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strange_brew
Joined: 12 Oct 2008
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Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 6:21 am Post subject: Another great new rule for jobs with GEPIK |
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So as we all know, the public school system has a pay scale. With more teaching experience, your pay is supposed to go up. Now, I had an employment verification from my old school, and one would think that would work. However, they have changed their rules this year, and now you need to get an employment verification from the local education ministry office. There are a few problems with this. First, they want your ARC card to get your file. This doesn't work as when you leave the country, you have to give it to Korean customs. Secondly, how are you supposed to get it if you aren't in Korea! My girlfriend tried, but obviously she doesn't have my ARC card. They didn't think about this rule before implementing it. It is now impossible to get an employment verification to up your pay scale. |
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Brady
Joined: 25 Jul 2006 Location: Bucheon
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Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 10:01 am Post subject: |
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Bump.
GEPIK is no better than the hagwons. Ever since I heard the nasty rumor (truth?) that they're working on phasing out foreign teachers I've been of this opinion. |
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crossmr

Joined: 22 Nov 2008 Location: Hwayangdong, Seoul
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Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 3:46 pm Post subject: |
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This would be a great thread for the job discussion forum. |
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strange_brew
Joined: 12 Oct 2008
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Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 6:59 pm Post subject: |
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Brady wrote: |
Bump.
GEPIK is no better than the hagwons. Ever since I heard the nasty rumor (truth?) that they're working on phasing out foreign teachers I've been of this opinion. |
Well, with this rule, they're ruling out getting more qualified teachers anyways. |
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diver
Joined: 16 Jun 2003
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Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 7:11 pm Post subject: Re: Another great new rule for jobs with GEPIK |
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strange_brew wrote: |
...They didn't think about this rule before implementing it... |
I'm not so sure about that. |
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TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired
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Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 7:48 pm Post subject: Re: Another great new rule for jobs with GEPIK |
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strange_brew wrote: |
So as we all know, the public school system has a pay scale. With more teaching experience, your pay is supposed to go up. Now, I had an employment verification from my old school, and one would think that would work. However, they have changed their rules this year, and now you need to get an employment verification from the local education ministry office. There are a few problems with this. First, they want your ARC card to get your file. This doesn't work as when you leave the country, you have to give it to Korean customs. Secondly, how are you supposed to get it if you aren't in Korea! My girlfriend tried, but obviously she doesn't have my ARC card. They didn't think about this rule before implementing it. It is now impossible to get an employment verification to up your pay scale. |
Simply give the local ministry office a clear photocopy of your former ARC card so they can access your file. They need the number to do that.
Anyway you usually (there are exceptions) get the same ARC number on every ARC (I've had the same one for nine years) so if a photocopy doesn't work a new ARC card should do the trick when you go back. |
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TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired
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Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 7:53 pm Post subject: |
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Brady wrote: |
Bump.
GEPIK is no better than the hagwons. Ever since I heard the nasty rumor (truth?) that they're working on phasing out foreign teachers I've been of this opinion. |
It's not a nasty rumor. They've always stated this objective openly and clearly. We're here to teach them English so they can teach their children themselves. They have no obligation to offer you a job or make sure it exists 10 or 20 years in the future. |
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strange_brew
Joined: 12 Oct 2008
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Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 8:17 pm Post subject: Re: Another great new rule for jobs with GEPIK |
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TheUrbanMyth wrote: |
strange_brew wrote: |
So as we all know, the public school system has a pay scale. With more teaching experience, your pay is supposed to go up. Now, I had an employment verification from my old school, and one would think that would work. However, they have changed their rules this year, and now you need to get an employment verification from the local education ministry office. There are a few problems with this. First, they want your ARC card to get your file. This doesn't work as when you leave the country, you have to give it to Korean customs. Secondly, how are you supposed to get it if you aren't in Korea! My girlfriend tried, but obviously she doesn't have my ARC card. They didn't think about this rule before implementing it. It is now impossible to get an employment verification to up your pay scale. |
Simply give the local ministry office a clear photocopy of your former ARC card so they can access your file. They need the number to do that.
Anyway you usually (there are exceptions) get the same ARC number on every ARC (I've had the same one for nine years) so if a photocopy doesn't work a new ARC card should do the trick when you go back. |
Being that I am not in Korea, nor have a photocopy of my ARC, this isn't quite possible. However, if it is the same number, I guess I will find out. Problem being that they want it before hiring, and as stated, I am not in Korea, so this is not possible. |
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Brady
Joined: 25 Jul 2006 Location: Bucheon
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Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 8:46 pm Post subject: |
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Quote: |
It's not a nasty rumor. They've always stated this objective openly and clearly. We're here to teach them English so they can teach their children themselves. They have no obligation to offer you a job or make sure it exists 10 or 20 years in the future. |
Hahaha, I'd love to see that happen. That's like the US school board saying they're only going to hire Mexicans for the next two decades until America is bilingual, then the Mexicans can go home. |
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edwardcatflap
Joined: 22 Mar 2009
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Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 8:56 pm Post subject: |
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It's not really like that. They are saying they want to get to a situation where the current teachers of English in state schools are good enough, in terms of English speaking ability and methodology, to be able to teach without Native Speaker co-teachers. They hope properly trained teachers can then set a standard for future teachers of English and so on. Most countries (e.g. in Europe) don't feel the need to import Native Speaker teachers to co-teach in state schools so Koreans see that as an attainable goal. |
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Mithrae
Joined: 22 Jul 2009
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Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 9:11 pm Post subject: |
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Telling people to simply 'provide a photocopy of their ARC card' is of no help to anyone who left the country before the new rule came in. There is no precedent of people having to provide their previous ARC information to Korean authorities, so there was no reason to keep a copy of said ARC card when leaving Korea, simply on the chance that you might later return.
Having said that, I've worked at three Gepik schools. On my second school, with two years Gepik experience, my pay went back down to the basic 2.3 million from 2.4 million. Experience counted for nothing. At my third school I again had to start at 2.3 million, despite now having three years Gepik teaching experience. They didn't compensate me for my experience at all. I was getting the same pay as an experienced teacher as I was as a newb.
If they are now upping your pay as a result of past experience that's a small improvement. Still, in good conscience I cannot recommend Gepik.
Thieves and rascals. |
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TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired
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Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 9:42 pm Post subject: |
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Mithrae wrote: |
Telling people to simply 'provide a photocopy of their ARC card' is of no help to anyone who left the country before the new rule came in. There is no precedent of people having to provide their previous ARC information to Korean authorities, so there was no reason to keep a copy of said ARC card when leaving Korea, simply on the chance that you might later return.
I've had to provide my ARC number to every school that ever hired me, hakwons, GEPIK and EPIK alike. And one should always keep a paper or file copy of all important documents...you never know when you might need it even back in the West where you might one day be audited.
Having said that, I've worked at three Gepik schools. On my second school, with two years Gepik experience, my pay went back down to the basic 2.3 million from 2.4 million. Experience counted for nothing. At my third school I again had to start at 2.3 million, despite now having three years Gepik teaching experience. They didn't compensate me for my experience at all. I was getting the same pay as an experienced teacher as I was as a newb.
If they are now upping your pay as a result of past experience that's a small improvement. Still, in good conscience I cannot recommend Gepik.
Thieves and rascals. |
I'm not particularly impressed with GEPIK either. They now want original reference letters DESPITE the fact that when you submit said original reference letters...they won't return them so you can't get a second job with GEPIK. Not without returning to get new reference letters from bosses who may or may not remember you...or who may no longer be there. |
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nautilus

Joined: 26 Nov 2005 Location: Je jump, Tu jump, oui jump!
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Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 2:46 am Post subject: |
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Mithrae wrote: |
On my second school, with two years Gepik experience, my pay went back down to the basic 2.3 million from 2.4 million. Experience counted for nothing. |
With your exp you should have been on 2.5. I can only assume that you didn't fight for it or contest it. If you had brought it up and clearly pointed out the paygrade you should have been on..they would've obliged..as they did with me.
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I was getting the same pay as an experienced teacher as I was as a newb. |
Newbs are on 1.8, btw.
StrangeBrew wrote: |
Well, with this rule, they're ruling out getting more qualified teachers anyways. |
Hopefully.....although I suspect individual principals may just hire on appearance. All those blonde 20 yr-old chicks hitting the fan now. |
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strange_brew
Joined: 12 Oct 2008
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Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 4:07 pm Post subject: |
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TheUrbanMyth wrote: |
Mithrae wrote: |
Telling people to simply 'provide a photocopy of their ARC card' is of no help to anyone who left the country before the new rule came in. There is no precedent of people having to provide their previous ARC information to Korean authorities, so there was no reason to keep a copy of said ARC card when leaving Korea, simply on the chance that you might later return.
I've had to provide my ARC number to every school that ever hired me, hakwons, GEPIK and EPIK alike. And one should always keep a paper or file copy of all important documents...you never know when you might need it even back in the West where you might one day be audited.
Having said that, I've worked at three Gepik schools. On my second school, with two years Gepik experience, my pay went back down to the basic 2.3 million from 2.4 million. Experience counted for nothing. At my third school I again had to start at 2.3 million, despite now having three years Gepik teaching experience. They didn't compensate me for my experience at all. I was getting the same pay as an experienced teacher as I was as a newb.
If they are now upping your pay as a result of past experience that's a small improvement. Still, in good conscience I cannot recommend Gepik.
Thieves and rascals. |
I'm not particularly impressed with GEPIK either. They now want original reference letters DESPITE the fact that when you submit said original reference letters...they won't return them so you can't get a second job with GEPIK. Not without returning to get new reference letters from bosses who may or may not remember you...or who may no longer be there. |
I haven't been impressed so far at all. The problem is that the lady wants to live in Ansan, and I refuse to go to a hagwon. Leaves me with GEPIK and the public school system. |
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winterfall
Joined: 21 May 2009
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Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 4:10 pm Post subject: |
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edwardcatflap wrote: |
It's not really like that. They are saying they want to get to a situation where the current teachers of English in state schools are good enough, in terms of English speaking ability and methodology, to be able to teach without Native Speaker co-teachers. They hope properly trained teachers can then set a standard for future teachers of English and so on. Most countries (e.g. in Europe) don't feel the need to import Native Speaker teachers to co-teach in state schools so Koreans see that as an attainable goal. |
I agree we can't be here forever. And the rumors on how most FT's treat classes eg: showing movies all day is just another reason to boot us out.
But, I can tell you the training these teachers are getting doesn't seem to alter their teaching in any way. All of my teachers are getting re certified and they're also all being teached the way I teach in the classroom.
Language points, worksheets, and activity/speaking work.
And they're methods haven't changed a bit. They still exclusively use rote memorization. And I'm starting to think teaching like we're supposed to be teaching is beyond what they're capable of because they've never mastered the language.
Honestly I don't think this problem is gonna get any better till this generation of teachers is gone and the next generation is trained by the standard that they should be at.
Just my two cents... |
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