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shostahoosier
Joined: 14 Apr 2009
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 Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 5:18 am Post subject: |
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| silkhighway wrote: |
| Decreased enrollment? From elementary through middle-school students have no choice what school they go, it's based on where they live. |
Maybe where you live.
I live in a very rural town and parents switch schools all the time. My school's enrollment increased when they hired me, their first NET.
There's even a student who comes to our town from a different province.
I also know of other rural schools who saw their enrollments increase when they got a foreign teacher.
Enrollment is a very competitive thing for rural schools because the population in rural Korea is decreasing (lower birth rate + everyone wants to live in Seoul) and schools need numbers to justify staying open. Before I came they almost closed my school...though I'm not sure why as there's a school just down the street that only has 13 kids in the entire school from 1st-6th grades! |
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sojusucks
Joined: 31 May 2008
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| Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 1:34 pm Post subject: |
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| silkhighway wrote: |
| Decreased enrollment? From elementary through middle-school students have no choice what school they go, it's based on where they live. |
With middle and high school there is school choice, and with the declining birth rate, schools have become super competitive for students. |
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Weigookin74
Joined: 26 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 4:54 pm Post subject: |
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| Really stupid thing to do. If a teacher wants to keep renewing, renew them until they no longer want to renew. Once they don't renew, then wait until Sept or March. Also, what about runners and resignations? It'll never happen in the future? Bunch of dopes that don't know their heads from their a$$e$! Waitiing for the economic recovery. Teacher shortages like we had back before 2009 will soon put those dolts in their place. |
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sojusucks
Joined: 31 May 2008
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| Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 7:17 pm Post subject: |
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| Weigookin74 wrote: |
| Really stupid thing to do. If a teacher wants to keep renewing, renew them until they no longer want to renew. Once they don't renew, then wait until Sept or March. Also, what about runners and resignations? It'll never happen in the future? Bunch of dopes that don't know their heads from their a$$e$! Waitiing for the economic recovery. Teacher shortages like we had back before 2009 will soon put those dolts in their place. |
You're correct, plus when they do have to get new teachers it'll add to the cost because of recruiters' fees and they'll have to fly them to Korea. It makes you wonder if GEPIK really understands what they're doing. |
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ZIFA
Joined: 23 Feb 2011
Location: Dici che il fiume..Trova la via al mare
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| Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 12:02 am Post subject: |
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| Weigookin74 wrote: |
| Teacher shortages like we had back before 2009 will soon put those dolts in their place. |
We have a ways to go yet, but US unemployment just dipped to 8.8.
Thats the lowest in 2 years.
| Sojusucks wrote: |
| It makes you wonder if GEPIK really understands what they're doing. |
Problem is they are forced into policy by the K-teachers, who vote at meetings.
The govt school programs will continue to be a waste of time until they do the following basic things:
1) Recruit FT's based on qualifications and experience, and pay accordingly.
2) Allow FT's authority and leeway in the classroom. Limit KT's to purely translatory and disciplinary roles.
3) Put in place a proper support system, with credible channels of communication for the FT's. Listen to the FT's ideas and concerns.
4) Institute an independent body to assess and manage FT's and the partner KT's. Because at the moment the KT's have gotten away with far too much control over the FT's ..and the FT's cannot safely voice their opinions without repercussions.
But they are highly unlikely to ever do any of the above. In which case it is no tragedy that the public school programme folds entirely. Let them hire all their thousands of cheap KET's if they must. It just means more work for FT's in the private sector. |
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sojusucks
Joined: 31 May 2008
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| Posted: Sun Apr 03, 2011 2:39 pm Post subject: |
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| It just means more work for FT's in the private sector. |
Ever teach for a hagwon? There are reasons why many of us with diplomas, clean police reports, and ok health choose to teach in public schools. |
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Weigookin74
Joined: 26 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Sun Apr 03, 2011 4:36 pm Post subject: |
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| ZIFA wrote: |
| Weigookin74 wrote: |
| Teacher shortages like we had back before 2009 will soon put those dolts in their place. |
We have a ways to go yet, but US unemployment just dipped to 8.8.
Thats the lowest in 2 years.
| Sojusucks wrote: |
| It makes you wonder if GEPIK really understands what they're doing. |
Problem is they are forced into policy by the K-teachers, who vote at meetings.
The govt school programs will continue to be a waste of time until they do the following basic things:
1) Recruit FT's based on qualifications and experience, and pay accordingly.
2) Allow FT's authority and leeway in the classroom. Limit KT's to purely translatory and disciplinary roles.
3) Put in place a proper support system, with credible channels of communication for the FT's. Listen to the FT's ideas and concerns.
4) Institute an independent body to assess and manage FT's and the partner KT's. Because at the moment the KT's have gotten away with far too much control over the FT's ..and the FT's cannot safely voice their opinions without repercussions.
But they are highly unlikely to ever do any of the above. In which case it is no tragedy that the public school programme folds entirely. Let them hire all their thousands of cheap KET's if they must. It just means more work for FT's in the private sector. |
I can agree with just about all you said. But there are often places where you can have control over your students and be able to stand up to your KT's. Just find a rural area with EPIK, wait a year for there to be less teachers. The rural areas will be so desperate they won't be able to get rid of you. I use to be in a rural area before 2009. I had full control over my teaching and argued back when a KT tried to take over. Always got renewed. But, I'm in a bigger city now. Still have some control, but not like before. Just patiently going with the flow until the recession ends. Until then, I've been more careful and looking over my shoulder. Still most of my KT's have been pretty decent. But I've read a lot about nightmarish situations in Seoul and Gyeonngi-do. Anyone from those places care to elaborate more? |
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I-am-me
Joined: 21 Feb 2006
Location: Hermit Kingdom
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| Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2011 9:50 pm Post subject: |
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I renew my contract in a week. Next year I can plan on a 4 month vacation since they wont hire until Aug. Might be good for me.  |
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shostahoosier
Joined: 14 Apr 2009
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| Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2011 10:48 pm Post subject: |
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| Weigookin74 wrote: |
I can agree with just about all you said. But there are often places where you can have control over your students and be able to stand up to your KT's. Just find a rural area with EPIK, wait a year for there to be less teachers. The rural areas will be so desperate they won't be able to get rid of you. I use to be in a rural area before 2009. I had full control over my teaching and argued back when a KT tried to take over. Always got renewed. But, I'm in a bigger city now. Still have some control, but not like before. Just patiently going with the flow until the recession ends. Until then, I've been more careful and looking over my shoulder. Still most of my KT's have been pretty decent. But I've read a lot about nightmarish situations in Seoul and Gyeonngi-do. Anyone from those places care to elaborate more? |
I have a rural GEPIK placement and I can back up your statement about having more control out in the country. Parents seem to be happy that their kids are learning and tend not to be as pushy as they in places like, say Gangnam (I have a friend who works in public schools there). I have had the freedom to make my lesson plans and get to know the students and the school is happy that you dont run away.
As far as nightmare, the only issue I've had with GEPIK is this recent non-renewal thing they're trying to sell the current NETs. People say things like "GEPIK/EPIK is a horrible employer, I would never consider working for them" but other than a few (major) missteps here and there (SMOE "un-hiring" 100 teachers) I dont really see EPIK as much more than a way to place teachers in a school. My biggest beef with EPIK is that they dont really do much to help teachers with problems. My coordinator has yet to return an email or phone of mine and I've been trying to reach her for a month. What do the coordinators actually do? |
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ZIFA
Joined: 23 Feb 2011
Location: Dici che il fiume..Trova la via al mare
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| Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 6:00 am Post subject: |
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| Weigookin74 wrote: |
| I use to be in a rural area before 2009. I had full control over my teaching and argued back when a KT tried to take over. Always got renewed. But, I'm in a bigger city now. Still have some control, but not like before. Just patiently going with the flow until the recession ends. Until then, I've been more careful and looking over my shoulder. |
 lol.
Yep. My control over the KT's basically ended the day a recruiter called round offering 3 available and willing young american females. |
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sojusucks
Joined: 31 May 2008
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| Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 2:09 pm Post subject: |
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| ZIFA wrote: |
| Weigookin74 wrote: |
| I use to be in a rural area before 2009. I had full control over my teaching and argued back when a KT tried to take over. Always got renewed. But, I'm in a bigger city now. Still have some control, but not like before. Just patiently going with the flow until the recession ends. Until then, I've been more careful and looking over my shoulder. |
lol.
Yep. My control over the KT's basically ended the day a recruiter called round offering 3 available and willing young american females. |
There are shady recruiters who do that. Then, after the school tells the current foreign teacher that they won't renew, the three blonde bimbettes suddenly decide to teach in Seoul and the school gets stuck with a South African or whoever else is on their list. There's a large GEPIK recruiter who does this all of the time. |
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Burndog
Joined: 17 Feb 2008
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| Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 6:34 pm Post subject: |
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[quote="sojusucks and the school gets stuck with a South African or whoever else is on their list. [/quote]
Wow!
Imagine the horror for that school...having to have a South African wander about the hallways...pretending to teach children! The shame alone would be enough for the school to never hire a foreign teacher again.
I'm not South African...but...if I was...I might find your comment a touch offensive. |
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Triban
Joined: 14 Jul 2009
Location: Suwon Station
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| Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 9:10 pm Post subject: |
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| Burndog wrote: |
Wow!
Imagine the horror for that school...having to have a South African wander about the hallways...pretending to teach children! The shame alone would be enough for the school to never hire a foreign teacher again.
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I lol'ed irl. |
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ThingsComeAround
Joined: 07 Nov 2008
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| Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 8:56 pm Post subject: |
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Heads up:
My HT gave me word that some education officer wants all K English Teachers to report on the full cost of their NET for all the years they were there, and any problems they have caused.
I find this strange, asked if they want to know anything good, she replied "no". 
Probably going to find a biased "study" in the paper with random silly "problems" from one or two of the worst NETs and the total cost of ALL NETs in Gyeonggi. Soon.
This is my last year... |
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sojusucks
Joined: 31 May 2008
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| Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2011 2:00 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Burndog wrote: |
| [quote="sojusucks and the school gets stuck with a South African or whoever else is on their list. |
Wow!
Imagine the horror for that school...having to have a South African wander about the hallways...pretending to teach children! The shame alone would be enough for the school to never hire a foreign teacher again.
I'm not South African...but...if I was...I might find your comment a touch offensive. |
Lighten up, Francis. We all know that there are schools that demand American teachers. Besides, did you read the full quote?
| Quote: |
Yep. My control over the KT's basically ended the day a recruiter called round offering 3 available and willing young american females.
There are shady recruiters who do that. Then, after the school tells the current foreign teacher that they won't renew, the three blonde bimbettes suddenly decide to teach in Seoul and the school gets stuck with a South African or whoever else is on their list. There's a large GEPIK recruiter who does this all of the time. |
[/quote] |
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