPIK teacher in Daejeon, I'll only be making 1.9mil won. That's not a whole lot more than the 1.5mil that TaLK pays.

RobLeeTeach · Joined: 20 May 2009

OculisOrbis · Joined: 17 Jul 2006

No brainer. 'No thank you' to TALK and accept EPIK.

RobLeeTeach · Joined: 20 May 2009

toadhjo · Joined: 07 Apr 2009

RobLeeTeach · Joined: 20 May 2009

I applied directly through the EPIK website.

The EPIK coordinator then sent us this link for the Google Groups.
http://groups.google.com/group/epiksept09?hl=en

OculisOrbis · Joined: 17 Jul 2006

EPIK schools vary with the number of classes you teach - 22 is the max before OT. It pretty common for teachers to get some afterschool classes to supplement their wage at the school even if you havent reached the 22 hour threshold.

I currently teach 13 hours per week at a high school and have a part time job elsewhere. My previous middle school had me at 15 hours per week plus 4 additional OT hours paid weekly.

Vacation time with EPIK runs from the exact number of days in your contract with desk warming while everyone else is on vacation to whenever you dont have a class you are allowed to leave. I was again lucky and had over 15 weeks vacation last and prob 10 to 12 this year.

Public school conditions vary drastically from one school to another. It all depends on your coteacher and your principal whether or not it will be a good experience.

You mentioned that your EPIK placement would be Cheongju which isnt entirely correct - more likely it will be with the Chungbuk Provincial Education office and it is a big area. You could be placed up to two hours from the actual city of Cheongju, but you are more likely to be closer to or in civilization with EPIK over TALK. If you actually are in Chengju, its a good place to live. Not action heavy as Seoul, but a really good foreign community with great foreign food and bar options.

Cheongju is central in Korea so working a public school job mean you can hop the bus to Seoul at 5pm and be there by 7pm - Busan about three hours, I think.

If you want someone to hold your hand and take you on 'culture' tours (that you could have done on your own), TALK is for you. Talk tends to be younger people who havent much experience traveling or being independent because they still havent finished university. Many of the TALK teachers I've met tend to herd together on their time off because they did a six(?) week unpaid orientation together where they learn about kimchi and how to use chopsticks.

If youre a little more independent and like meet people and discover things on your own, EPIK is better - and you only have a one week unpaid orientation.

I would try to get EPIK near or in Cheongju. I may be able to get you the contact for the Edu office here and I can definitely get you a direct line to the Chungnam Ed office for EPIK- it's the area surrounding Daejeon. . Cant think of anything else right now. Just PM me if have more questions.

RobLeeTeach · Joined: 20 May 2009

tomoyopop · Joined: 10 Jul 2009 Location: USA

shifter2009 · Joined: 03 Sep 2006 Location: wisconsin

There is a chance too with EPIK you'll teach about the same hours, I only teach 18. Though it can go the other way too and you can teach more but then you get OT so it's not so terrible.

keobuk2 · Joined: 22 May 2009 Location: Gwangju, South Korea

I'm currently on TaLK (finishing up end of July) and switching to the local equivalent of EPIK (JLP).
Pros are: You really only have to teach 15hrs a week. The school may ask you to do more or not. In theory its after school classes but in reality you could easily end up co-teaching during school hours. That 15hrs doesn't include class prep time (which you're not paid for) and whether you prepare at home or not is again, up to the individual school. For my first few months I prepared at home, but I've been spending more time at school doing preparation and distracting the students..if you are in a rural area get a hobby. It helps pass the time.

As far as rural goes: You could end up being quite close to a city/town (or not) and I've heard that a lot more TaLK scholars have been hired this time round so theres a good chance of someone being in the vicinity.

In theory you also get some cultural experience money to take in a few festivals but the amount and what its spent on depends on the POE and school. I've heard of money getting stolen by co-teachers and some people have had nothing at all.

Cons: Homestay is lottery. Either it works or it doesn't. I personally had a great family but difficult circumstances. I've heard of other good and bad things. If you push gently they might put you in a oneroom studio.

I want to recommend TaLK. If you were headed to Damyang, I would. I've had some great experiences. Others..not so much. It can be a bit of a lottery and it is still fairly young. I'm from the first grouping though, so 3rd generation scholars might have it all worked out for them.

Oh, its easy to survive off 1.5 a month. You don't save much (though you can if you are in homestay) but its enough to have a bit of fun on and do some travel.