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EPIK...a thing of the past????
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itiswhatitis



Joined: 08 Aug 2011

PostPosted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 2:19 am    Post subject: EPIK...a thing of the past???? Reply with quote

Today my co-teacher (an elementary school in Seoul) tells me that EPIK was suppose to end this year but that they are extending it for 1 more year (it will end next year instead). I asked her if she was refering to middle school and high school positions only. She tells me that the plan is for EPIK to be completely gone by next year and that this is its final year.

I knew about the cuts to middle and high school positions but this is a shock to me.

I swear that I am not trolling.

Anyone know about this?? Is EPIK over?????
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byrddogs



Joined: 19 Jun 2009
Location: Shanghai

PostPosted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 2:46 am    Post subject: Re: EPIK...a thing of the past???? Reply with quote

itiswhatitis wrote:
Today my co-teacher (an elementary school in Seoul) tells me that EPIK was suppose to end this year but that they are extending it for 1 more year (it will end next year instead). I asked her if she was refering to middle school and high school positions only. She tells me that the plan is for EPIK to be completely gone by next year and that this is its final year.

I knew about the cuts to middle and high school positions but this is a shock to me.

I swear that I am not trolling.

Anyone know about this?? Is EPIK over?????


I've no idea about EPIK, but I can tell you from experience that my head ct (that I considered my Korean mom, due to always looking out for me) that was in the know told me a few years ago about the impending demise of SMOE middle/high school positions for NETs when I was working at my middle school. I chose to move on at the end of that contract, even though I'd been ok'd for another year knowing what she had told me then. I'd listen and plan if you trust this person to have insight.
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Malislamusrex



Joined: 01 Feb 2010

PostPosted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 2:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

There is another thread saying they have just hired 500 NETs.
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byrddogs



Joined: 19 Jun 2009
Location: Shanghai

PostPosted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 2:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Just to add to my post above, I was told at that time that the plan was for all (including elementary) SMOE NETs to be out by 2014.
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Dodge7



Joined: 21 Oct 2011

PostPosted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 3:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

you guys better have a plan B set in place soon
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newb



Joined: 27 Aug 2012
Location: Korea

PostPosted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 5:11 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I heard the same, but I'm certain that they will initiate EPIK II program.
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waynehead



Joined: 18 Apr 2006
Location: Jongno

PostPosted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 6:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Who the heck knows?

I was hired through SMOE to work at a high school. When the cuts came down, my school (which is kind of a "special" school which is allowed to set its own curriculum, kinda semi-private) elected to keep me on. I've been there ever since (starting my 4th year next week).

The adjoining middle school lost their native speaking teacher last year, and was without one for a year. They've just recently been sent a new native speaking teacher, she starts from next week.

All that seems certain to me is that there is not a consistent long-term plan to keep native teachers in place. We're seen as a nice luxury to have, if you can afford it. When cuts are needed, we're first on the chopping block, especially at secondary schools (excepting schools that are privately funded and/or for "advanced students").

I lucked out in my placement, and am at a school that can afford to keep me on (and which wants to). Many may not be so lucky. Keep your hagwon contacts up to date, folks, just in case.
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PatrickGHBusan



Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: Busan (1997-2008) Canada 2008 -

PostPosted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 7:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

If they cut public funding then EPIK would be in jeopardy. I have read nothing official on this however and at this point it seems to fall into the speculation category.

Now Dodge you said "you guys better have a plan B" what about you?
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Dodge7



Joined: 21 Oct 2011

PostPosted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 7:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

PatrickGHBusan wrote:
If they cut public funding then EPIK would be in jeopardy. I have read nothing official on this however and at this point it seems to fall into the speculation category.

Now Dodge you said "you guys better have a plan B" what about you?

I'm F6. I can sit around in my underwear all day, do privates, take a vacation back home to see my family, look for a job at my leisure or do nothing. No employer owns my visa.
My wife makes a lot of money--more than I do--so I can afford to take it easy. These E2ers don't have that freedom. They either have a job or out they go.
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PatrickGHBusan



Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: Busan (1997-2008) Canada 2008 -

PostPosted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 10:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Indeed that F6 offers you more freedom to find work.

You know...you sound more and more like a lifer....
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Dodge7



Joined: 21 Oct 2011

PostPosted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 3:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

PatrickGHBusan wrote:
Indeed that F6 offers you more freedom to find work.

You know...you sound more and more like a lifer....

Maybe in terms of disgruntlement. But I'm out of here in ten years after we've saved enough $$$. My wife co-signed to this idea which is one of the reason I married her. If she wouldn't leave Korea, I would have left her.
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12ax7



Joined: 07 Nov 2009

PostPosted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 6:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Malislamusrex wrote:
There is another thread saying they have just hired 500 NETs.


Anything about the total being greater than it was in the prior year? Without that info, I'd guess it's just replacing those who left their jobs one way or another.
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Malislamusrex



Joined: 01 Feb 2010

PostPosted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 3:03 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I don't know how many left. But I doubt that the government would pay 100 million on fights, an extra 100+ million on the orientation if the idea was to stop EPIK.

12ax7 wrote:
Malislamusrex wrote:
There is another thread saying they have just hired 500 NETs.


Anything about the total being greater than it was in the prior year? Without that info, I'd guess it's just replacing those who left their jobs one way or another.
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CentralCali



Joined: 17 May 2007

PostPosted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 3:39 am    Post subject: Re: EPIK...a thing of the past???? Reply with quote

itiswhatitis wrote:
Today my co-teacher (an elementary school in Seoul) tells me that EPIK was suppose to end this year but that they are extending it for 1 more year (it will end next year instead). I asked her if she was refering to middle school and high school positions only. She tells me that the plan is for EPIK to be completely gone by next year and that this is its final year.


Why not tell the bint to shut up? She's just spouting out her prejudices, but disguising them as "something official." Of course, there's nothing official. And who is she, anyway? She's nothing in the grand scheme of English Education in Korea. She's an elementary school teacher. Period. That has about as much influence on what's going on at the Education ministry as the rock outside my window. Dollars to donuts that if you ask her where she saw this in writing, not heard but actually saw it, she'd say, "There's a document."

Tell her to shut up next time she opens her pie-hole.
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12ax7



Joined: 07 Nov 2009

PostPosted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 3:45 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Malislamusrex wrote:
I don't know how many left. But I doubt that the government would pay 100 million on fights, an extra 100+ million on the orientation if the idea was to stop EPIK.

12ax7 wrote:
Malislamusrex wrote:
There is another thread saying they have just hired 500 NETs.


Anything about the total being greater than it was in the prior year? Without that info, I'd guess it's just replacing those who left their jobs one way or another.


And I would have never imagined they'd waste trillions of won on an obsolete way of restoring rivers, and yet they did.


Last edited by 12ax7 on Fri Mar 01, 2013 7:45 am; edited 1 time in total
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