Korean Job Discussion Forums

TJ · Joined: 10 Mar 2003

I taught for 2 years at a hagwan and that was not particularly enjoyable. Then I joined EPIK.

My first year with EPIK ( my 3rd year in Korea) was marginally better. I did not have a co-teacher and discipline in a class of 40 was a problem. Also the school tended to forget that I was there. For example, sometimes they did not tell me that a class had been cancelled. This meant, on occasion, I was left standing in the classroom wondering where the @#*% my students were.

This is my 4th year in Korea and I am still with EPIK, but in a different school. It's so much better. The staff and students are great and I really enjoy being here.

I thoroughly recommend EPIK, PROVIDED YOU GET A GOOD SCHOOL, like my present one.

Mosley · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

Yep, good post TJ. This is the problem w/EPIK vs. JET: JET is highly standardized while w/EPIK it's a crazy crapshoot w/no central command.

Zyzyfer · Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2004 7:13 am Post subject:

Can you control your location at all if you sign up with EPIK?

Mosley · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

You can request the location of the province or major city that you would prefer being posted to. Exception: Seoul! Ya ain't gonna get it! Getting an offer to be placed in your preferred location, though, doesn't guarantee that your employer(i.e. who you actually enter into a contract with) will be a good one!

TJ · Joined: 10 Mar 2003

TJ · Joined: 10 Mar 2003

spliff · Joined: 19 Jan 2004 Location: Khon Kaen, Thailand

My College job Is dirt easy. 2 hrs per day. Luckly, I don't have to be there when I'm not teaching! Also, lucky I have my own desk with internet...I might of had to sit in one of those PC bongs all day Shocked

schwa · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap

tomato · Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2004 4:02 am Post subject:

Mosley, what is JET?

Zyzyfer · Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2004 6:24 am Post subject:

It sounds like a lot of work to choose your location through EPIK. Thanks for the tips.

tomato: JET is Japan's version of EPIK.

Mosley · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

To be exact, EPIK(1995) is Korea's version of JET(1987). Or, as I'm wont to say, EPIK is rather like JET's slow & simple little brother....

sheeon · Joined: 11 Jun 2003 Location: korea

I would choose EPIK over any hagwon jobs, and even most Uni offers. Level 1 pays 2.3 million + 500,000 for housing (per month: bigger cities outside of Metropolitan area) 22 hours (before tax) plus extra payment (around 1-2 million) for doing summer vacation workshops.
When workshops are finished you only teach around 15 hours a week.
You get to co-teach, but it varies from year to year.
I've been doing it for 4 years, no complaints thus far.
This year's contract will offer 100,000 more for level 1 teachers.
That adds up to nearly 3 million won. (2.9 to be exact, b/tax)

CanadaCommando · Joined: 13 Feb 2004 Location: People's Republic of C.C.

K, so I am working for one of those private "public" school (u know what I mean) and I find its a good gig, though not as good as EPIC apparently.

I get 2.1 plus a kick ass pad, teach for 20hrs a week, get a month of in summer, in the winter, and another sprinkled throughout with exam times and such. Though I do gotta be at school for the full forty hours like alotta other teachers, my classes are split in half so I only have 20 students.
Aside from the relative low pay, one issue I have is my kids: I teach 20 different classes, each once a week, which means about 400 kids...I got like 10 names down. Kids say hi to me in the street, I have no idea if I teach them or not.
One of the HUGE advantages though is you are not working for a hogwan, therefore Education is not a result of finance. Your bosses dont arrange classes by $ signs, but rather by grades. Huge improvement that way over my hogwan days