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buildbyflying
Joined: 01 Sep 2004
Location: To your right. No, your other right.
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 Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 9:48 pm Post subject: Petition for EPIK teachers |
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The following is a petition to send to EPIK administrators to improve conditions in the EPIK. While I am voicing complaints, this is only because I feel the program is worth improving.
The purpose of this petition is to allow each and every teacher to voice his/her individual complaints in a constuctive manner, to be heard by the administration of the EPIK. This is NOT meant to be authoritative nor comprehensive. Should any individual find any part of this document disagreeable, they are free to change it: add to it, remove from it (as needed, to meet their personal needs and concerns).
This should not be a stagnant, dead thing -- a piece of paper with a lot of names on it -- but a true representation of ideas from EPIK teachers who would like to see changes in their community of teachers and in their employment situation.
Of course, if you'd like to send the petition on as is, sign your full name and send it off. It's as easy as that.
This petition DOES NOT require that all the names go in on a singular email. Each petition should go out individually, as your own personal statement.
When you're ready to send the petition, write the name of the recipient at the top of the letter and your full name at the bottom. Please send the letter to both the main EPIK office as well as your province commissioner.
Here's a list of emails for the EPIK commission:
http://epik.knue.ac.kr/sub5/sub5_1.asp
Main EPIK Office: [email protected].
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TO:
For a program like EPIK to advance amongst competition from countries around the world, it must remain open to new approaches in education. Korea faces unique challenges in English education, as Koreans themselves have unique difficulties, which must be met with unique and forward-thinking solutions.
This petition, as it is delivered to the EPIK commission and administration, offers several suggestions for meeting these challenges.
The many experienced teachers that have participated in the EPIK program are a wealth of ideas for EPIK�s possible future. However, many teachers often feel their contributions are unwanted, and many make no suggestions at all, for fear of them being ignored.
If EPIK is to advance, it must embrace change and willingly embrace new ways of thinking, new ways of teaching, and new means of organization and management for its personnel.
The following are a list of ideas generated by EPIK NET�s interested in improving conditions for current and future EPIK teachers. Our hope is to make EPIK more enjoyable, as well as more competitive in an active world community.
I. Preparation and Training:
EPIK should expand KET and NET training, in preparation for the NET's arrival. Current training is insufficient and needs improvement. Suggestions for the expansion of teacher training are as follows:
1. EPIK should restructure the NET orientation to include more practical teaching workshops. Theory is not useful for classroom teachers, and theory-based workshops should be kept to a minimum. The orientation should also continue to emphasize the importance for the NET's understanding of and compassion towards the Korean culture.
2. EPIK should host a meeting for school representatives (KET's and administration) to be hosted by Korean teaching officials and previous NET's (or NE EPIK personnel). This meeting should provide school representatives with practical information on how Koreans can better welcome and understand their Native English co-workers. The result of this meeting should be, that school representatives will present the information to their co-workers and student body. Schools should be exempted from EPIK participation should a school not attend or not comply.
II. School Vacations:
Provincial, local, and school administration should give NET's and KET's, at least, 2 months advance notification before scheduling English camps, teacher training workshops, or classes that fall outside of regular school year's academic calendar. Many teachers have to plan for their vacations ahead of time because the vacation time is limited. An early notice benefits teachers immensely allowing them time to contact relatives and plan events.
Second, all camps, teacher training workshops, and classes that fall outside of the regular school year academic calendar are to be on a volunteer basis only. Summer camps have become a fairly recent addition to an NET�s required duties. While many teachers enjoy working English camps, the trend towards conscription is not beneficial for the teacher or the schools. Conscription allows for teachers to be forced into working camps under any conditions and any pay scale, exempt from the NET�s binding contract. Should the wages and the camp itinerary remain consistent with other camps across Korea, teachers will volunteer readily.
III. Creating an EPIK NET Liaison:
An EPIK liaison, one who works centrally for EPIK (not for the individual provinces), who is given the power to address concerns as necessary for EPIK NET's.
This person should be able to:
Take suggestion from current teachers and find ways to enact them. Many EPIK teachers care about their positions and their students enough to want to improve the overall working and learning conditions. The EPIK liaison should be entitled to take such suggestions and work to make these changes for the whole of the English Program in Korea.
Example: An NET at a primary school has a question about effectively using different co-teaching methods in the classroom, but has no way to communicate with other EPIK primary school teachers. He suggests that EPIK create an online forum for all EPIK teachers to use. The teacher calls the EPIK office and speaks to the liaison. The liaison then emails all the EPIK teachers about creating a forum for communicating.
1. Mediate disputes between NET's and schools. As many teachers have complaints and questions about their contract or position, the liaison should be entitled to intermediate between the school and teacher should a conflict arise.
Example: A NET is placed in housing that is unsuitable during the winter. The heat for the house is not working and the owner refuses to have it fixed. The school then refuses the teacher to find new accommodations. The liaison should have the authority to negotiate between the teacher and the school. Should an agreement not be made and the school is at fault, then the liaison should have the authority to ban the school from receiving future EPIK teachers.
2. Mediate disputes between NET's and provinces. This means, the liaison is in a position to bargain with the other EPIK commission members. Should a dispute be ignored by the provincial officer, he can take it up with the EPIK office director, and in a closed session, the party of three can discuss a course of action.
Example: An NET insists on changing provinces at the end of their EPIK contract. One province insists the NET must stay until the 23rd of August, but the new province says the NET must report to work September 1st. Though the contract says renewing teachers get 2 weeks vacation, the provinces disagree. The liaison should be entitled to mediate between the provinces and find an acceptable resolution for the teacher.
4. Work first and foremost, for the benefit of the NET. Many EPIKers leave with unhappy memories of the EPIK program, but too many of these problems could have been easily avoided. The liaison should help NET�s assimilate into their new environments. They should be well-versed in the contract language. They should also be entitled to visit NET�s personally, should the NET request their help.
Example: An NET moves to a small town and speaks no Korean. The native Korean teachers speak a little English but are too shy to speak to the NET. The NET finds his/her classes to be wild and uncontrollable. In frustration, the NET calls the liaison for help. The liaison visits the school, and speaking with the native Korean teachers and the NET, comes up with solutions to improve the learning environment.
For Your Sincere Consideration, Signed, |
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Yu_Bum_suk
Joined: 25 Dec 2004
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| Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 9:54 pm Post subject: |
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many make no suggestions at all, for fear of them being ignored.
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I suspect that the creators of this petition will be feeling this way in a few months. |
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buildbyflying
Joined: 01 Sep 2004
Location: To your right. No, your other right.
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| Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 11:12 pm Post subject: |
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Actually, I think a feeling of resignnation follows. It's not a bad thing at all.
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laogaiguk
Joined: 06 Dec 2005
Location: somewhere in Korea
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| Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 11:15 pm Post subject: |
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Basically,
"Stop f-ing us up the rear!", just said politely, huh? |
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Len8
Joined: 12 Feb 2003
Location: Kyungju
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| Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 11:44 pm Post subject: |
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They will throw the petition into the garbage unless it's translated and presented as though it was was written by a Korean.
You are going to have to find a Korean teacher who is sympathetic to the terms of the petiton and have him offer it to the education board as his proposal. He is going to have to say that it's what he or she really feels needs to be done to the programe for the mutual benefit of the expat teachers and the Korean schools.
Good luck. |
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buildbyflying
Joined: 01 Sep 2004
Location: To your right. No, your other right.
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| Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 6:12 am Post subject: |
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Definitely a valid concern. And perhaps there's someone in the bunch of us who would be interested in translating it. I, however, am not.
I think doubting the administration's ability to understand the basic sentiment of the petition is an underestimation. I can definitely see a need for them to have the petition interpreted for nuances.
Of course, the idea is that the teachers follow up their email with a phone call or for the truly provocative, a visit to Cheongju.
I think any teacher would be just as valid a presenter as a native Korean. If the goal is to work "inside the system" then fine, but my personal sentiment, is that "working inside the system" is at best a comprimise, at worst, a ill-intended myth. |
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buildbyflying
Joined: 01 Sep 2004
Location: To your right. No, your other right.
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| Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 7:29 pm Post subject: |
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If there's anyone with hangul powers out there who wants to give translating this thing a shot -- I'll offer you payment for your time.  |
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Homer
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| Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 3:03 am Post subject: |
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| Good luck with your efforts. |
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Len8
Joined: 12 Feb 2003
Location: Kyungju
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| Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 8:31 am Post subject: |
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Couldn't you have said something about the good points of the programe. Maybe the petition is a little confronting. For one thing it's better than working in a hogwon, your given a lot of freedom in the classrooms. Texts haven't been prescribed etc. Your more in touch with Korean culture maybe, because it hasn't been diluted by the atittudes of hogwon owners using teachers only as decorations and drawing cards for Korean parents.
Maybe you could have said something to the effect that teachers will become more effective if they are comfortable with their working environment i.e the conditions of the petition.
Also I have read in another thread that Kyungiido I think managed to get their contracts altered to make the work conditions a little more bearable. You could use that as part of your petition as well. Find out what and how they go what they did. Maybe they had to extort. |
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buildbyflying
Joined: 01 Sep 2004
Location: To your right. No, your other right.
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| Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 1:18 pm Post subject: |
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| Couldn't you have said something about the good points of the programe. Maybe the petition is a little confronting. |
I wish I had the time. I've posted before to anyone who was interested in contributing and the consensus amongst those who offered is: this works.
Plus, teachers are welcome to add whatever they wish.
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| Also I have read in another thread that Kyungiido I think managed to get their contracts altered to make the work conditions a little more bearable. |
If anyone has thisinfo I would be appreciative. |
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Len8
Joined: 12 Feb 2003
Location: Kyungju
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| Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2006 2:35 am Post subject: |
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| The epik net liason is a good idea, but who would do that and how would that person be payed. The suggestions for the housing improvements are a good idea as well. I am wondering though if the people responsible for the programes in their respective provinces have too much on their plate as it is, and are only too happy to allow the schools to run the programe however the hell they want. Maybe all they can do is keep their fingers crosed amd hope for the best. |
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Dev
Joined: 18 Apr 2006
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| Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2006 4:47 am Post subject: |
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EPIK doesn't care about its teachers.
You can talk to any EPIK teacher and find that out.
Don't waste your time with the petition.
They aren't going to listen to you.
As far as they're concerned, "it's their way or the highway". |
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Homer
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2006 5:35 am Post subject: |
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Thats funny Dev..I know 4 teachers in Busan (EPIK) who absolutely love their jobs and have nothing but positive things to say about the program...
You know..broad statements are usually a bad idea. |
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koreabridge
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2006 6:15 am Post subject: |
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Over at Koreabridge.net we are having a live webcast this Sunday about EPIK. If you'd like to talk about your petition on the show, you're more than welcome to Skype in.
Anyone else who'd like to participate is welcome, also.
Visit www.koreabridge.net for more details or email [email protected] |
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buildbyflying
Joined: 01 Sep 2004
Location: To your right. No, your other right.
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| Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2006 7:19 am Post subject: |
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Thanks Koreabridge, I think calling in would be a great way to spread the idea. I'll email you after I finish this post.
Len8 wrote:
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| who would do that and how would that person be payed. |
There is a position that could be used for precedence in Chungbuk. Of course, I know little about the position itself and what it entails, I just know the individual is really busy.
IMO it would be ideal to find an ex-EPIK NET with a desire to well by the teachers and the program. As far as pay goes... whatever's reasonable for the position. |
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