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ShamKoyanggi
Joined: 15 Nov 2010
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 Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 6:09 pm Post subject: |
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This is my second year at a (GEPIK) middle school in Gyonggi-do. The head of the English department told me yesterday that the school could not offer me a new contract at the end of Feb., when my contract ends. She said that Gyonggi school district has basically eliminated all funding for some schools. Ours is one of those. She also told me that the principal went over to city hall and asked the mayors office for money to keep me on. The school has yet to hear back from the city. I am the first and only NET the school has ever had. It was a great job while it lasted. Students were fun, co-workers very helpful and unusually nice to me. Fingers crossed to get at least one more year out of this place. The whole GEPIK program is being slowly eliminated.
I hate looking for new jobs!!!!  |
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oldfatfarang
Joined: 19 May 2005
Location: On the road to somewhere.
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| Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 6:35 pm Post subject: |
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| Clockout wrote: |
| Pardon me, the most aggravating part is that I am being told to go to "GEPIK Orientation" 3 months before they are releasing me. |
Classic Korea. I love it! |
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ThingsComeAround
Joined: 07 Nov 2008
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| Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 6:40 pm Post subject: |
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| Clockout wrote: |
What is most aggravating about the situation is that GEPIK/EPIK doesn't attempt to re-place teachers in different schools. I would happily switch to a new school in my city or anywhere really and they wouldn't have to pay a recruiter fee.
It just seems odd that they would want to take on a new teacher with no experience in Korea rather than someone who has proven that they can complete a few contracts.
Shouldn't they be looking at this pool of cut teachers and asking them "are you interested in working at a different school?" |
My thoughts exactly. While Dain Bae and others get paid-for trips to Everland on the taxpayer dime they have the audacity to tell us they "can't afford us".
Here's a start: Relieve Dain Bae and GEPIK "coordinators".
| Clockout wrote: |
| Pardon me, the most aggravating part is that I am being told to go to "GEPIK Orientation" 3 months before they are releasing me. |
I'll see you there (haven't got the word but I'm due for that meeting as well) |
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edwardcatflap
Joined: 22 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 6:53 pm Post subject: |
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I think this is happening for two reasons.
1. All Korean English teachers are going to be required to teach English in English (TEE).
They are currently trying to get enough Korean teachers qualified for this, but few are passing. But the issue here is more about a cognitivist perspective on language learning that focuses on quality input. Sure, we might not think the input is quality, but it will be more pedagogically sound than what most natives produce.
2. Koreans aren't effectively using Native speakers.
How many of you are tape recorders? Guess what, GEPIK can buy a tape recorder and save the tens of millions of won they spend on you.
Furthermore, how many of us are really effect teachers? How many people have any kind of training in teaching English, besides downloading a bomb game? Do you understand how hard it is to become a teacher in Korea? We get the job by having a uni degree from one of seven countries.
Plus, let's be honest, a public school in Korea is a Korean office. They don't need to kowtow to your strange westerner points of view. Often, you're a square peg in a round hole. |
This is true. I'm involved in the TEE program and there's been more and more work in this area recently. Some of the Korean teachers I've observed have been top notch, maybe one or two language slips in a twenty minute demo, but much better all round skills than the majority of NETS. And not gyopos etiher, people who've gone through the Korean system |
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liveinkorea316
Joined: 20 Aug 2010
Location: South Korea
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| Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 6:55 pm Post subject: |
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| It's because they memorized for weeks to get the language right. |
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gillod
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
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| Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 7:09 pm Post subject: |
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| ThingsComeAround wrote: |
| Clockout wrote: |
What is most aggravating about the situation is that GEPIK/EPIK doesn't attempt to re-place teachers in different schools. I would happily switch to a new school in my city or anywhere really and they wouldn't have to pay a recruiter fee.
It just seems odd that they would want to take on a new teacher with no experience in Korea rather than someone who has proven that they can complete a few contracts.
Shouldn't they be looking at this pool of cut teachers and asking them "are you interested in working at a different school?" |
My thoughts exactly. While Dain Bae and others get paid-for trips to Everland on the taxpayer dime they have the audacity to tell us they "can't afford us".
Here's a start: Relieve Dain Bae and GEPIK "coordinators".
| Clockout wrote: |
| Pardon me, the most aggravating part is that I am being told to go to "GEPIK Orientation" 3 months before they are releasing me. |
I'll see you there (haven't got the word but I'm due for that meeting as well) |
Oh, come on. I'd love to see you do that job.
Honestly, Dain has never come across as a particularly sharp or useful person, but she's way overworked and underpaid. GEPIK is understaffed if anything. |
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bobbybigfoot
Joined: 05 May 2007
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 7:57 pm Post subject: |
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Cutbacks may or may not happen. But one thing for sure IS happening: people are catching on that life in Korea is not so bad. So more and more people are willing to come here. Hence, more competition.
So what can you do?
(1) Become fluent in Korean. This will give you an advantage like no other. I'd even go so far as to say that a fluent waigookin with a BA is worth more than a non-fluent MA Holder.
(2) Get a CELTA or bonafide TESL certificate.
(3) Prepare a portfolio (video or otherwise). Prove your skills.
(4) Have references
(5) Get an MA. Or a B.Ed.
Do all this, and it really doesn't matter what the governments decides. You'll have a job here for as long as you want. |
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ThingsComeAround
Joined: 07 Nov 2008
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| Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 8:50 pm Post subject: |
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| bobbybigfoot wrote: |
Cutbacks may or may not happen. But one thing for sure IS happening: people are catching on that life in Korea is not so bad. So more and more people are willing to come here. Hence, more competition.
So what can you do?
(1) Become fluent in Korean. This will give you an advantage like no other. I'd even go so far as to say that a fluent waigookin with a BA is worth more than a non-fluent MA Holder.
(2) Get a CELTA or bonafide TESL certificate.
(3) Prepare a portfolio (video or otherwise). Prove your skills.
(4) Have references
(5) Get an MA. Or a B.Ed.
Do all this, and it really doesn't matter what the governments decides. You'll have a job here for as long as you want. |
Only options 2,3, & 4 are available on such short notice. But I do agree.
That would also help if you were searching for a job in country, and making interviews in person
| gillod wrote: |
Oh, come on. I'd love to see you do that job.
Honestly, Dain has never come across as a particularly sharp or useful person, but she's way overworked and underpaid. GEPIK is understaffed if anything. |
Please oh please tell me what Dain Bae has done to help you, or anyone you know, because I don't know. She only mentions her current dating status at orientations 
Last edited by ThingsComeAround on Mon Nov 15, 2010 8:59 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Fishead soup
Joined: 24 Jun 2007
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 8:55 pm Post subject: |
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| This is all Hearsay |
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Loza
Joined: 28 May 2006
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| Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 9:28 pm Post subject: Re: My local area. |
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| creeper1 wrote: |
The area that I work in is called Hwaseong Osan and budget cuts have been a talking point among the local waygookins for some time. The story with us is that the mayor of Hwaseong promised free school meals to the kids so he had the idea of cutting the English budget to pay for it. SO FAR I think it hasn't had much impact. Maybe some teachers who went home simply weren't replaced but that's about it.
If this kind of cutting mentality does spread Gyeongi wide so to speak then it will be a black day. Some wonamins will have to fall back on hagwons.
It's actually surprising that this hasn't been discussed on here till now. |
Wow! This is news to me. I'm working for GEPIK in Songtan, Pyeongtaek very close to Osan (But in a separate district). I wonder what the story is in Songtan? My co workers haven't said a thing. |
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ThingsComeAround
Joined: 07 Nov 2008
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| Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 9:44 pm Post subject: |
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| Fishead soup wrote: |
| This is all Hearsay |
hope u are right |
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jvalmer
Joined: 06 Jun 2003
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| Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 10:50 pm Post subject: |
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| ShamKoyanggi wrote: |
| The whole GEPIK program is being slowly eliminated. |
And it will be replaced by EPIK. |
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ThingsComeAround
Joined: 07 Nov 2008
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| Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 11:05 pm Post subject: |
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| jvalmer wrote: |
| ShamKoyanggi wrote: |
| The whole GEPIK program is being slowly eliminated. |
And it will be replaced by EPIK. |
again? |
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Loza
Joined: 28 May 2006
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| Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 11:08 pm Post subject: |
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| Just been told there is GEPIK training from next Monday to Wednesday in Anseong. Co workers don't know other details yet. Perhaps we'll get more info then. Anyone else been told they need to got o next weeks training? |
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ThingsComeAround
Joined: 07 Nov 2008
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| Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 11:32 pm Post subject: |
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| Loza wrote: |
| Just been told there is GEPIK training from next Monday to Wednesday in Anseong. Co workers don't know other details yet. Perhaps we'll get more info then. Anyone else been told they need to got o next weeks training? |
mine is rumored to be Wed to Fri.
what grade level do you teach? |
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